The Crew

Reading : Chris Seal, Mark Horswill, Andy Boyd, Lisa Bates (Methven), Alastair Starnes, Brian West, Henry Bonham, James Thatcher

Romania : Christ Ciubutarescu, Dan Popescu, Dan Samarghitan, Ioana (Starnes) Focul Viu Caving Club, Buchuresti (later Sphinx Caving Club, Garda de Sus).

Transport

We had the sense to drive this time...

Areas visited

We camped at 3 sites in the Apusien mountains.

The first camp was Casa de Piatra. We explored Coiba Mare (see photo on left) and did a little digging upstream (well Daren diggers were on camp!). 50ft of extra passage was discovered.

Ghetarul de la Virtop. Our photographer was also in the crew this year -thanks go to Brian and Christi.

Scarisoara Ice Cave. An area very close to our home in years to come (Garda). A bigger version of the photograph below, showing the entrance to Scarisora is here.

The second camp was at Padis. We visited Pestera Neagra de la Barsa, Black Cave)which provided excellent SRT. It turned out to be one of our longest and most memorable days. The cave was black limestone as the name suggests and contained a beautiful streamway at the bottom. Chris, Lisa, Brian & Mark from RUCC accompanied Romanians Dan and Christi.

Cetatile Ponorului –fantastic gour pools in Mendip Hall

Piatra Altarului – the most spectacular cave in Romania, surely second only in the world to Lechuguilla?

Many thanks to Cluj Polytechnico for our guided visit.

At the third camp we visited Choclovina (see photo), Sevra Mare, and Sheep Pen Cave

A fantastic year – but heh, border queues aren’t what they used to be and Landrover tyres certainly ‘aint what there made out to be.