It’s another South Wales cave diving breakthrough.

Underground Bivouacs

Dave Elliot covers the essentials and more if you are planning to camp underground.

Closing the Gap

The gap between Daren Cilau and Agen Allwedd is narrowing and one step closer to a link.

The Dark Star

Continuing cave exploration in Uzbekistan, by Paz Vale.

Mendip Wednesday Nighters

Digging on a Wednesday night has become a traditional occupation before heading for the pub – here is a round-up of ongoing work on Mendip.

Rigging at Rebelays

Mark Dougherty suggests yet another rigging method for rebelays, as discussed in previous editions of Descent.

Cover: Straw stalactite with secondary crystal growth, Whisker Cave, South Wales. Photo: Chris Howes

Price shown includes postage within the UK. For customers outside the UK, postage will be added on at checkout.

VAT is not charged on UK publications. Orders to the EU are posted without tax paid and you are responsible for VAT and any other charges on delivery.

Descent is printed to the highest quality in the UK, as it has been since its inception in 1969.

Constructing an artificial, moveable cave for a local caving display.

The Hungrey Spéléo-Plongeur in the Jura

Clive Westlake covers some of his favourite French caves.

Shock Absorbing Knots

Al Warild, in light of previous comments in Descent concerning knots at belays, offers his thoughts to add to the discussion.

Keld Head and the East Kingsdale Branch

Cave diving exploration in Kingsdale Master Cave’s downstream sump.

Dig, Dig, Dig and Thou Shalt Succeed

There’s been a breakthrough in Blaen Onneu Quarry.

The Cae Coch Bogey

Deep in a mine, there lies a big bogey. Or snotalite if you wish. Or even snottite!

The Disovery of Twll Dychrynllyd

Heading though a dig in the Hepste Valley of South Wales.

First Aid Kits

Peter Glanvill offers a few thoughts on the composition of first aid kits.

Taking Cave Conservation into the 21st Century

The threats to our caves: a joint NCC and NCA initiative.

Giant Caves and the KGB

Jim Birchall is back in the USSR, with tales of giant gypsum caves, Nazis and Jewish refugees, tinned seaweed and lost luggage.

Cover: Alan Walker in Lancaster Hole’s Main Drain. Photo: Paul Deakin

Price shown includes postage within the UK. For customers outside the UK, postage will be added on at checkout.

VAT is not charged on UK publications. Orders to the EU are posted without tax paid and you are responsible for VAT and any other charges on delivery.

Descent is printed to the highest quality in the UK, as it has been since its inception in 1969.

A full report on the annual conference, this year held in Manchester once again.

Helpline

Chillagoe and More

Asking for help with problems at Chillagoe in Australia, knots, pollution and Czech caves and caving.

Tolantongo. A Thermal Epic

As an advance team for the Black Holes expedition to Mexico, Tim Allen and Bob North found time to do some caving on their own.

The Skullcap Saga

Peter Glanvill writes of digs and discoveries near Chudleigh in Devon.

Mallorca in a Package

As a package holiday destination, Mallorca has much to offer says Owen Clarke.

Cover: Ian Rolland at the Icing on the Cake, Daren Cilau. Photo: Martyn Farr

Price shown includes postage within the UK. For customers outside the UK, postage will be added on at checkout.

VAT is not charged on UK publications. Orders to the EU are posted without tax paid and you are responsible for VAT and any other charges on delivery.

Descent is printed to the highest quality in the UK, as it has been since its inception in 1969.

Kev Senior has returned from an expedition to the equatorial alpine karst of Irian Jaya.

Viewpoint

Explosives and the Caver

Nick Williams, in a follow-up to last issue’s report on explosives regulations, adds his thoughts and misgivings.

The Hole Story

Iain Barker takes a close look at Eldon Hole and what might lie beyond the main chamber.

Reyfad Pot

Reyfad: Ireland’s deepest and perhaps longest cave. John Kelly looks at the survey and hydrology.

The Leakey Tapes

The fourth and final part of an interview with Robert Leakey, in which he remembers some early cave rescues.

Gear Review

Bombpruf and Tufftex tackle bags and gear bags on test.

A Cautionary Tale

John Beck reports what happens if you catch Weil’s disease. Take care down there!

Movements Under Llangattock

The design and manufacture of a new style ladder for use in Daren Cilau.

Helpline

SRT Ropes

How best to store them; how long to keep them.

Cover: Roo Walters on the First Pitch, Gua Aleya, Irian Jaya. Photo: Kev Senior

Price shown includes postage within the UK. For customers outside the UK, postage will be added on at checkout.

VAT is not charged on UK publications. Orders to the EU are posted without tax paid and you are responsible for VAT and any other charges on delivery.

Descent is printed to the highest quality in the UK, as it has been since its inception in 1969.

Andy Sparrow details better methods of rigging.

The Exploration of Ogof Cwbl Hardd

Westminster SG has been pushing a new cave in the Little Neath Valley.

Gear Review

Motor Marine II

How does a waterproof camera fare for use underground?

What a Heid Banger

Alan L. Jeffreys takes a look at the discovery of Toll Fear a’Chradh Chinn (Heidbanger Hole to the rest of us).

The Cheddar Push 1990

Cave diving exploration in Gough’s Cave.

Helpline

Certified Cavers

Another question answered, this time concerned with what happened to the certification scheme.

British Caving

The structure of a future national body for caving.

Explosives: A Change in the Law

A new set of regulations has been proposed that will increase security of explosives and limit their use.

The Descent Caption Competition

Another winning caption and prize.

Cover: Peter Glanvill in Arete Chamber, Ogof Ffynnon Ddu. Photo: Chris Howes

Price shown includes postage within the UK. For customers outside the UK, postage will be added on at checkout.

