Descent (224)
February 2012
IN FULL COLOUR: The Three Counties System Special Edition
The Final Piece of the Jigsaw
The search has been long, not to mention the amount of effort that has been expended. Tim Allen covers the story of how the connection across Three Counties was finally made.
Memories of Lyle
The key place to dig in Lost John’s Cave turned out to be a side passage in Lyle Cavern High Level Series. Tony Waltham remembers how it was found, over three decades ago.
The Essence of Digging
If you’re a digger, you know what it’s like. For the rest, this is a real treat: a description
of working in mud slurry and loose rocks that brings home a feeling of being there.
The True Length Unravelled
How long is the Three Counties System? Only the linked caves, mind; not how long it has the potential to be! Typical published lengths are between 75km to over 100km – but read on for a full analysis and the definitive answer.
Into the Darkness
In cave biology circles, Romania’s Movile Cave holds something akin to cult status, given its isolated, evolutionary unique ecosystem. Yet little has ever been reported of the cave itself, of what a trip there entails and just how restricted access remains today.
Handlines for Free
Rope testing reveals much about how our SRT systems fare underground. Now, a new experiment into the survival rate of handlines is coupled with a request to help place some samples.
How Many Teams Fit into a Hole?
Holding a joint rescue exercise is not unusual, but Midlands CRO took the principle to an extreme then even had to deal with a real callout, to boot.
The Wet West Adventure
With no open access, exploration in Glebe Mine’s natural passages has been limited. Yet, three decades ago work was begun that was only recently quietly continued.
The Descent Competitions
Three competitions closed at the end of 2011, so now is the time to see whether you have a prize coming your way, or perhaps simply to laugh at the captions that only cavers could think up.
Cover: Serena Povia in Wretched Rabbit, Ease Gill Caverns. Photo: Mark Shinwell
Back cover rollover: Andy Kuszyk admiring the Blue Greenies, and the campsite at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Daren Cilau. Photos: Rob Eavis
This issue is in stock as a back issue: click HERE to order a copy