For steam enthusiasts this weekend https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/things-to-do/events/canal-events-canal-festivals/2024-05-11-steam-at-the-lift at the Anderton boat lift in cheshire, traction engines and steamboats. (plus beer).

Helping with weight are https://www.lbcboots.com/full-length-boots/ which I've just tried. They really are very light!

OFD Cym Dwr - off route around the smithy streamway area. Two hoods. Let me know any details about them and I'll post on.

Large rucksack should be fine (you'll want a secure cover to keep the straps snug). If it's clean it could go in a suitcase! Without SRT it will be much less than 20kg. You may even be able to pack a few ordinary clothes. The biggest issue is batteries. These should be in hand luggage and...

I changed to Landjoff which feel quite similar, and end up being similar price.

Any idea how many hangers CNCC are 'responsible' for? Just curious. May make a good competition?!

Wow. On the main through route? That's somewhat disturbing, given how much traffic it gets. Consequence of all the winter's rain?

I think these wouldn't appear in BCA stats because they register in which club you're paying your fees. Unless you are paying the BCA twice for insurance.

(Note if anyone is struggling to access academic journal articles* please so post on here - UK research is primarily funded by UK taxpayers -you- but the results are often only available at exorbitant costs through the research journal structures.) You never know when someone might be around and...

As to no detergent - I've been on more than one trip accompanied by delicate lilac smells emanating from someone's washed kit. Caves are so remarkably free of other aromas that it takes very little to stand out.

I wish I had a dedicated caving washing machine, but for caving gear I don't use detergent in my home one.

I know that initially I was introduced to Cow's Tails's it was as a safety feature, not an integral part of progression - perhaps to avoid having too many things to consider at once.. They were there to catch you if you get it wrong - so you always clipped them in. Hence it took a long time for...

I think my very first cave was a school trip to goatchurch. I know my family went on holiday to the Dales and we did GG on the winch (before floodlights), we did have to come back the next day to make the trip, having bemusedly walked past a short queue in the late afternoon and asked what was...

For context a lot of Lechuguilla Cave is thought to be hypogenic, so the possibilities could be immense!

I think this is the point - someone has to draw the line between Janja Gabaret being able to free climb it wihtout "mortal danger" so it needs no aid, to a blind quadriplegic can't access it so it needs a lift installing. The Question is then who gets to choose where that line is - The...