Caving!

Mom, you should not read this post.



Okay. Caving is now my favorite crazy sport. I scrambled up large rocks, skirted around holes just big enough for my body, rappelled down a rack face, waded waist deep in a pool of cold water, and squeezed through areas where I had to keep my head sideways if I wanted to fit.

I do not have any pictures, but my uncle took some film ones, so when they are developed I will scan them or some similar thing to put them up.

I saw some beautiful rock formations. I learned a lot from my uncle who knows a lot about geology. I am glad that I did it with him as he was very supportive and helpful. Towards the end there was a bit of a scary moment as I tried to climb up the rocks. I got half way up, when I could not get up any higher. The place that I was supposed to put my foot was covered in mud, and my foot kept slipping off. The rest of the rock was either smooth or mud covered. My uncle came to the rescue with a rope and I was able to pull myself up.

I only fell once!! And that was at the very very end. I tripped and came away with a bruised and sore knee.

One of the worst parts was an area that you can only get through on your belly with your head close to the ground. That wouldn't have been too bad if it were not for the fact that that area was half filled with water. I had to get my face wet if I wanted to get through, not to mention getting my belly soaked. I survived.

The part that I still cannot believe that I did was a spot not too far from the end. A big flat rock blocked the entrance to a connecting cave, so to get through, you had to squeeze over the rock. You know that the area is tight when you can only get through when you exhale. The space was so narrow that I hat to take my helmet off and my cheek occasionally scrapped the rock. Not only is it hard to fit, but its hard to move. You cannot really use your legs, as their is nothing to push off of. And usually when you use your arms to pull yourself along, you can either grab something and pull from that, or you lift yourself up a bit. I could do neither. At least that area was not too long, maybe about 6 feet or a little less. It was longer then I was tall, but not a great deal longer.

We spent about 3 and a half hours in the caves. We are going caving with his friend and his friends stepdaughter who is in her mid twenties. We leave tonight, and cave tomorrow and possible Sunday as well.

I was not at all scared while I was caving, which may have been because my uncle was explaining all of the things that we were about to do, and that he was calm and very able. But thinking back on all the things that I did makes me wonder how I could have possibly done all of that.

To see photos of other people who have done the cave (you can see the narrow bit over the rock), go to this link:

http://www.ogof.org.uk/ogof_foel_fawr.html

and the second cave that we did (they connected)

http://www.ogof.org.uk/ogof_pasg.html


View on the way there-