THE story of 11 young men’s amazing 1970 expedition to explore caves in the Indian Himalayas, first chronicled in the Lancashire Telegraph at the time, will be told in a new book next year.

They travelled in a Preston Corporation bus from the Yorkshire Dales to Arki at the foot of of the world’s highest mountain range before spending 10 weeks mapping the previously unknown caverns hidden below.

Accrington’s deputy expedition leader John Conway, then 25 and now 74, is pulling together the account of their intrepid journey.

He has the advantage of more than 20 articles in the Lancashire Telegraph detailing the journey across Europe and Asia, across desert and through snow-bound mountain passes as well as his own and colleagues' diaries of the 146-day trip.

The expedition was led by 26-year-old Rod Plant, from Clitheroe, and the team included Burnley’s Trevor Dearden, aged 22; Keith Summerfield, also 22 and from Burnley; Dave Butterworth, 24, from Padiham; and 21-year-old Michael Farnworth, from Blackburn.

Their five colleagues were fellow cavers from across Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Mr Conway, now living in the Dales, decided to write the book before it was too late after Mr Dearden and fellow expedition member Ian Carruthers died.

The expedition was sponsored by world-famous explorer Sir Vivian Fuchs and cave-mapping expert Brigadier Edward Glennie.

Mr Conway said: “After 47 years realisation dawned that this is a unique adventure: a story that shouldn’t lie dusty in drawers and under beds but should be shared with friends, cavers, adventurers, travel enthusiasts and the people of East Lancashire who in 1970 via the articles in the Lancashire Telegraph, followed a journey undertaken by ordinary lads compelled to step out of their everyday lives and do something extraordinary.

“The India-Himalayan Speleological Trip is as much about the journey as the caving. Unlike a mountain there is little perception of the challenges associated with exploration of new caving areas.

The India team had practical skills and trades, but insufficient experience of the Asian world to have any qualms about the magnitude of the enterprise. They had the capability, persistence and patience to resolve any problems without considering the option of failure

“Almost all of them had taken the risk of leaving steady employment to pursue their dream of discovering new underground territory in unexplored areas.

“The team explored the subterranean world around Arki, and beyond, over a period of ten weeks. Due to the terrain and vegetation, cave openings were difficult to find and the help of local guides was essential.

“Twelve caves were explored, surveyed. While no cave records were broken, the expedition added significantly to the knowledge of the caves of Himachal Pradesh.”