Yarrangobilly Trip Reports and photographs

We left Bulli approximately 4.45pm on the Friday evening in Dave's Range Rover and had a quick bite to eat at Goulburn, before proceeding to Gundagai. We reached Gundagai about 8.45pm and then headed to the caves via Tumut.

We arrived at the Caves Office about 10.45pm, collected the keys and headed back to Cotterill's Cottage, our residence for the weekend. Our heads hit the pillows about midnight.

Saturday we wished was fine and sunny. Unfortunately, the temp was 4NC and very windy and wet In fact it was so cold that there was snow still on the entrance road to the caves as we drove in on Saturday morning. The snow actually fell on Wednesday!

We conferred with the acting Manager, Nich Mayo and were given the task to remove 5 piles of old hand railings from the self-guiding cave, Y24-South Glory Cave. It was very wet in the cave as there was a great deal of water seeping through the roof from the recent rain in the area. After removing the second pile we returned to the Office for a cup of something hot whilst talking to the Rangers we were offered a tour through Jersey Cave.

Jersey was re opened in 1992 after an extensive re-lighting project.

Jersey cave is a marvellous cave, well lit with great formation and in almost pristine condition. Many years ago smoke from bushfires entered the cave 'staining' the cave with soot in many places, but most of the cave is untouched.

After this tour we returned to Glory cave to complete the removal of the handrails. We finished about 3.45pm and then hand a chance to take photographs of the caverns before walking out with the ranger as she closed the cave.

We calculate that we removed 200m of hand railing and walked 5 kms in the process. We actually removed 50 lengths averaging 4m in length. Not bad for two aging cavers!

Later, we talked to Nich about the lack of photographs in the office depicting what Jersey cave has to show me prospective 'Tourist caver'. We volunteered our services to rectify this oversight on Sunday morning.

A great meal with wine and port around the old fuel stove and a gas heater kept us warm before turning in about 10.30pm.

Overnight the rain became quite heavy and the winds became even stronger. Down by the river some campers were finding the conditions a little hard to take. Thank goodness for the Cottage!

We started in Jersey cave about 9.30 am! Every cave photographers dream! No helmets, plenty of light to find our way and to set up the shots, no heavy carry cases and it was quite warm at 10NC. Also there were no other persons in the cave, well not until a group arrived. We used this group to set up a shot in the cave. The results of these photographs will be interesting. We could have spent all day in the cave but finished about noon. We left Nich with a good impression of ISS and with an application for a trip to Eagle's Nest in February 1995.

What a great weekend! Good food, good caves, good company, good accommodation and good NPWS staff.

We departed the office about 12.30pm and arrived in Gundagai for a late lunch about 2.45pm. After a dusty and hazy trip home, we arrived at Bulli at 5.45pm.

Bob was then confronted with the night shift at the SES as result of the gale force winds that caused damage to the region during Sunday.

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Friday February 10, ‑ Sunday 13, 1995

by Robert Robinson

Present

Bob Kershaw ‑ Trip Leader, Dave Dicker, Gerard Collins, Ron & Fran Poulton, Walter Waerner, Kelly Blackert, Adam Peters, Rob Chittick & Anthony Pezutto, Lloyd, Dorothy & Robert Robinson, John & David Kemister

AIMS OF THE WEEKEND

This trip had a number of related aims. The main aim was to assist the National Parks to clean out a rubble pile in Jersey Cave. This was a follow up to a previous trip by Bob Kershaw and Dave Dicker, where turn‑out by club members was obviously disappointing. Related to this was our desire to form good relations with the National Parks and Wildlife rangers at Yarrangobilly. The third and final aim was to enjoy some wild caving in Eagles Nest Cave.

Friday, February 10, 1995

The Robinsons were the first to leave for the weekend, leaving just before 1:00pm, although they were tempted by a motel in Tumut for the night. Dave, Bob and Gerard were the first to arrive at Cotterill's Cottage around 10:00pm. The others all arrived at various stages throughout the night, except for the Robinson's and the Kemister's. Walter got off to a bad start to the weekend, getting his car into a disagreement with a roo over right of way on the road.

Saturday, February 11, 1995

After the Robinson's arrived at Cotterill's Cottage, at about 8:00am and pitched their tents, the entire party left for the ranger's office, about 10kms away. After talking to Acting Head Guide, Nick Mayo, and organising the day, the whole party left for the Jersey Cave Car Park.

After we had trogged to the cave, Nick arrived and led the day's working party through Jersey Cave, showed us the rubble pit that needed cleaning out and gave us bushfire fighting packs which had been modified for the purpose. Two rope bags supplied by the Poultons and Bob Kershaw, were also used for the task.

After the others left to do Eagles Nest Cave, with Nich, the working party was joined by John and David Kemister. The working party for the day consisted of Bob Kershaw, Dave Dicker, the Poultons, the Robinsons and the Kemisters. Those who went through Eagles Nest were Walter, Kelly, Adam, Rob Chittick, Anthony and Gerard, led by Nick Mayo.

By lunchtime (taken just before 1:00pm, due to a tourist party being taken through Jersey at that time) there had been 33 loads of rubble removed from the cave. While most of the time was spent breaking up large limestone boulders and carrying them out, some people managed to take some time off to take some photos.

Turns in the pit, breaking up rocks, were rotated amongst the group, with two at a time in the pit, ensuring that chips were not flying off damaging the wall and formation in the pit. Only Fran and Dorothy missed a turn in the pit, but each carried out what they could, despite being slowed by previous injuries and ailments.

