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1982: Cambridge Underground report
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2004-04-21 10:35:34 +01:00
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2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
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<h3>THE UNDERGROUND CAMP</h3>
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<p align=right>Charles Butcher
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<p>By the time the expedition was halfway through we had reached the top of
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Orgasm Chasm and pushing trips were taking about eighteen hours. After half a
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dozen short pitches and some nice splashy streamway the cave was looking
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serious again. The swimming duck was cold and the black Chasm looked
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bottomless.
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<p>When the idea of underground camping was first suggested there was some
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opposition. Time was short, we had no experience of camping underground and
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no spare equipment. In the end it was left to Tim, Phil, Dave and Paddy to
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pack up a tent, sleeping bags, clothes, food and stoves. They established a
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camp in the dry phreas above the last pitch, finding a chamber with a level
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sandy floor and no draught.
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<p>Tim and Phil stayed at the camp after their pushing trip and reported it a
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great success. Now that the idea had been tested everyone was keen to use the
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camp and it was a great morale booster. As it turned out we could have
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bottomed the cave without camping but it would have been much harder.
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<p>We used a lightweight Robert Saunders tent which gave some much needed
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warmth in a cave air temperature of 1°C. Condensation was potentially a
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problem but was not serious when the tent was properly pitched. Of the two
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sleeping bags, one was synthetic and the other down; both performed well with
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an underlayer of Karrimat. There was also a variety of dry clothes which we
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wore around camp and while sleeping. For cooking we had an army-type hexamine
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cooker and a butane stove. The butane stove was sluggish in the cold and
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easily upset. The hexamine cooker was light and efficient and would be a good
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choice for any future camping; alternatively a Trangia stove has the same
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stability and robustness.
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<p>Food consisted of corned beef, packet soup, noodles, macaroni, Tabasco
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sauce, teabags, dried milk, muesli and chocolate. German black bread is a
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sustaining item which survives the journey underground well. We were close to
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the stream and found a gallon plastic water container with a tap very useful.
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Generally camp was very well supplied and towards the end of the expedition
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there was more food underground than on the surface.
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<p>A stay at the camp took about twelve hours with nine of these spent
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sleeping. We found it hard to sleep for long periods without waking, and
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judging time is difficult so a watch is a must. For a latrine we used a dry
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vadose trench a few yards from the camp but this turned out to be a mistake.
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The moral is - keep your privy well downwind of the tent. In the end we spent
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twelve man-nights at the camp and it was an experience none of us will
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forget.
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2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
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<hr />
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2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
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<!-- LINKS -->
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2011-06-01 09:55:49 +01:00
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<ul id="links">
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2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
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<li>1982 Expedition info:
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<ul>
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<li><a href="log.htm">Logbook</a></li>
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<li>Main Expo report, Cambridge Underground 1983:
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<ul>
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<li><a href="report.htm">CUCC in Austria</a> - Phil Townsend</li>
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<li><a href="41gd.htm">Stellerweg Guidebook Description</a> by Pete Lancaster</li>
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<li><a href="41svy.htm">Stellerweg Survey</a> article by Andy Waddington</li>
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<li><a href="newbit.htm">New Discoveries</a> 1982 by Mike Thomas</li>
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<li><a href="bats.htm">The Bats of 115</a> by Dave Brindle</li>
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</ul></li>
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<li><a href="bcracc.htm">BCRA Caves & Caving Report</a></li>
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</ul></li>
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<li><a href="../../pubs.htm#pubs1982">Index</a> to all publications</li>
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<li><a href="../../index.htm">Back to Expeditions intro page</a></li>
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2004-04-30 22:56:57 +01:00
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<li><a href="../../../index.htm">CUCC Home Page</a></li>
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2004-04-29 16:24:54 +01:00
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</ul>
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2001-08-15 19:29:27 +01:00
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