Expedition Diary:

Receiving updates of progress during the Expedition is a challenge, as the area does not have cellphone coverage. The nearest roadend is a 3 hour walk away in good conditions - ascending the near-vertical route out of the Ellis Basin, and down the Mt Arthur track to the Flora Road end.

The other route down to the Baton Valley can take much longer, depending on the height of the river, and in high water will not be attempted.

A combination of reporting methods is being used - there are a number of cavers coming to visit the basecamp and cave for a shorter period of time, and each of these is tasked with reporting the progress, and carrying out a memory stick with up-to-date photos. These are transfered to the base in Nelson for uploading on the web.
In between this, a climb to the top of the valley, to a spot between Winter Peak and Mt Arthur, gives coverage for phone and text updates.
In emergencies, and for daily weather forecasts, the Mountain Radio set up at the base camp is used.

Inside the cave - a chamber named the "Phallic Room"

Documenting the expedition

Pictorial documentation of events is being captured during the expedition, using video and still photography.

Daily diaries are kept of each team's explorations, and survey data. The teams' progress is being updated regularly during the expedition on this website.

Survey data will be calculated, to keep a running total of the cave's length and depth.

After the expedition, stories will be submitted to outdoor magazines, and international and national caving magazines. A follow-up story for the 20/20 TV programme will be compiled. 20/20 have already filmed down to the 200m level in the cave, in a documentary arranged by Kieran McKay in 2007.

Using the various media items produced, Kieran will put together inspirational presentations, to add to the ones he already shows to schools, business groups and clubs around NZ.

Specific plans for the Expedition

Additional Policies

Environmental Impact Plan