Agen Allwedd Sand Caverns trip 09/08/2020
Unless otherwise stated, camera, setups, lighting, edits and gallery effects by Tarquin. Modelling and lighting at various points will be Pete Bolt.
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Sand Caverns, just beyond the junction with Selenite Needle Passage, which I have already covered in other galleries. The branch is blind, and the way on is the alcove on the left.
Modelling by Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
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The way on passes through a ruckle, with several options that all work.
Modelling by Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
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The early part remains reasonably sized.
Modelling by Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
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The way on is not difficult to find. The passage, however, still has not shown off its quality.
Modelling by Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
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Mud formations.
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Mud formations.
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Finally back to good passage, with a small stream between the sand banks; the sand of Sand Caverns.
Modelling by Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
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Inlet with a climbing pole. It must have been quite a feat to get that pole all the way in here. The inlet closes down very quickly.
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Flowstone on the mud.
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Stream channel.
Modelling by Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
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Another choke. We found the obvious way through, without realising that there is another one hidden at the top which goes elsewhere.
Modelling by Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
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Overpass above a natural rock bridge. We would return here later.
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The passage suddenly grows to a very grand scale.
Modelling by Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
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A side passage that appears to end very quickly.
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Staying in the big passage.
Modelling by Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
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Cryostal on the boulders.
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Cryostal, revealed below the mud cap.
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Revealed by drips.
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Brightly coloured rock. This appears to be shale.
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The final chamber is also the best.
Modelling by Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
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Mud formation in the final chamber.
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Translucent curtains.
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Stalagmite flow.
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Flowstone on the wall.
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Stalactites that look like pig's ears.
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The highlight of the final chamber is this huge grotto, a jewel in the crown for Aggy.
Lighting by Tarquin and Pete
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Beautifully textured stalagmite.
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Poured cream.
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Decorations at the back of the chamber, mostly curtains.
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Stalagmite boulders.
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Little curtains.
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End of the passage, which has not been extended despite being found in 1975-1976.
Modelling by Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
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Signature left by the original explorers from Hereford Caving Club; LIMIT [OF] EXPLO[RATION] HCC.
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We climbed up a pole near the last choke, where a short passage took us into the overpass. From there, a continuing passage entered Central Avenue, a large canyon passage leading over to Selenite Tunnel.
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Central Avenue.
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The passage branches, and we took the wrong branch (the description and survey were terrible), which was not as comfortable as the passage before it.
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A scramble up through a choke gave access to a domed passage in the nodular bed, which dropped us back out in Sand Caverns at the other end of the choke.
Modelling by Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
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Rescue dump at the Inner Circle, with emergency food and medical kit, in case the way out flooded or collapsed.
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It has been here since 1976, nearly 20 years after the original exploration, and is more like a time capsule of outdated medical products, rather than being of any current use.