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Dean Smart's Caves of Thailand Site
Following hot on the hills of a reconnaissance expedition to Chaiyaphum Province in east-central Thailand in early 2000, SMCC members (and their guests) returned to Thailand just after Christmas. Their destination this time was the district of Umphang in Tak Province in western Thailand.
In 10 days they surveyed three systems (Tham Takobi, Tham Mutalu & Tham Glab), noted a number of other sites of speleological significance, and conducted some scientific measurements. At 5.7 km Tham Takobi is now confirmed as the 5th longest cave system in Thailand.
A return to the area is planned for 2002.
Click here to read about the expedition.
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1) The team members (minus the photographer) on the waterfront in Doha, Qatar on the way out. L to R: Martin Ellis, Dave Barrett, Paul Dummer, Claire 'Tiggy' Richardson, Stuart Byatt & Fred Weekes. Not shown: Steve King.
2) The teams overnight accomodation in Mae Sot.
3) The 'Death Highway' (so-named because of guerilla activity during its construction) linking Mae Sot and Umphang.
4) View from the road to Umphang.
5) A Karen refugee camp on the road to Umphang.
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6) Some local Brahmin cows.
7) The team christened this cave entrance 'Avelines Hole' (after the cave of the same name back on Mendip) due to its proximity to the road side. Like its namesake it was just one chamber.
8) The landscape around Tham Takobi.
9) The landscape around Tham Takobi.
10) An abandoned attempt at 'slash-and-burn' agriculture.
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11) The southern doline entrance to Tham Takobi.
12) The Tham Takobi resurgence (1 km down valley).
13) A (seasonal) swallet found near the Tham Takobi resurgence.
14) The main (high-level) entrance to Tham Glab. Note the bamboo bridge (over a 20 m drop!).
15) Local villagers mine bat guano for fertiliser from Tham Glab.
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16) Looking down the valley by Tham Takobi.
17) The area around the Tham Takobi resurgence.
18) The area around Tham Takobi.
19) An active resurgence on the bank on the Mae Nam Mae Klong river north of Umphang. The source of the stream is unknown.
20) Typical scenery top the west of Umphang.
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21) When the going gets tough... The teams Suzuki Vitara makes a splash en-route to the Thee Lor Su waterfalls.
22) After leaving the jeep at the Ranger Station/Camp Site its time for shanks' pony... the footpath comes complete with, err, surprises...
23) Mowgli at the Thee Lor Su waterfalls.
24) "Who says I've got big feet?" (There be elephants in them thar forests there be...).
25) SMCC members should get the joke! (Tip: Read the sign).
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26) An anthill (but then they weren't your common-or-garden variety of ant...).
27) Camp life.
28) More camp life.
29) Caving expeditions in the new millenium! Comfy-bed, GPS, laptop computer... Not shown: the beer.
30) The only thing most of us got to sleep with!
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31) Our friend, Senior Sgt Maj Chakong, poses with some of the team outside Tham Takobi.
32) The only one we saw! Still, at least I can now say that I've overtaken an elephant on the A1!
Last updated: 15-March-2005 by Steve King,
s.m.king@rl.ac.uk