After lunch (about 2:15pm) the work was continued and more people took the opportunity to take photographs, as it is not often that you get free reign in a tourist cave. However, the work did not suffer and by the time we had finished carting out the rocks, we had removed 80 loads for the day. It was not until about 6:00pm that we left the cave, the last of the photographers delaying our departure a little.

During the afternoon's work we were joined by Kelly, Adam, Walter and Gerard who told of a long walk out of Eagles Nest and how worn out they felt. While those who were working were of the opinion that they were more worn out. We were all too tired to, and didn't care to, argue the point. The excursion through Eagles Nest was a cursory visit, with no photos taken. A pace was set that tested some in the party, many of whom had had very little sleep the previous night.

We all headed back to Cotterill's Cottage to enjoy our dinners, which helped replace only some of the energy we had expended through the day. People turned in at various stages during the evening, the last at about midnight.

The weather had been clear all day, the sun quite harsh at times, but the evening brought in the cold and the clouds.

Sunday, February 12, 1995

We awoke this morning to find the sky clear and dew on the ground. It looked like we were in for another good day weatherwise.

The first group to leave Cotterill's Cottage were Bob, Walter and Robert Robinson, who headed for the ranger's office at 8:45am to get the keys for the trip through Eagles Nest. With the Kemisters we headed for the car park and the long walk to the cave. We entered the cave at 10:50am. To my reckoning Walter did a stirling job, considering Saturday was his first time through the cave, firstly he led us directly to the Y3 entrance, secondly he found the way through the cave and returned us to the cars, with only one or two hiccups.

The remaining 10 members returned to Jersey Cave to carry out more rubble and take more photos. During the day's work another 40 loads were carried out, work finishing at about 1:00pm again for a tourist party to go through the cave. After lunch those who could, went home, while Lloyd and Dorothy Robinson, Dave Dicker and Gerard had to wait for Bob Kershaw and Robert Robinson to return from their trip through Eagles Nest.

The highlight of the trip was the formation in Eagles Nest. The flowstone and other speleothems in the cave really stand out as clear and pristine as they are usually set against a dark and/or muddy wall or floor. Upon reaching the Red Crystal Chamber we were quite taken with a flowstone near the top of the cavern. While taking the obligatory photographs, John discovered that the flowstone was fluorescent, so we fired a few flashes at it just enjoying the fluorescent glow that followed the flash.

Looking down at the red crystal floor, while standing as near to the edge as we were allowed by the red wire, I caught a glimpse of a shawl that looked quite spectacular behind the chamber. After I clambered to a position for a better look (still within the red wire of course) I saw most of the large shawl and decided there and then that it was spectacular. On calling Bob back up to the top of the rock pile he had just clambered down, he returned for a perusal of said feature, and he grudgingly agreed it was worth the climb back up. Unfortunately it seems impossible to get a good photo of the shawl.

After we left the cavern to head out,

we were stopped occasionally by a few shawls, straws, rim pools, etc., which all required photographing. After leading us in a circle, for the only time, Walter found the way out through the Y2 entrance. By the time we reached daylight it was just after 5:00pm and the clear weather which had marked the beginning of the day was gone, and rain was falling. Walter, amongst others, was in a hurry to get home, so we had to quickly do the trek back to the cars, get changed and head off. On returning to Cotterill's Cottage we found everyone gone, besides Dave and Gerard ‑ who were patiently waiting(?) for Bob ‑ and Lloyd and Dorothy, who were kind enough to wait for me.

All headed directly home, except for us Robinsons, who were again tempted by a motel, and an Italian restaurant in Tumut.

Monday, February 13, 1995

The trip home for the Robinsons was only notable for a stop at Niagara Cafe in Gundagai ‑ lovely food, and a touch of history.

CONCLUSIONS

1. That the rangers at the park appreciated our assistance is undoubted, and the poor turnout on the previous trip can be put behind us, but it should not be forgotten.

2. 2. Eagles Nest should only be done on a Saturday by people who intend to go to work on Monday.

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11th and 12th August 1995

by Bob Kershaw

Present:

Dave Dicker, Clive and Son, Susan and Kevin McFadden and Bob Kershaw

Aims:

1. assist the ranger with track marking in Eagles nest

2. continue the removal of debris from Jersey Cave

3. undertake further photography in Jersey cave

Friday

Bob had been skiing in the vicinity and had already collected the key for Cotterill's Cottage from the rangers HQ and had made some tentative plans.

The night was cold and everyone else arrived about 9.30pm.

Susan and Kevin who slept in their car, a Land Rover diesel County (which was to become the brunt of many jokes over the weekend), were very cold on Saturday morning.

Saturday

We awoke to a frosty (about -8 degrees C), clear and cold morning.

Dave, Clive and Bob headed off about 9.30 am with Susan and Kevin in the Land Rover, but the diesel must not have had winter fuel because the filter system was freezing and not enabling fuel to get to the motor.

After some gentle massaging of the filtration system we arrived at the Ranger Hq about 10.am to find that Neil has been transferred and Nick was not going with us into Eagles Nest.

So we decided to undertake further debris removal from Jersey as well as attempt 8more photography. Then on Sunday undertake the track marking in Eagle's Nest.

We removed another 40 or so back packs of debris from the hole. It is beginning to look as it if goes! The newer visitors to debris removal were impressed with the cave and formations.

After we returned to the Cottage and started a smoky fire in the kitchen, we consumed vast quantities of food and wine around a warm fire like the pioneers must have done on the cool nights in Yarrangobilly.

