Ogof Ffynnon Ddu Round Trip and Maze 23/02/2019
Unless otherwise stated, camera, setups, lighting, edits and gallery effects by Tarquin. Modelling and lighting at various points will be Dave Glover.
One of the awkward obstacles in Edwards Shortcut, where the options are a squeeze or climb over the boulder.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
The main traverse in Edward's Shortcut. The floor for most of the traverse is only a couple of metres down. However, at this point, there is a hole 18 metres deep beneath your feet, and it normally requires this tactic to cross it, while staring down the hole. A rope is optional, but often desired.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Edward's shortcut has several patches of fluffy/bobbly mud, which indicate glacial ice activity. This white deposit could be mistaken for cryostal, but it is microbial. This type of deposit can be seen throughout the cave.
Instead of following the main Round Trip route, we take a detour into Frozen River. This dried crystal pool is at its start.
Frozen River, is a very attractive passage with a lot of formations in very close proximity. Although Edwards Shortcut is used for novice training trips, this passage is generally reserved for more experienced cavers, to protect the formations from damage. Frozen River is named for its flowstone floor.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Helictites.
Helictites. The helictites in this cave have a distinctive character. Very simple, single strands, rarely branching. Even the rare ones that grow off a stalactite still don't seem to branch after that.
Stalactites and crystal pools at the first twist.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
After the twist.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Flowstone at the twist.
Crystal pool at the twist.
Helictites following the seams in the rock.
Lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Helictites.
Helictites.
Helictites.
Helictites.
The most impressive display, at the end of the passage.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
The straws.
Lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Helictites among the straws.
Densely packed helictites.
A corkscrew helictite that changed its mind, and decided to be a straw.
The Elephant Trap, an obstacle that used to be very difficult, hauling yourself onto a sediment bank. The erosion started to threaten the crystal pool at the top, so there is now a ladder instead.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Detail of the dried crystal pool at The Elephant Trap.
Shatter Pillar, the usual snacking spot.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Formations on the side of Selenite Tunnel.
Modelling by Dave
Formations in Selenite Tunnel.
The largest part of Selenite Tunnel, a beautifully ornate passage.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Phreatic tube in Selenite Tunnel.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Crinoid, the fossilised skeleton of a sea lily (an animal that looks like a small palm tree).
Modelling by Dave's finger
President's Leap, a traverse over a deep hole, which a certain caving club president fell down.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Formations in a rift parallel to Selenite Tunnel (at least, I think that's where this is).
Formations in the parallel rift.
Cross Rift, one of the major routes that connects to Midnight Chamber, providing access to The Maze, Maypole Inlet, Upper Great Oxbow, Northern Lights, and the upper routes over the Main Streamway.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Helictites in the ceiling of Cross Rift.
One of the passages that connects Cross Rift to The Maze. This one requires a very dodgy traverse, so we did not use it.
Instead of taking the normal route back towards Maypole Inlet, we drop into a series of crawls below the main passages, passing over Maypole, into the start of The Maze.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
False floor in The Maze.
After following the outer loop of The Maze, we approach Maypole Inlet from its northern side.
Helictite formations in The Maze.
Formations in a side passage in Salubrious Passage - one that connects to Northern Canyon. The lower part is said to resemble a brain, but it does not have an official name.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
One of the awkward obstacles in Edwards Shortcut, where the options are a squeeze or climb over the boulder.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
The main traverse in Edward's Shortcut. The floor for most of the traverse is only a couple of metres down. However, at this point, there is a hole 18 metres deep beneath your feet, and it normally requires this tactic to cross it, while staring down the hole. A rope is optional, but often desired.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Edward's shortcut has several patches of fluffy/bobbly mud, which indicate glacial ice activity. This white deposit could be mistaken for cryostal, but it is microbial. This type of deposit can be seen throughout the cave.
Instead of following the main Round Trip route, we take a detour into Frozen River. This dried crystal pool is at its start.
Frozen River, is a very attractive passage with a lot of formations in very close proximity. Although Edwards Shortcut is used for novice training trips, this passage is generally reserved for more experienced cavers, to protect the formations from damage. Frozen River is named for its flowstone floor.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Helictites.
Helictites. The helictites in this cave have a distinctive character. Very simple, single strands, rarely branching. Even the rare ones that grow off a stalactite still don't seem to branch after that.
Stalactites and crystal pools at the first twist.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
After the twist.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Flowstone at the twist.
Crystal pool at the twist.
Helictites following the seams in the rock.
Lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Helictites.
Helictites.
Helictites.
Helictites.
The most impressive display, at the end of the passage.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
The straws.
Lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Helictites among the straws.
Densely packed helictites.
A corkscrew helictite that changed its mind, and decided to be a straw.
The Elephant Trap, an obstacle that used to be very difficult, hauling yourself onto a sediment bank. The erosion started to threaten the crystal pool at the top, so there is now a ladder instead.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Detail of the dried crystal pool at The Elephant Trap.
Shatter Pillar, the usual snacking spot.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Formations on the side of Selenite Tunnel.
Modelling by Dave
Formations in Selenite Tunnel.
The largest part of Selenite Tunnel, a beautifully ornate passage.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Phreatic tube in Selenite Tunnel.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Crinoid, the fossilised skeleton of a sea lily (an animal that looks like a small palm tree).
Modelling by Dave's finger
President's Leap, a traverse over a deep hole, which a certain caving club president fell down.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Formations in a rift parallel to Selenite Tunnel (at least, I think that's where this is).
Formations in the parallel rift.
Cross Rift, one of the major routes that connects to Midnight Chamber, providing access to The Maze, Maypole Inlet, Upper Great Oxbow, Northern Lights, and the upper routes over the Main Streamway.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
Helictites in the ceiling of Cross Rift.
One of the passages that connects Cross Rift to The Maze. This one requires a very dodgy traverse, so we did not use it.
Instead of taking the normal route back towards Maypole Inlet, we drop into a series of crawls below the main passages, passing over Maypole, into the start of The Maze.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave
False floor in The Maze.
After following the outer loop of The Maze, we approach Maypole Inlet from its northern side.
Helictite formations in The Maze.
Formations in a side passage in Salubrious Passage - one that connects to Northern Canyon. The lower part is said to resemble a brain, but it does not have an official name.
Modelling by Dave, lighting by Tarquin and Dave