Poll na Gollum 07/09/25

 

Clare Caving Club  - Trip Log
Poll na Gollum As always, do not visit caves without the permission of the landowner
Trip Overview
Location:	Poll na Gollum, Burren
Date:	Sept 7, 2025
Participants:	Jarek, Tim, Robin, Michal, Des, Colin, Jen, Owen, Artur, Milo and assorted beginners
Trip Leader:	Many! Tim/ Colin/ Artur/ Lucasz/ Michal/ Robin - and Terry for the prerig/ wash up
Trip Difficulty Level:	Beginner taster session & SRT Practice
Weather Conditions:	Dry with wet days preceding
Cave Description	PnG - the one, the only. There is no other. Also a caver leader training group today in the cave - rarely seen it so busy!
Entrance:	Poll na Gollum
Route:	Four trips today across the sprawling PnG. 1 Robin went solo to derig at Upper Branch Passage Gallery.  2 Michal, Milo Lucasz and Artur did a rigging practice/training session in the upper traverses approaching the Flyover while Owen and Jen practiced SR.  3 Colin & Des brought a beginner group down Shaft Gallery to signature stone and out Gunmans,  4 ...while Tim do the reverse, down Gunmans to Signature, out Shaft.
Trip Description:	Mostly a taster session for beginners & Rigging practice and SRT training following from the SRT Training the trip previous
Equipment:	SRT kits, lotsa rope/ karabiners for the traverses/ waterfall drops, 10 metre rope and x2 karabiners for the assisted handline, ladder/ rig and 10 metrer rope for rappel/ rope in at PnG, sling and x 5 karabiners (and a 30m rope) for the protected climb in.
Notes/ Highlights:	Thanks to everyone who came out and helped prep the day. Miloz and Lucasz looked a bit cold at the waterfall! Fair dues Owen and Jen. Beginners had a general good time with the taster session, or at least that is what they told us! Robin was delighted with the solo trip - hardy buck! We will organise the next beginner trip as a offical SUI 'try cave'  to ensure we have access to SUI kit for beginners (oversuits) A lot of wet mucky gear, we'll have to come up with a better way to do the tidy up/ wash up than dump it for Terry   Jarek, Jen and Michal prepping for SRT   Tony, Mareka, Soren, Joell and Alfie - note the fantastic gear and lack of oversuits - brrr   Happy campers in need of tea and warm clothes - thanks to all who participated and helped out with the trip(s)