Sunday morning was colder than the Saturday and the Land Rover played up again! Dave went to the ranger station to finish his map of the caves in the area, whilst Bob led a track marking expedition through the exit of Eagle's Nest. We walked through snow at the beginning of the walk and at the entrance to the cave, we had to negotiate snow to access the entrance.

The track marking exercise was uneventful, (if you call not getting lost among the boulders uneventful) and we eventually found our way through the boulder choke and mud to the bottom - somewhere!

We exited the cave in 45 minutes adding another couple of marks in orange Telecom string along the way.

We arrived back at the car after an exhilarating walk up the hill!

Clive and son left with Dave when we returned to the Ranger's station, while Susan, Kevin and Bob went for a cleansing wash in the thermal pool, just as the sun became hidden by the hills, before returning Bob to Cotterill's Cottage.

There was a great deal of snow on the exit road from the caves and covering the surrounding areas - a picture postcard scene to remember.

In November we are going to tackle Eagle's Nest on the Saturday and the debris in Jersey cave on the Sunday.

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11/12 NOVEMBER 1995

by Terry Quinn

PRESENT:

Bob Kershaw, Gerrard Collins, Terry Quinn, Kevin & Sue McFadden, Dave Dicker, Walter, Cathy and Baby Wearner, Anthony Pezutto, John, Dean, Jason, Suzzette, and three other visitors.

WEEKEND AIMS:

CONTINUE EXCAVATIONS IN JERSEY CAVE - SPORTS CAVING IN EAGLES NEST

FRIDAY 10/11/95

We left Albion Park at 10:00am with myself and Gerrard travelling with Bob Kershaw in the kombi (tardis). Stopped at Gundagai for a bite to eat at 14:30hrs. At this late stage we were still unable to contact the Yarrangobilly cave's manager to verify our intended arrival time.

After some investigative work by Bob we realised that our communication problems stemmed from using the wrong area code. Contact was finally made and verification of our permit made, or so we thought. We also learnt that the visitor centre closed at 16:30hrs which meant that we had to pull our finger out if we wished to pick up the keys for the caves that afternoon.

With Gerrard and myself stuffing chips down our throats as we left the diner, I handed the keys of the Kombi back and we headed off at break neck speed - I never realised that a Kombi went so fast or handled so well!!!!

We arrived at the visitor's centre at 16:05hrs.

Then the story becomes even more interesting. The club had filled out an application for a permit in August but had never received the permit through the mail, so we assumed that a permit had been issued and just not sent out. "Never assume anything" we found out, especially with the NPWS.

It seemed that the cave's manager, Nich, at the time had thrown in the towel since our last visit and our application had not been processed in his absence and the following limbo between managers. The situation at this stage (after six hours drive and no tents) was starting to look a little grim to say the least. That was until Bob unleashed all of his graceful persuasive charms on the ladies at the office - they didn't stand a chance. We were in!

We arrived at Cotterill's Cottage at approx. 17:00hrs and sat down to a nice cold beer. We were later joined by Dave and the McFaddens, others arriving later during the evening and early hours of the following morning.

Saturday 11/11/95

We awoke to find that a small tent city had sprung up overnight, temperature a little on the cool side but pleasant.

The Jersey Cave work crew led by Bob left camp at 9:30 am to begin the task in Jersey, also Dave was to continue his work with the cave location maps of the area. The other group led by Walter headed off to Eagles Nest but slightly later than planned due to some late risers!!!

Dave and Bob took us for a quick look through Jersey before the commencement of the hard labour. Jersey is certainly a spectacular tourist cave offering great views of grey and black flowstone and great diversity of formations, topped off with some well thought out lighting effects.

Work started at 10:30 and I happened to notice a rather large 12v battery just inside the entrance but did not pay it much attention, after a number of trips out with a full knap sack of rock I was nearly certain that it must have been for a defibrillator unit.

Work started with Bob and Dave digging and loading the packs with debris for the labourers to remove to the car park above. The workload wasn't too bad but after a while the old calf muscles knew when it was stair climbing time. The job was actually quite rewarding, each trip out I managed to notice another spectacular formation - you could find yourself in a far worse environment to be busting your butt that's for sure!

Saturday's work crew completed 75 trips and Sunday's about 35 so a substantial amount of debris was removed all up, enough to fill the back tray of the park's Toyota - great effort by all concerned.

We completed our little task at 15:30hrs slightly stuffed, but it was good to see that two of the old buggers were in slightly better condition than some of the young guns. There is work left in the old blue rinse set yet.

Returned to camp for a well‑earned beer and wash, Gerrard and myself being the only fools hardy enough to take the plunge in the Yarrangobilly River - and yes it was bloody cold!

After Bob and Dave restored our pulse rates from the swim, we relaxed with pre - dinner drinks with cheese and biscuits and watched a spectacular sunset doing what it does best -setting.

Walter's group returned about 7.00pm and had had an excellent time getting cold and geographically disoriented for 2 hours.

Dave was very gracious in saying no to a drop of my excellent red wine but helped me drink it anyway - what a guy!!

Retired at 23:00hrs

Sunday 12/11/95.

In the morning we were greeted by a low mist that covered the valley with the sun stretching over the surrounding hills.

Anthony and friends slipped out of bed at some ungodly hour. Figuring that it might be warmer in front of the fire instead of their sleeping bags. The trick is guys, bring warmer bags next time!

Today would see the two caving groups reversing their roles, that is, Walter's continuing the excavation in Jersey and Bob's unruly mob enjoying the beauty of Eagles Nest - or so we thought.

Set of at 8:30 to attack Eagles Nest. The walk down the ridge to the doline offers some great walking through spectacular mountain and snow gums, blacksallees and the occasional ovens wattle, very pleasant indeed.

