Application for Grant Aid
Submitted on: 30 Jan 2017Expedition details (GPF2017a-003)
Expedition Name (& Club): Mulu Caves 2017
Destination country: Malaysia
Region: Mulu National Park, Sarawak
Region: Mulu National Park, Sarawak
Lat: 4.1367 Long: 114.8941 Elevation: 50-1000 m
MEF funding: none
MEF funding: none
Leader: Mr Andy Eavis
Total cavers: 25
Cavers ≤25 yrs old: 3Cavers 25-35 yrs old: 6
Cavers ≤25 yrs old: 3Cavers 25-35 yrs old: 6
UK/nonUK cavers: 25/0
Eligible for grant aid: 0
Alex Pitcher nominations: 2
Eligible for grant aid: 0
Alex Pitcher nominations: 2
Expedition dates: 25th Mar 2017 - 28th Apr 2017
Expedition duration (days): 34
Field days: 450 Travel days: 60
Expedition duration (days): 34
Field days: 450 Travel days: 60
Brief Expedition objectives:
2) Team to explore leads in the high level Creedence series in Clearwater Cave, which may extend the system significantly, moving it up the rankings from 8th longest in the world.
3) Team to look for connections between Langangs Cave, Racer Cave and Cave of the Winds (part of Clearwater) in the "Southern Peninsula" of G. Api - which if connected would increase the total Clearwater system length by 15km.
4. A small team to climb into high level passages observed in Sarawak Chamber. These are c.80m up and could provide access to interesting unexplored horizontal passages.
List a short summary of the main Expedition objectives.
1) Team working in the remote Hidden Valley, continuing leads in Wonder Cave that enters a blank area of limestone under Gunung Api.2) Team to explore leads in the high level Creedence series in Clearwater Cave, which may extend the system significantly, moving it up the rankings from 8th longest in the world.
3) Team to look for connections between Langangs Cave, Racer Cave and Cave of the Winds (part of Clearwater) in the "Southern Peninsula" of G. Api - which if connected would increase the total Clearwater system length by 15km.
4. A small team to climb into high level passages observed in Sarawak Chamber. These are c.80m up and could provide access to interesting unexplored horizontal passages.
How can the GPF support your Expedition?:
Please explain the aspects of the trip which make it eligible for Ghar Parau funding.
Mulu has some of the most spectacular caves in the world, that have been explored mainly by premier British led caving expeditions. Clearwater Cave could move up to 5th or 6th longest in the world if this expedition is successful. A GPF grant would help with some of the technical equipment required by the large amount of aid climbing and ropework in the caves.Detailed description of objectives:
1. A team of ten people to the remote “Hidden Valley” to continue exploration of Wonder Cave, which was extended by aid climbing into a high level in 2015. This cave is the highest currently known in Mulu and is heading into a large blank area of limestone under Gunung Api, with good potential for significant extensions.
2. A team of ten people to continue exploration of the further limits of the Clearwater Cave System, specifically the Creedence Series climbed into in 2014, involving remote underground camps and aid climbing to access high level unexplored passages. This high level series looks to be as extensive as lower levels of the Clearwater Cave, which suggests considerable extensions are likely.
3. A team of ten people to look for connections between Langangs Cave, Racer Cave and Cave of the Winds (part of Clearwater) in the "Southern Peninsula" of G. Api - which if connected would increase the total Clearwater system length by 15km. This will require systematic exploration of numerous leads including quite a lot of vertical work.
4. A small team to climb into high level passages observed in Sarawak Chamber. These are c.80m up and could provide access to interesting unexplored horizontal passages.
Give a more detailed account of the purpose of the trip, including any particular known caves you intend to visit, specific areas where you will explore for new cave, and scientific experiments you will attempt.
Exploration, surveying, mapping, photography and geomorphological study of the caves in the Mulu National Park, particularly under the mountain Gunung Api. Specific objectives:1. A team of ten people to the remote “Hidden Valley” to continue exploration of Wonder Cave, which was extended by aid climbing into a high level in 2015. This cave is the highest currently known in Mulu and is heading into a large blank area of limestone under Gunung Api, with good potential for significant extensions.
2. A team of ten people to continue exploration of the further limits of the Clearwater Cave System, specifically the Creedence Series climbed into in 2014, involving remote underground camps and aid climbing to access high level unexplored passages. This high level series looks to be as extensive as lower levels of the Clearwater Cave, which suggests considerable extensions are likely.
3. A team of ten people to look for connections between Langangs Cave, Racer Cave and Cave of the Winds (part of Clearwater) in the "Southern Peninsula" of G. Api - which if connected would increase the total Clearwater system length by 15km. This will require systematic exploration of numerous leads including quite a lot of vertical work.
4. A small team to climb into high level passages observed in Sarawak Chamber. These are c.80m up and could provide access to interesting unexplored horizontal passages.
