Assholes in Goatchurch !!!

[paulf]

I once wore a pink thong into Goatchurch during a "phase", does that me irresponsible ?

No not at all it's your choice but would you take your Children in without a Helmet ?
I've nothing against Students or Cavers suiting them selfs  I've done enough Mad things in my time  But when I take the Kids we have a Joke but safety first

 

[andymorgan]

I would be happy enough doing Goatchurch with just a hand torch and a smile  , although I would probably get arrested!

I have mentioned before about hearing of a guy who surprised a group of scouts emerging from the Drainpipe with a fez and leather coat.

Interestingly here in the USA cavers often wear trainers and denim, something which is frowned upon in the UK.

 

[Stupot]

I once wore a pink thong into Goatchurch during a "phase", does that me irresponsible ?

No not at all it's your choice but would you take your Children in without a Helmet ?
I've nothing against Students or Cavers suiting them selfs  I've done enough Mad things in my time  But when I take the Kids we have a Joke but safety first

I was only jesting Paul, I am high on pain killers at the moment with a fractured back and ankle  so am a bit spaced out and random.

I agree totally that when entering any over head enviroment that suitable proctective head wear should be warn by a minor, adults should know better and do so at their own risk.

Stu.

 

[Simon Beck]

I can understand where you're coming from Paul, i've seen this alot in the dales.....But!, you shoulda just walked away, i'm not surprised they took an arrogant approach towards you, if someone ignored my advice then i'd just walk away and let them learn the hard way. If it were me not that for one second it would, i'd have swung for you just for interfering in the first place.

 

[paulf]

Having typed Caving into u tube that American squeezing into the tight crawl with just a Video cracks me up every time

 

[graham]

It is interesting to note that when a certain well-known University club did a naked trip down Goatchurch, some years ago, our their then secretary could be found at the entrance ensuring that whatever else they were wearing everyone was "properly" equipped with helmet light and boots. 

 

[Peter Burgess]

I can understand where you're coming from Paul, i've seen this alot in the dales.....But!, you shoulda just walked away, i'm not surprised they took an arrogant approach towards you, if someone ignored my advice then i'd just walk away and let them learn the hard way. If it were me not that for one second it would, i'd have swung for you just for interfering in the first place.

Oh yes, let's just encourage another bit of 'walk away Britain'. Just ignore something. Pretend it's not happening. The point is, Simon, that young children's safety was potentially at risk. My guess is that if all Paul had seen was a couple of adults without helmets he would not have got so involved. And you would have engaged in physical violence underground? Very clever, I don't think.

 

[graham]

Question:

Why exactly do young children need helmets underground? What possibilties would such gear protect them from?

 

[Peter Burgess]

How about slipping while climbing down into Water Chamber and cracking their heads open on the way down? I'm not sure why you needed to ask that question.

 

[Dep]

Question:

Why exactly do young children need helmets underground? What possibilties would such gear protect them from?

An odd question - presumably intended to be rhetorical?

Pre-pubescent children have far weaker skulls than adults as the skull bones are still not fully knit.
Kids are careless, far more likely to jump up in excitement, or be too overwhelmed with one task (climbing/crawling) to concentrate on a second one - minding their heads.

Kids are more likely to be put off by caving again by cutting their heads open in a cave than adults.

I would rather cope with the aftermath of an injured adult in my party than an injured child.

 

[Dep]

How about slipping while climbing down into Water Chamber and cracking their heads open on the way down? I'm not sure why you needed to ask that question.

Or just the entrance, about 30 feet in there is a nice place to slip and fall into on the left, the tube going down from there too is awkward.

Although the 'easiest' cave on Mendip it isn't without its hazards, what makes them less risky is that they are all fairly obvious and none so daunting that they invite certain death - but still dangerous to the unwary or stupid.

 

[ditzy 24//7]

Question:

Why exactly do young children need helmets underground? What possibilties would such gear protect them from?

well if the children are as ditzy as me ten they would need 1 for small spaces outherwise they may stand up and hit there head and may end up wid a big lump on the back of there head

 

[ian.p]

No but several layers of clothing including a fleece - he was complaining of being too hot much of the time.
And an improvised 5-point harness attached to me - the only one of us who was scared and nervous was me, a bit over-protective parent until I relaxed a bit - I did not want him falling anywhere - there are places in Goatchurch that a small child could get very badly hurt indeed if allowed to fall.
Nowhere in GC is more than 10-15 minutes from the exit which is why it is such a good cave for beginners.
I'd like to get a warmbac and furry for him though so I can take him into the upper series of Swildons one day, perhaps in the summer as I know he would enjoy it.

i wouldnt bother waiting to buy a warmback and fleece suite for swildons upper series two decent fleeces tracksuite trousers and old waterproof top+trousers works realy well.

 

[ttxela]

On the face of it there does seem to have been an element of irresponsibility however;

Thinking about it when I'm out and about with my daughter on holiday and we come across a cave or mine entrance we will invariably explore it to the limit of daylight or to some arbitary point that I consider "safe" using my limited experience if we happen (as we mostly would have) to have a source of light handy, more than likely without any helmets and probably in trainers and jeans.

If we went out specifically planning to go underground I would of course have all the gear with me.

Not sure where that leaves me......

 

[andymorgan]

It is interesting to note that when a certain well-known University club did a naked trip down Goatchurch, some years ago, our their then secretary could be found at the entrance ensuring that whatever else they were wearing everyone was "properly" equipped with helmet light and boots. 

Naked caving, helmet light? Suits you sir!

 

[graham]

How about slipping while climbing down into Water Chamber and cracking their heads open on the way down? I'm not sure why you needed to ask that question.

Could not similar accidents occur whilst walking up the Twin Brook valleys?

 

[Peter Burgess]

It is interesting to note that when a certain well-known University club did a naked trip down Goatchurch, some years ago, our their then secretary could be found at the entrance ensuring that whatever else they were wearing everyone was "properly" equipped with helmet light and boots. 

Naked caving, helmet light? Suits you sir!

Are there not drawbacks caving like that?

 

[Peter Burgess]

How about slipping while climbing down into Water Chamber and cracking their heads open on the way down? I'm not sure why you needed to ask that question.

Could not similar accidents occur whilst walking up the Twin Brook valleys?

Not the bits I walk up. Am I not very adventurous?

 

[graham]

It is interesting to note that when a certain well-known University club did a naked trip down Goatchurch, some years ago, our their then secretary could be found at the entrance ensuring that whatever else they were wearing everyone was "properly" equipped with helmet light and boots. 

Naked caving, helmet light? Suits you sir!

I missed it! We were abroad!!  :ang:

 

[ditzy 24//7]

How about slipping while climbing down into Water Chamber and cracking their heads open on the way down? I'm not sure why you needed to ask that question.

Could not similar accidents occur whilst walking up the Twin Brook valleys?

twin brook valleys is this were the cave east twin is up by the cascades?