26 OCTOBER 2006

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Rafting and Climbing

Ged had lined up a team for something a little different today. Lilla, our visiting film maker had been promised something a little exciting today. It was supposed to be an easy day larking around but actually involved quite a lot of preparatory work. The object of the day was to raft into the Teng Long Dong river entrance and provide some interesting drama for her film. Bruce, Emerson, Tony P, Harvey and Arthur were dispatched to the showcave to lay on a white water extravaganza.


Emerson climbs up from the waterline


Only Emerson had done some rafting before and he looked somewhat worried at the prospect of what were intending to do. Whilst he eyed up the rock climbing opportunities, Bruce looked for a reasonable start point for the whitewater run. Harvey set up a belay off the railings and top-roped Emerson up a couple ofroutes whilst the passing tourists looked on.


Back at the water's edge, a ledge just below the main 8m cascade was identified and an access rope deployed. Unfortunately the smell of sewage indicated a nearby outlet from the restaurant above into the river. Another nearby hang off a tree and the railings was marginally more pleasant. The large fossil entrance to the showcave lies across the river from the restaurant and can be reached via a suspension bridge up river at the overflow car park or at the river entrance using a footpath that traverses into the cave above the river before crossing a short concrete bridge and returning back along a concrete walkway built onto the far wall.


Bruce and Emerson prepare the dinghy

We had discussed the exercise the previous night and decided that a safety rope would be strung along the length of the rafting route. A large thread provided an anchor at the start and Harvey hand drove a bolt in a bedrock shelf at the finish. Bruce abseiled down with the dinghy attached to his harness which was done more for effect than common sense. The rope was attached to the boat and sent down river using a tackle bag to provide enough drag for it to be taken by the current. Radios provided communication with the team downstream whilst they grappled with the upturned boat and issued instructions over the roaring torrent. A couple of safety lines were strung across the fast flowing river within the cave and this involved a short but desperate swim across to the far bank. With the light fading and Lilla hurrying us along, Bruce and Emerson eventually took to the water just as Ged arrived and questioned their sanity. Emerson did most of the paddling as Bruce almost spilled out of the front end when they dropped a good metre over the first plunge, but they recovered and made it down to the capture point. As the boat passed over the safety line, Bruce hooked his paddle over it causing the boat to capsize against the bank. Ged was there to assist and the waterlogged boat, which was being gripped between Bruce's thighs was rescued as he hung onto the rope, head submerged. Harvey was unable to field a loose paddle and it was swept downstream towards the sump. It was a good job that it wasn't a person!

The whole thing was filmed and after all the gear was packed up, a quick flow calculation was performed at the weir 200m up the road from the showcave. Measurements were taken across the river and an apple was used to measure the velocity of the river with Arthur timing from the banks.

Ged, who turned up earlier disappeared with Tont P to visit a nearby school and talk to /teach the children. The school teacher joined us in evening for drinks and BBQ.

Xiao Xi He valley – Gan Dong (Chimney Cave)

Emma, Moha, Kutya, started to survey the Chimney cave from the entrance, Marci and Mr. Ho rigged the 2 small steps with a hand line. Together they started to survey the virgin part of the cave that they had found earlier. After a huge chamber (Chamber of Sino – British – Irish – Tasman – Hungarian Friendship!), the passages continued onward. In the new part of the cave they surveyed something like 600m, and stopped at the edge of a deep pit (around 50m).


Luo Shui Dong

Tony H, Graham,Eddie and Mr. He travelled out to Tuanbao, where they explored two caves at Luo Shui Dong. The first was a river cave sink which was not flowing and the second was a level higher fossil cave above this entrance. Both were only about 200m long and the first cave had an exit at the far end. On the way back they ran out of petrol and used this as an excuse to stop and buy a box of beers from a village shop.