Best Caves/Mines for surviving the nuclear apocalypse?

[CJ]

The world is ending and nuclear winter is coming. The air raid sirens are blaring as we "face consequences greater than any (we) have faced in history"... which hole are you retreating to?


Disclaimer: this is intended as a tongue-in-cheek post and a bit of fun.. Serious replies about fear-mongering aren't necessary

 

[ZombieCake]

A nice cave that has a water supply that isn't contaminated with dead sheep, or lead, or other heavy metals.  So that just leaves... er umm...

 

[Cantclimbtom]

I'm thinking slate quarry ("mine")  due to spacious caverns, water, ventilation (having a fire for warmth/cooking) and sheep to eat.

But... it'd need to be a less obvious one, or an obscure section of a more obvious one. An obscure section of a more obvious one does give the advantage that you could be like one of the palid gollum like creature from the caving documentary "The Descent" and pick off equipment, supplies or unlucky stragglers who are trying to shelter in the main caverns.

Rhosydd springs to mind but I know of at least one UKCaving user who's already stated he'd go there (in a similar thread we had once) and he knows it better than I do so I'd need to watch my back or there may be a bigger Gollum after me as well

 

[Speleofish]

Somewhere as far from major population centres and military installations as possible. Also as far west as possible so the winds blow the fallout away. Looks like a Welsh slate mine, a Cornish mine or a Pembrokeshire cave (but I suspect Haverfordwest would be a target).

 

[royfellows]

I wouldn't bother. If that didn't get me then climate change/covid/the russians/ etc would, and be all on my own anyway.
What would I do for something to eat, a woman, or someone to fight?
Mind I talk to myself all the while, so would be OK for company.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

...What would I do for ...

People in extreme rural communities have already experienced those issues in some cases their solution was:

something to eat --> sheep
a woman --> sheep
someone to fight --> sheep

Above wouldn't be Mypersonal choice apart from the eat. Just saying the options in the apocalypse/cave scenario...

 

[kay]

What would I do for something to eat, a woman, or someone to fight?

Yes, you have to make sure all commodities are at hand

 

[Fulk]

Take several women so you can eat 'em, fight 'em  (and whatever else you want).

 

[ChrisJC]

Take several women so you can eat 'em, fight 'em  (and whatever else you want).

Not wishing to detract from anything, but taking multiple women is going to result in a fight anyway.

Chris.

 

[mikem]

There are some very nice rock shelters in Patagonia (& they know how to cook lamb...) General lack of women though

 

[ttxela2]

I'd probably opt for one of those former nuclear bunkers that are now tourist attractions because they are no longer needed.....

 

[RobinGriffiths]

The Bidston room in Parc 2.  You could rig booby traps in the false floor to keep the riff raff from Llarwst out.

 

[Ed]

We've some underground flag quarries..... Not much good, what with being in the shadow of Men with Hill

 

[Rachel]

I think I'd opt for Stump Cross. As long as they have blackout blinds up, it'd be safe to nip out of the cave to the cafe.

 

[oldfart]

I think a pub with a good cellar might be a better bet.

 

[wellyjen]

Us Morlocks are rather looking forward to the upcoming cleansing by fire of the surface world. A lot of unsuspecting Eloi will be driven underground, looking to survive and giving us a steady supply of uncontaminated food while we wait for the radiation levels to drop.
Obviously, I won't be saying in which cave, or mine system we have our lair on an open forum. 

 

[langcliffe]

I think I'd opt for Stump Cross. As long as they have blackout blinds up, it'd be safe to nip out of the cave to the cafe.

A bit close to Menwith Hill for me...

I also live very close, and our officially designated fallout shelter was (maybe still is)  Hebden Horse Level.

 

[tomferry]

The Bidston room in Parc 2.  You could rig booby traps in the false floor to keep the riff raff from Llarwst out.

Now I no your plan I shall enter from behind and come
Down the ladder way in the ventilation shaft 

 

[PeteHall]

Somewhere as far from major population centres and military installations as possible. Also as far west as possible so the winds blow the fallout away. Looks like a Welsh slate mine, a Cornish mine or a Pembrokeshire cave (but I suspect Haverfordwest would be a target).

What about a remote sea cave?

I once found a potentially suitable cave in the Orkneys.

It has a large/tall chamber inside a very sheltered entrance, so you'd probably survive in stormy weather. You could catch fish (and seals) from the comfort of the cave and there is a ready supply of drift wood very close by.

It's also on thd Gulf Stream, so warm(ish) and windy, to clear any radioactive fall-out. :alien:

The only issue is how the hell you'd get there as its a long drive past several major cities and then a couple of boat rides across the sea...

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Ha Ha. We have our own key to a very nice mine.