VAT is not charged on UK publications. Orders to the EU are posted without tax paid and you are responsible for VAT and any other charges on delivery.

Descent is printed to the highest quality in the UK, as it has been since its inception in 1969.

Methods of underground communications.

Sardinia: Island of Caves

In 1989, members of Shepton Mallet CC celebrated the club’s 40th anniversary with an expedition to Sardinia.

The Discovery of Ogof Nant Hyfryd

Colin Smith covers how a new cave was found and explored in the face of an old Welsh quarry.

The Barons’ Cave Project

The Barons’ Cave in Reigate has a chequered history.

Don’t Worry – It Won’t Last Long

Aiming a rescue practice at Daren Cilau might not be considered the easiest of things to take part in!

The Leakey Tapes

Part three of an interview with Robert Leakey, in which he remembers his early free-dives that led to major discoveries.

Deviations & Rebelays

Shane Lucas looks at the pros and cons.

The Incidents of 1989

BCRC’s full incident report.

Insurance. Take a Look at Your Policy

The history of caving insurance schemes and what quality of cover is now available.

Cover: Malcolm Stewart diving in Porth yr Ogof. Photo: Peter Bolt

Price shown includes postage within the UK. For customers outside the UK, postage will be added on at checkout.

VAT is not charged on UK publications. Orders to the EU are posted without tax paid and you are responsible for VAT and any other charges on delivery.

Descent is printed to the highest quality in the UK, as it has been since its inception in 1969.

Goon Suits and the Polysuit

One was genuine, but beware the other!

The Leakey Tapes

Part two of an interview with Robert Leakey, in which he remembers the exploration of Mossdale Caverns.

Rope Jam in Chest-Mounted Croll Ascender

An NCA Equipment Committee report.

Rescue from Daren Cilau

Not an actual rescue – but how might such an event be dealt with. Here is a report on a one-day symposium on the subject.

Black Mountain Exploration

Caving access to a vast tract of land might be heading for closure, given potential restrictions controlled by the national park. This could be your area.

Caving in the Shadow of Perestroika

Following successful expeditions to the USSR and Pamirs, excellent relationship have been built between cavers of all countries involved.

Probing the Secrets Behind Malham Cove

John Cordingley brings us up to date with diving exploration behind the risings.

Cover: Steve Foster on Serendipity Pitch, Link Pot. Photo: Gavin Newman

Price shown includes postage within the UK. For customers outside the UK, postage will be added on at checkout.

VAT is not charged on UK publications. Orders to the EU are posted without tax paid and you are responsible for VAT and any other charges on delivery.

Descent is printed to the highest quality in the UK, as it has been since its inception in 1969.

Alan L. Jeffreys writes about the mystery body found in Trow Gill.

Two Austrian Rescues

Cambridge UCC was on expedition in the Totes Gebirge in the summer of 1989. They found several kilometres of passage, but also suffered two rescue incidents.

The Leakey Tapes

Part one of an interview with Robert Leakey, a hard caver and explorer from the 1950s.

Mine Exploration for the People

The birth of Silvermines Heritage Ltd in Ireland.

Latest Equipment on Display

Rob Palmer has been to the Harrogate show to learn what kit is coming our way.

Gear Review

Warmbac Hood

A test of the new hood-attached-vest from Warmbac.

Grafting at the Grove

The Grove Cliff Caves of Portland.

The Descent Caption Competition

Who won this second competition – and how funny is the winning a caption?

Cover: The White Company in Epocalypse Way, Daren Cilau. Photo: Gavin Newman

Price shown includes postage within the UK. For customers outside the UK, postage will be added on at checkout.

VAT is not charged on UK publications. Orders to the EU are posted without tax paid and you are responsible for VAT and any other charges on delivery.

Descent is printed to the highest quality in the UK, as it has been since its inception in 1969.

Caving at the 10th International Congress of Speleology in Hungary.

The Imminent Loss of Pant-y-Llyn

Gus Horsley reports on the quarrying risk to the caves of West Wales.

Radon Survey on Mendip

A number of reports on radon in caves have appeared in print, though they have represented only a few locations and been expensive to produce meaningful results. From Mendip, Cuckoo Cleeves has seen an independent study.

Gear Review

Diving Light

New diving lights from Underwater Kinetics.

Derbyshire Drought

The low water conditions of the summer of 1989 produced ideal conditions for exploration, particularly in P8.

L.U.M.P.S.

Just how did LUMPS obtain its name?

Cover: Alan Walker in Lancaster Hole’s Main Drain. Photo: Paul Deakin

Price shown includes postage within the UK. For customers outside the UK, postage will be added on at checkout.

VAT is not charged on UK publications. Orders to the EU are posted without tax paid and you are responsible for VAT and any other charges on delivery.

Descent is printed to the highest quality in the UK, as it has been since its inception in 1969.

The results of the first caption competition: who won with what funny phrase?

Swildon’s Hole

A strenuous addition has been made to available routes: the Figure of Nine.

BCRA Conference 89

A full report on the annual caving conference, this year held in Manchester.

Cave Rescue Conference 1989

A rescue weekend in Wharfedale.

Russian Calling …

Jim Birchall and Paz Vale cover the potential inherent in Uzbekistan.

Helpline

Privatised Access

With water privatisation coming our way, will this affect access?

A Polish Visit: East Meets West

An exchange visit with Polish cavers, with an emphasis on how they got on in the UK.

Cover: Rob Wallis on Pit 5 at a depth of 580m in Festival Cave, Russia. Photo: Keith Wright

Price shown includes postage within the UK. For customers outside the UK, postage will be added on at checkout.

VAT is not charged on UK publications. Orders to the EU are posted without tax paid and you are responsible for VAT and any other charges on delivery.

Descent is printed to the highest quality in the UK, as it has been since its inception in 1969.