Previous work in this area:
Reports for all previous Mulu expeditions including most recent held in BCRA library:
Brook D. B. & Waltham A.C. (editors) 1978.
‘Caves of Mulu’, Royal Geographical Society, London.
Eavis A.J. (compiler) 1981.
‘Caves of Mulu ‘80’, Royal Geographical Society, London.
Eavis A.J. (compiler) 1985.
‘Caves of Mulu ‘84’, British Cave Research Association. UK.
Fogg P. (editor) 2000.
‘Benarat 2000 Expedition Report’, Benarat 2000
Kirby M.J. (editor) 1989.
‘Mulu Caves ’88 Expedition Report’, Cave Science, Volume 16, No. 2. British Cave Research
Association. UK.
Kirby M.J. (editor) 1990.
‘Mulu Caves ’89 Expedition Report’. Mulu Caves ’88.
Mulu Caves 2015 Expedition Report 69
Kirby M.J. (editor) 1992.
‘Mulu Caves ’91 Expedition Report’. Mulu Caves ‘89.
Kirby M.J. (editor) 1993.
‘Hidden Valley ’93 Reconnaissance Expedition Report’. Hidden Valley ‘93.
Kirby M.J (editor) 1998.
‘The Caves of Hidden Valley’, Mulu Caves ‘96 & ‘98 Expeditions Report. Mulu Caves ‘96 & ‘98
Kirby M.J. (editor) 2008.
‘Mulu Caves ’07 Expedition Report’. the Mulu Caves Project.
Kirby M.J. (editor) 2009.
‘Mulu Caves ’09 Expedition Report’. the Mulu Caves Project.
Kirby M.J. (editor) 2010.
‘Mulu Caves 2010 Expedition Report’. the Mulu Caves Project.
Kirby M.J. (editor) 2011.
‘Mulu Caves 2011 Expedition Report’. the Mulu Caves Project.
Meredith/Wooldridge/Lyon 1992.
‘Giant Caves of Borneo’. Tropical Press Sdn. Bhd., Kuala Lumpur.
Smart P. & Willis R.G. (compilers) 1982.
‘Mulu’, Cave Science, Volume 9, No. 2, British Cave Research Association, UK.
St. John S. 1862.
‘Life in the Forests of the Far East’, Smith Elder & Co., London. Reprinted by the Oxford
University Press, 1986.
Weight A. (editor) 1990
‘Gunung Api Connection Expedition Report’, Gunung Api Connection 1990
Willis R.G. (editor) 2003.
‘Benarat 2003 Expedition Report’, Benarat 2003
Willis R.G. (editor) 2005.
‘Benarat 2005 Expedition Report’, Benarat 2005
Willis R.G. (editor) 2012.
‘Mulu Caves 2012 Expedition Report’, Mulu Caves 2012
Brown M.W. (editor) 2013.
‘Mulu Caves 2013 Expedition Report’, Mulu Caves 2015
St.Lawrence, H. (editor) 2014.
‘Mulu Caves 2014 Expedition Report’, Mulu Caves 2014
Eavis.R & Nixon.D (editors) 2015.
‘Hidden Valley 2015 Expedition Report’, Mulu Caves Project 2015
'Mulu Caves 2015 Expedition Report', Mulu Caves Project 2015
St. Lawrence, H (editor) 2015.
Give details of any previous work in this area by your own and other teams. Include references to reports and articles published on the area, and the names of any local cavers or academics with whom you have discussed the Expedition.
Website www.mulucaves.org.Reports for all previous Mulu expeditions including most recent held in BCRA library:
Brook D. B. & Waltham A.C. (editors) 1978.
‘Caves of Mulu’, Royal Geographical Society, London.
Eavis A.J. (compiler) 1981.
‘Caves of Mulu ‘80’, Royal Geographical Society, London.
Eavis A.J. (compiler) 1985.
‘Caves of Mulu ‘84’, British Cave Research Association. UK.
Fogg P. (editor) 2000.
‘Benarat 2000 Expedition Report’, Benarat 2000
Kirby M.J. (editor) 1989.
‘Mulu Caves ’88 Expedition Report’, Cave Science, Volume 16, No. 2. British Cave Research
Association. UK.
Kirby M.J. (editor) 1990.
‘Mulu Caves ’89 Expedition Report’. Mulu Caves ’88.
Mulu Caves 2015 Expedition Report 69
Kirby M.J. (editor) 1992.
‘Mulu Caves ’91 Expedition Report’. Mulu Caves ‘89.
Kirby M.J. (editor) 1993.
‘Hidden Valley ’93 Reconnaissance Expedition Report’. Hidden Valley ‘93.
Kirby M.J (editor) 1998.
‘The Caves of Hidden Valley’, Mulu Caves ‘96 & ‘98 Expeditions Report. Mulu Caves ‘96 & ‘98
Kirby M.J. (editor) 2008.
