Tu Lan, Hung Ton and Hang Kim

Monday 16th March

Cliff near Tan Hoa, potential Via Ferrata site?

This was another preparation trip for the Spanish TV film, on this part of the film Andres has to do some abseiling so we had to set up two abseils where the camera man could descend alongside Andres to film him. The chosen locations were Hung Ton Cave, close to the current ladder and Tu Lan Cave, next to the pitch that is used on the four day tour. To get to Tu Lan we had to go through Hang Kim.

Rigging the pitch

After a seven 'o'clock pickup from our house we set off from Tan Hoa at around nine, the team was just Ruth, Myself and Yo, a porter who was carrying our lunch.

Ruth and Yo

Another roasting hot day with temperatures above 30°C so we were glad of the early start and made it to the entrance to Hung Ton Cave before it got too hot. From the entrance it was about five minutes to the pitch, the rigging was a bit awkward so we took about an hour to complete the rigging but by the time we had finished we had a fine fifteen metre free hanging pitch, descending alongside Stalactites all the way.

We exited via the swim, this time the water was the perfect temperature and a welcome cool down. From the exit it was a short walk to Hang Kim with its three swims to emerge near the entrance to Hang Ken where we stopped for lunch, coincidentally meeting Watto and Dick who were having lunch with the Tu Lan four day tour.

Ruth at the Hung Ton pitch head

After lunch we went to Tu Lan and rigged a route close to the current pitch before retracing our steps back to Tan Hoa, arriving just before five pm. A very enjoyable days caving, one we would like to repeat without carrying drills and ropes.

Part way down the Tu Lan alternative pitch