Ogof Draenen northern trip 30/07/2023
Unless otherwise stated, camera, setups, lighting, edits and gallery effects by Tarquin. Modelling and lighting at various points will be Mark Hampson and Steph Andrews.
Darling Rifts, the original way through the Entrance Series, now bypassed using Spare Rib. This is roughly the point where Kevin Munn slipped and broke his ribs while transporting a large television camera, giving the name to Spare Rib.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin, Steph and Mark
The upper level of Pitch Bypass, which is normally bypassed by the lower level crawl.
Modelling by Steph and Mark, lighting by Tarquin, Steph and Mark
Dorsal spine of a Ctenacanthus proto-shark, in the upper level of Pitch Bypass.
Natural calcite dribbles that look like a painting of straws, in Gilwern Passage.
Tiny gypsum flowers in Gilwern Passage.
The Guardian, a stalagmite in Forever Changed, Galeria Garimpeiros. Ripples must be kept to a minimum to avoid damaging the mud that it rests on.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin, Steph and Mark
Ponies on Gilwern Hill. These are a hybrid of the Welsh mountain pony and the gypsy cob.
Modelling by the herd
Tyla Quarry, the main quarry on the eastern side of Gilwern Hill. This contains numerous short caves. Ogof Draenen's Bolder Land, part of Waterfall Series, runs parallel to the quarry, about 100 metres behind the quary face. Outer Quarry Cave sits over the bank on the left. Box Cave and Ogof Gwyfyn are part way along the upper face on the left. Large Shelter is half way along the upper face, and half way up it. Rift Dig is in the middle of the lower face on the left, and Rift Cave is at the far end of it. In the distant corner is an unnamed little cave.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
The far end of the quarry, looking towards The Blorenge. Large Shelter can be seen as a dark square near its far end. Rift Dig is a small shadow below it. Rift Cave's path can be seen sloping up near the right end of the quarry. Waterfall Series ends behing the mast on the right, with The Realm Of Baron Von Carno and Saint Giles Series behind it. Megadrive is in the distant mountain behind the green triangular ridge. The far end of the cave is twice as far as the right edge of The Blorenge.
The entrance to Large Shelter, looking towards The Skirrid and Edmund's Tump. This would once have been a very impressive passage. The edges have been squared off by quarry workers, to make it a convenient shelter.
Sadly, the cave slams into a choke, and ends, beneath a large shakehole.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Sol and Steph
The Black Mountains and their neighbours. Mynydd Llangatwg/Llangattock (530 and 529 metres), Allt yr Esgaer (393 metres), Mynydd Llangorse (515 metres), Pen Cerrig-calch (701 metres), Waun Fach (810 metres), Pen y Gadair Fawr (800 metres), Pen Twyn Mawr (658 metres), Pen Gwyllt Meirch (580 metres), Chwarel y Fan (679 metres), Disgwylfa (540 metres), Crug Mawr (550 metres), Sugar Loaf (596 metres), The Skirrid/Ysgyryd Fawr (486 metres), Edmund's Tump (423 metres) and the Blorenge (561 metres).
Modelling by Steph
Quimp's Quarry, on the northeast edge of Gilwern Hill. The entrance to Ogof Ddwy Sir is near the right side of the yellow-topped lower outcrop, and the cave points towards Bolder Land. The right end of the upper bench also has some smaller caves with impressive echos. The Realm Of Baron Von Carno is under the sloping hillside to the right of the quarry.
Darling Rifts, the original way through the Entrance Series, now bypassed using Spare Rib. This is roughly the point where Kevin Munn slipped and broke his ribs while transporting a large television camera, giving the name to Spare Rib.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin, Steph and Mark
The upper level of Pitch Bypass, which is normally bypassed by the lower level crawl.
Modelling by Steph and Mark, lighting by Tarquin, Steph and Mark
Dorsal spine of a Ctenacanthus proto-shark, in the upper level of Pitch Bypass.
Natural calcite dribbles that look like a painting of straws, in Gilwern Passage.
Tiny gypsum flowers in Gilwern Passage.
The Guardian, a stalagmite in Forever Changed, Galeria Garimpeiros. Ripples must be kept to a minimum to avoid damaging the mud that it rests on.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin, Steph and Mark
Ponies on Gilwern Hill. These are a hybrid of the Welsh mountain pony and the gypsy cob.
Modelling by the herd
Tyla Quarry, the main quarry on the eastern side of Gilwern Hill. This contains numerous short caves. Ogof Draenen's Bolder Land, part of Waterfall Series, runs parallel to the quarry, about 100 metres behind the quary face. Outer Quarry Cave sits over the bank on the left. Box Cave and Ogof Gwyfyn are part way along the upper face on the left. Large Shelter is half way along the upper face, and half way up it. Rift Dig is in the middle of the lower face on the left, and Rift Cave is at the far end of it. In the distant corner is an unnamed little cave.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
The far end of the quarry, looking towards The Blorenge. Large Shelter can be seen as a dark square near its far end. Rift Dig is a small shadow below it. Rift Cave's path can be seen sloping up near the right end of the quarry. Waterfall Series ends behing the mast on the right, with The Realm Of Baron Von Carno and Saint Giles Series behind it. Megadrive is in the distant mountain behind the green triangular ridge. The far end of the cave is twice as far as the right edge of The Blorenge.
The entrance to Large Shelter, looking towards The Skirrid and Edmund's Tump. This would once have been a very impressive passage. The edges have been squared off by quarry workers, to make it a convenient shelter.
Sadly, the cave slams into a choke, and ends, beneath a large shakehole.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Sol and Steph
The Black Mountains and their neighbours. Mynydd Llangatwg/Llangattock (530 and 529 metres), Allt yr Esgaer (393 metres), Mynydd Llangorse (515 metres), Pen Cerrig-calch (701 metres), Waun Fach (810 metres), Pen y Gadair Fawr (800 metres), Pen Twyn Mawr (658 metres), Pen Gwyllt Meirch (580 metres), Chwarel y Fan (679 metres), Disgwylfa (540 metres), Crug Mawr (550 metres), Sugar Loaf (596 metres), The Skirrid/Ysgyryd Fawr (486 metres), Edmund's Tump (423 metres) and the Blorenge (561 metres).
Modelling by Steph
Quimp's Quarry, on the northeast edge of Gilwern Hill. The entrance to Ogof Ddwy Sir is near the right side of the yellow-topped lower outcrop, and the cave points towards Bolder Land. The right end of the upper bench also has some smaller caves with impressive echos. The Realm Of Baron Von Carno is under the sloping hillside to the right of the quarry.