As happened for last year’s TSG Christmas bash, there was quite a large, enthusiastic turnout for the daytime caving before the evening meal. Both Peak Cavern and Titan had been booked, and there was also a trip into Water Icicle, including the chance for a couple of groups to explore the mysteries behind the Iron Curtain. By 9:30 the Chapel was humming in every sense of the word. Lots of TSG cavers, who were busy getting there equipment together, were joined by friends from Masson, Crewe and Dudley Caving Clubs for the Water Icicle adventure.
Water Icicle Close Cavern
This week's Tuesday evening trip was a visit to Water Icicle Close Cavern, near Monyash. Water Icicle is, in many ways, an oddity; a mine, with precious little evidence of any mining, sporting a fine climbing shaft leading accurately down to the intersection of three phreatic, fossil passages, one of which (The South Passage) leads to a fine, high rift, which is the favourite theoretical entry point for t'Owd Mon, presumably from within the long strip of trees towards which the rift points.