David Rose (2) (1959–)

Old but still very readable account of five or so years expeditions by Oxford University Caving Club to a small region of the Picos mountains, in Austrias, Spain. The first expedition was in '79 and the last recorded one in '87 but the authors didn't attend every year. I started my caving "career" about this time I think.

The focus is very much on just three deep systems, most of the time is spend in XItu which reaches more than 1km down, and the other two were later finds both significant at -500m. All of these are high in the mountains with constant snow plugs and issue even in August, and requiring daylong treks from a spartan base-camp to an even more desolate Top Camp before any caving could be contemplated. The trips described are all true explorations, the first living people to ever experience these galleries and passages. For the most part only the more significant obstacles are described which leads to the slightly false impression that entire 24hr trips underground were nothing but misery, whereas between the lines there seem to have been a few minutes of splendour now and then.

Perhaps the greatest interest for modern cavers is an insight into how technology has improved over even this relatively modest time scale. SRT was just being introduced, and most of the pitches were still a mix between ladders for short drops with the metalwork only being brought out for the longer pitches. All the bolts were hammered in, no cordless drills then! and hence a plethora of natural rigging, which is less frequently seen these days. Carbide was de-facto lighting source with emergency weak and failing electric torches a last resort (or under waterfalls). It's also surprising that the expeditions were completely halted by any sump, deeming that the end of the cave (as it is for sport cavers) but expeditions these days are normally competent enough to push divers through even deep and long sumps in search of the way on.

The writing is a clearly demarked shift between David and Richard, very different to normal co-authored works where the blending can become seamless, but at the same time very well managed without overlapping any events, just told from whoever was closest to that part of the exploration. The teams were of course much bigger, up to 20 or so people and the authors are at pains to remind the reader that everybody endured the same hardships and hit the same highs together. For anyone with an interest in caving and some background in the sport it's entertaining, but I'm not sure the general appeal will be very high. David Rose's career is in journalism and he writes very well with clear descriptions and well balanced anecdotes of personalities.

The glossary at the back shows caving humour at it's finest and won't be of much use to people who aren't already interested in the sport. There's a small selection of colour prints midway through, and a few maps and cave plans, again mostly of interest to active cavers as they seldom relate that clearly to the text. Given the conditions at the time the photos, although a long way from modern standards have come out well.… (más)