SRT Practice at the YSS

[Blueberry]

I have been practicing on the YSS SRT wall.

The combinations of traverses and moves is quite extraordinary.

On the blue ropes it’s simple ascents/descents on Y-hangs passing deviations or rebelays.

Good for polishing that mid-rope change over.

The orange ropes are for the challenges, large outer wall traverses, passing knots, rebelays and deviations.

And if you need to learn how to rescue there is an obliging Panda.

I’ve spent a couple of ½ days on the wall and each visit cost £3-.

Outstanding value, quite a civilised way to get some practice in.

 

[cap n chris]

Why are there y-hangs on an RSJ? Is the strength of it in doubt at all? The old 45 degree/53% loading thingy kicking in.

 

[Ian P]

Why are there y-hangs on an RSJ? Is the strength of it in doubt at all? The old 45 degree/53% loading thingy kicking in.

My guess it’s to replicate commonly found situations in caves. This means you can teach/learn where best to clip your Cowstails.

(Assume you know this, but are looking for a bit of “sport” ?)

When “instructing” I find this really useful.

The RSJ strength is beyond doubt. How about the anchors?

If you have any pictures of a better training set up I would be really interested in seeing them.

Good quality indoor SRT training venues are a rare commodity, having more would be really good.

Ian

 

[cap n chris]

My guess it’s to replicate commonly found situations in caves. This means you can teach/learn where best to clip your Cowstails.

Good point well made. Perhaps that explains the y-hang off the scaffolding at Manor Farm Swallet. Never did quite understand that, me. IIRC I've seen similar elsewhere, too. All rather whimsical.

 

[Tritim230]

My guess it’s to replicate commonly found situations in caves. This means you can teach/learn where best to clip your Cowstails.

(Assume you know this, but are looking for a bit of “sport” ?)

When “instructing” I find this really useful.

The RSJ strength is beyond doubt. How about the anchors?

If you have any pictures of a better training set up I would be really interested in seeing them.

Good quality indoor SRT training venues are a rare commodity, having more would be really good.

Ian

We have a facility at the GCRG Depot in Cinderford. Paul Taylor, Joel Corrigan and team have put in some major work extending this. If you are ever in the most promising caving region in the UK (Forest of Dean), well worth a visit.

 

[damian]

What a great post. I'm really pleased you're finding it useful (and the panda!) We tried really hard when designing it to include a range of difficulties and also of likely underground obstacles. And yes, there are y-hangs on RSJs because everything is designed to replicate underground rigging scenarios.

We're available to anyone, overnight guest or not, commercial or recreational, and very much view the wall as a service to cavers. We try hard to run 'at cost', but as we become more popular, this means an increasing number of 'special offers'! Generally we're really busy with uni clubs at weekends in autumn, but outside this, there's usually plenty of availability. Wet weekends are usually the exception to this and funnily enough we've actually been pretty busy this 'summer'.

 

[JoshW]

It’s also been used a few times to run workshops for YSS members on a Friday night before meet weekends as an opportunity for club members to brush up their skills with more experienced cavers within the club available to offer advice and tips and tricks. (followed by a trip over to the helwith bridge inn for a bit of rehydration!)

new members to the club have found these useful to develop their confidence and get more involved in clubs, hopefully other clubs offer these sessions as well, but the YSS has the benefit of this ace set up available at the hut!