Descent (162), October 2001

Description

The Battle of the Bilge

‘Having a thoroughly Foul time. Wish you were here!’ Join Batty, Eski and Walker as they challenge a skull’s impetus under gravity and find a use for biscuit wrappers with a 50,000 year half-life.

Building on Karst

The fear was there: a huge building project – including railways and an airport – within an internationally famous karst area could do untold damage to its caves. As the project gets underway and cavers line up in opposition, an unrelated environmental disaster proves how wrong the developers can be.

More Pain with Little Gain

There’s the euphoria of exploration, of making that elusive breakthrough and finding new passage. Then there’s the squalor that cavers suffer in order to make it happen. Read how determined you have to be, to delve beneath Austrian mountains.

Images from the Past

Back when Bar Pot was explored, mysterious marks on the wall were noted by many and photographed by Jack Myers. Can anyone explain their providence?

An English Cave Diver

Jack Sheppard, who died this summer, is renowned for passing the first ‘trap’ in Swildon’s Hole using home-made equipment. This is his tribute.

Swildon’s: the first hundred

‘Further progress seemed barred by a combination of a deep and low archway over a pool, but Mr. H. Hiley, regardless of a waterfall down his back, and the icy coldness of the water, crawled through.’ Modern exploration in furries and oversuit? No – pushing into Swildon’s Hole, one hundred years ago.

The HeyPhone Story

For many years cave rescue organisations have used the Molefone to communicate with the surface. Time moves on, and with it technology – enter a new cave radio: the HeyPhone.

Taking Sight of Entropy

Could the signs and symbols found in palaeolithic drawings be a window into the artist’s mind?

The Descent Caption Competition

At last, the winner! Laugh at the captions and wonder where the ideas come from.

Magpie: Mining and Murder

The gaunt remains of a lead mine stand isolated, strikingly preserved on a bleak skyline. Magpie,
site of violence and … murder.

Cover: Maria A. Garau, Cova del Pas Vallgornera, Mallorca. Photo: Tony Merino

 

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