Peter Burgess
New member
I think party sizes are generally smaller than they used to be as well.
Spectator Sport
- Thread starter Over the Hill
- Start date
Bottlebank
New member
jasonbirder said:
Don't disagree with much of that, but as for the last bit, most of the people I've taken underground as a "non professional" or amateur caver haven't rushed to the nearest caving shop either, a few have, and a few of those have lasted the years, but not many. I'm sure the same applies to most instructors clients.
Brains
Well-known member
Havent been out in ages due to changes in circumstances, but still got the urge, the need, to be underground.
Wonder how long my SRT kit and ropes will be OK for in dry storage? Got the idea that I would probably mostly remain on routes I have done before, but will always be dreaming of new caverns...
Wonder how long my SRT kit and ropes will be OK for in dry storage? Got the idea that I would probably mostly remain on routes I have done before, but will always be dreaming of new caverns...
jasonbirder
Member
Agreed Bottlebank - our experience too when we've taken novices/mates/colleagues along on the obligatory P8/Giants round introduction to caving - some stick...most don't.
I was trying to make the point that the (reported) good health of the Instructed Caving sector doesn't necessarily lead to good numbers coming into Caving
I was trying to make the point that the (reported) good health of the Instructed Caving sector doesn't necessarily lead to good numbers coming into Caving
bograt
Active member
I was an instructor for two decades and introduced hundreds of folks to the great underground, I estimate the percentage take up to be around 1%, some are even active on here.
Because of body collapse I very rarely get underground these days but I was persuaded to come out of retirement on the basis that my experience was valuable, (thanks, Pitlamp!!), I am now quite active in DCA politics and on this forum, am I an active caver?.
Then of course there is an issue that 'active' cavers are too busy caving to bother with politics, this means that it is often left to us 'oldies' to perform the necessary duties, I would add, however, that this is not the case on DCA, we have a fine amalgamation of younger 'active', and older 'experienced' members on our team
Because of body collapse I very rarely get underground these days but I was persuaded to come out of retirement on the basis that my experience was valuable, (thanks, Pitlamp!!), I am now quite active in DCA politics and on this forum, am I an active caver?.
Then of course there is an issue that 'active' cavers are too busy caving to bother with politics, this means that it is often left to us 'oldies' to perform the necessary duties, I would add, however, that this is not the case on DCA, we have a fine amalgamation of younger 'active', and older 'experienced' members on our team
Caver Keith
Well-known member
Dudley Caving Club was formed in 1966 and throughout its history the membership has remained in the teens and twenties - until recently. Over the last couple of years the membership has slowly crept up and it now has 51 members which is incredible for a caving club around 80 miles or so from the nearest caves, and at a time when caving seems to be losing popularity.
We can't help but feel that we are doing something right. We have a website, blog (which is regularly updated), active Facebook page, 2 very good cave photographers and a few half decent videos. Publicity it does seem gets people off their bums and underground.
We can't help but feel that we are doing something right. We have a website, blog (which is regularly updated), active Facebook page, 2 very good cave photographers and a few half decent videos. Publicity it does seem gets people off their bums and underground.
cap n chris
Well-known member
jasonbirder said:
The former results in the latter and vice versa - if clubs were good at providing caving, instructed and professional caving wouldn't be up to much; people successfully getting the trips they want won't be bothering with organisations that are unsatisfactory in that regard. Why would anyone want to join a club if they can go caving on their own terms with everything provided for them?
Peter Burgess
New member
Because they don't want to keep on forking out the dosh?
cap n chris
Well-known member
S'way cheaper than buying the gear.
Peter Burgess
New member
Pends how long you want to stay a caver and how well you look after your stuff.
jasonbirder
Member
Borrow kit at first - then at most a couple of hundred quid for gear followed by beer/petrol money...
How many commercial trips could you get for that?
Peter Burgess
New member
Chris doesn't pay for the beer and petrol anyway. If he did, then ..........
cap n chris
Well-known member
Prolly the equivalent of a year's* worth of caving club trips, provided you were lucky enough to find a club willing to provide them.
* Based on a guesstimate of how many trips a newbie joining a club gets, before they drop by the wayside and don't resubscribe the following year.
* Based on a guesstimate of how many trips a newbie joining a club gets, before they drop by the wayside and don't resubscribe the following year.
Peter Burgess
New member
Club caving is NOT expensive. It really isn't!
Peter Burgess
New member
Unless, of course, you collect club memberships. I can imagine cavers who can afford to join more than a couple of clubs are pretty happy with the club scene and are not bothered by the cost.
cap n chris
Well-known member
Er,... year membership for a single club, BCA plus turning up to an annual dinner to "show willing and try and network" = ?100+ for starters....
And that's not including the costs associated with a single underground sojourn.
Anyone with a couple of similarly keen mates who pooled their resources could get a lot of decent trips in with an instructor for that.
And that's not including the costs associated with a single underground sojourn.
Anyone with a couple of similarly keen mates who pooled their resources could get a lot of decent trips in with an instructor for that.
