01lambournti
New member
Hi everyone,
I?m going on holiday in April to the Yorkshire Dales with a friend, and we?re really keen to try caving. Neither of us have had any caving experience before, but it?s something that I?ve wanted to do for a long time. However, it?s not primarily a caving trip so we?d just like to spend a couple of afternoons or so trying it out, at which point we?ll be based in the Ingleton area. We?re aged 21 and 20, physically fairly fit, and accustomed to some other outdoor pursuits such as hillwalking etc.
We?d like to try something fairly interesting, rather than exploring a passage which stops after 10 metres? If at all possible though, we?d also like to go without a guide, as apparently it?s more exciting ?exploring? on your own (i.e. in a pair). But we also realize the need to be safe and not take stupid risks.
With all this in mind I?ve browsed the internet a little (from Google, this forum and Caving Wiki especially) and come up with the following ideas. What do you think? Is there something important I?ve missed, or got horribly wrong?
---First afternoon (limited by time, and possibly no access to hire equipment)---
Yordas Cave to whet our appetites
- is this OK to do without any proper gear (apart from some handheld torches), and can you go beyond the main chamber before it gets too serious?
---IF DRY: Second afternoon---
Great Douk Cave, hopefully from the waterfall right through to Middle Washfold exit
- we?d hire helmets with torches (and spares) from Ingleton on the day. We?d also tell them where we were going, and check that they thought the weather was OK
---IF WET: Second afternoon---
Area around Attermire Scar: Attermire Cave, Jubilee Cave, Victoria Cave
- would helmets still be wise for this? Or would handheld torches and no headgear be safe?
From my (limited) understanding, Great Douk is a substantial and rewarding but easy cave, although prone to flooding. The Attermire Scar caves are suitable in all weather conditions, but much shorter and not so interesting. And apparently Yordas Cave is simple enough for random walkers to explore without any equipment at all, at least as far as the main chamber. My other question was whether it?s possible to get lost in Great Douk cave??
Finally, we?d bring the following kit:
- Helmet & headtorch (Great Douk only)
Spare windup torch (with batteries) x2
Warm clothes, gloves
Full waterproofs (GD)
Sturdy wellingtons (GD) or walking boots (Attermire Scar)
Change of clothing & towels for after!! (GD)
And would an overall / one-piece thing be necessary for GD?
I?d be grateful for your comments, encouraging or otherwise!
Thanks,
Tim
I?m going on holiday in April to the Yorkshire Dales with a friend, and we?re really keen to try caving. Neither of us have had any caving experience before, but it?s something that I?ve wanted to do for a long time. However, it?s not primarily a caving trip so we?d just like to spend a couple of afternoons or so trying it out, at which point we?ll be based in the Ingleton area. We?re aged 21 and 20, physically fairly fit, and accustomed to some other outdoor pursuits such as hillwalking etc.
We?d like to try something fairly interesting, rather than exploring a passage which stops after 10 metres? If at all possible though, we?d also like to go without a guide, as apparently it?s more exciting ?exploring? on your own (i.e. in a pair). But we also realize the need to be safe and not take stupid risks.
With all this in mind I?ve browsed the internet a little (from Google, this forum and Caving Wiki especially) and come up with the following ideas. What do you think? Is there something important I?ve missed, or got horribly wrong?
---First afternoon (limited by time, and possibly no access to hire equipment)---
Yordas Cave to whet our appetites
- is this OK to do without any proper gear (apart from some handheld torches), and can you go beyond the main chamber before it gets too serious?
---IF DRY: Second afternoon---
Great Douk Cave, hopefully from the waterfall right through to Middle Washfold exit
- we?d hire helmets with torches (and spares) from Ingleton on the day. We?d also tell them where we were going, and check that they thought the weather was OK
---IF WET: Second afternoon---
Area around Attermire Scar: Attermire Cave, Jubilee Cave, Victoria Cave
- would helmets still be wise for this? Or would handheld torches and no headgear be safe?
From my (limited) understanding, Great Douk is a substantial and rewarding but easy cave, although prone to flooding. The Attermire Scar caves are suitable in all weather conditions, but much shorter and not so interesting. And apparently Yordas Cave is simple enough for random walkers to explore without any equipment at all, at least as far as the main chamber. My other question was whether it?s possible to get lost in Great Douk cave??
Finally, we?d bring the following kit:
- Helmet & headtorch (Great Douk only)
Spare windup torch (with batteries) x2
Warm clothes, gloves
Full waterproofs (GD)
Sturdy wellingtons (GD) or walking boots (Attermire Scar)
Change of clothing & towels for after!! (GD)
And would an overall / one-piece thing be necessary for GD?
I?d be grateful for your comments, encouraging or otherwise!
Thanks,
Tim