More news from Titan, England's deepest (and we say most impressive!) cave! (See last Blog of 22.2.07)

Since the 'breakthrough' into the top of Titan from the surface dig, a team of cavers have been digging down westwards (away from Titan) in search of the elusive  'Western passage' , the system that formed Titan originally.

How do we know it is there?

Descending Titan from the original Breakthrough window, a large passage is seen entering Titan, about 15 metres down. This passage is infilled with boulder debris and would be too problematical / dangerous to follow, so we are attempting to intercept it by digging vertically through a boulder choke to the immediate west.

In theory, we had about 14 metres to dig, but at about 20 metres depth, we were beginning to wonder......

Would the breakthrough ever come?

Whatever we went into had to be big surely, to form a cavity such as Titan......... 

Well, on Sunday 13th May, three cavers were working hard at the bottom of the 'internal dig' as we call it. We had seen an opening for the last few weeks, and a draught occasionally emitting with a strong musty smell.

Today however, working hard clearing rock debris, we enlarged the hole big enough to allow a body squeeze entry..Too dangerous was the consent. The slope was steep, largely wet mud and in danger of slumping without solid shuttering.

A bit more 'insurance work' and it was suggested we use an aluminium ladder as a 'crawler board'. So, like one does in times of such dire need, a message was sent to the surface...."We want a short aluminium ladder!"

Being the resourceful crew that they are (well, all one of them on this occasion - thanks Graham!) down came one ladder!

Tim was nearer, so after lashing the ladder to the scaffold caging in the dig shaft, down he went... a tight squeeze and...."It's great...I'm on the floor!"

In no time at all, I was down as well.

We were in a water formed chamber, about 8 feet in all dimensions, with  triangular slot allowing access into a second similar chamber.

This second chamber was much more spectacular, with pristine white calcite on the walls, a pronounced mineral vein with sparkling clusters of calcite crystals, and a calcite floor - maybe false.

A strong hint of a way on, but obviously more to come. We have worked hard for nearly four years to get this far and it is the most significant advance yet on this particular dig. We are confident of greater discoveries to come, and the dig will continue!

The BBC have also just finished filming a documentary based on the original discovery of Titan, we await the results with interest!

Watch this space!