Cardiff University Darenthon

[Standard Unit of Tom]

In roughly one month's time on Saturday the 15th of March, Cardiff Uni Caving Club will be attempting what has been dubbed “The Darenthon”. This involves completing the infamous Daren Cilau entrance crawl as many times as is required to make up the full distance of a marathon, which works out to be 82 times through one way. We will be undergoing this challenge as a group so every time one person makes their way through it will increase the counter.

The objective of this event is to raise money for South Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team and we will have various donation goals to add bonus challenges for us on the day. Ranging from conservation efforts of removing the remaining rubbish left after the clean up day, to attempting to keep an egg unbroken the entire way in and then out.

There will be later photographic and video evidence uploaded to this thread so keep an eye out!

Any donations are greatly appreciated!

Donate to SMWCRT

There are many ways you can donate to the South & Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team, every donation makes a difference.

smwcrt.org

 

[Ian Ball]

Holy moley!

 

[Standard Unit of Tom]

the facebook link on SMWCRT page doesn't seem to be working so here's the direct link to our fundraiser

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[Pegasus]

Great idea, great poster and great cause. Looking forward to hearing how you all get on, please do keep us posted on UKC

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Definitely will donate 50p if you agree to do it wearing one of those inflatable sumo wrestler costumes. But that might hinder your speed a tiny bit

 

[Caver Keith]

Nice pictures on the poster. Just wondering if anyone will need to purchase a caving corset for the trip? Asking for a friend.

 

[Standard Unit of Tom]

Nice pictures on the poster. Just wondering if anyone will need to purchase a caving corset for the trip? Asking for a friend.

Yes

Turns out not many people take pictures in the entrance series they'd rather just get through it!

 

[Stuart France]

Sounds like you'll be needing a big stock of vitamin I (Ibuprofen) perhaps permanently. My back has never been the same since a rescue there in 2001, well the morning after to be precise. I never leave home without it.

SMWCRT is set up as a charity. Does anyone know if they're in the HMRC Gift Aid scheme as that makes direct donations worth 25% more if declared as such.

 

[Vkocher]

That will be a great effort! Hope to see photos after!

 

[marsrat]

Just pondering: what is the contingency for challenge attendees becoming tired/hypothermic in the crawl during the challenge?

Can imagine having 10-30 cavers with differing stamina levels could lead to issues if stacked in the entrance series...

 

[Standard Unit of Tom]

That is tomorrow's goal, I'm gonna sort out a plan and will have to write a risk assessment for the Students union anyways. I do plan to drag a tacklesack full of snacks and a shelter through with me

 

[maxb727]

That is tomorrow's goal, I'm gonna sort out a plan and will have to write a risk assessment for the Students union anyways. I do plan to drag a tacklesack full of snacks and a shelter through with me

I wouldn’t bother replying to the person above as they have spent the entire evening telling a WhatsApp group they don’t agree with your attempt and now they are suggesting we “sit on the sidelines with a cup of tea and watch it unfold” - assuming that you will fail and cause a rescue.

However I’m also happy to say that many people are supportive of your efforts and the donations alone show that. I’m sure you have thought it through and while the attempt is a marathon effort, whatever you achieve as a group will be amazing - the team effort alone should be applauded rather than mocked by individuals.

If I was able to join you and do and in/out I would - good luck to you all - enjoy it and well done for doing your bit to raise awareness and money for a good cause!

 

[Standard Unit of Tom]

I wouldn’t bother replying to the person above as they have spent the entire evening telling a WhatsApp group they don’t agree with your attempt and now they are suggesting we “sit on the sidelines with a cup of tea and watch it unfold” - assuming that you will fail and cause a rescue.

However I’m also happy to say that many people are supportive of your efforts and the donations alone show that. I’m sure you have thought it through and while the attempt is a marathon effort, whatever you achieve as a group will be amazing - the team effort alone should be applauded rather than mocked by individuals.

If I was able to join you and do and in/out I would - good luck to you all - enjoy it and well done for doing your bit to raise awareness and money for a good cause!

Ahah thank you for your kind words! I'll try not to take them too seriously but it is something I do i need to put a little thought into

 

[maxb727]

Ahah thank you for your kind words! I'll try not to take them too seriously but it is something I do i need to put a little thought into

I’m sure supportive cavers would happily help with suggestions on some of your logistic plans - probably even the rescue team would have advice too even if just to double check you’ve covered all bases!

 

[marsrat]

Just to clarify, since maxb727 has decided to cherry-pick quotes and falsely make claims about what I said to discredit me.

