DU Potholing Club / Trips 2002-2003

Michaelmas term

Doolin, Co Clare. 5th October 2002

Club members attended the ICRO Cave rescue practice in Co. Clare, which went well. It was the first attempt at a 'modular' practice and the few members that went down got a change to use the heyphone, place some bolts using both a standard bolting kit and a drill, get some basic information on caving first aid and more... Later that night a trip was made with Imperical College Caving club into Doolin River cave, and the following morning the Poll na gollum -> poll elva through trip was done.

Doolin, Co Clare. 18th October 2002

The club ran the first Freshers trip this year back to Co. Clare, in association with the DIT caving club. We stayed in the arran view houses & shared a minibus for the trip. A good time was had by nearly all, despite the terrible weather. Trips were run into cullaun 2, poll na grai, and poll dubh. Owing the horrible weather (=> no caving) a quick trip was made to the cliffs of mohar before cleaning the house & heading back to dublin.

Boho, Co Fermanagh. 22nd November 2002

The second freshers trip was made to Fermanagh, this time with the aim of doing a very simple SRT cave (poll tyllyard) with those new members who had demonstrated profciency at SRT during the webdnesday meeting at the wall in luce hall. Owing to bad weather little other serious caving got done that weekend, but as a gang were up from DCU staying in the community hall at the same time as ourselves there was pleanty to do aside from caving.

Boho, Co Fermanagh. 29th November 2002

A full ICRO cave rescue practice was being run this weekend in Fermanagh, and members of the club attended. On the friday night a fun trip into Prods pot was on the cards, and after finding the downstream canals the group then went up papists passage to the first sump, and visited athiests arsehole on the way back down the passage. The ICRO practice on the saturday was run in marble arch showcave, just past the flyover. Owing to the high water in the cave, the casualty group setup just under the ladder pitch after retreating when the water began to noticibly rise.

Boho, Co Fermanagh. 28th December 2002

Members of the club attended the annual student-cavers new years bash in Fermanagh this year. This was the 4th year the event has been held in Boho community hall, and an excellent time was had by all who were there. Fireworks for new years outside the linnet inn (Les got a video of it!), and at its height a cracking party with over 60 cavers & their friends was going. Only a few brave people brought their caving gear - with trips into marble arch (skreen hill II), little gortmcgonnel pot, and John Thomas (Which added about 40m of passage to the cave thanks to Stevey bus' crow bar). New years day was spent taking it easy - and even the keen cavers couldn't face doing any actual caving, instead taking the time to find the entrances to the Hanging Rock caves & Arch Cave (The very big cool looking cave entrance in the 'Caves of Fermanagh & Cavan' guidebook).

Hilary term

Killykeegan, Co Fermanagh. 17th - 19th January 2003

Three members of the club attended an ICRO rescue-rigging course that covered basic hauling systems (Z-Rigs), adaptations to regular personal gear for rescue situations amongst other things. Saturday morning was spent in a classroom-style situation in Gortatole OEC before moving onto the rigging frame that afternoon. Despite the mornings rain, the afternoon was dry. After a nights celebrations (it was Brian Cullens birthday), the 16 people on the course split into four groups and rigged the entrances to various caves with floating pully/z-rig systems to haul out a casualty.The TCD team (John Gilbert, Brian Cullen, Laura Walsh & Duncan Foster) were overlooked by the watchful eye of Connor McGrath at Gortmcgonnell pot and successfully extracted Duncan (after adding a few extra pullies to compensate for the Christmas excess :-) ).

Doolin, Co Clare. 24th-26th Jan 2003

Despite a car accident on the return journey from Clare (No body was injured thankfully!!), the trip was well enjoyed. A trip into Poll na gColm (muddy link -> branch passage gallery -> branch passage -> main junction and out) on the morning of the Saturday, and one into Doolin river cave (St. Catherines -> Fisher street) that evening were made. The next day a joint group with some UCD people did a quick trip with Conor mcGrath down the cave of the Wild Horses. This trip was sponsored by the words 'Excess waivers rock!!'.

Boho, Co Fermanagh. 28th Feb - 2nd March

It was time for some SRT again, with destination Fermanagh. Saturday kicked off with a trip to Pidgeon Pot, where aspiring new members of the club got a chance to try out their SRT skills. The bottom of the second pitch was flooded, so instead we went to look at one of the digs in a side passage half way down - but turned back when we discovered a rather dodgily bolted traverse out to it. In the evening, a quick trip to Poll na Gollum-Coolarkin was made, before hitting the pub. After playing cards (a game called 25 that took some of us ages to learn), we headed back to Boho hall & played a quick game or two of Bowls (having finally found someone to explain the rules) followed by dinner at close to 2am. Sunday found us all heading to Poll na Gollum of the Boats - which despite being ever so slightly cold, was enjoyed by all. After cleaning the ropes, SRT kit and having a bite of lunch - we were back on the road to Dublin.

Trinity Term

Yorkshire Dales, England. June 2003

Four members of DUPC headed over to the Yorkshire Dales in June of last year, (along with a large portion of other Irish clubs). 10 sunny days were spent exploring the dales underground. By all accounts everybody had a good time and many are eager to return this year. Photos are available.