What's the dumbest thing you've ever done underground?

[Fulk]

That sounds pretty hairy-raising, psychocrawler!!

Went on to descend Jib Tunnel direct pitch on the same day. Far better for SRT in my opinion

An interesting observation ? I've only done it direct once, and it was a spectacular descent/ascent ? but even on a warm summer's day with a big high-pressure system (remember those?) sitting over us, it was still pretty wet.

 

[psychocrawler]

Yes, all a bit dicey. Didn't put off my partner in crime who went on to free climb out of GG at a later date.

Jib Tunnel is always slightly wet direct unless all the water is diverted down Rathole or you start tarzanning around on the later Elliott extravaganza routes. Makes it feel like potholing rather than abseiling off Malham Cove which always used to be dry until recent weeks!

 

[Amy]

Hmmm. I tend to be the overly cautious type. But i would say that in hindsight the dumbest thing was wearing a wetsuit that was too tight on my chest(at the time didnt know better or that super tight was an issue as Id never worn one before!) In DYO no less (didnt have a wetsuit so borrowed). When i tried it on it was jusy super tight to zip up but we got it on so figured it was good. When the cold water hit and you actually breathe swimming upstream It felt as if I couldnt expand my lungs it was physically painful and i gasped for air. Luckily when we arrived on land And Im standing there not able to breath with a panicked look Paul knew what was up as hed seen a panic attack from too tight a suit before. He unzipped it and within seconds I regained control of my breathing and could speak again. Soooo we didnt do the trip we had planned but it was still a blast I tied the arms around my waist for the trip until the swim out when i put the top half back on but we didnt zip it all the way. Now I know. Wetsuits should be snug, but not squeeze the stuffing out of you breathe out to zip it up snug!

 

[David Rose]

At the end of a six week expedition to Pozu del Xitu in 1980, my oversuit was totally trashed. I had already repaired it several times, but the cave's many sharp bits, especially in the rift near the entrance, had won. However, I did have a wetsuit with me. I wore it for what turned out to be a 28 hour trip to the then-limit, to rig the last pitch reached that year, survey, take photos and start to detackle. Most of the caving was dry.  An hour into the cave was a very sandy crawl, and there was just no way to stop particles getting in.

By the time I emerged it felt as if most of my body was on fire. My knees, front back, elbows, thighs and groin were rubbed raw. Very painful.

 

[ttolyaj]

Many moons ago solo trip digging a low level entrance to Boxes cave. Only about 6 feet underground, I used some angle to support the shattered roof so I could carry on digging. A large rock fell out the roof and hit me in the ear breaking the bones, the helmet was missed completely. Semi conscious I managed to get out and get help but its left partly deaf.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Did a Reservoir Hole trip a while back and sweated like mad feeling hot and unwell. Came out and thought that my windproof fleece coat had been knicked. Silly me. I had left it on under my undersuit.

 

[ianball11]

Haha   made me chuckle

 

[Swampy]

The dumbest things i've done underground all seemed to of happened to me whilst on training courses. Generally ive always been well prepared and planned etc when caving, but for some reason I made the most numpty mistakes whilst on my Lvl 1 & Lvl 2 cave training....

On my lvl1 a few years back on the second day, we was going Peak Cavern and whilst travelling to Castleton I was wearing my thermal under suit and suprizing it was a warm day, when I arrived to meet the instructor and other trainees at the car park, I decided I was too warm and took my under suit off and just went in my boxers with my caving suit on, thinking for some reason Peak Cavern would be a leisurely stroll... How wrong I was. I spent the many hours down there freezing and piss wet through, trying to keep my pride about me... So stupid  :thumbsdown:

On my lvl2 training in giants, whilst just starting to descend on my stop, the instructor was giving a talk about making sure your groups hair is out of the way etc, at that moment i'd already realized that my dreadlock had gone all the way through my stop and I just stuck there my head pressing up against the stop.. The instructor didnt notice but one of the trainee's did, I gave him a look of humiliation and then instantly just ripped my dreadlock off, very painful. when i got to the bottom I had the hairyest stop.

Ohh well, you live and learn. Just at the wrong times for me sadly.