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PHOTOS
BERGER
to BLANC you
are visitor number
|
The
Team |
Tony Baker,
Nicky Bayley, Helen Brooke, Bill Buxton, Jules Carter, John Cliffe, Brian
Clipstone, Gareth Davies, Lel Davies, Andy Dobson, Dave Dobson, Barbara
Hall, Bridget Hall, Andy Harp, Martin Hoff, Barbera Hyland, Dominic Hyland,
Sue Mabbett, Mike McCombe, Hayley Meredith, Paul Meredith, Iain Miller,
Paul Quill, Ben Stevens, Dan Sullivan, Gary Vaughan, Susie Vaughan, Jeff
Wade, Clive Westlake. |
Tue
14th Aug |
As to the expedition as a whole?
It was an excellent trip with a good mix of people. The SUSS crew were good
fun and more than carried their weight. The Kendal cavers were staying at
Pauls house so we didn’t really get to know them as well but again
they were a great crew who also pulled their weight. Whilst most people
completed bottoming trips others managed trips that were of equal value.
The Berger is an awesome cave and well worth the visit. I personally found
the caving at the bottom section of the cave simply fabulous on big atmospheric
pitches with water thundering down next to you. Paul Meredith carried out
the awards ceremony superbly well at the end with a host of awards made
by the kids including birthday cards and cake for Clive Westlake who turned
a mere 62 at the end of the trip! ~ Jules (now home) |
Sat
11th Aug
|
On our way home. Cave cleared
Thursday pm despite heavy rain. Fantastic expedition: 25 of 34 participants
made it to the bottom, v. efficient rig/de-rig, good campsite but most importantly
an excellent team spirit and friendly atmosphere. Whole team extend grateful
thanks to Gary and Susie . . . here's to the next one! ~
Tony |
Thur
9th Aug |
Evening: We're all having a
BBQ in the rain. Good job we brought the expedition frame tent. The Kendal
and Mackrill are here. We have sponsored the Bottom to Top trip of Mackrill's
for a girl who broke her back climbing and needs an all-terrain wheelchair.
About to do Expedition Awards. ~ Bridget |
Thur
9th Aug |
We have de-rigged! Last man
out was Clive. We are damp and there's lots to carry to the car park. ~
Bridget |
Thur
9th Aug |
Its raining lots. I'm on entrance
duty and tent is leaking! (Someone is always on duty at the entrance to
log everyone in and out and to man (woman) the underground Nicola phone.)
Hoping they can get it de-rigged today. Teams all fine. Bill got to Camp
One and out. Photos were taken. Katie says it's cold and wet and she wants
to go home. Expedition BBQ planned for tonight may be washed out. ~
Bridget |
Thur
9th Aug |
Wasn't on the trip yesterday.
They all got out ok from Aldo's and four have gone in today to de-rig from
there. Katie has just brought out 3 (!) bags from Cairn. ~
Bridget |
Thur
9th Aug |
De-rig planned for today but
v heavy rain overnight may thwart this, waiting to hear from early team
(who are investigating). ~ Tony |
Wed
8th Aug |
Team to Camp Two to collect
bags and de-rig. Also SUSS calendar shoot in Hall of the Thirteen (now we
know the real goals of the expedition!). Then Camp One cleared and derig
back to Aldos. All parties held up after heavy rain sent flood pulse down.
Cairn pitch impassable for 1 hr. Pulse hit Aldos as SUSS team arrived but
everyone else out safe by 2300. ~ Tony |
Wed
8th Aug |
Epic 12 hr photo trip to Starless
River, Grande Gallerie, Salle Bourgin, Great Rubble Heap and Hall of the
Thirteen - 74 big bulbs used. Thanks to all Models and Flashers! ~
Tony |
Tue
7th Aug |
Iffy forecast so noone in GB
today. Big de-rig/photo/haul on Wed. TB now has 60 big bulbs stashed in
the cave, taking more in tomorrow! Patient volunteers sought. ~
Tony |
Tue
7th Aug |
Cycled to Bionassey at 1400m where we began the slog up.
Stopped at the Tête refuge to collect mountain gear, then the serious
slog to the Agoûter refuge, then Paul to the summit. For me, altitude
problems were to be expected as I had not been to altitude before the
challenge. Pleased to break the 4000m mark - got to the Vallots refuge
at 4362m. ~ Jules
|
Tue
7th Aug |
Fabulous caving trip to the
syphon and back (that's as deep as non-divers can go). Not as demanding
as I thought. 1000m inlet was an impressive sight.
My feelings at the bottom - completely in awe. A wonderful sense of achievement
and complete respect for Petz, Cadoux and those that went before. It definately
becomes a far darker and more wild cave below CampTwo. Glad to have completed,
and got back safely. Well done to all who managed to get to the bottom.
PS. Upper body aching this morning. ~ Gareth D |
Tue
7th Aug |
Paul Mc did it from Bottom (of
the Berger) to Top (of Mt Blanc) in 29hrs. Jules had to stop at 4000m with
altitude problems. They had pizza handed to them as they cycled. Had rain
overnight, I ache today! ~ Bridget |
Mon
6th Aug |
Quote - Quill to Hel: "You
left your knickers at Camp One". Hel: "They weren't mine, you've
been sniffing Gareth's undies"
Martin and Paul Mdth to Balcony pitch taking pics, 11 hrs. Committee members
so far: 4 to bottom, 1 to Little Monkey, 1 to Canals, 1 to Balcony, 2 to
Entrance. ~ Tony back
to the top? |
Mon
6th Aug |
Berger to Mt Blanc on Saturday,
Paul Mackrill supported by Jules Carter, began the attempt. Our Berger trip
took 9.5 hours, then mtb biked to the road. It was then 160km by road bike
to the base of Mt Blanc. After a short sleep we began the ascent. Paul made
the top 29 hrs and 29 mins after leaving the bottom of the Berger. ~
Jules |
Mon
6th Aug |
Sun/Mon: Ben, Bridget, Gareth
to bottom and back via C1. Hel and Tim W to top of Little Monkey pitch,
stop at C1. Four Kendal cavers to bottom, and de-rig lower pitches.
