Lesser Garth Cave trips 19/05/2019, 09/02/2023 and 13/06/2023
Unless otherwise stated, camera, setups, lighting, edits and gallery effects by Tarquin. Modelling and lighting at various points will be Noah Wilton-Jones, Jason Williams, Steph Andrews and Dante.
Both of these trips covered only the early part of the cave. The first was just to check out a pitch, and the second was to take some pictures for illustrative purposes. Therefore the pictures may seem a little unusual.
The footpath at the bottom of Lesser Garth.
The bottom of the slope.
Modelling by Noah
The steep part at the bottom of the slope.
Modelling by Dante and Noah
Slopes covered in wild garlic.
Nearing the top of the seemingly endless slope. It is steep enough to slide most of the way back down.
Modelling by Noah and Dante
Looking down into the working quarry. The original entrance to Ogof Ffynnon Taf is durectly under the camera, but is no longer accessible. The cave is now accessed via Lesser Garth Cave instead.
Entrance to Lesser Garth Cave.
The way in to the cave.
Modelling by Noah, lighting by Tarquin and Sol
You crawl in under a lot of spiders.
Modelling by the crew
They are all European cave spiders.
Modelling by some little friends
This is how big they are, one of the largest British spiders.
Modelling by a little friend and Steph's pointy thing
Their egg sacs cover the ceiling.
Filled with even more little friends.
This is how big the egg sacs are.
Modelling by Maman and Steph's nose picker
The entrance chamber.
Modelling by Noah and Dante, lighting by Tarquin and Noah
The pit in the floor is an excavation, where prehistoric human remains were found.
Modelling by Tarquin
Gardening loose rocks on the 9 metre pitch down to Ogof Ffynnon Taf. This picture is staged and edited to exaggerate the effect, since this was a picture intended to be used as an illustration. In reality, a bunch of rocks were not actually sent down the pitch, and all rocks remain where they normally would have been.
Modelling by Jason, lighting by Tarquin and Jason
Stranded after pulling through on the pitch. Again, this picture is staged.
Modelling by Jason
Heading into the squeeze. Steph found it easiest feet first.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
Dropping a little lower.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
And through. On the other side she found a prepper's tent and absolutely foul contents (including bagged bodily waste), which seemed to have been there since lockdown. This was cleaned up completely on a subsequent trip.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
Self belaying while climbing back up the pitch. This is a real climb, and was done with a 1973 Gibbs ascender, that still worked just fine.
Modelling by Jason, lighting by Tarquin and Jason
Rope rub protector in use on the climb down into the main passage.
Modelling by Jason, lighting by Tarquin, Noah and Jason
The main passage is large, with a lot of richly coloured curtains. It is a shame that it ends so abruptly.
Modelling by Jason, lighting by Tarquin, Noah and Jason
Lead climbing to reach a high level passage. This technique is very rarely used underground, and was staged, rather than being an actual climb.
Modelling by Noah and Jason, lighting by Tarquin, Noah and Jason
Traversing towards a flowstone-covered section of the passage.
Modelling by Jason, lighting by Tarquin, Noah and Jason
Cave pearls.
Lighting by Tarquin and Steph
Demonstrating a Dyneema sling.
Modelling by Jason
Aid climbing at the choke using pitons. Again, this is a staged picture, and this was not actually a piton climb. One very old piton, which had been underground for around 40 years, was actually used as a belay. Hooray old gear?
Modelling by Noah and Jason, lighting by Tarquin and Jason
The footpath at the bottom of Lesser Garth.
The bottom of the slope.
Modelling by Noah
The steep part at the bottom of the slope.
Modelling by Dante and Noah
Slopes covered in wild garlic.
Nearing the top of the seemingly endless slope. It is steep enough to slide most of the way back down.
Modelling by Noah and Dante
Looking down into the working quarry. The original entrance to Ogof Ffynnon Taf is durectly under the camera, but is no longer accessible. The cave is now accessed via Lesser Garth Cave instead.
Entrance to Lesser Garth Cave.
The way in to the cave.
Modelling by Noah, lighting by Tarquin and Sol
You crawl in under a lot of spiders.
Modelling by the crew
They are all European cave spiders.
Modelling by some little friends
This is how big they are, one of the largest British spiders.
Modelling by a little friend and Steph's pointy thing
Their egg sacs cover the ceiling.
Filled with even more little friends.
This is how big the egg sacs are.
Modelling by Maman and Steph's nose picker
The entrance chamber.
Modelling by Noah and Dante, lighting by Tarquin and Noah
The pit in the floor is an excavation, where prehistoric human remains were found.
Modelling by Tarquin
Gardening loose rocks on the 9 metre pitch down to Ogof Ffynnon Taf. This picture is staged and edited to exaggerate the effect, since this was a picture intended to be used as an illustration. In reality, a bunch of rocks were not actually sent down the pitch, and all rocks remain where they normally would have been.
Modelling by Jason, lighting by Tarquin and Jason
Stranded after pulling through on the pitch. Again, this picture is staged.
Modelling by Jason
Heading into the squeeze. Steph found it easiest feet first.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
Dropping a little lower.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
And through. On the other side she found a prepper's tent and absolutely foul contents (including bagged bodily waste), which seemed to have been there since lockdown. This was cleaned up completely on a subsequent trip.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
Self belaying while climbing back up the pitch. This is a real climb, and was done with a 1973 Gibbs ascender, that still worked just fine.
Modelling by Jason, lighting by Tarquin and Jason
Rope rub protector in use on the climb down into the main passage.
Modelling by Jason, lighting by Tarquin, Noah and Jason
The main passage is large, with a lot of richly coloured curtains. It is a shame that it ends so abruptly.
Modelling by Jason, lighting by Tarquin, Noah and Jason
Lead climbing to reach a high level passage. This technique is very rarely used underground, and was staged, rather than being an actual climb.
Modelling by Noah and Jason, lighting by Tarquin, Noah and Jason
Traversing towards a flowstone-covered section of the passage.
Modelling by Jason, lighting by Tarquin, Noah and Jason
Cave pearls.
Lighting by Tarquin and Steph
Demonstrating a Dyneema sling.
Modelling by Jason
Aid climbing at the choke using pitons. Again, this is a staged picture, and this was not actually a piton climb. One very old piton, which had been underground for around 40 years, was actually used as a belay. Hooray old gear?
Modelling by Noah and Jason, lighting by Tarquin and Jason