It’s back to the 1940s with Len Cook and the days of diving northern sumps.

Dry as a Bone

Ogof Draenen strides inexorably onwards, this time into the bare limestone of Gilwern Hill. Read how Waterfall Series was discovered, and how light was shed on the cave’s evolution.

Late for Dinner

Pushing beyond the limit of Slaughter Stream Cave’s Pirate Passage, the rewards of exploration don’t come easy.

The Wolves

‘Ian, mad Ian, finally drawing four back. John, with the engineering inspiration to finally beat its rock jaws with scaffolding hung from above. More months, treating each boulder with the care a father treats the newly born; the deadly new born.’ Join Pete Francis for the ongoing push towards South Wales next master cave.

Merry Tom

There’s a puzzle in Derbyshire – perhaps it’s one you can solve.

Cover: Barry Keenan in Secret Passage, Cascades Rising Cave, Co. Fermanagh. Photo: John Kelly

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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.

As speleo art climbs into prominence, Descent is proud to dispaly the work of Linda Heslop.

Seven Days in Faustloch

The logistics of camping for seven days underground to dive a sump at the depth of 970m might be considered problem enough for an expedition. Then, add one ‘foreigner’ who doesn’t speak the lingo, and the need to photograph the whole deal.

Sunday at Sunset

In 1967, the rescue of Eric Luckhurst underway and filmed by Sid Perou, the unthinkable happens and Eric dies. In this closing article of his four-part series, Sid must deal with the BBC and a highly charged, ethical situation.

Shangri-La

Five foot eight with long, waist-length, silky black hair. Dark brown eyes that sparkled at you in the Chinese way, and a captivating smile. Shangri-La.

The Blight of the Heron

In the latest of his irregular observations, Alan Jeffreys heads downward on a typical cold, wet, Heron trip.

Cover: Chris Stine picks his way up a slope in YO Acres, Lechuguilla Cave, USA. Photo: Peter and Ann Bosted

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.

Why did a mass of cavers travel to a seaside town, devoid of caves but resplendent with a pier with no water? To sample the rich fare of the 1995 BCRA Conference.

Last of the Summer Wine

One of the caving world’s larger than life characters, George Comes, has died aged 85. This is a tribute from one of George’s many friends, Jim Eyre, himself renowned for a wicked tale.

Due South

Ogof Draenen is on the march again, with two major breakthroughs. Here’s the latest news.

The Beresford Link

After many years of digging and pushing, Ricklow Cave and Lathkill Head Cave have been joined – via the Beresford Link.

Cover: Jo Chapman in Cullaun II. Photo: Gavin Newman

Out of stock

Martel is renowned as the man who first descended Gaping Gill, one hundred years ago. However, before that feat he was in Ireland, exploring Marble Arch.

Pushing Poultalloon

Another major cave has been discovered on the Burren in Co. Clare. Here, fresh from the pushing front, is a taste of exploration.

Filming at Sunset

Sid Perou, finally able to film a rescue in progress, discovers the reality of working underground while a casualty is inched towards the surface.

Seventh Heaven in Claonaite

For years cavers have burrowed into the secrets of Uamh am Claonaite, trying to find the way onward past Sump 6. Earlier this year the key was found; the prize was far more than any had hoped for.

From Times Gone By

A cache of photographs yields a glimpse of caving in the Dales.

Home of the Fighting Gobblers

Attending a caving convention in the US brings more variety than might be imagined.

Electronics Underground

Most cavers are content with simply going caving, so what’s the point of using electronic gear as well? Mike Bedford, reporting on the Cave Radio and Electronics Group meeting in May, indicates the work underway and where it’s heading.

Cover: Red Passage, Lechuguilla Cave, USA. Photo: Peter and Ann Bosted

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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.

In 1985 Martel both ended and began an era in caving history. Here is a study of the influence he had, and the background and description of Martel’s feat. Join us for British caving’s centenary: the descent of Gaping Gill.

Cave Explorer Extraordin-Eyre

When The Cave Explorers first appeared in 1981, many cavers thought it was the best thing since solid bread. So why were copies so hard to get hold of?

Not Oxford Street

When Oxford UCC went exploring in Ogof Draenen, they had the good fortune to make two major extensions – and the presence of mind not to name any passage as Oxford Street.

Waiting for a Callout

Sid Perou little realises what difficulties are involved in simply waiting in the Dales for a callout to film.

