The Ghar Parau Foundation

A 100% voluntary-based charity providing grant-aid assistance for British caving expeditions to all corners of the world.

Photo: Sunbeams in Doline 1 Hang Son Doong, Vietnam. (Ryan Deboodt)

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The Ghar Parau Foundation is a 100% voluntary-based charity. Through the management of an investment fund, the GPF provides grant aid to British caving expeditions, in particular those that include an element of innovative exploration or scientific study.

Since 2007, the GPF has awarded £150,950 to 227 expeditions travelling to 48 different countries.

We are also particularly keen to encourage young cavers into expedition caving. Over the last 18 years, the GPF has additionally awarded 117 individual grants to cavers going on their first foreign expedition.

Photo: Alum Pot, Yorkshire Dales, UK (Mark Burkey)

View over the caving area (© paul mccarron)

Dachstein 2019

Posted on By Henry Patton

In 2018 the expedition made the historic connection between WUG Pot, high on the plateau, with the monster 112 km Hirlatzhöhle system, yet the search for a higher entrance to WUG Pot continues. WUG Pot is now almost fully surveyed after several deep trips, with several open leads ready to be pushed next year. Our GPF-funded Cavelink set was used successfully to make deep trips safer.

Read the exped report | Photo: View over the caving area (© Paul McCarron)

Christine in sump 1 with suex scooter (© richard walker)

Izvor Licanke 2019

Posted on By Henry Patton

The objective was to explore virgin cave passages both underwater and above, using advanced cave diving and caving techniques. The expedition had three exploratory dives, with 601 m of new cave passages discovered. The total length of the cave is now 1.5 km, of which 1,125 m has been discovered by this team.

Read more on Izvor Licanke | Photo: Christine in sump 1 (© Richard Walker)

Judith calford, cave of the winds, mulu, malaysia (© chris howes)

Mulu 19

Posted on By Henry Patton

The expedition has proven that Clearwater Cave is connected to the Racer/Easter system through a sump, although it was not dived. Fifteen cavers were involved over three weeks, with 3.2 km of new passage discovered. In addition to exploration, microbiology fieldwork was conducted examining interesting and rare phenomena.

Read the report | Photo: Cave of the Winds, Mulu, Malaysia (© Chris Howes)

Red 30 600 450 80 c (1)

£1,580 rasised at HE

Posted on By Henry Patton

The Scurion Raffle at Hidden Earth, won by Phil Hawcroft, raised a total of £1,229 in aid of the GPF! Thanks go to Maxine Bateman and Meg Gorry for their relentless selling tactics. A further £351 was raised by the silent auctioning of the silver Caver’s Cup, crafted and generously donated by Sam Drake.

A big thanks from the GPF to Sam, Rolf, Ceris, and everyone who bought tickets. … Continue Reading >£1,580 rasised at HE

Silent Auction at HE

Posted on By Henry Patton

Samantha Drake has spent a long time making a Silver Cavers Cup, which she has generously donated to the GPF. It is a fantastic, hallmarked one-off piece. The cup will displayed at Hidden Earth 2019 in the Art Salon and be sold by Silent Auction, subject to a reserve price. We hope people will like the cup and support GPF by bidding for this fantastic, one-off piece of caving artwork. Tickets and more pics.

… Continue Reading >Silent Auction at HE