Some good navigation and previous knowledge are required in actually locating the cave entrance. Bob advised us to leave water at the car barrier (roughly 1/2 way) as the walk out of the valley can require some effort especially in hot weather.

The walk to the cave entrance took approx. 50 minutes.

Entered the cave at 9:50 and immediately felt the cold that Sue had previously warned us about. The thermals would come in very handy especially during periods of waiting to negotiate difficult sections.

The first major chamber offers a good display of stalactites, stalagmites, helictites and flowstone in abundance. From this point the cave has some good squeezes and some descents that require more than a casual approach in their negotiation.

Some sections proved a little daunting to some of our group but all managed with flying colours.

Apparently Walter and his group had some navigation problems at the end of the cave the day before but managed to complete the cave successfully, well‑done Walter.

We also encountered problems becoming geographical disoriented on our journey into the bowels of the earth. After about an hour we realised that we must have passed the correct passage and had descended too far and decided to pull out.

We were all starting to feel the cold but knew we would be back to further investigate a passage we had found with very few trog marks.

The decision was made to confer with Walter and return to conquer Eagle's Nest another time, we may not have viewed all the pretties but we had a good time and it only added to the incentive of coming back again.

Exited the cave at approx. 13:00hrs

The walk up the ridge required a group effort in navigation to locate the track again. When the NPWS work out their managerial problems we will hopefully be able to complete the track marking exercise in Eagle's Nest.

On reaching the cars we then headed of to the thermal pools, and met the Jersey party, for a short swim before heading home.

Getting Gerrard to leave the pool area proved rather a difficult problem, a pretty young filly in a scanty bikini had caught his eye.

Of course Bob and I steadied him with our years of wisdom and dragged him away.

Next time you want to perv Gerrard, make sure you have your glasses on so that Mr. Kershaw and I don't have to explain her every move!!!

Set off for home at 16:00hrs. Arrived back at Albion Park at 21:50hrs tired but happy with the weekends results.

Thanks to all concerned with the organisation of the trip, a good time was had by all!

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16/17TH March 1996

Present:

Bob Kershaw, Andrew Banner, Ros Koziel (a rover from Canada), Tracey Marsh (a working visitor from New Zealand), Garry Haslam (a friend of Andrew's) and Walter, Cathy and Julie-Anne Waener.

Aims:

1. to accurately locate with a GPS some of the caves.

2. to remark the exit track in Eagles Nest.

3. to continue the debris removal from Jersey cave.

Unfortunately, aim 1 was not undertaken because the GPS went to Kangaroo Island and there was not enough people, - besides it RAINED!

Aim 2 was not undertaken because of the HEAVY RAIN!

The story continues.....

I arrived on Friday afternoon to collect the keys and renew our acquaintance with the rangers and to organise a permit for November to different caves - Bath House and East Deep Creek and to Coolamine caves in October. Before heading to Cotterill's Cottage a quick dip in the thermal pool revived me after the drive.

Friday night was very clear - the stars were very visible and the constellations easy to pick out - and quite pleasant under the verandah reading and enjoying a cold one.

Saturday morning we were woken about 7am by a thunderstorm and the accompanying WIND and RAIN! We decided to postpone the trip to Eagles Nest for a while it RAINED. Walter who camped out Friday night retrieved his tent from the camping area in the RAIN as did Andrew and Garry. Around Lunchtime the RAIN still kept tumbling down. About 2pm the rain stopped but the WIND continued and Walter decided to take his sick daughter home. Andrew and the others went for a scenic trip to Cabramurra and Kiandra and then a swim in the thermal pool. I enjoyed a sleep, some beer, the tranquility of the area and then the warmth of the fire in Cotterill's Cottage - I must be getting old!

Saturday night the WIND continued but turned SW and the temperature dropped.

Sunday morning was decision time: to Eagles Nest or to not Eagles Nest?

Eagles Nest lost and we decided to continue the digging in Jersey. The NPWS have installed a fence on the path adjacent to the dig. When I saw the dig the hole was considerably bigger. This was a result of the group from our trip in November 1995. We removed another 35 loads and uncovered a blackened flowstone in the bottom left as you look at the hole and a number of opaque columns under the area of the hand rail - you can't see these from the path. The accompanying sketch may give you some ideas. There is still plenty of debris to be removed but the scenery makes the effort worthwhile.

I noticed while at the ranger's office on the Friday that there have been a few Clubs in the area since last November but none have undertaken any removal. Also there are a few more scheduled for the future.

We finished digging about 1.30 and left the Ranger's Office for home about 2pm. Andrew and company went via Canberra to show the international contingent the tourist sites of our nation's capital.

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16th and 17th November 1996

by Bob Kershaw

Those who attended this variation in mountain weather extremes were:

Dave Dicker, Kevin and Susan McFadden, Ron and Fran Poulton, Cathy and Walter and the kids Waerner and visitors Jason and Steve. As well our guides John Brush, Neil Anderson and Terry from Canberra Speleo Soc. oh, and me.

The aims of this weekend were to explore and photograph some caves that we had not visited in the past;

Continue the debris removal in Jersey cave; and

for Dave to finish the re-drawing of the map showing the locations of the caves in the area.

I arrived on Friday afternoon to collect the keys and meet the new manager, Michael Carr, who had just begun at Yarrangobilly after a tour in the Antarctic as a station leader at one of the ANARE bases. I'm sure it will be warmer at Y'gabby????

Susan, Kevin and Dave arrived later when the late afternoon sunshine offered a place to have a beer and nibblies. Steve and Jason arrived just after we went to bed. An early night in anticipation of a hectic Saturday.

