blackholesun
New member
This is not meant to be an entirely serious post.
If you've not already seen it BCA released a statement written by Dave Judson in 2010. It was their opinion on the matter and may now be influencing and strengthening their members opinions in a nightmare of circular logic. It can be found at http://www.british-caving.org.uk/membership/landownership+caves_240310.pdf
The rest of the document has been debated elsewhere, but one paragraph must be seen to be believed:
"Think about it, free access to caves and potholes would be quite inoperable (and dangerous) in many situations including popular sites such as Lancaster Hole, Gaping Gill, Ogof Fynnon Ddu, Swildons Hole, etc."
So, I've thought about it Dave.
Lancaster Hole: A cave that could not be more popular if it had no permit system and everywhere else in the Dales did. Truly this pot is a notorious scourge of cavers, with freshers sometimes getting stuck at the rebelay for a whole ten minutes.
Swildons Hole: Thank heavens this cave doesn't have free access! Truly, having to pay a pound to get changed in the barn has made this cave safe and operable.
GG: Pirated to the extent that two groups may avoid each other on the nature trail, both thinking the other has the permit. One caver I know forgot that a permit was required for an entire decade. As far as I can remember it lacks fragile features on the trade routes. Fortunately, it doesn't have free access which magically makes it safe! One group (who won't be named) recently tried to do Dihedral with a heavy snow melt on, but of course, as they had a permit they came to no harm.
If you've not already seen it BCA released a statement written by Dave Judson in 2010. It was their opinion on the matter and may now be influencing and strengthening their members opinions in a nightmare of circular logic. It can be found at http://www.british-caving.org.uk/membership/landownership+caves_240310.pdf
The rest of the document has been debated elsewhere, but one paragraph must be seen to be believed:
"Think about it, free access to caves and potholes would be quite inoperable (and dangerous) in many situations including popular sites such as Lancaster Hole, Gaping Gill, Ogof Fynnon Ddu, Swildons Hole, etc."
So, I've thought about it Dave.
Lancaster Hole: A cave that could not be more popular if it had no permit system and everywhere else in the Dales did. Truly this pot is a notorious scourge of cavers, with freshers sometimes getting stuck at the rebelay for a whole ten minutes.
Swildons Hole: Thank heavens this cave doesn't have free access! Truly, having to pay a pound to get changed in the barn has made this cave safe and operable.
GG: Pirated to the extent that two groups may avoid each other on the nature trail, both thinking the other has the permit. One caver I know forgot that a permit was required for an entire decade. As far as I can remember it lacks fragile features on the trade routes. Fortunately, it doesn't have free access which magically makes it safe! One group (who won't be named) recently tried to do Dihedral with a heavy snow melt on, but of course, as they had a permit they came to no harm.