Ogof Ffynnon Ddu little trips 13/11/2021 to 2024
These are a series of trips where I did not take enough pictures for their own gallery, so they are collected here, in some semblance of a logical order, rather than chronological order.
Unless otherwise stated, camera, setups, lighting, edits and gallery effects by Tarquin. Modelling and lighting at various points will be Alastair Gott, Paulina Biela, Chloe Francis, Natalie Fretwell, Paul "Footleg" Fretwell, Steph Andrews, Micha Lutz, Gwenllian Tawy, Dinny Davies, Pete Bolt and a bunch of students.
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On our way to the cave. Carreg Cadno, Mynydd y Drum (297 metres), Mynydd Marchywel (418 metres and 369 metres), Mynydd Allt-y-grug (338 metres), Cribarth (428 metres) and Penlle'rcastell (374 metres)
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Students gathering survey data in the Top Entrance passage.
Modelling by Alastair, Paula, Chloe, Natalie and Footleg, lighting by Tarquin, Alastair and Footleg
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Big Chamber Near The Entrance.
Modelling by Footleg, Chloe and Natalie, lighting by Tarquin, Footleg, Chloe and Natalie
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Caving with a bunch of students can be a lot of fun, filled with games and rituals. Today is fondue day, where students from a wide selection of universities have got together to share a fondue, which someone has made and carried into the cave in bottles, to be heated on a stove.
Modelling by a bunch of students, lighting by Tarquin and a bunch of students
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The paddling pool is there to prevent damage to the cave, ensuring that crumbs or spilled cheese get caught by something. Amazingly, there were no drips left in the paddling pool by the end, but that might have something to do with the incredibly stretchy cheese they used. But this is far better than any of the rest of us do when camping underground, and shows that students really can be responsible.
Modelling by a bunch of students, lighting by Tarquin and a bunch of students
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And of course the mandatory decor, a rubber chicken, a rubber dinosaur, and a kazoo.
Modelling by a bunch of students, a rubber chicken, a rubber dinosaur, and a kazoo, lighting by Tarquin and a bunch of students
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Next is the game of sardines, like hide and seek, but only one person hiding. As each person seeking finds them, they have to join them in whatever space they have selected (all while respecting conservation taping), and turn off their lights to see how long they can make it last. It is played in a large space such as Big Chamber Near The Entrance, to try to make it actually possible to find the person without it being immediately obvious where they are.
Modelling by a bunch of students, lighting by Tarquin and a bunch of students
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The first had crammed themselves under this boulder, so the other had to join them, wedging themselves in whatever gap was left, until there was no option but to select other boulders.
Modelling by a bunch of students, lighting by Tarquin and a bunch of students
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Reversing the use of a paddling pool, to sing caving songs as a dischordant choir. And yes, he is lying down in a puddle.
Modelling by a bunch of students, lighting by Tarquin and a bunch of students
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Reverting to its natural use as a boat.
Modelling by a bunch of students, lighting by Tarquin and a bunch of students
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One of the less common routes through the Brickyard, where it joins the passage running behind the Brickyard. The climb is high enough to be stupidly awkward. This trip was Steph's first attempt at navigation with a survey, both with a plotted route, and a "get us there" without specifying a route, and she absolutely aced it.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
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False floor consisting of decomposing calcite, in a passage leading to Bagpipe Chamber.
Lighting by Tarquin and Steph
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Decomposing calcite.
Lighting by Tarquin and Steph
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Bagpipe Chamber, and a demonstration of the worst model pose, appearing to be a urinating man (neither of which were accurate).
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
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Stal boss in the passage leading to the Wall Of Death, the insane route that used to be used to reach OFD III. Incidentally, the survey shows this in the wrong place.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin and Steph
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Crystal pool in a side passage leading off Cairn Chamber.
Lighting by Tarquin and Steph
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Impending sunset over Penwyllt, with Mynydd y Drum, Mynydd Marchywel, Mynydd Allt-y-grug and Cribarth.
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Mushroom in the base of the aven between The Crossroads and The 35 Foot Climb.
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Squeeze connecting The Vault to Northern Lights.
Modelling by Micha, lighting by Tarquin and Micha
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Superb view over the Tawe Valley. Carreg Cadno (538 metres) and its Carreg Lwyd outcrop, Hirfynydd (481 metres), Mynydd y Drum, Mynydd Marchywel, Mynydd Allt-y-grug, Cribarth, Penlle'rcastell, Carreg Goch (558 metres), Garreg Las (635 metres), Fan Hir (761 metres), Moel Feity (591 metres) and Cefn Cul (562 metres).
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Sunset over Fan Hir.
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Sunset over Carreg Goch.
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Sunrise light over Cwm Ffrwd, near Merthyr Tydful.
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Sunrise light on Carreg Goch.
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Early light at The Stump, the caving hut of The Wealden Cave & Mine Society, and the limekilns of the brick works. In the background are Hirfynydd, Carreg Goch and Fan Hir.
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View from our temporary accomodation in Ystalyfera, while Penwyllt was under renovation. The apparent mountain is Farteg Hill (352 metres). And yes, that name is hilarious if you don't know how to pronounce Welsh.
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Midnight Passage traverse.
Modelling by Steph, lighting by Tarquin, Steph, Gwenllian and Dinny
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Helictite in the crawling passage leading into Oxbow Series.
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Curtain in Dry Route, Cwm Dwr.
Lighting by Steph
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Maypole at the junction of Dry Route and Nether Rawl.
Modelling by Gwenllian and Steph, lighting by Tarquin, Dinny, Gwenllian and Steph
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Marble Showers.
Modelling by Gwenllian and Steph, lighting by Tarquin, Gwenllian and Steph
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Evening light. Mynydd y Drum, Mynydd Marchywel, Mynydd Allt-y-grug, Cribarth and Penlle'rcastell.
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Afternoon light over the outcrops behind The Stump.
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Common frog wearing a privacy leaf, at the OFD I entrance to the cave.
Modelling by Herbert, lighting by Tarquin and Sol
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The Step in high water. The usual rule is that you do not go into the river if the step is not visible, such that your boots are wet if you stand on it. However, it is still passable though quite sporting like this, and was on its way down rather than up.
Modelling by Dinny, lighting by Tarquin and Dinny
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By contrast, this is The Step in normal conditions, sitting well above water level. The step is the bottom-most bank of the stream that she is standing on.
Modelling by Gwenllian and Dinny, lighting by Tarquin, Gwenllian and Dinny
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Streaks of stal flow.
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The river in high water. This is quite challenging in places, but even so, I managed to get the entire way upstream with dry feet, and one damp shin.
Modelling by Dinny and Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin, Dinny and Gwenllian
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Nautiloid in the Ledges area.
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Bridge linking Top Loop and Top Way, over Muddy Way in West Leg of Waterfall Series.
Modelling by Dinny and parts of Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
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The crystal pool in Crystal Pool Chamber.
Modelling by Gwenllian, lighting by Tarquin and Gwenllian
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Airy Fairy traverse
Modelling by Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
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Crystals in a passage linking the Escape Route beteeen Traverse Passage and The Dugout, with the ceiling of Airy Fairy. It is not possible to climb the connection down to Airy Fairy.
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Taped off side passage in Fault Series, an aven series leading off Flood Passage in Cyril Powell Series.
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Stalagmite on its own terp mound (hills built under buildings in the Netherlands, to avoid flooding) in Fault Series.
Modelling by Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
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Heading down towards the sump in Shortcut Passage, part of Cyril Powell Series.
Modelling by Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete