SIGNUPS WILL OPEN UP AT 9PM MONDAY 15/07
Sign up for ONE Saturday and ONE Sunday trip. If you do not get accepted on your first choice trip then you may sign up for a different one. (Same format as Boree Log!). You must be signed up to the main event to sign up to individual trips
Drum Cave is for those whole can already abseil and ascend confidently and are comfortable navigating rebelays and ropework on exposed, slippery traverses. It is a bat breeding and nursery cave so an affinity for our furry friends also recommended.
Walk into the largest cave entry in Bungonia before descending down the first 46m abseil into the abyss. This may be done in two pitches which could require passing a rebelay. Check for foul air (Drum Cave is notorious) before continuing on through a short squeeze into the Collapse Chamber.
A series of small drops leads to the second abseil of about 15m. Stop ¾ of the way down if you want to enjoy a pointless squeeze to nowhere for about 30m. Otherwise continue down into the Railway Tunnel where there are two options. Ascend 20m up into the roof and do an awkward changeover to clamber up a super exposed rubble slope into Drum extension.
Enjoy slipping and sliding around in guano through 300m of bonus cave content, maybe even hitting the magical stream at the end (if foul air doesn’t get you first). Then return to do the awkward rubble slope change over and 20m descent all over again (but in reverse!).
Now you can take the other route, down a 10m pitch and onwards into the sump. You’ve hit the end! Time to go all the way back up! Ascend every pitch (70m total) you just came down and be prepared to suffer. Then forget all about it and cave again the next day!
What YOU need:
- Helmet*
- Harness*
- Descender* – Inline (eg rap rack, Petzl Stop) preferred*
- Chest Ascender*
- Hand Ascender*
- Safety Sling* (x3 if you don’t have a chest harness and foot loop)
- Prusiks*
- At least 6 locking carabiners*
- Headlight and spare batteries
- Spare light source + spare batteries (a malfunction of primary light would be quite inconvenient)
- Shoes you’re not afraid to get muddy / dirty
- Thermal top & thermal bottoms
- Small bottle of water
- Personal medications (epipen, inhaler etc)
- Dry bag
- Snacks / small lunch
- Old shirt / pants / overalls you can wear inside the cave
- Small backpack to carry your things
- Gloves (eg gardening gloves) – optional
- Soft knee pads – optional
*These can be borrowed from the club on the morning of
Drum Cave is an advanced caving trip (and a long day!), where vertical rope skills is a must. When signing up for this trip, please make sure to include a) any previous abseiling and ascending experience, and b) what gear you will need to borrow and c) what your favourite snack is!
