In the Summer (Aug 3-24) of 1996 KUCC undertook an expedition to the Haute-Savoie region of France to explore the caves there. Unfortunately, after a week of bad weather and a rather dodgy forecast it was decided that the group move to the Vercors region and do some 'Old faithfuls' so to speak.
In this second week Mark, Birgit, Paul and Bernd showed up to lend a hand in proceedings.
| Simon Cope | Paul Cottingham | Gary Eisenhauer | Matt Johnson |
| Rob Jones | Ceri Mailin | Mark Morgan | Amanda Murphy |
| Lucy Popplewell | Bernd Schneider | Bob Stevens | Mark Westerman |
| Nic Wheeler | Robin Fransella and family | Birgit Rheuser |
THE Hut at Serre de Plag 1666m.
| Caves | Gorge walks |
| Pot de Loup | Ecouges I |
| Grotte de Bournillon | Les Versoud |
| Grotte de gournier | Moulin Marquis |
| Trou qui Souffle | Ecouges II |
| Opur Fumant | Les Moules Marineres |
| Mal de Terre | |
| Grotte de Bulle | |
| Coombe de la Fer | |
| Grotte Farot | |
| Grotte de Charanche |
Sat 3/8/96 Kingston-bye,bye!
Sun 4/8 Arrive Haute-Savoie 10-ish. Nice sunny day so off for a walk.
Mon 5/8 Walk to Montagne du Criou-Thunderstorm excellent!! Turned back at ~2045m. Played Frisbee football.
Wed 7/8 FLOOD--Streams through campsite, some tents flooded! Trip to Cascade de Roget. Weather forecast looks bad for a while.
During this week Bob and Simon competed on a seat building contest!? and Gary's tent got trampled by a member of the TSG.
Thu 8/8 Sod it! Lets go to the sunny (hopefully) Vercors. Bourne Gorge dinghy trip.
Fri 9/8 Les Ecouges II - Hey! canyoning is fun in the sun!! everyone has a go.
Sat 10/8 Les Versoud (the bottom bit)- some big jumps and Mark Morgan arrives (with entourage).
Gorge walk, Les Versoud RL
Sun 11/8 Rigged Trou qui Souffle (-220m sump...well nearly) with Mark Westerman, Simon and Lucy. Left it rigged for others.
Mon 12/8 Les Ecouges II- Another sunny day...and well it was fun first time; also Mark W and Lucy.
Gorge Walk, Ecouges 2
Tue 13/8 Lucy rigs Opur Fumant, Simon is consultant. Jokers are Matt, Paul, Bernd and me. Start of Vercors symdrome, felt like shit, left after 3rd pitch. Others do Pot du Loop.
Wed 14/8 Lucy rigs Pot du Loop, Paul derigs. I advise rigging, haul bags and show amazing sphincter control (as well as fast run and strip upon exit!!). Others do Mol de terre.
Thu 15/8 Everyone lugs stuff to Serre de Plag (1658m).
The Hut on the Mountain RS
Fri 16/8 Mark W (shits) drives me (de rigged), Lucy (rigged) and Ceri to Glacier du Carri. Night walked to Serre de Plag in dark - FX5 comes into it's own!
Sat 17/8 Walked to ridge, Grotte de Bulle (nice path - 1000m down on right). Rotten bloody cave, got covered in 'porridge', derigged.
Sun 18/8 Les Ecouges I - me, Lucy and Matt, Gary acts as Taxi driver and photographer. Three hours of pure terror, last 70m pitch was a doddle.
Mon 19/8 Les Moules Marineres - more gorge walking with Lucy, Matt and Bernd. Bernd loses glasses on big tobogan.
Pot de Loup JMW
Tue 20/8 Up at 7:00am big stomp (me, Lucy & Ceri) to Serre de Plag (where the others are holed up) in 1hr and 1min!! Filled rucksacks with snow (for water). Caved - Coombe de la Fer (amazing 45° slope to -90m); me, Lucy, Ceri, Bob and Paul. Me, Bob and Paul carry all rope bags out, 2 each at least!!
Wed 21/8 Everyone caries stuff down from hut in Serre de Plag and does Grotte Farot.
Thu 22/8 Show cave; Grotte de Choranche.
Fri 23/8 Gorge walk, Moulin Marquis (also Paul & lucy) - 8hrs on a cliff (450m up) Wow!! Long walk back to campsite and got very pissed.
Base camp
Sat 24/8 Pack bags and have barbie.
Sun 25/8 Up at 5am. 17:15 ferry. Back at 22:00. Time for a real pint!!!
Other events include; Simon stars on French TV, Simon loses his brand new wellies (and nearly more!) whilst gorge walking and Lucy makes friends NOT!
by Rob Jones with additions from Martin Allen (based on the stories I've heard) and apologies for any spelling mistakes.
 Pot de Loop RL |  Grotte de Gournier RS |
 Entrance to Grotte de Bournillon RS |  Grotte de Bournillon RS |
 On a mountain on the one |  Another pic of the Hut RS |
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