2015 Review: Caves

Okay so the format's the same as the last two! This year started & finished underground for us; its included both caves & mines. Mines have perhaps had the edge over the last 12 months and its been good to do two or three "classic" Lake District trips. There'll undoubtedly continue to be lots of mine activity in 2016 but there are strong indications that the pendulum might swing back to caves, watch this space.

It wasn't possible to split January between an old favourite caving trip and the Lake District "special" of Greenside Mine, Helvellyn (another great day out with "The" Dave Baines):

Followed by a cold day in Upper Long Churn cave:

Alan Rainford, Andy Hoe and myself did quite a bit of new (for us) exploration in Brownley Hills mine at Nenthead through this year. This is Andy entering deep water in some of the remotest parts of the mine we have accessed:

Just before Easter we had a day's caving in Great Douk & Sunset Hole with a great group of folk from the North East:

One of the year's iconic photos captured in Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead when working with a school group in May:

June, a wet exit from Wilson's Cave:

In July I visited Alum Pot with a couple of guys who were looking for a vertical trip. Again it produced some of the most iconic images of the year it'd be a travesty to only select one , what a great day out(!):

We were back in Wrysagn Slate Mine with friends in August, another "favourite"venue:

September is a bit of a personal one really, Andy Hoe & I got into Carrock Wolframite Mine in the Lake District Northern Fells. It'd been on my "to do" list for a good number of years and so it was great to eventually get in there:

Another Lake District special for October, again with Andy Hoe, when we spent an evening in Hartsop Hall Lead Mine which is a real gem:

We got back in Alum Pot in November. It was a "Community Day" but none of those who came out had ever been in Alum Pot before. Again it'd be a shame to only include one photo:

The year finished as strongly as it started with a "sporting" day out in the Yorkshire Dales:

The "underworld" is a personal favourite & I'm very much looking forward to both work and leisure underground in 2016. However, in the meantime Marion & I would like to say a huge "Thank You" to everybody who has participated in any activity with us during 2015, its been a fantastic year & we are very much looking forward to more adventures in the New Year!!