CSS arrived at 9.30am and we immediately headed for East Deep Creek, Y5 with clear skies and warm temps. The trek is a miniature walk of the hike to Eagles Nest - good on the way down, but puffing billy takes over on the way out! We entered the cave and headed for the top route to the pretties. The upper route is over and under and over and under fallen rocks from eons past. At the end of this passage one has to remove the foot coverings and overalls so as not to bring mud to the area and brave the frigid water temps. The formations are active and beeeeutiful!!!! You have to see them to believe them! Clean wet suit booties would be an advantage here as taking photographs in this environment prolonged the "frostbite" of the feet. We returned to the main entrance to dump the photographic gear and Sue, not feeling well, joined the gear. The much heralded railway tunnel loomed in the distance. But first we had to crawl through a passage that normally has a few cms of water in it - but quite negotiable. Not this time! The water level reached the roof and Neil, who has been caving this area for many years has never seen so much water in the cave nor the passage blocked by water. Next time we are going to go through and see what is hidden by the water.

As we could not finish Y5 we decided to go to Bathhouse, Y8. When talking to Ron later, this was a good introduction for people who wish to go caving in the UK - cold and lotsa water! The cave follows the water course down and down and down through a water fall negotiated by climbing a caving ladder and straddling the water fall on the way down to keep dry. Not so on the way up. There is little formation in the cave but some magnificent fossils and clean limestone that is washed by soooo much water.

Meanwhile Dave finished the map of the locations of the caves and Ron and Fran arrived after they took 5 hours to get from Tumut to Yarrangobilly. Photography can be a curse!

We returned to Cotterill's Cottage to reminisce and discuss caving and huts with CSS and then continue inside after dinner with the usual luxuries associated with a trip to this neck of the Snowy Mountains.

Sunday morning arrived with a bang or several to be precise. The accompanying rain and winds modified the plans for this day. Canberra where going to cave in T3 power station and we were going in to remove more debris from Jersey. But the back packs could not be found so we gave Jason and Steve a guided tour of the cave and bid the new manager farewell, hoping to see him and his staff, who would like to go caving in a wild cave, next March. Next time it can only snow or rain or hail or maybe even the sun might shine!

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8/9 March 97

by Wendy Hird

Present: Bob Kershaw, Walter Werner, Wendy Hird, Gerard Collins, Dave Dicker

Figtree Rovers: Felicity Vella, Bruce McNiece, Jason Bond, Andrew Clark, Andrew Banner, Melanie Berry, Amanda Jakes, Castle Hill Rover Adrian Elliot, Friends of Walter - Kevin, Gail, Alise (aged 5) and Thomas (aged 3), and Gary and Helen

Day 1: Y5 (East Deep Creek)

Every one went into the upper section in the morning, except Dave who finished off the map in the rangers centre. Young Thomas was in about 20 minutes before he figured this wasn't were he wanted to be so his mum Gail took him back out again. The first section was fairly dull and the gate was obviously positioned by a sadist. It continued being fairly dull until the end passage. There's a pool - empty at this time - which must be fairly spectacular when it has water in it. You wonder around the pool to a sloping surface where in groups of 3 or 4, we had to doff our boots for bare feet or wetsuit booties. The end section is spectacular. You stand on a section of flow stone -thus the booties - that's only 0.5m wide and about 2m long and are surrounded on all sides by flowstones and stalagmites and stalactites at that are pristine white. Through the stalagmites are more areas of flowstones that you can't get to that look spectacular. The whole things about 4 m higher then were you are standing and continues down out of site. Probably the best section of white formations I've ever seen.

Young Alise did very well by getting right through to the end of the cave and only had to be bribed with chocolate a few times. The Figtree mob were very good in helping her over the boulders etc and even though there a big percentage of new cavers - the whole thing went very smoothly.

Day 1: Y5 Lower section in the afternoon.

We lost some of the party at lunch, the first ones out of the cave thought we were heading back to the huts for lunch so headed up the hill and waited at the cars. Meantime we were eating lunch outside the cave and headed back in after waiting for them to return. The lower cave is ungated - they probably think the crawl space puts people off. You get to this section by doubling back when you reach the sign in book and going under the boulders you've just climbed over. There's a real breeze in the boulder crawl that makes all the boulders very cold to touch. My thought was if was this hard going in it `s gonna be a real pain going out. The "it's only another 10cm" leap of faith came in to call a few times. The passage gets narrower and narrower and ends in a duck under that last time they'd tried was filled with water. This time it was clear so under we went and it opened up into a passage that followed the creek around. Different formations spot the way. That makes it a delight to travel. The passage reduces down to about 1.5 m and then ends up in a crawl space about 0.4. Smaller then the Wyanbene crawl with boulders about 100mm round on the floor to crawl over. The passage continued this way for loooonnnng time. Then opened up to spot where you could stand and where the backpacks were left and me. I was pretty buggered by this time. They came back about half an hour later.

(The formations were spectacular - pristine white straws, columns, shawls, flowstone stalagmites and tites - and we are going back in November to photograph them again. Ed)

The crawl out didn't seem as long as the crawl in but the climb back out was difficult - particularly for us short legged people. I got a helping hand on several occasions.

Most of us wondered down to the thermal pools after the cave so the pre dinner drinks was extended to a post dinner party on the verandah of the Cotterill's Cottage. The party raged on (raged is probably the wrong word - meandered more like) until about 12 or so. The next day it took a bit to get going again and we didn't get to Jersey cave until 11.