‘Mulu Caves ’07 Expedition Report’. the Mulu Caves Project.
Kirby M.J. (editor) 2009.
‘Mulu Caves ’09 Expedition Report’. the Mulu Caves Project.
Kirby M.J. (editor) 2010.
‘Mulu Caves 2010 Expedition Report’. the Mulu Caves Project.
Kirby M.J. (editor) 2011.
‘Mulu Caves 2011 Expedition Report’. the Mulu Caves Project.
Meredith/Wooldridge/Lyon 1992.
‘Giant Caves of Borneo’. Tropical Press Sdn. Bhd., Kuala Lumpur.
Smart P. & Willis R.G. (compilers) 1982.
‘Mulu’, Cave Science, Volume 9, No. 2, British Cave Research Association, UK.
St. John S. 1862.
‘Life in the Forests of the Far East’, Smith Elder & Co., London. Reprinted by the Oxford
University Press, 1986.
Weight A. (editor) 1990
‘Gunung Api Connection Expedition Report’, Gunung Api Connection 1990
Willis R.G. (editor) 2003.
‘Benarat 2003 Expedition Report’, Benarat 2003
Willis R.G. (editor) 2005.
‘Benarat 2005 Expedition Report’, Benarat 2005
Willis R.G. (editor) 2012.
‘Mulu Caves 2012 Expedition Report’, Mulu Caves 2012
Brown M.W. (editor) 2013.
‘Mulu Caves 2013 Expedition Report’, Mulu Caves 2015
St.Lawrence, H. (editor) 2014.
‘Mulu Caves 2014 Expedition Report’, Mulu Caves 2014
Eavis.R & Nixon.D (editors) 2015.
‘Hidden Valley 2015 Expedition Report’, Mulu Caves Project 2015
'Mulu Caves 2015 Expedition Report', Mulu Caves Project 2015
St. Lawrence, H (editor) 2015.
Expedition Finances
Travel
Travel plans: |
| # from UK: | 25 | Travel costs breakdown (for personnel leaving from the UK): |
| Total costs from UK: | £17,000 | Return costs per person: UK to KL £500 KL to Miri £120 Miri to Mulu £60 Total: £680 |
| # from outside UK: | 0 | Travel costs breakdown (for personnel leaving from the UK): |
| Total costs from outside UK: | £0 | n/a |
| Travel total: | £17,000 | Travel p.p. from UK: | £680 |
| Travel p.p. from outside UK: | £0 |
Subsistence
| Total: | £0 | Comments: |
| Subsistence p.p.: | £0 | Accomodation £1080 Food: £5500 |
Gear
| Total: | £2,268 | Comments: |
| Gear p.p.: | £91 | Shipping crate: £250 Medical/first aid supplies: £250 Spider stove 2 £77.8 MSR Alpine 4 pan set 1 £45 LSK rope 9mm 2000m £400 5mm cord 50 £26.5 8mm alloy hangers 30 £86.1 Screw gate karabiners 42 £331.8 Snap gate krabs 24 £72.56 7mm long maillions BZP 30 £71.1 7mm long maillions STAINLESS 20 £136.6 Petzl transport sacs 3 £194.07 slings 12 £60 drill batteries 3 £191.4 Makita DHR 165 (body only) 2 £256 ??Generator (UK)?? 1 £190 Through bolts M8 x 65 50 0.6 £30 Through bolts M8 x 90 50 0.7 £3 |
Special 1
| Total: | £6,500 | Comments: |
| Special 1 p.p.: | £260 | Porters: £3000 Boat Hire: £1500 Local logistics coordinator fees:£2000 |
Special 2
| Total: | £3,000 | Comments: |
| Special 2 p.p.: | £120 | Report publishing and distribution: £500 Travel insurance £100 pp |
| Exped Total: | £28,768 | Exped cost p.p. travelling from UK: | £1,150 |
| Exped cost p.p. travelling from outside UK: | £0 | ||
| Mean Exped cost per person: | £1,150 |
Other Funding
| Total: | £0 | Comments: |
| Total shortfall: | £28,768 | Mean shortfall per person: | £1,150 |
Referees and Report
Please give the names, addresses and phone numbers of two suitably qualified people whom the Committee can contact. You should ensure that they are aware of the objectives of your trip, and that you have their permission for the Committee to contact them.
Referee 1: Mr Richard Willis
Affiliation: Leader of past Mulu Expedition
Affiliation: Leader of past Mulu Expedition
Reason: Previous leader/coordinator of Mulu expeditions and and still maintains a keen interest in the project.
Referee 2: Mr Matt Kirby
Affiliation: Leader of past Mulu Expedition
Affiliation: Leader of past Mulu Expedition
Reason: Previous leader/coordinator of Mulu expeditions and and still maintains a keen interest in the project.
Expedition report author: Hugh St Lawrence