Joel Corrigan
New member
Not sure which section this should be under so no doubt the moderators will want to move it accordingly? However, it's aimed at cavers nationally and not just in Wales so hopefully it won't get condemned to a regional section...
There will be another Expedition Skills Workshop in South Wales at the beginning of May. This is essentially run by the Dachstein regulars for the Dachstein expedition but everyone is welcome to come along, regardless of your expedition venue. That means that if your group is caving abroad then it may be worth sending them to us for a bit of a warm-up.
Last year?s event was a huge success, with more than forty cavers from all over the country. This year I?ve already got almost double that registered so it promises to be a real bonanza....... Sure we?ll cope somehow!
Date: Bank Holiday weekend of May 1st-3rd.
Venue: Welsh International Climbing Centre, Bargoed: in between Cardiff and the Brecons.
Basic Plan: Arrive Fri night (sleeping on floor of climbing wall; late bar on site etc).
Sat: "Round-Robin" style covering SRT (from relatively basic upwards to pitch-head & mid rope rescues etc); ladder & lifeline (dwindling skills amongst cavers); surveying (in artificial cave); cave prospecting procedure; first aid; cave photography (in artificial cave); safety on the hills (weather/lightning, navigation, group skills etc). For competent riggers we may do a session on exploration techniques, including use of pitons, spits, naturals, thin ropes, etc but this depends upon numbers etc...
Sat evening: there'll be a workshop/chat on expedition-style rescue procedures; emergencies; kit selection, rigging, flooding, do?s & don?ts etc....
Sun: Cave Rescue Practice in OFD2. We firmly believe that unless cavers have been involved in rescues/emergencies then they are far more likely to be cavalier in their attitude. Therefore this practice isn?t aimed at teaching loads of technical skills but rather at making people realise what a nightmare it can be to have to deal with injured colleagues, especially in deep alpine caves.
Mon: (very) small-scale vertical rescue practice from the bottom of a pothole. Numbers limited.
Trainers: last year we had some very experienced expedition-types assisting with running the sessions and these included: Tom Chapman (IRATA Lvl3), Joel Corrigan (IRATA Lvl3), Martin Groves, Andy Harp, Ian Holmes, Rich Hudson (IRATA Lvl3), Brian Jopling (manufacturer of stretchers), Robbie Shone (IRATA Lvl3), Matt St Clair (IRATA Lvl 2), Kev Welch. This year we expect to have many of these plus a few more. We need volunteers so please get in touch: ideally you?ll have plenty of expedition experience as we?re not just interested in imparting text-book skills here.
Cost: I blag a good deal from the managers of the Wall: ?25 to cover full access to the SRT towers, artificial cave, conference room, floor space for sleeping, Saturday evening meal & Sunday breakfast. You?ll also be able to climb too.
For more information look at the Facebook Group
?Cave Expedition Training Weekend '09? www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=82849340608 or contact me direct.
There will be another Expedition Skills Workshop in South Wales at the beginning of May. This is essentially run by the Dachstein regulars for the Dachstein expedition but everyone is welcome to come along, regardless of your expedition venue. That means that if your group is caving abroad then it may be worth sending them to us for a bit of a warm-up.
Last year?s event was a huge success, with more than forty cavers from all over the country. This year I?ve already got almost double that registered so it promises to be a real bonanza....... Sure we?ll cope somehow!
Date: Bank Holiday weekend of May 1st-3rd.
Venue: Welsh International Climbing Centre, Bargoed: in between Cardiff and the Brecons.
Basic Plan: Arrive Fri night (sleeping on floor of climbing wall; late bar on site etc).
Sat: "Round-Robin" style covering SRT (from relatively basic upwards to pitch-head & mid rope rescues etc); ladder & lifeline (dwindling skills amongst cavers); surveying (in artificial cave); cave prospecting procedure; first aid; cave photography (in artificial cave); safety on the hills (weather/lightning, navigation, group skills etc). For competent riggers we may do a session on exploration techniques, including use of pitons, spits, naturals, thin ropes, etc but this depends upon numbers etc...
Sat evening: there'll be a workshop/chat on expedition-style rescue procedures; emergencies; kit selection, rigging, flooding, do?s & don?ts etc....
Sun: Cave Rescue Practice in OFD2. We firmly believe that unless cavers have been involved in rescues/emergencies then they are far more likely to be cavalier in their attitude. Therefore this practice isn?t aimed at teaching loads of technical skills but rather at making people realise what a nightmare it can be to have to deal with injured colleagues, especially in deep alpine caves.
Mon: (very) small-scale vertical rescue practice from the bottom of a pothole. Numbers limited.
Trainers: last year we had some very experienced expedition-types assisting with running the sessions and these included: Tom Chapman (IRATA Lvl3), Joel Corrigan (IRATA Lvl3), Martin Groves, Andy Harp, Ian Holmes, Rich Hudson (IRATA Lvl3), Brian Jopling (manufacturer of stretchers), Robbie Shone (IRATA Lvl3), Matt St Clair (IRATA Lvl 2), Kev Welch. This year we expect to have many of these plus a few more. We need volunteers so please get in touch: ideally you?ll have plenty of expedition experience as we?re not just interested in imparting text-book skills here.
Cost: I blag a good deal from the managers of the Wall: ?25 to cover full access to the SRT towers, artificial cave, conference room, floor space for sleeping, Saturday evening meal & Sunday breakfast. You?ll also be able to climb too.
For more information look at the Facebook Group
?Cave Expedition Training Weekend '09? www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=82849340608 or contact me direct.