Day 2 (what was left of it) was spent in Jersey cave - a beautiful cave - despite the paths going through it, and still live too - particularly in the lower reaches. We pulled out 41 bags of rubble - it didn't look like much in the truck. We finished up about 1:00 and started the trek home.

A great weekend - the bruises are already showing up - and a good time had by all.

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15 & 16/11/97

by Bob Kershaw

Present:

Bob Kershaw, Gerrard Collins, Walter and Cathy Waerner and kids, Andrew Banner

Visitors Angela Ball and Steve Forrest, Mick ?

CSS members Carol and Neil Anderson and Marg and John Brush and their Swiss caving visitors

I arrived on Friday afternoon to collect the keys and collect a bit of firewood. Later in the afternoon the CSS crowd met me at Cotterill's Cottage for a chat about Saturday's activities.

The rest of ISS arrived at various times during the afternoon and evening.

Typical of mountain weather the rain developed during the night and it kept raining into the morning. A couple of CSS members arrived at 9am and encouraged us to go from Y1 to Y2. So encouraged, we kitted up and trogged along the track on the rain and drizzle thankful that it wasn't snowing!

Into the entrance of Y1 to remove the wet weather gear and into the dry caving gear. Down the 10m ladder pitch and into the wet and cold air of the Yarrangobilly limestone.

Several climbs later and missed tracks and turnoffs we split into 2 groups the "youngsters" led by Neil and the ones who "had done the cave several times" before, who took their time. I think it was because we became geographically disoriented more often.

We exited into bright sunshine and enjoyed the walk up the hill back to the cars.

We headed for a swim in the thermal pool and then to Caves House were the CSS team were staying, for pre-dinner socialising on the balcony before heading back to Cotterills for the evening repast. A few ports and good stories before heading to slumberland.

Sunday, a sunny morning and we were off to Y5 to photograph the lower section again, hopefully better this time.

(a few of the shots are very good, thanks team). The air was cool and wet as was the limestone and crawls through which we had to traverse. A few hours were spent admiring and photographing the speleothems.

Steve, Gerrard and Angela sussed out the SUSS extension while I continued photographing in the main passage. Wal and Andrew had exited early to go home via Canberra or to get out of assisting the photographic expedition (??? they must be sick of waiting for me!!! Ed).

A departure from Yagby about 3pm had us home about 9pm after a great weekend with excellent company in the Snowies.

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September 1998

By Jason Bond

Present Were: Bob Kershaw (TL), John Kemister, Alison and Andrew Scobie, Gerard Collins, Jason Bond, and the Brown family.

The aim of the weekend was:

Day 1: To Trek across from the snowy Mts highway to the Coppermine Cave, Y12 Locating, exploring and taking GPS readings of as many caves as we could find on the way.

Day2 To do some cleaning up in one of the tourist caves.

I left straight from work on the Friday afternoon and arrived at Cotterill’s Cottage after only a brief rest and Maccas stop on the way at about 9:00pm. I travelled via Gundagai and had ample time to try out the driving lights on my new Landcruiser along the way. When I arrived, Bob’s Kombi was the only vehicle in sight. He was already in bed later telling me that he was trying to get some power sleep before the arrival of the rest of the vehicles which are spaced so perfectly apart that they make sleeping very difficult…..funny, I’ve never noticed. (Probably never been a light sleeper. Ed)

On Saturday morning we were up at the crack of ‘Yawn’ and rearing to go. Everyone was there except for John who was due to arrive that morning but was a little late. The weather seemed pretty good but a cold front was predicted for later that day and rain for Sunday. We left a message with some fellow campers so John would know what was going and then took a few cars, parking mine at the exit point and then driving back to start the journey.

We took of with Bob leading, heading for Bathhouse, BD8. After a while Gerard went a little way ahead to check for some sinkholes. We called out to him to see where he had got to and when he replied there was an echo. We tried again and sure enough Gerard seemed to be in two different places at once. It was only after a little puzzling that we realised that it was John tracking us and thinking we were calling out to him. John decided to go back and get some sleep and meet us at Coppermine later on.

We found the first cave Y8 a little further on at the bottom of a sinkhole. Whoever had taken the original co‑ordinates was a little out so Bob marked the proper location on the map. We decided to move on vowing to return and explore it later. After a bit of hit and miss and dodge the blackberries we found another cave. It (Y17) wasn’t the one we were looking for so Andrew decided to have a quick look while we scoured the hillside for the real McCoy. After having no real luck we returned as Andrew was coming out and he said it was worth a look. That was enough for us so we donned our underground gear and ventured in. It was about 100 meters long all up I’d say, not overly pretty but still active and a good starting grovel for the day.

The next cave we were headed for was Y38, it was marked as being close to an intersection of the Yarrangabilly river and a creek. As easy as that sounds, and try as we might we could not find it anywhere within about a 200m radius. After spending a fair bit of time we decided that seeing we were approximately on the 1000m contour and so was the next cave we would move on. We got to the base of an interesting looking cliff line and decided to have lunch.

We set off again following the cliff line around, getting ripped to shreds by the blackberries still having no luck until we saw a big hole. I climbed up and found an unusual thin aluminium tag "2006 " the cave went nowhere but the climb was a bit of fun. It wasn’t much further on when we found ourselves at the entrance to (Y12) Coppermine, with John having a nap outside. He said he had been for a look around and had found the funny tag and had also ventured into this cave already and warned that it was indeed wet.

