Page 31 - KBHA BULLETIN 3

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diary often recorded him painting an aluminium background during one walk, then

completing the name of the cave and a border around the name on a subsequent climb. Many
of the names he painted are still visible, and some are in excellent condition. If names painted

50 years ago are still in quite good condition, one wonders how long the modern spray-

painted graffiti will remain visible.

South African Spelaeological Association

The next group to show an interest in the mountains was the South African Spelaeological

Association. Members of the Association systematically explored the mountains, but did not

discover much more than Meyer had. As they did not publish most of their work; most of it
survives only as odd notes in their committee minutes book, and even this is very sketchy.

Their greatest discovery was, however, recorded by Anthony Keen in the 1958 club bulletin.
At about that time, rumours started circulating that someone had pushed their way through the

narrow passage at the end of Ronan’s Well. At that time, the cave was recorded as being

about 75 yards long. One of the members tackled the narrow passage, and after about 20
yards, the narrow crack widened into a large passage. This led to many chambers and

extended the known caves to 1200 ft. The club then poured enormous efforts into finding a

second entrance. Although they did not find another entrance at this time, they did discover
Drip Water Pot, one of the few new caves to be discovered after Meyer’s time.

Ten years after this breakthrough, a member of SASA made another breakthrough in the same
cave. Using radio beacons and locating coils, they determined that a boulder choke in

Ronan’s Well was very close to another cave by the name of Robin Hood’s Cavern. Two

teams set to work removing sand and boulders, and after a short while, they had their long
awaited second entrance to Ronan’s Well. (Speleo, 1969.)

In the early 1980s, a group of SASA members set about mapping the all of the caves on the

mountain (Fig. 3.7.) Some of the earlier surveys were published in the club bulletin, but much

of their work has yet to be published.