Descended Path «º« Producers Takeover

descended path «º« producers takeover

A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. Some people suggest that the term cave should only apply to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness; however, in popular usage, the term includes smaller spaces like sea caves, rock shelters, and grottos. Speleology is the science of exploration and study of all aspects of caves and the environment which surrounds the caves.

Throughout history, primitive peoples have made use of caves for shelter, burial, or as religious sites. Since items placed in caves are protected from the climate and scavenging animals, this means caves are an archaeological treasure house for learning about these people. Cave paintings are of particular interest. One example is the Great Cave of Niah, in Malaysia, which contains evidence of human habitation dating back 40,000 years. Another, the Diepkloof Rock Shelter in South Africa contains evidence of human habitation and use of symbols dating back 60,000 years.

Porth yr Ogof is an open access cave with several entrances and a very bad reputation for deaths. The cave is very much overused by adventure groups and for military training. The main route follows the river which in wet weather flows into the main entrance, the largest entrance in Wales (20 m wide and 3 m high). This route is generally very wide and between 10 and 1.5 m high. Upstream inlets enter a complex divers only area and to the right inside the main area, a complex of passages bypasses a deep section in the main route. A survey is available on the UBSS site. The resurgence pool at the water exit is the area that has claimed so many lives, being 4-5 m deep and cold with undercuts and strong under-currents. As there are 15 entrances - the most of any cave in Wales - the exit is best avoided by using one of the other entrances. Notices within the cave before the exit pool warn of the danger and point to the safe ways out.

The current death list follows. Please do not add to this list. Only very experienced cavers who are strong swimmers should attempt to cross the resurgence pool.

23 June 1957 Leonard Garraway (experienced) [20] died crossing the resurgence pool

20 June 1966 B. Speakman [age unknown] died crossing the resurgence pool

7 August 1968 Anthony Stannard (experienced) [28] died crossing the resurgence pool

18 October 1970 Stephen Sedgewick (novice) [18] died crossing the resurgence pool

13 February 1971 Paul Esser (trainee cave diver) [21] died while diving in an upstream sump - not the resurgence pool

19 July 1973 Graham Alston (cadet soldier, novice) [15] died crossing the resurgence pool

22 July 1981 Adrian Luck (novice) [28] died crossing the resurgence pool

28 July 1986 Gwynfor Hughes (outdoor persuits instructor leading a party) [45] died of a heart attack whilst installing a rope across the resurgence pool

16 June 1992 Amanda Stead (soldier [sometimes incorrectly stated as an army cadet], novice) [26] died crossing the resurgence pool

14 October 1992 Graham Lipp (one of two leaders of a party of children from an outdoor pursuits centre) [34] died crossing the resurgence pool, while trying to retrieve the body of a 15 year old from his party who had just drowned in the pool but was successfully revived

Posted at 12:18, 2nd April 2011