Ogof Draenen
Digging at Pontypool or Bust, Tim Francis, 1998
Ever since our earliest trips into Ogof Draenen in 1996 I have been intrigued by those odd bits of passage that head off into blank areas on the survey and yet have been overlooked. Numerous trips have been made to unusual areas such as Pen-y-Galchen Passage, The Canyon, Big Mole Passage and Ladder Passage. About 40 foot of passage was dug open at the last site and looks like it could bypass the choke and open up a significant blank area to the North. However we finally chose to concentrate upon Pontypool or Bust, a Southern trending passage which runs parallel to the main streamway. Since our first visit in August 1996 a huge chunk of passage has been opened up to the South, Luck of the Draw, leaving a big hole in the survey.
POB passage is an infrequently visited bit of passage leading off from Agent Blorenge just upstream of The Sewer. Initially the series begins as The Crystal Maze, named after the television programme, which is a thrutchy bit of cave where the walls are coated with some fine crystals. After ten minutes at normal pace a junction is met: straight on are the Sand Swims and to the right Pontypool or Bust. The Sand Swims are well decorated but we've tended to concentrate on POB as that is where the main draft seems to come from. Another ten minutes of crawling and squeezing and one pops out in the terminal chamber. All ways on appear to be choked with sand but there is definitely a draft coming from somewhere. We made a couple of day trips to the chamber in 1996 and 1997 and probed the far end of the chamber as well as off to the left. The way on straight-ahead closes down and the slope up the left would repay further effort but I think it probably connects to the Sand Swims. Things didn't look too promising. I squeezed through to a chamber at a lower level but this was completely filled with sand, the way on not obvious and no draft.
Initial furtles: Joe Frampton, Tim Francis, Julie Hesketh, Duncan Horne, Kerry Howard, Reggie Pain.
Other projects abroad and closer to home kept us away but there was always that nagging thought that we had missed something. The location of the passage is perfect and there has still been no progress into that blank area either from Life on Mars, Luck of the Draw or elsewhere. So finally Duncan and I decided to take another look but this time as a camp/dig. The bank holiday loomed and we found ourselves at the entrance completely overloaded with two tackle bags each!. Normally it takes 3 hours to the dig but this time we took a more leisurely 6 hours. It is also unfortunate that the last water source is back at the start of the Crystal Maze so I had to whizz back to fill up a few BDHs before we could get the supper on. We camped in the final chamber where there is plenty of space for sleeping. The floor is covered in sand so very comfortable and relatively warm.
The next morning after a pleasant breakfast we dragged the digging kit to the lower chamber. This is only five minutes from the camp but has the disadvantage of a rather notorious squeeze. Easy for me but not for those approaching an average build. Duncan persevered and was rewarded with a day's hard graft. Where to dig was not particularly obvious but we started work where a trace of water seems to have sunk in the corner eons ago. A day later of pleasant digging and we had extended Draenen for 20ft. The digging was dead easy and more like playing on the beach. The only hassle was spoil removal. After tiring ourselves out it was back to the camp to try and consume all the food and gas so we didn't have to carry it all out. Chilli and chicken pasta in the same pan never tasted so good. Another night in the sleeping bags and then it was the long slog out in the morning. We left the digging kit in so there were only three tackle bags to carry; hence an exit time of five hours. It was raining and we were knackered but definitely happy to be out. The only slight misfortune was that Duncan had left his keys down at the entrance so had to walk back down the hill to retrieve them. A quick change into clean clothing and we were off for a well earned tea in the Little Chef at Crickhowell.
So what's the potential? Well we can see for another 15 feet or so at the end of the dig. Admittedly there is a lot of sand to remove but the prospects are good. The digging kit is still in there so all you need is something to drag the spoil back in (we used a tackle back and rope). Rumour has it that Duncan is planning a return whilst I'm away in Madagascar so sign up now or its Pinetree for everyone!
Digging camp: Tim Francis, Duncan Horne.
Pontypool or Bust Dig Report, Tim Francis, 1999
So far in 1999 we have done five trips to the dig face at Pontypool or Bust, Ogof Draenen. Lured back by a decent outwards draft and the comfiest dig ever discovered it was only a matter of time before we returned for another look. This time we've been doing day trips of 12 hours or so rather than the Tim and Duncan camping epic of 1998. The following is a brief update of progress so far, taken from my log book.
Saturday 13th Feb - BC, TF, DH.
At last got back into Draenen. Three hours to the dig at POB. Filled up the water bottles at the drip at the beginning of the Crystal Maze. Dumped the stove etc. then through to the dig. Ben had to remove his oversuit to get through the squeeze. Dug for about four hours. Pushed the face for another eight feet plus made half the dig a lot bigger. Left all the digging gear in the chamber. Carried out the stove and remaining food. All pretty knackered and out by 11.30pm. 12 hour trip, long sleep.
Saturday 20th Feb - BC, TF.
Keeping the momentum going. Quick bash down to Pontypool or Bust for more digging. Managed about three hours digging and a ten and a half hour trip. Out by 10.30pm so actually made it to the pub for a few jars. Good progress in the dig but dug as far as we could go before we were knackered. Sweet and sour this week.
Saturday 27th Feb - PB, BC, TF, SF, JH, DH.
Much bigger team; in fact too many people this time so took slightly longer to make it to the dig. Ben and Simon went off for a spot of photography in the Sand Swims, whilst the rest of us dug for about four hours. The new skips really did the trick. Widened the whole dig right up to the end. Can see some airspace at the end and the base of a slope.
Friday 2nd April - PB, TF RK.
More work at the POB dig face. Dug out an excellent 62 buckets with some of the team more knackered than others. Excavated our way up the slope and to a calcite barrier at the top. Air space can be seen all along the roof line. Things initially looked better to the left so pushed up through the blockage until we could see over the top. To the left the airspace continues but there are loads of straws. In the centre it looks like there is a larger spot of airspace. Finally had a mad five minutes digging on the right. Much more airspace here. Twelve hour trip with the food being Chicken Korma.
Sunday 4th April - PB, BC, TF
A day off allowed most of the team back in. Another hefty push and 60 buckets. The pile of spoil in the chamber grows ever larger. On the way in Pete was convinced the draft had picked up since Friday. Bodily emissions confirmed that the draft is blowing at one to two metres a second. Dug up and into the airspace on the right. Things are so large you can virtually crawl! The larger airspace seems to have formed where the sand has dropped away from the ceiling at the edge of the passage. Forced a head sized hole into the pocket in the middle. This doesn't extend very far and the right hand side ends just a body length in front. So right at the end of the session had a good nosey straight ahead. A thin air space extends for at least a metre. Food: Seafood Pasta.
Diggers: Pete Bennett (PB), Ben Cooper (BC), Tim Francis (TF), Simon Fryer (SF), Julie Hesketh (JH), Duncan Horne (DH), Rupert Knowles (RK)
So what are the prospects? Take a look at the survey below and you'll see the huge gap on the survey between the streamway and Luck of The Draw. It's a great dig but the only flaw in the plan will be if the chamber fills up with spoil before we break through. The next trip is in May so watch this space.
Survey - CSS 1999
Updated 13-11-06