DCA / NCA Cavers Workshop 2004

[bubba]

Saturday & Sunday February 28th & 29th 2004

This workshop gives the opportunity for cavers to gain further knowledge whilst having fun at low cost.

It is also ideal for caving clubs to supplement their training requirements. The cost is £10.00 per head per day.

See the DCA website for full details.

 

[underground]

Can anyone who's attended in previous years give us an impression of the workshops?

 

[paul]

Can anyone who's attended in previous years give us an impression of the workshops?

I attended the SRT Pitch Rigging session on Saturday this year. Excellent. It was taken by Dave Elliot - hopefully he knows what he's talking about!

Dave basically went through ropes, knots, bolts, re-belays, deviations, etc but instead of just preaching: "this is the way I do it and you should do the same" he actually approached the session from the angle of asking what you thought and then suggesting possible problems and how he would approach it.

What surprised me was his suggsetion that most cavers buy ropes much too thick for their purpose basically because it seems thick and doesn't cost too much! If you rig properly (and comfortably!) so that rope abrasion is avoided then, thinner ropes are quite safe (as long as you're not in a rescue situation).

All in all a worthwhile way to spend a day - and only cost £10! (due to subsidy and people like Nigel Atkins giving his time to organise, etc for free.

 

[SamT]

Sounds good - I went on one a couple of years ago run by Nigel A. Again with the same 'discussional' style. You learn a lot when your actually there doing it - rather than reading a book at home.

My mate went to the one on sunday - really enjoyed it.