~ Tony |
Mon
6th Aug |
Trip (to the bottom) really long! Canals were really hard work, rope
with strands of core showing! (There's a lot of traverse tat left at this
section, all at different heights depending on the prevailing water level).
Hurricane my favourite pitch at bottom, its big and wet. Camping was snug
at Camp One, got some sleep.
Front coming in tonight. Martin and Paul Mdth on Camp One trip. Kendal
guy cut his finger on Balcon pitch so first aid got used at Camp One.
Paul Mc and Jules are on Mt Blanc (having arrived, I assume at Chamonix,
on their bicycles). ~ Bridget
|
Mon
6th Aug |
Just got out from the bottom.
Canals played with my mind - very wet and serious, cracking lower wet pitches.
Had a good night's sleep at Camp One. With Bridget and Gareth. 29 hrs and
26 mins. Pics to follow. ~ Ben |
Sun
5th Aug |
Being at -1000m feels extremely
remote, made all the more intimidating by Hurricane pitch ~ 44m, spray,
noise and awkward take-off. As you start back you realise that you have
10-16 hrs of arduous caving ahead of you, having already done 5-8hrs or
more, and 1000m to climb!
Own up . . who wrote SWCC 1975 with a carbide flame on the wall near the
top of Little Monkey? ~ Tony |
Sun
5th Aug |
Camp One has stoves, emergency
sleeping gear and food, first aid and a Nicola phone to the surface. My
experience this time (having been to the bottom on a previous expedition),
is that it feels similar but perhaps a little harder due to different fitness
and less novelty value in a known quantity. ~ Martin |
Sat
4th Aug |
Jules C and Paul Mack to the
bottom and back in 9 hrs 20 mins! Before cycle to climb Mt Blanc (don't
try this at home). Gary V and Martin H 15 hrs, Tony, Sue M and Gareth E
22hrs (this is a bit more human!). Andy H and Nicky to bottom then slept
at Camp One. Committee members to bottom so far = 3 (PCW wishes to add that
he was there about 12 years ago!). ~ Tony back
to the top? |
Sat
4rd Aug |
Went on swinging rope course
near Autrans today with Ben and Tim. The boys did the super black route
and all did the big zip wires 250m. Bottom (of Berger) tomorrow. ~
Bridget |
Fri
3rd Aug |
Rob, Hannah and Mike (SUSS)
plus John C in to rig Hurricane, plus Henry and Katie (SUSS) in to bottom.
Ben and Bridget in to Cairn Chamber. ~ Tony |
Fri
3rd Aug |
Dropped stuff off at Entrance today for bottoming trip on Sunday. Having
a nice meal out at our family campsite restaurant tonight. Mum, Lel, Hayley,
Susie, Barb went for a girlie day and hot tub.
First part of the cave (to the bottom of Aldos, -336m) is like
doing a few Yorkshire pots (in a row). Got army ration packs to take under
for food.We plan to have an expedition BBQ next Thursday when all derigged.
Been down Furan Canyon (surface canyon not far away), lots of fun, even
did an 8m jump! ~ Bridget
|
Fri
3rd Aug |
Weather back onside, clear blue
sky. ~ Tony |
Thur
2nd Aug |
Thunderstorms today but limited
rain. Dobsons and Brian C to Cairn Chamber taking pics. Some to Gouffre
de Bournillon. ~ Tony |
Wed
1st Aug |
Tony has 30 PF60 flashbulbs stashed at Camp One for epic photo trip!
Brian C buys paraffin instead of Jeyes fluid for Camp One loo: potentially
explosive consequences averted as mistake is spotted!
Fishy goings-on: Quill's tin of salmon splits open en route to Camp One,
coating his kit with fish oil. Smell keeps everyone else moving quickly
~ Tony
|
Wed
1st Aug |
All rigged bar Hurricane (44m
pitch at -1032m): bottoming trips are on hold due to iffy weather expected
Thursday. Most teams are aiming for weekend attempts. Also Camp One trips
taking stuff in, in preparation for bottoming. Tony, Martin, Gareth, Sue
M, Quill, Mike McC, Gary V, Clive W, Dom H. ~ Tony |
Wed
1st Aug |
Nine people did trips to Camp
One today (at -480m you can camp at the side of a massive bouldery passage
on some rare flattish floor just before you get to the huge gour pools and
stalagmites of the Hall of the Thirteen). No major excitement but a little
creative navigation by two nameless individuals! ~ Martin |
Tue
31st Jul |
Excellent afternoon canyoning - in the sunshine!
- Tony, Martin, Gareth, Dan, Ben, Bridget, Tim. ~ Tony |
Tue
31st Jul |
Weather good, conditions in cave ideal,
very dry. Campsite is great but the "no noise after 2300" rule
is going to be a challenge after a late exit from the cave.
Rigged to almost -900 meters, bottoming trips will start in the next few
days. All have been in the cave to acclimatise, some starting to realise
just how big the cave is! ~ Tony |
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Items in (brackets) are PCW explanations!
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