January saw us kicking off the year with the traditional Mendips cluster faff. Something like 24 cavers down for the weekend, we eloped from the Belfry to the relative quietness (rescue practice in St Cuths) of the Shepton Mallet. Lots of trips had, massive evening of Cornish Pasty and Apple Crumble baking.

Ended up a bit of an epic -- everyone had the latest virus, then a 12hr drive to Yorkshire (8PM to 8AM) due to foolish UK drivers blocking a snowy motorway. Temperature continued to drop, but no snow so we could get the 'bus up into the hills. Minus 10-15 degree changes quick got rather tiring, but we managed to crack off Grange Rigg / Christmas Pot, Lost Johns' Dome+Monastry (excellent route!) & a classic Easegill romp.

Excellent, but cold, trip to Derbyshire. Oxlow-Maskhill exchange and JH - white river series explore on the Saturday. Late return to the TSG in severe sub zero conditions (frozen harness, frozen minibus doors!).

A rather wet weekend in Yorkshire, staying at the NPC. Gaping Stream, Marilyn + Bar on the Saturday, with Jingling + Bullpot masterclass o nteh side. Sunday saw a lazy afternoon Jingling exchange (Lateral + Direct), as two teams were already down Rowten, and a little delve into Valley Entrance.

Ahh, Yorkshire! Well worth the quite frankly ludicrous drive in a speed limited minibus from London. Trips to bottom Lost Johns (Dome + Centipede) and Ireby Fell on the Saturday, rather late supper + a quick delve into Bullpot and Yordas (Kingsdale) on the Sunday. Rather damp underground - made the waterfalls rather impressive!

Great first trip of the year! Weather was unbelievably good, and we managed two fantastic trips down OFD + some delightfully wet bimbles into Little Neath, Bridge Cave, White Lady, Cwm Pwll y Rydd and Town Drain.
WSG cottage was nice and cosy, caving games by the fireside, the usual morning fry ups & an epic chilli.

The sun never sets on the IC3 caving empire!
Quite literally while we were sleeping during our Welsh freshers trip, Andy and Toni were dipping their helmets in some of the caves that New Zealand have to offer...

Beautiful little start to the caving year, with a pre-term trip to the wonders of the Yorkshire Dales. Nice solid trips down King Pot and Marble Steps, and a bit of double-cave rig and derig practice for some of the 2nd years in Bullpot + Jingling, via the really quite nice new P-bolt lateral route. Appalling weather, play was rained off on Sunday.

The sun was shining, term was ending... time to get back down the Pilgrim's Way and taste Penyghent pot's veritable delights!

"Where do we even start..." - JKP, walking back from Car Pot