RRCPC
Vercors Caving
Attendees:
Steve Gray, Heather Gray (and 2 Kids), Dalek, Djuke Vedhuis, Tony Rooke,
Stuart Bennett, Edvin Deadman, Kathryn Hopkins, Adam Milward, Mark Shinwell,
Hugh Davies, Paula Davies (and 2 Kids)
After an
uneventful drive through France, we arrive at “Camping le Vecors” in Autrans
just about Lunchtime on the Saturday.
This is a
lovely site staffed and run by friendly people who are happy to accommodate cavers
on the field. It has a pool and is only 2 mins walk from town.
We were
shown to our field, complete with a thousand molehills! After kicking these
flat we pitched up and others started to arrive over the next 24hrs.
I drove to
Grenoble for 10.30pm to collect Dalek and Adam from the train. Finding Adam was
no problem, but Dalek was another matter as he’d forgotten his phone and didn’t
know I was turning up!
One loud
shout of DALEK, in the middle of the concourse found him and had the added
bonus of confusing all the French tourists, as this strange looking man waddled
out of the crowd with a rucksack on that was bigger than him!
Back up to
the site for the two of them to pitch up after stopping on the way back to
watch some spectacular lightning.
Quote “
Dalek what’s that?”. “That’s my tent. I bought it for Woolworths for £15. I’ve
put some karabiners on it to stop the top letting the rain in.”
About 4am I got up for a pee and to watch the
Storm to be met with the sight of Dalek bailing his tent out with a Billycan.
Quote” Do
you need a hand?” “No I’m alright it’s nearly empty now, at least the
Karabiners holding the top down worked.”
“How did it
get wet then?” “I left the door open for ventilation as it sweats inside.”
Thank God
for the moles as all the rain sank straight down their holes never to bother us
again!
We woke up
to sun and humidity and guessed another storm was due. As it was we had two
days of iffy weather and then gorgeous sunshine for the rest of the trip.
Sunday was
spent shopping, getting our bearings, and swimming with a quick trip down the
Malatere for Dalek, Djuke and Adam.
Summary
It was an
excellent Holiday with something happening every day and on occasion a couple
of things.
The two
families thoroughly enjoyed it, with the two 8 year olds achieving their first
canyoning trip in the upper Furon, and all the kids and non-cavers enjoying a
trip into the Bournillon. My son even learnt to ride a bike.
There was
plenty for everyone to do and a very chilled out atmosphere was present,
despite some quite hard trips that were completed.
Plenty of
Beer and wine was consumed; in fact, we drank a local bar dry towards the end
of the second week. (Admittedly they only had 2 rounds worth of Beer to start
with, then they pinched some back off other customers when they realised we
were going to spend more!!)
Lots of
Bread and cheese were eaten and Dalek appointed himself as The Netto ambassador
to France, and tried to deliver baguettes to a poor Frenchman camping miles
from anywhere in the Mountains, scaring him witless in the process! If you see
Dalek or Adam ask for the details, it’s a very funny storey!
We
completed numerous caving trips including The Malaterre, the Bournillon, Trou
qui Soufflé, Pot 2, The Gournier, Goules Blanch and Noir, Reseau Christian
Gathier and a number of smaller caves not mentioned in the Guide books but
found when we cycled down the riverbed South of Meaudre.
We
completed 3 Via Ferratas and one via Corda, 3 canyons including the Lower
Ecouges and the Furon, Lots of walking, Lots of Cycling (especially by Dalek)
and some roadside and multi pitch climbing. We even went up on a couple of
cable cars and chairlifts and visited the Berger entrance.
A full
report of the trip including the funny bits will follow when we get time to
write it.
We have
taken pictures of all the signboards at the start of all the vias and canyons
for future reference and will attempt to put these on the website as they are
not all in easily available guides.
I have been
asked to possibly organise another trip for next year, as there is a lot we
didn’t have time to do. I am also possibly looking at a Berger trip for two
years time. Please let me know if you are interested in either.
Steve Gray
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