This is then the report of four and a half years of sometimes concentrated, sometimes intermittent digging in Carno Adit. Why do we bother?
Well, Carno Adit penetrates to the middle of Mynydd Llangynidr, an area of upland just to the west of Llangatwg. Llangynidr has only two caves of note to date, Ogof Cynnes with 1 mile of passage and Chartist Cave with ¼ mile of passage but both these caves have large phreatic chambers and evidence of "master cave" type development and both have been proved hydrologically to be just the tip of a very large iceberg, speleologically speaking. Carno Adit penetrates the limestone strata not far from these caves - all other digging activities on the moor would have to be through its cap of millstone grit In one of the many dolines which litter its surface.
The stream sinking in Carno Adit feeds water to the Clydach Gorge not so far away from the resurgences of Agen Allwedd, Daren Cilau and Craig a Ffynnon and a connection with these massive systems is not beyond the realms of possibility.
The draught in the Adit caves is remarkable especially in the area of the avens and should, if draught is as good an indicator as cavers think it is, lead to large open passage somewhere in this mountain.
The problem, as you will have come to understand, is boulder chokes, a common problem in the South Wales limestones and only time and effort will solve it, so we will keep on digging.
The diggers in the Adit have been many over the years and it has been a truly "Interclub dig" so I cannot mention everybody who has helped, but special mention should be made of the stalwarts who have persevered through its life:
Bill Gascoine. June 1987Steve and Wendy Pedrazzoli
Bob Barrington
Chris Fox
Derek Blackwell
Martin and Angela Bishop
Andy and Ann Bell
Steve Wildbloodand me.