Book
Launch - The Double Decker Himalayan Caving Adventure
Friday 21st. June 2019 saw
the launch event at the New Inn, Clapham of "The Double Decker Himalayan
Caving Adventure". Its almost 50 years since 10 northern cavers bought an
old Preston Corporation double decker bus and set off for adventures new in
northern India. In the book their journey both there and back is well told and
although the caving did not live up to expectations it was an amazing adventure
which would be difficult to repaet with the modern political scene on the
route. The launch was attended by eight
of the eleven expedition members, two members having passed away and it was
great to renew friendships with some of whom we had not seen for many years.
The book is reviewed here by Toby Speight.
Review:
If you have a guilty
conscience for a caving trip or discovery that you've not yet written up, then
this book might be welcome reassurance that it's still not too late.
After almost half a century, we finally have the report of the British
Speleological Expedition to the Himalayas in 1970.
It is the story of 11 young
cavers from Lancashire and Yorkshire, who jacked in their jobs and said goodbye
to their families for the chance to cave in northwest India. This was to
involve driving for 6 weeks to get there, followed by a couple of months
prospecting and exploring, and finally the return journey by the same route -
all on a budget best described as little more than small change. And the
entire expedition
was sparked solely by one
mountaineer's report that he'd seen a handful of caves in the area. The book is reconstructed from the logs and
letters of different individuals, but cleverly edited to read well as a single
narrative, without any noticeable gear changes in the flow. It's
presented in a calm, considered voice, but astute readers will read between the
lines, and find suspense, humour and the frankly ridiculous, without requiring
any embellishment; the text is all the better for that.
Aside from the story itself,
there are plenty of pictures. If you were expecting a glossy coffee-table
book with full-page photos, then this probably isn't the book for you; smaller
photos are liberally sprinkled throughout, averaging one or two per page at
about A7 size, certainly enough to appreciate the scenery and events.
There are also a few sketch maps (good detailed mapping was unavailable at the
time), but the book is best read in conjunction with modern paper or online
maps (with allowances for developments since 1970).
The book ends with an
"Aftermath" chapter, which tells us what became of the cavers who
went (but sadly doesn't tell the subsequent storyof "Aluminium 'Arry' ",
their stalwart vehicle). Also included are appendices listing the caves
explored (with surveys), cave fauna, expedition contributors and expenditure. This is an engaging and rewarding story of a
group of lads working together and fuelled by optimism and ignorance to achieve
what most of us wouldn't even contemplate embarking on today. It should
be an inspiration to all of us to follow our dreams - you never know where they
might lead you. Now, where's my log
book? I've got an overdue report that needs to be written...
Toby Speight