The full context of the conversation around the quote, which was after a conversation about the event (and frequent side tangents about the actual survey distance, eggs etc):

AF: "So, what are you suggesting we ought to do?"
Me: "Sit on the sidelines with a cup of tea and watch it unfold"
Me: "My original comment was purely on risk mitigation (as groups frequently underestimate Daren Cilau); and advice on how to reduce the inherent risk associated with it. I.E space blankets/bothy with candles on either end with warm tea/coffee and food."
Me: "Perhaps even whitewalls hot water supply being used to assist in it "

Happy to provide screenshots of the whole conversation, as it seems unfair to picture me in such a manner

My general consensus of the event is (only my opinion): any needless risk in a non-permissive environment such as the entrance crawl is not ideal (and I'm not saying that as some grumpy old caver who hates people caving), and perhaps the event in the ideal world shouldn't have been greenlit, but caving isn't without risk, and we can't stop people caving. As such, the event should be given assistance/advice and be facilitated at WW (such as the hot water supply).

I'm not around that weekend (can't do extensive digging trips every weekend, have to balance it out ) but I'm happy to contribute to the challenge the weekend before with a total of 5 round trips of the entrance series if I'm allowed.

[Edit: Personal name swapped for forum username]

 

[cseal]

That is tomorrow's goal, I'm gonna sort out a plan and will have to write a risk assessment for the Students union anyways. I do plan to drag a tacklesack full of snacks and a shelter through with me

Some (hopefully) constructive comments re risk assessment...
- I'm assuming not everyone is going in at the same time in one team? Staggering entry times with some going in later in the day when others are already out will help reduce Marsrat's concern. Sorry I don't know the detail of your plans so that already be the case.
- Consider the wind direction. Strong cold winds from the North blow can travel some considerable distance into the entrance series. Not a major problem on the way in but can be especially chilling on the way out with hold-ups in front. Especially from about the 1st canal onwards -> Vice -> exit. I've found myself mildly hypothermic (e.g. feeling happy with the idea of falling asleep) waiting for someone to clear the Vice and that was on an occasion without ice/frosting in the entrance bit.

 

[marsrat]

Some ideas you could incorporate:

• Candles + bothy/space blanket/shelter with warm food/warm drinks on both ends of the entrance series just in case (and for general warmth).
• Using thermals (better to go in with more layers, you can always unzip if it gets too hot) to combat the cold.
• Staggering entrance times (as cseal had commented), nothing worse than being stuck behind somebody in the entrance series.
• Big breakfast the morning of the event (a load of carbs and protein!)
• Constant snacks keep energy levels high throughout the challenge.
• Possibly a shelter in the car park or next to the entrance? Perhaps the university has a gazebo you can borrow in case the weather turns out to be a bit crap.
• Might be worth contacting CSS/Whitewalls to see if you could use the hot water supply/showers etc. (on a side note, the hut is booked out so there probably won't be parking space - worth parking at the daren car park)
• Might be worth contacting SMWCRT for any advice/assistance.
• Worth keeping each attendee as light as possible (so no bags/side pouches if it can be avoided) to decrease time spent in the crawl (and it's less tiring)
• Worth hauling the rubbish bags out at the start of the challenge while you have energy (they're annoying to deal with, and take a significant amount of time)
• Spare batteries/lights

 

[Cantclimbtom]

The first two through to set off earlier than the rest and haul one tackle bag full of thermoses of hot tomato soup, and another with 3 blizzard bags and a whole bunch of foam sit pads (there's going to be a LOT of sitting around) and a long lasting floodlight, to establish inner camp. But don't envy the job of dragging the bags back out again even if all the soup was drunk

 

[ogof addict]

Sounds like you'll be needing a big stock of vitamin I (Ibuprofen) perhaps permanently. My back has never been the same since a rescue there in 2001, well the morning after to be precise. I never leave home without it.

SMWCRT is set up as a charity. Does anyone know if they're in the HMRC Gift Aid scheme as that makes direct donations worth 25% more if declared as such.

Yes, the team does have gift aid set up, which should work here

 

[John S]

View attachment 21855

In roughly one month's time on Saturday the 15th of March, Cardiff Uni Caving Club will be attempting what has been dubbed “The Darenthon”. This involves completing the infamous Daren Cilau entrance crawl as many times as is required to make up the full distance of a marathon, which works out to be 82 times through one way. We will be undergoing this challenge as a group so every time one person makes their way through it will increase the counter.

The objective of this event is to raise money for South Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team and we will have various donation goals to add bonus challenges for us on the day. Ranging from conservation efforts of removing the remaining rubbish left after the clean up day, to attempting to keep an egg unbroken the entire way in and then out.

There will be later photographic and video evidence uploaded to this thread so keep an eye out!

Any donations are greatly appreciated!

Donate to SMWCRT

There are many ways you can donate to the South & Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team, every donation makes a difference.

smwcrt.org

The Daren Ciliau entrance crawl is only 424m long. So 99.5 traverses needed. Unless you walk the extra distance to Rift Passage at 510m, then only 82 traverses needed. It would be a shame to put all that effort in and be short of the distance required.