We got the gear on and went inside. The entrance was pretty large and almost waterfall like with signs warning that a permit was required. The cave was basically an underground creek. I was determined to make it all the way without getting myself wet but unfortunately this was not the case and I soon found my self wading up to my thighs (Yeah I know I am short) and then grovelling through some patches.

The cave itself was very active with many formations but with some signs of damage. Broken formations black discolouring, graffiti and the like. We found and signed the visitor’s book, which was also not well looked after and continued. There was some very good photo opportunities including a weird stalactite which had an island hanging of the bottom of it but never reached the ground. We continued along the creek level until the water went into a passage that left only about a foot of space above it. Bob declared this was not the way. And eventually Gerrard found the passage quite away above us. This involved some quite difficult climbing and Alison being tired stayed at creek level with John, to keep her company. We went up the climbs, through winding passages and over holes that dropped away to the creek below etc until we came to where we thought the locked gate should be but could not find it. Except noticing more examples of damage.

Bob came up soon and having been here before (about 12 years ago) quickly found the right passage and the gate. It involved a tight slide down to get to the passage and then a really tight squeeze to get up to the gate. I found the slide a breeze but the squeeze was pretty hard work in fact I think it was the tightest that I have been through. The change in the colour of the formations after the gate was amazing. Every thing was pristine and white and I didn’t notice any damage at all. We unfortunately did not venture far into this protected section instead deciding that we were all pretty tired and would return. The way back through the squeeze was much easier because gravity was on my side but the opposite happened with the slide and it ended up giving me a bit of a challenge but I beat it in the end. When we got back to the creek level John and Alison had already gone out so we promptly followed having to once again get wet. As we were sitting having a bite to eat at the entrance a Wallaby with a joey came and sat with us. It was pretty amazing as it was only about two metres away for the bulk the time. We walked the couple of kilometres back to my car, picked up the other cars and headed back to camp after a great day.

We sat around having cheese, biscuits, nibbles and the odd beer before cooking tea. Andrew and Alison prepared their usual feast and the rest of the night was spent chatting, telling stories and singing with the guitar. Just as we were calling it a night the winds started to come in and it wasn’t long before the rain started.

The next day we all slept in a bit thanks to the rain, got up, had breakfast and headed down to the Ranger’s hut at the tourist caves. The Ranger was quite helpful and willing to have a chat and we ended up getting the keys for South Glory. On the way there we also had a look through the North Glory self-guided cave for those who hadn’t been there before. After having a good look at the caves which are very pretty, picking up a bit of muck (there wasn’t much there really) and taking a heap of photos we went back to the cars and I left for home after a thoroughly enjoyable weekend.

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16th and 17th October 1999

Present:

Wal Waerner,TL, Gerrard Collins, John Kemister, Greg Pearce, Paul Armstrong, Bob Kershaw, Gary Brown and Family, Kerin Knuckey and Adam Peters. Wal’s Cousin from Germany, Dave also attended.

This report is a compilation of bits and pieces from various people.

By Bob

On Saturday all went into Eagles Nest except Bob who went walking in the pine forest and Kerin and Adam who went to clean up a tourist cave.

Like all keen Leaders, Wal left a key behind even though he had done the cave several times before and at the exit they had to undo the bolt that holds the chain in place and as they were about to redo it after everyone exited Gerrard dropped the bolt. Marvellous how the tinkle tinkle of a bolt hitting rocks sounds as it passes rocks on its way into the cave.

From Kerin

Meantime, Adam Peters, David (Walter's Cousin) and myself cleaned the North Glory cave and the self-guided Tour cave. Our mission was to pick up and rubbish that the tourists may have drop or left in the caves. During our mission Adam took some photos. A grand total of twenty-two bits of rubbish was found. After this we went for a swim.

From Wal about Sunday

If anyone has sent you trips reports from the weekend yet you'd know that the Bathhouse squeeze claimed more victims. Of the 8 that went in only 4 got through. On the bright side they made it past the Wiggle Woggle squeeze so there is no longer a reason to visit this cave on future trips! For the larger cavers (myself sadly included) we returned to camp and vegetated whilst waiting for the other to return.

By Bob Again

An Email to John Brush about my Saturday excursion

Hello John

I feel a bit like Goldilocks!

Let me explain.

Our recent weekend at Yaggby was successful. On arriving Friday afternoon,

I noticed that a great deal of pine forest had been cut down. So I decided to walk thru the forest on Saturday when everyone was underground. It was a sunny and warm day and I couldn't resist the walk in the sun ‑ so unlike Yaggby!!??

I went searching for the "unkown" caves in the pine forest, and behold the trees surrounding the dolines and caves had been circled in blue paint and survey tape. Smart Forestry people I thought.!!! Easy to find the caves in the area of Jounama etc, just look for the blue. Later after lunch and walking back to the cottage and finding Y75 but not much else along the river.

Later in the afternoon, a few other cavers, Adam, Kerin, Dave and I, had returned and we ventured back to enter a sink in a recently cut area and surrounded by blackberry bush, to determine the number Y72 and enter Y86, from memory. The lads that entered found a piece of wet paper with a CSS letterhead, and only recently as it had the PO box address. They briefly enlightened me of its contents and of your work in the area.

How significant is the meteorology data for Y11/Y157 Jounama cave? And for how long has data been collected? Just personally curious as the cave was gated and surrounded by cables and supposedly lost for some time.

John’s Reply

Yes, the blue paint. CSS had quite a bit of fun doing that. The idea is to warn foresters as they lumber (no pun intended) around in the forest with big machines looking for tress to chop. Apparently they are a bit paranoid after dropping a wheel into a collapse (in soil) last summer. Hopefully the trees should go this summer, starting soon, so the blue paint and tape will not show where the caves are for much longer.

