Decline in Caving?

[andymorgan]

Grade 4 trips on Mendip include:

Longwood August 4
Eastwater Cavern 4
Priddy Green Sink/Swildon's 4
St. Cuthbert's Swallet 4
Swildon's Hole Short Round Trip 4
Thrupe Lane Swallet 4
Stoke Lane Slocker 4
Manor Farm 3-4

Some of these are debatable. St Cuthberts is more likely a 3. Eastwater upper series a 3, to the end 5 and kind of the same with SLS. Gradings are always subjective anyway.

 

[bru]

Thanks, Cap'n.

Often wondered how a 1-5 grading system would apply on Mendip given the current guide books descriptions.

are there any other grade 5 trips on mendip then...(that dont involve scuba antics?)

 

[ditzy 24//7]

what is this whole grading system about?

 

[cap n chris]

Grading is subjective - it can only ever be a guide: and I think you'll find that even the people assigning the grading would say that's the case - it's only to give an approximate idea of the difficulties, technicalities and stamina required to get to the furthest reaches for an average caver.

Grade 1: easy, no pitches or difficulties.
Grade 2: moderate, maybe small pitches.
Grade 3: Caves/potholes without any particularly hazardous, difficult or strenuous sections.
Grade 4: Caves/potholes which present some hazard, difficulty or large underground pitch.
Grade 5: Caves/potholes which include very strenuous sections or large and wet underground pitches.

Bru, there are no grade 5 trips on Mendip (except IIRC, David Heap wrote - before Howard's Dig created an easier approach - that he considered the Black Hole Series of Swildon's Hole to be worthy of a grade 5).

I guess Dallimore's Cave might be rated 5, the Oxford Extensions for example; and maybe the new Grand Circle/Grand Tour of Swildon's Hole should be 5 for the stamina/free diving. Discuss.

 

[ditzy 24//7]

thankyou for the information cap 'n chris

 

[whitelackington]

Grading is subjective - it can only ever be a guide: and I think you'll find that even the people assigning the grading would say that's the case - it's only to give an approximate idea of the difficulties, technicalities and stamina required to get to the furthest reaches for an average caver.

Grade 1: easy, no pitches or difficulties.
Grade 2: moderate, maybe small pitches.
Grade 3: Caves/potholes without any particularly hazardous, difficult or strenuous sections.
Grade 4: Caves/potholes which present some hazard, difficulty or large underground pitch.
Grade 5: Caves/potholes which include very strenuous sections or large and wet underground pitches.

Bru, there are no grade 5 trips on Mendip (except IIRC, David Heap wrote - before Howard's Dig created an easier approach - that he considered the Black Hole Series of Swildon's Hole to be worthy of a grade 5).

I guess Dallimore's Cave might be rated 5, the Oxford Extensions for example; and maybe the new Grand Circle/Grand Tour of Swildon's Hole should be 5 for the stamina/free diving. Discuss.

What about Madphill's newish, super tight Eastwater round trip. :blink:

 

[cap n chris]

Andymorgan's already suggested part(s) of Eastwater rate a 5, so why not, indeed?

 

[graham]

Swildon's Figure of Nine?