Ogof Ffynnon Ddu Top to Main Streamway trip 23/05/2021
Unless otherwise stated, camera, setups, lighting, edits and gallery effects by Tarquin. Modelling and lighting at various points will be Lizzy Bolt and Pete Bolt.
Traversing over the waterfall in Salubrious Passage.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete
The tricky climb at Crossroads.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Bold step over Maypole Inlet. At this point, the rift below your feet is 12 metres deep.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Hooking around a corner, the route reaches Maypole Inlet again, at the top of The 35 Foot Climb, down to the bottom of the Maypole Inlet rift. In reality, the climb is 9 metres, or 30 feet. There is another route on the other side of the boulders, but it is much more exposed.
Modelling by Tarquin's big toe.
Starting down The 35 Foot Climb. It is a little daunting from here, since it looks like it has no holds at all for the bottom section (which is not far from the truth).
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Lizzy
The middle part of the climb. There are useful jammed boulders, and some tat to hold on to.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
The bottom part of the climb has no holds at all, and you climb back up by jamming your feet in little notches, wheel spinning up the walls, standing on someone's shoulders, or smearing your lips up the limestone - an interesting tactic which I had not seen before. Whatever it takes.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Maypole Inlet is very narrow, and most of us have to choose to face one wall, and occasionally swap over in wider spots to give each leg a rest. Then scramble up over jammed rocks, and repeat.
Modelling by Lizzy
Maypole Inlet.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
The passage drops down some little cascades, and you get the feeling a pitch might appear soon.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
The main pitch of Maypole Inlet, which is descended via a ladder, which was soaking wet due to the high water levels. This was originally maypoled up from the river, and is how the whole Top Entrance area of Ogof Ffynnon Ddu was originally explored.
Modelling by Lizzy and a yellow monster lurking in the shadows (Pete), lighting by Tarquin and Lizzy
The lower climb, which looks like a killer whale, thanks to the moonmilk coating. This climb requires a wide leg span, almost the splits for shorter cavers. Being tall is definitely an advantage here, but a disadvantage for the stream above.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Climbing from Maypole Inlet down to the Main Streamway.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Trying to avoid another soaking.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
The water levels were definitely high, thanks to the substantial rainfall for the last few days, but still at the upper end of safe. So we headed upstream, to enjoy the river.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Upstream Main Streamway, accompanied by the roar of the river.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Charging around the corners. We stopped at the first deep pot, since the potential rise in water from the rain would make a trip to Top Waterfall impossible.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Heading back downstream (freeze frame from a video, like a lot of these pictures).
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin and Lizzy
Back to Maypole Inlet. The reflector lets you know that this is a major escape route in case of flooding.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin and Lizzy
Heading downstream.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin and Lizzy
The water feels a lot more powerful in this direction, particularly at this corner.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Double checking whether the water is hiding any holes in the floor. It was.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin and Lizzy
The head of a small waterfall downstream. There is another deep pool right behind them.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
The waterfall, where it was best to turn around and head back upstream.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Crossing the President's Leap traverse from Crossroads, another traverse over Maypole Inlet, but much further upstream this time.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Selenite Tunnel, a beautiful phreas with selenite, calcite and crinoid fossils.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Pete
After the obligatory visit to The Trident, The Judge and the Swamp Creek Fairy Castle, we took the back route from The Wedding Cake via Arête Chamber, along this traverse to Big Chamber Near The Entrance.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
Traversing over the waterfall in Salubrious Passage.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete
The tricky climb at Crossroads.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Bold step over Maypole Inlet. At this point, the rift below your feet is 12 metres deep.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Hooking around a corner, the route reaches Maypole Inlet again, at the top of The 35 Foot Climb, down to the bottom of the Maypole Inlet rift. In reality, the climb is 9 metres, or 30 feet. There is another route on the other side of the boulders, but it is much more exposed.
Modelling by Tarquin's big toe.
Starting down The 35 Foot Climb. It is a little daunting from here, since it looks like it has no holds at all for the bottom section (which is not far from the truth).
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Lizzy
The middle part of the climb. There are useful jammed boulders, and some tat to hold on to.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
The bottom part of the climb has no holds at all, and you climb back up by jamming your feet in little notches, wheel spinning up the walls, standing on someone's shoulders, or smearing your lips up the limestone - an interesting tactic which I had not seen before. Whatever it takes.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Maypole Inlet is very narrow, and most of us have to choose to face one wall, and occasionally swap over in wider spots to give each leg a rest. Then scramble up over jammed rocks, and repeat.
Modelling by Lizzy
Maypole Inlet.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin and Pete
The passage drops down some little cascades, and you get the feeling a pitch might appear soon.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
The main pitch of Maypole Inlet, which is descended via a ladder, which was soaking wet due to the high water levels. This was originally maypoled up from the river, and is how the whole Top Entrance area of Ogof Ffynnon Ddu was originally explored.
Modelling by Lizzy and a yellow monster lurking in the shadows (Pete), lighting by Tarquin and Lizzy
The lower climb, which looks like a killer whale, thanks to the moonmilk coating. This climb requires a wide leg span, almost the splits for shorter cavers. Being tall is definitely an advantage here, but a disadvantage for the stream above.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Climbing from Maypole Inlet down to the Main Streamway.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Trying to avoid another soaking.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
The water levels were definitely high, thanks to the substantial rainfall for the last few days, but still at the upper end of safe. So we headed upstream, to enjoy the river.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Upstream Main Streamway, accompanied by the roar of the river.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Charging around the corners. We stopped at the first deep pot, since the potential rise in water from the rain would make a trip to Top Waterfall impossible.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Heading back downstream (freeze frame from a video, like a lot of these pictures).
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin and Lizzy
Back to Maypole Inlet. The reflector lets you know that this is a major escape route in case of flooding.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin and Lizzy
Heading downstream.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin and Lizzy
The water feels a lot more powerful in this direction, particularly at this corner.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Double checking whether the water is hiding any holes in the floor. It was.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Tarquin and Lizzy
The head of a small waterfall downstream. There is another deep pool right behind them.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
The waterfall, where it was best to turn around and head back upstream.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Crossing the President's Leap traverse from Crossroads, another traverse over Maypole Inlet, but much further upstream this time.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin, Lizzy and Pete
Selenite Tunnel, a beautiful phreas with selenite, calcite and crinoid fossils.
Modelling by Lizzy, lighting by Pete
After the obligatory visit to The Trident, The Judge and the Swamp Creek Fairy Castle, we took the back route from The Wedding Cake via Arête Chamber, along this traverse to Big Chamber Near The Entrance.
Modelling by Lizzy and Pete, lighting by Tarquin and Pete