Jama za Teglovko
Sunday August 10th 2025
Members present: Abbie Heathcote, Adrian Turner, Viki Smyth
Report by Abbie Heathcote
It was fairly late at night, maybe 10:30pm when we got in and midnight by the time we got out. The late hour was on account of the main cave of the day being the Gradisnica trips, and the fact that a whole day at Lake Bled was planned for the next day, leaving little opportunity for de-rigging after Sunday night.
The entrance pitch was really fun, a nice sensible 20m descent into an entrance chamber that was incredibly pretty. Viki went first, then me and Ade followed. The descent was indicative of the pretty sights that would await at the bottom. Once I joined Viki at the bottom of the pitch it was remarked that this cave had so many pretty formations, it was almost a bit silly. I agreed, and felt quite lucky that I got to see them.
We found some very cool things like a stone slab table of perfectly arranged miscellaneous bones, a chunk of fallen rock with a screw in bolt still in (making the cave seem very safe and not at all sketchy), gower pools that I got to see properly for the first time and also a kind of calcified bug that was welded to a wall by time and cave magic.
Some pretty epic photography happened from both Ade and Viki, and then I did some pretty spectacular falling. This cave is gorgeous but be mindful of the 4m pit next to a slippy, left-side traverse and climb that claims the dignity and good health of freshers if something goes even slightly wrong. After inching my way around very carefully, I was able to get one knee over the top of the climb and one hand in a decent pocket of rock just beside it. As I tried to move my lower left leg I slipped and fell into the pit (hurting that ankle and the rest of me a bit) but was able to get back up and continue with the trip which was a relief (I think the others will agree that it was a bit scary).
A combination of shock, adrenaline, determination, idiocy and help from Viki (who was already up the climb because she’s Viki) meant that I made it up on my second attempt (followed by Ade) and back down without further incident. There were some pretty things at the top but maybe not broken-ankle worthy.
After more photography I went back up the entrance pitch first so I could create some cool lighting from above while the others continued with the camera below. It was very peaceful at the top and not at all scary on account of the possibility of roaming Slovenian bears. A few minutes later the others quickly ascended and de-rigged while I rested a bit and mulled over how not fun moving my body would be the next day.
Once de-rigged (and informed by Nuala that the other team caving at Granisnica that night had made it out) we hiked back to the hut for some wonderful restorative Hungarian food cooked by Erika (thanks Erika!).
As I say, awesome trip, and basically totally worth the boot I’m wearing on account of my busted ankle for the next 6 weeks. Kind of hardcore, kind of dumb, mostly pretty cool though and I’m very glad that I got to see this cave.
