ATLAS, or "The Association of Thrupe Lane Advanced Speleogists" is an association of like-minded cavers drawn from many Mendip caving clubs. Members get together on Wednesday evenings to dig and then wash down the dust with a few pints. There are differing opinions on which part of the evening is the more enjoyable.
The acronym 'ATLAS' was originally a Richard Witcombe flight of fancy as the years of digging at Thrupe Lane Swallet gradually took their toll on his mental faculties. It stuck and has continued ever since.
The main interest of the Association is cave digging on Mendip, but given this, the Association is not intended to be exclusive and new members are always welcome. Membership of the Association confers few advantages apart from the opportunity to get extremely muddy on a regular basis, but there is an annual dinner and also the possibility of occasional trips on the narrow-boat Mendip Digger.
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