Bungonia Palooza 2022

Here it is – the caving event of the year! Bungonia Palooza 2022!

Bungonia Palooza is a weekend for cavers of all levels to come and do some serious caving and make new underground friends. Think of it as a mini winter Boree Log… but muddier.

It will include beginner, intermediate, and advanced cave trips, cave speed runs, canyon and climbing trips, and cool camping and hanging out around a fire.

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Due to the number of people coming to Bungonia Palooza, there are a few steps to signing up. Please read carefully in order to make sure you get what you want out of the weekend.

1. Sign up for this trip on the UNSWOC page! Make sure in your booking to include the following – your name, facebook link, skill level (see below), medical issues, if you have a car, and MOST IMPORTANTLY your favourite cave (I know no-one knows cave names, but google cool caves and write the coolest one you see! My fave is The Cave of Crystals in Mexico). Bungonia Palooza is in HIGH DEMAND and you will not be accepted unless you follow these instructions.
2. Have a look at the trips offered below and your skill level and choose which trips (+ backups) you want to go on. These will be released as individual trips in about a week.
3. Sign up for your Saturday and Sunday trip
4. Facebook groups will be made to organise car pooling, tent sharing, gear hauling etc. Individual gear lists will be sent (hint: get a head-torch)
5. Come caving!!

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Skill levels:

Beginner: what is a cave? what is a rope? You might not know but you are keen to find out!

Intermediate: maybe you’ve been caving before. Maybe you haven’t, but you’ve been lead climbing or canyoning or have other rope skills and experience at heights.

Advanced: you have experience ascending ropes in caves – jumarring or prusicking

Feel free to message me if you are unsure about your skill level, and also feel free to book an easier trip Saturday and a more advanced trip Sunday!

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THE TRIPS:

B4-5 CAVE

A super fun horizontal (no abseils) cave in Bungonia. Very maze-like with lots of squeezes and small climbs and crossroads.
Beginner – anyone fit can come.

GRILL CAVE

A pretty cave with lots of ladders and caverns filled with stalagmites and stalactites.
Beginner – anyone fit can come.

BLOWFLY CAVE

Super fun cave with interesting squeezes, climby bits, and an abseil and jumar.
Intermediate – people with rope experience preferred.

CAVE EXPLORATION

You’ll never know what caves you could find. Come jump into a variety of holes with varying levels of difficulty and technicality.

Intermediate – people with rope experience preferred

ARGYLE CAVE

One of the deepest caves in Bungonia with tonnes of abseils descending to the crystal-clear water table.
Advanced – people with rope ascending experience only.

DRUM CAVE

One of the biggest caves in Bungonia. Very technical with several abseils up to 60m. Highlights include bats and a football pitch sized cavern deep in the cave.
Advanced – people with rope ascending experience only.

CANYON (TBA)

Beautiful winter canyons for those who enjoy seeing the sky. Abseil past big waterfalls and trek out through the Bungonia National Park. Best of all, no rope ascending!
Beginner/intermediate – super keen people with or without rope experience.

ROCK CLIMBING

Bungonia offers a unique climbing experience on limestone cliffs.
Intermediate/Advanced – I believe the grades are not super easy.

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It’s going to be a fully sick (and muddy) time, so get keen, and see you there!

Xoxo Izzy and the Caving Team!