A question of cave leadership ?
- Thread starter Ian Adams
- Start date
langcliffe
Well-known member
menacer said:What an excellent, well presented post, based on fact and suppported with evidence. Very informative. Thanks Glenn
Absolutely - most refreshing after some of the bull shit.
El Agreb
Member
I would agree with the previous comments as well.
Though the french reference may be a trifle harsh. Their approach may be different to that in the UK but both the FFME and FFS ( equivalent perhaps to the BMC and BCA) do have policy/policies or "Charte" regarding fixed equipment. The coordination perhaps exists at departmental level rather than National. Fixed equipment (fortunately) is much scarcer in the region in which I cave but the equipment that does exist "officially" is funded (and listed http://cds31.free.fr/pdf/tr2005.pdf ) by the department and installed by cavers that are trained to the highest levels of the french system which involves to the best of my knowledge a minimum of 4 weeks of assessment and is far harder to achieve than its counterpart in the UK.
Still it is always best to treat all fixed equipment with suspicion whether you know its pedigree or not!
Though the french reference may be a trifle harsh. Their approach may be different to that in the UK but both the FFME and FFS ( equivalent perhaps to the BMC and BCA) do have policy/policies or "Charte" regarding fixed equipment. The coordination perhaps exists at departmental level rather than National. Fixed equipment (fortunately) is much scarcer in the region in which I cave but the equipment that does exist "officially" is funded (and listed http://cds31.free.fr/pdf/tr2005.pdf ) by the department and installed by cavers that are trained to the highest levels of the french system which involves to the best of my knowledge a minimum of 4 weeks of assessment and is far harder to achieve than its counterpart in the UK.
Still it is always best to treat all fixed equipment with suspicion whether you know its pedigree or not!
Glenn
Member
El Agreb said:
Hi El Agreb, thanks for that. I made the comment "THERE IS NO COORDINATED ANCHOR PROGRAMME IN FRANCE - for caving or climbing" because I had not seen any references to a coordinated anchor programme in any of the French caving magazines I see, and none of my French caving mates are aware of such a programme (and likewise for the few French climbers I know). And, there is no sign of such a programme on the ground (so to speak - well not in the Vercors anyway). Do you have any links for further information? And anyway, at the time Alex was climbing in France (I think he has said he had to give up caving in the '90's) I believe my comment would still be valid. Incidently, my French caving mates are full of admiration for what has been achieved in the UK.
The BMC have an anchor policy (the BCA Equpment Committee have links with the BMC Equipment Committee), but as far as I know it is yet to be implemented - any climbers able to comment?
Cheers,
Glenn
