chunky
Well-known member
I was somewhat disappointed to hear of the removal of The Last Sandwich contortion in Ogof Draenen in this months issue of Descent as it was to be my pet project over the winter to tackle this.
I know this has most likely been covered a number of times, but thought it worth revisiting as I know there are a number of newer contributors / lurkers around now.
A few months in to having begun caving I did a really stupid thing, I was a full 18 stone back then and was in Giants hole.
Upon reaching 'The Vice' I had a bit of a panic trying to go under it and decided I would climb high in to the rifts to bypass it. Unfortunately this resulted in a rather inelegant face plant and left me with a shattered jaw (Reconstructed with a fair bit of metalwork) and nerve damage to my right side. The stupid thing is that during my self rescue I passed under 'The Vice' to exit!
My very first post on UKcaving was to ask advice about getting through the squeeze on the Swildons short round trip and I have endeavoured to do every squeeze I could find since.
I am proud of having entered the likes of Pen Eyre, managing the short round trip in Swildons etc. In my efforts I have bruised and dislocated bits and made high pitch noises that only dogs can hear!
Of course there are caves and parts of caves I will never see and I accept that, but I get a huge buzz out of accomplishing something that, for me at least, tests by my nerve and technique.
I have no problem with modification for rescue and where it is deemed necessary by the diggers for ongoing passage discovery. But where an 'established' obstacle is present my personal feeling is that it is part of the sporting nature of caving and should not be modified. Just my opinion.
Over to you
I know this has most likely been covered a number of times, but thought it worth revisiting as I know there are a number of newer contributors / lurkers around now.
A few months in to having begun caving I did a really stupid thing, I was a full 18 stone back then and was in Giants hole.
Upon reaching 'The Vice' I had a bit of a panic trying to go under it and decided I would climb high in to the rifts to bypass it. Unfortunately this resulted in a rather inelegant face plant and left me with a shattered jaw (Reconstructed with a fair bit of metalwork) and nerve damage to my right side. The stupid thing is that during my self rescue I passed under 'The Vice' to exit!
My very first post on UKcaving was to ask advice about getting through the squeeze on the Swildons short round trip and I have endeavoured to do every squeeze I could find since.
I am proud of having entered the likes of Pen Eyre, managing the short round trip in Swildons etc. In my efforts I have bruised and dislocated bits and made high pitch noises that only dogs can hear!
Of course there are caves and parts of caves I will never see and I accept that, but I get a huge buzz out of accomplishing something that, for me at least, tests by my nerve and technique.
I have no problem with modification for rescue and where it is deemed necessary by the diggers for ongoing passage discovery. But where an 'established' obstacle is present my personal feeling is that it is part of the sporting nature of caving and should not be modified. Just my opinion.
Over to you