Oxford University Cave Club

Club Caving Meetings, Hilary Term 2019

 Accommodation:
BEC: Bristol Exploration Club; BPF: Bull Pot Farm; MCG: Mendip Caving Group;
NPC: Northern Pennine Club; Orpheus: Orpheus Caving Club; SMCC: Shepton Mallet Caving Club;
SWCC:  South Wales Caving Club; TSG: Technical Speleo Group; UBSS: University of Bristol Speleological Society; 
WCC: Wessex Caving Club; Whitewalls: Chelsea Speleological Society; WSG: Westminster Speleo Group;
YSS: Yorkshire Subterranean Society.

Cost covers: loan of equipment, transport, accommodation, food on site; but not food in transit or what you spend in the pub! See here for more information.
Trips must be paid for in advance. Payment is by an online system.
https://www.oxforduniversitystores.co.uk/browse/product.asp?compid=1&modid=1&catid=1722

Your first caving trip? Read this important information and complete this online OUCC Pre-Trip information form

• If you haven't been caving with us before but wanted to give it a go, membership and insurance for your first term with OUCC is free!

Going to the Dales? Going to Spain? Don't know the ropes ? - try SRT Training.

PLEASE help and volunteer to organise a weekend. If no-one organises the weekends they won't happen.
There is a detailed crib sheet on the website telling you exactly how to organise a weekend. TAKE A LOOK.

Other meets may be organised - please check at Wednesday meetings or via the OUCC mailing lists.

As usual details of the trips will be advertised closer in time. They will mostly be advertised on the oucc-all mailing list.
So if you want to stay up to date, please sign up following the instructions on the website: http://www.oucc.org.uk/current/mailists.htm

----------------------------------------------------- 

0th Week:  Wales: Day trip to Agen Allwedd  
The 0th week day trip seemed popular last term, so we're having another this term. Hopefully this time we really will get to Agen Allwedd, where there are big passages, formations, and a great many bats. It's possible to do short easy trips in here, and also possible to do very long trips. Really you can cave as much as you like.
 
1st Week: Mendip:  Joint weekend with Exeter UCC
There was a lot of interest in joint weekends at the last TGM, so our first full weekend of Hilary term will be a weekend with Exeter at the Belfry. This Mendip hut is known for great parties and games like room traverse, so it should be a fun place to get to know Exeter. Of course the Mendips is home to some classic beginner trips, but I will also try and get us a permit for one of the more unusual caves in these parts (some of which are highly decorated and beautiful) so there'll be something for everyone.
 
3rd Week: Wales: Joint weekend with Nottingham UCC
At the end of 3rd week, we'll have another joint weekend, this time with Nottingham at the SWCC. We missed out on the SWCC last term, but it's an excellent hut in walking distance of the beautiful and very extensive Ogof FFynnon Ddu. This has brilliant trips for all ability levels- the OFD 1 round trip is great as a first caving trip, but also fun to do even as a party of all experienced cavers. For those wanting a challenge there are several through trip options taking in the amazing marbled main streamway. By joining forces with Nottingham, we should be able to get a good variety of trips in.
 
5th Week: Northern Dales Weekend
For our Yorkshire weekend (at the end of 5th week), I thought that since we're staying at Bull Pot Farm for New Year, and possibly for Northern CHECC, we might have a break with tradition and stay at the YSS instead. They have an indoor SRT wall which might be a lot of use for us (though I will need to book it once we know who's going). This will give us easier access to the Gaping Gill caves than usual, from where you might get to see the spectacular main chamber. It's also just across the road from a nice cheap pub.
 
7th Week: Wales: Draenen camping and training weekend
Our most unusual trip this term will be an underground camping trip in Ogof Draenen at the end of 7th week. This will be a good chance to see some of the further parts of the system if you're not quite fit enough to get there and back in one day, and it will be a good way to get accustomed to underground camping in preparation for expedition in Summer! There may also be opportunities to learn about topics such as surveying, route finding, conservation, and underground photography.
 
8th Week: Northern CHECC
Finally, Northern CHECC occurs at the end of 8th week. I'm not sure if we'll have a delegation there- Southern CHECC might be a better choice for us even though it's not during term time, but whether we go or not, Northern CHECC will be happening at Bull Pot Farm at the end of 8th week. This will be another good opportunity for training, plus some silly games and a lot of drinking, at a lovely hut in walking distance of the extensive Easegill system (which offers an assortment of exciting through trips featuring a balance of vertical and horizontal caving).