Caving etiquette

[aricooperdavis]

We were surprised a couple of years ago when we had to explain to a Fresher (mentioning no names, Jon) that it's not normal to piss in your oversuit...  :blink: :yucky:

 

[Pegasus]

When rigging, bear in mind some of us cavers are shorter than others and can't reach as far - ditto upper body strength.

 

[A_Northerner]

In 'the old days', when we caved solely on ladders, if you arrived at a pitch already rigged usually Garlands) you left your ladder and rope coiled and used their kit, assuming they would rig your kit after they exit. I wonder if that still happens?

As ladders aren't as common any more, this unwritten piece of etiquette can be missed by some! This year CHECC was in the Peak District and there were the usual few dozen trips down Giants. One group left their kit to be rigged by the team ahead of them and this wasn't understood by the first team de-rigging. Cue a large group of very cold novice students having a mini rave in Garlands to keep warm while rescue came, their rigging kit well within sight!

 

[andys]

Leave grottos looking colourful by only breaking off the pure white stals for your collection.  :spank:

 

[Tommy]

We were surprised a couple of years ago when we had to explain to a Fresher (mentioning no names, Jon) that it's not normal to piss in your oversuit...  :blink: :yucky:

Depends if you have a nice moisture wicking fabric undersuit, no?

 

[aricooperdavis]

no?

Exactly, no.

 

[Duncan Price]

When rigging, bear in mind some of us cavers are shorter than others and can't reach as far - ditto upper body strength.

When rigging - bear in mind that most people are right-handed.  Better still let the right-handed person do the rigging.  Unless you are on a trip where there are two southpaws and one north paw and let them suffer.

 

[Duncan Price]

Don't drop boulders on fragile pensioners.

It is great fun though.

 

[Duncan Price]

you left your ladder and rope coiled and used their kit, assuming they would rig your kit after they exit. I wonder if that still happens?

Happens?

nearly

all the time at the Twenty in Swildon's Hole.

....

Been de-rigged on the Twenty.  Combined tactics were used to get up to discover our ladder and another party's ladder at the top of the pitch.  We put the other ladder down to make sure that the group behind us didn't have to suffer the same inconvenience.

 

[mikeveal]

I've not been under for years, so you fellas will have to tell me if these are still accepted etiquette.

When the person in front of you in a tight crawl stops for whatever reason it is perfectly acceptable to either:
a/ tie their shoelaces together.
b/ slowly melt their soles with your carbide lamp.
c/ both.

Farting in a squeeze is only acceptable when the person behind you is attempting to tie your shoelaces together.

 

[mikem]

Difficult with most people using wellies & LED lights...

 

[Maj]

Heat weld the rubber boots with Scurion or the like ??

Maj.

 

[ZombieCake]

Those who have, shall we say, eaten all the pies and then some should be given the honour and privilege of going down tight squeezy caves first.  On the way out they should repay that privilege by exiting last.

 

[droid]

Farting in a tight crawl, then exiting the crawl and taking your time on a following dodgy climb appears to be frowned on.....

 

[langcliffe]

Farting in a tight crawl, then exiting the crawl and taking your time on a following dodgy climb appears to be frowned on.....

And, as happened to me yesterday, taking time to empty your wellies in a place which prevents the guy behind from also getting out of the duck.

 

[Samouse1]

This year CHECC was in the Peak District and there were the usual few dozen trips down Giants. One group left their kit to be rigged by the team ahead of them and this wasn't understood by the first team de-rigging. Cue a large group of very cold novice students having a mini rave in Garlands to keep warm while rescue came, their rigging kit well within sight!

As the leader of said first group I?d like to say this is slander, I derigged the ladder and spent five minutes scouring the top of the pitch looking for a ladder. Nothing was found and it was assumed they were then using the srt rope that was still there!
I was later told a fresher wanted to be helpful and picked up the bag with the ladder in it