Can't explain the letterhead paper, unless it was something dropped by the forestry people. I know they have a copy of the report I wrote to NPWS on our tree marking work and I have heard the forestry people have been up there lately to check on what we did.

Andy Spate was doing the stuff in Y157. He has several years of readings (of met stuff, water drip data etc) and intends to repeat the work after the forest has gone. The gate was merely to stop people buggering up the experiments ‑ he was recording temps & humidity, had condoms on stals to catch drips and has a clothesline with microscope slides pegged to it to catch calcite in aerosols ‑ I say has 'cos this bit is still there. Andy has yet to figure out a way to get the slides back to a lab intact. As you will appreciate, not much calcite gets deposited out of the air and so any little wipe of the slide will affect the results.

Cheers

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11/12-3-2000

Present: Bob Kershaw, Gerrard Collins, Visitors: Chris Hine, Debbie Romp, Karen Irvine, Gerhot and Trudy; and Wendy Hird and nephews for a little while

After arriving at various times on Friday evening and Saturday morning, Saturday morning was very foggy after the rain of Friday evening and most people slept in.

Apparently, Wendy had told her visitors that the facilities at Cotterill’s Cottage had bunks, Fridges’, showers, eating utensils and electric stoves! They were not impressed to find the spartan cottage and the cold nature of the bare floor! I think she was thinking of the Cliefden hut!!! Oh well that’s life!

Gerrard and Bob helped them out with stoves and cutlery, and blankets but the hot showers???

Saturday about 11am Gerrard, Chris, Debbie and Bob headed off to Eagles Nest to repair the Y2 entrance, ie replace a pin in the lock. We were amazed to see Gerrard jump and skip as he came across several ‘wriggly sticks’ sunning themselves where he was about to put his feet. However, Gerrard had the wrong size pin for the lock and this will have to wait until Easter when he leads a few Newcaves members through Y’agby caves! We then headed for Y3 and a trip through the Cave that took us, after taking a few wrong turns and “umming and ahing” about which direction to take, about 4 hours and 30 minutes. We decided to go for a swim about 7.30 pm in the Thermal pool, only to find the mossies in full force and Karen heading down the track trying to find the cavers that said they would be back about 5pm!

A late dinner after sunset had well and truly passed and a few drinks on the balcony of “Paradise Lost” on a very warm night, had charged the batteries of us city folks.

Sunday morning was again very foggy and Gerrard, Chris and Bob headed for Y5, East Deep creek to undertake the upper level. There was no water flowing into the entrance which lifted the spirits a bit seeing that we usually get wet entering this cave. We GPS’ed the entrance twice due to the lack of satellites and were 100m out when we compared the two results. Be careful on relying on GPS for very exact locations

A lot of guess work trying to remember the track from years ago eventually lead us to the very well decorated section were Bob and his wet suit booties kept his feet warm and dry. The others? Well cold wet feet are not the best thing to absorb the beauty of this section of the cave. We exited, had a hot walk up the hill and left Y’agby about 2.30pm on an unusually hot and steamy mountain day.

Postscript from Debbie:

Thanks to Wendy for an excellent job in providing my caving gear but next time she invites me to “Resort Yarrangobilly”, I will remember not to pack the makeup!

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11/12 November 2000

Participants:

Bob Kershaw,TL and author of article

John Kemister and Jonathan a from Hong Kong,

Kerry Sanders and Friend

What promised to be a great weekend weather wise turned out to be a typical November weekend - wet and miserable - the weather not the company!

Saturday morning and the walk to Eagles Nest in the drizzle got our feet of to a great start. We left the car park about 9am and we noticed that a large number of trees had been broken and blown over as a result of the winter storms and strong winds.

By the time we got to the entrance to change into warm clothing we were quite warm and moist! We entered the cave about 1015am.

We entered and gave time for the 2 visitors to acclimatise to the cave environment. I went the way I should have but forgot to look over a little mound for the way down so we spent about 1 hour exploring the top section and training the visitors in Yarrangobilly etiquitte!

Eventually I gave up and went back to where I should have looked and behold there was the hole that we had to descend!

John led from here in a downwards motion and we made great time. Places again became familiar and it is good train others in the cave so if you do forget a direction the other members will know which path to tread.

Lunch was had in the depths of the “railtunnel” examining the numerous fossils and standing due to the coldness of the limestone and the very wet drips from the recent snows infiltrating the cave environment.

Onwards we headed for the pretties and the “gasps and ahs” of the cave. But again near the red line markers we took a wrong turn and found ourselves back in the area of the phreatic “Dragons Teeth” and to find the real path out. Next time I’m going to take a couple of signs and place them in the appropriate positions!

As we approached the exit the water in the influx sounded very thunderous. And me thinking we will get wet again!

We broke through into a grey sky and drizzle about 4pm and returned to our packs at the entrance to change clothes and ready ourselves for the return walk to the cars, arriving about 530pm.

At Cotterill’s Cottage 4 CSS members had arrived to work with Jo Ingarfield on the Sunday. We cleaned ourselves up and joined them on the balcony for pre dinner nibbles and later after dinner in the cold November drizzle.

Sunday rained some more and the ISS Canberra contingent wanted to leave by noon and so they went by Tumut as the route over the mountain had a few wash outs that the drivers didn’t want to negotiate or dirty or dent the Landrovers.

I returned the keys and bid farewell to Y’agby until possible post-conference trips in January.

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Yarrangobilly Trip Reports and photographs

Contents

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Friday February 10, ‑ Sunday 13, 1995

September 1998