Cover: Nick Geh in Cova des Pas de Vallgornera, Mallorca. Photo: Martyn Farr

Out of stock

Sid Perou has received international acclaim for his caving films. Read part one of his account of how he began his career.

Mendip in Belize

Members of the Mendip Caving Group came across more than the uncharted karst they expected to find in Belize.

Only Ten Minutes

Ten minutes is all it took to dig into not one, but two major extensions. Here’s the latest in the continuing story of the exploration of Ogof Draenen.

A Song for the Memory

Alan Jeffreys continues his irregular observations, recollecting the heady days of the caver’s songbook.

No pottering

A 1950’s Nescafe advert featured cavers – but who and where were they?

BCRC Incident Report 1994

Full details of all incidents recorded for 1994.

Cover: Malcolm Stewart and gypsum crystals in Ogof Draenen. Photo: Chris Howes

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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.

Join Alan Jeffreys for the first in a series of irregular observations on life, the universe, and things down holes.

Over a Score

Ogof Draenen captured everybody’s hopes for wonderous extensions. Here is the best of exploration, though not every push leads to a breakthrough.

Into Downstream Doline

The local people call the world’s largest doline ‘Xio Zhai’, the Big Hole in The Sky. But what course does the water take: the best through-trip on earth?

Sleets Gill: A natural paranoia

Les Hewitt, trapped by floods and now by a film crew, learns to deal with fame.

Cover: Dave Checkley and Kev Senior in Upstream Doline Cave, China. Photo: Tony Baker

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.

Exploration proceeds apace in Ogof Draenen, which passed the 20km mark in the New Year. Here’s the details of how the round-trip in Britain’s fastest growing cave was discovered.

Sleets Gill: The Movie

In 1992 Les Hewitt and Roy Dean were rescued in a spectacular fashion from Sleets Gill Cave. Subsequently, a film documentary was made. Should it have been titled Get trapped with Les? What was it like to return to the scene of this almost fatal incident?

Prusiking on a Core

The 1994 Chimanimani expedition to Zimbabwe was a resounding success, and attained a depth record for southern Africa. Yet, not everything went right. When a rope sheath parted company, there was no alternative to prusiking on the core.

Cover: Chris Stine with two huge, 1m high helictites in Lechuguilla Cave, USA. Photo: Peter and Ann Bosted

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.

Sleepless Nights

The grapevine is buzzing with news of a major South Wales discovery, with over 15km already surveyed. This issue of Descent carries extra pages to bring you the discovery and exploration of Ogof Draenen. What’s it like to drop down a pitch into a huge chamber, to surge down open streamway passage, to gaze in awe at crystal-covered walls, or be chased down a slope by a runaway boulder? Read on….

The Slit Pot Explosion!

A caver, stuck in the Slit of Slit Pot, then … ‘A bright flash permeated the spray-soaked air, instantly followed by a loud boom! Christ, he’s disintegrated!’

BCRA Conference ’94

What happened at this year’s conference? Five full pages of reports keep you informed.

In the Eye of the Beholder

Cave art is gaining acceptance, so much so that a new group has been established: the International Society of Speleological Arts.

The Dissident Mammoth

Rumin’s Horses are stylised cave paintings, so what’s so special about them? Their location, deep in a Russian cave rather than in the traditional sites of Europe.

Cover: Judith Calford at the start of Gilwern Passage, Ogof Draenen. Photo: Chris Howes

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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.

Was it called the Whirly Pool, the Pool in the Valley, or the Pool of Dogs? What was the origin of the name of Pwll-y-Cwm, found in a South Wales gorge?

Canary Caves

Fancy a change of climate and the chance to explore some lava tubes? Then it’s off to the Canary Islands with Pete Glanvill.

Five Have Fun in Mexico

Back to explore Cuetzalan, but the caves are fighting back with a vengeance. What’s it like watching water rise by a metre every fifteen minutes, from inside the cave?

A Date for a Cave

Dating archaeological remains is fine, but how can the cave itself be dated? By taking samples … but what does that doe to the cave itself? Perhaps a code for collecting is needed.

The Pirates of Fountains Fell

Here we have a simple tale of ordinary folk happily and with friendly rivalry investigating the wet sinks of Fountains Fell. Join Jim Eyre for the concluding part of his story.

Cover: Jason Pitman in Cueva de Arbol de Resistol, Mexico. Photo: Adrian Gregory

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.