I did Penyghent Pot in a couple of hours some years ago. Part one of a stunt involving the fastest possible descent of Britain's deepest(?) cave followed by the fastest possible drive to Fort William and a climb up Britain's highest Mountain via Tower Ridge. It took about 12 hours from the entrance of Penyghent to the summit of Ben Nevis.
Fast and Light Caving - Zooooom!
- Thread starter Tommy
- Start date
cap n chris
Well-known member
46 minutes is my ShortRT PersBest. Any good?
3x back to back/surface to surface, was 3hrs1min.
3x back to back/surface to surface, was 3hrs1min.
Peter Burgess
New member
I like caves so usually spend as much time as I can in them.
what is the point ? [ of ` speed caving ` ] ??????????????
as has been noted - there are no prizes etc - so why ???
at ` high speed ` you cannot look around and marvel at the features of the system
if you want to race - enter " tough mudder " challenges or other events of a similar nature
thats all i have to say
as has been noted - there are no prizes etc - so why ???
at ` high speed ` you cannot look around and marvel at the features of the system
if you want to race - enter " tough mudder " challenges or other events of a similar nature
thats all i have to say
Tommy
Active member
Andyj23UK said:
what is the point ? [ of ` CAVING ` ] ??????????????
as has been noted - there are no prizes etc - so why ???
Some people just do stuff for fun. I love the outdoors, whether climbing, caving, cycling, walking (although I haven't done the last two for some time).
Whether moving fast or slow, marvelling at gypsum crystals, a stonking phreatic, or staring blankly at a grotty limestone wall (not all passages are pretty - get the shit bits over with, or use them as an exercise in yin/yang?)
I do not wish to enter a tough mudder event. They look awfully contrived and you have to pay for the pleasure. I don't especially want to go "SPEED CAVING" either, merely starting a discussion, thank you for your valuable insight and contribution.
cap n chris
Well-known member
The point is to get fit, isn't it?
Tommy
Active member
Cap'n Chris said:
Yes, cave fitness seems like a wonderful thing. People train (physically, not technical skills) before climbing holidays and mountaineering expeditions, performing exercises above and beyond the demands of their bodies when abroad. After all, this is how muscle growth and the strengthening of neurological pathways occurs - push the limits!
So why not do it to some extent with caving? Well I ask this under the assumption it's not de rigeur, that's what this thread is for! I'm not talking scientific training, diet monitoring and weight lifting. Just hard, quick caving in-between the fun trips.
I completely understand and appreciate that caving is a leisure activity for many, I love 'fresher' trips, and given the current caving demographic, the appeal of "pointlessly" hurling yourself around will diminish with time and growing responsibility. But I like the idea of people pushing themselves if they are able to.
Anyway I've only been caving about twice so all this is tosh regardless...
Peter Burgess
New member
Something that happens to me occasionally when moving rapidly, especially in places I am not familiar with or when I am not paying enough attention is to catch my helmet on the roof. This causes a serious jarring of the neck and is not something you want to happen. If you have only been caving twice, then you won't be familiar with any caves just yet. Going fast has its risks to you (let alone the cave) so just take care.Tommy said:
PeteHall
Moderator
Cap'n Chris said:
Agreed, by caving fast in caves you know, where you will not cause damage (like the Cap'ns exapmle of the Short Round in Swildons), you will massively increase your fitness, enabling you to do longer harder trips (at a regular speed) without geting tired and causing damage to yourself or the cave.
It also make more time fo the pub
Groundhog
Member
When I was a kid we used to race through caves trying to outdo each other. The older members of our club would tell us off saying we were missing all the good stuff.
Now I'm an old git I'm a lot slower and I spend time looking at the pretties! There is something to be said for both attitudes.
Flotsam, re Penyghent to Ben Nevis, I've sent you a pm.
Now I'm an old git I'm a lot slower and I spend time looking at the pretties! There is something to be said for both attitudes.
Flotsam, re Penyghent to Ben Nevis, I've sent you a pm.
domestosbend
New member
Cap'n Chris said:
Top to bottom
SamT
Moderator
w
Why do people go fell running, when they could ramble gently and take in the majestic views.
Why go downhill mountain biking, when you could just take it steady and admire the view.
Why do people do street running/parkour when they could simply walk up and down the steps.
Why do people climb the sheer cliff via the thinnest/steepest route, when there's an easy foot path up the side of the crag.
Why do people leap out of perfectly good planes which could other wise deliver them safely to the ground.
etc etc etc.
Its about the personal physical challenge and the immense personal satisfaction (probably related to endorphin release) that some of feel from moving as swiftly and smoothly as possible through a cave. Becoming more cave fit etc is just a positive side effect.
Cave conservation and damage is certainly something that should be considered by those wishing to push themselves in this aspect and only routes that can tolerate it should be used. I think giants round trip is a fairly robust bit of cave.
Andyj23UK said:
Why do people go fell running, when they could ramble gently and take in the majestic views.
Why go downhill mountain biking, when you could just take it steady and admire the view.
Why do people do street running/parkour when they could simply walk up and down the steps.
Why do people climb the sheer cliff via the thinnest/steepest route, when there's an easy foot path up the side of the crag.
Why do people leap out of perfectly good planes which could other wise deliver them safely to the ground.
etc etc etc.
Its about the personal physical challenge and the immense personal satisfaction (probably related to endorphin release) that some of feel from moving as swiftly and smoothly as possible through a cave. Becoming more cave fit etc is just a positive side effect.
Cave conservation and damage is certainly something that should be considered by those wishing to push themselves in this aspect and only routes that can tolerate it should be used. I think giants round trip is a fairly robust bit of cave.
Antwan
Member
So, going light is easy. Rig with perlon/dyneema, single 8mm rope and 3mm cord for pull ups. Change your wellies for crocs and use a 3 quarter fury and suffer a bit.
Going fast is easy. Use American Pit rope and use jumbo Big Bro's for a single belay point in rifts.(preferably pre tied so riggin would take circa 4 seconds)
Not suggesting any of the above is safe, just my musings whils having lunch
Going fast is easy. Use American Pit rope and use jumbo Big Bro's for a single belay point in rifts.(preferably pre tied so riggin would take circa 4 seconds)
Not suggesting any of the above is safe, just my musings whils having lunch
royfellows
Well-known member
Just picked up on this thread.
Cracking way to have an accident.
Cracking way to have an accident.
JoshW
Well-known member
I think the general concensus is the best way to be quick is:
- fitness
- knowledge of the cave
- efficiency - both in SRT and normal cave movements to conserve energy/be quicker.
improvements in any of these things would speed you up more than shaving 10grams off your SRT kit.
people eventually will go the route of the superlight backpackers who cut the handles off their toothbrushes to save 3g. see cutting off excess slack off harnesses and stuff (within reason hopefully)
- fitness
- knowledge of the cave
- efficiency - both in SRT and normal cave movements to conserve energy/be quicker.
improvements in any of these things would speed you up more than shaving 10grams off your SRT kit.
people eventually will go the route of the superlight backpackers who cut the handles off their toothbrushes to save 3g. see cutting off excess slack off harnesses and stuff (within reason hopefully)
