Finding pitches already rigged

[bubba]

That sounds less than ideal - some people may be tempted to rig the large Y-hang with shallow angles, not realising how dangerous this is....

 

[cap n chris]

Is it a policy requirement for people placing bolts to be 7' tall and keen on putting bolts way beyond arm's reach of anyone less than 6'5"?

 

[paul]

It didn't stop there, either. On a rescue down JH on the Sunday night, some of the other rescuers had been hearing their tales of misery all weekend. What a bunch of drips. I suggest that these people leave their own hut more often, as finding other groups down caves is not uncommon. Worse things can happen than having to put up with someone else's rope.

You were lucky! As I said, the "beardies" were staying at our hut and were moaning endlessly about the rigging in Oxlow/Maskhill... which is what prompted me to post the original question in the first place! I couldn't see what the problem was and wanted to see if anybody else could...

 

[Ann]

Nice one Joel. Go for it :guns:

 

[Johnny]

So, grumbly cavers, find a good SRT manual, stoke the fire, light your pipes, empty your poo-bags, pop a Valium, and stop having a go at the youngsters who are going to be the explorers of the future. If you want to be alone in a cave then go and find one and keep it secret for years (or screw up access). Isn't that what your lot did in the past? Get a grip. End of rant. Coffee time for me.

Excellent, that sounds like Eldon talk, except you should be drinking beer and not coffee :rocker:

 

[cap n chris]

Joel. Nice one. Good point about finding your own cave

:worthy:

Now I want to find out who they were...

 

[ianball11]

When I started rigging meeting people underground was horrorible! Felt like an exam or something as cavers of a zillions years experience climbed past my novice rigging.

The biggest problems I had was at Jingling Pot where after rigging to the two tree trunks I dropped the rest of the 70 meter rope down thinking as I was staying up top to watch a couple beginners onto the rope it would be fine. The rope stopped about 20 yards down and I had to haul it back up untangle it and drop it again about ten meters at a time, all this being watched by a couple and their child. They were out for a wander about the hills and I thought they wouldn't even notice my dilemma let alone comment on my short-sighted thinking. The child however turned to her Father and in the loud voice of a child asked if he had bolted this cave, I could have died when he said yes!

In our club it always referred to as over-rigging when pitches are already in use, which conflicts with what most people are saying here. We'll look to under rig from now on, sorry chaps!

 

[notmatt]

This sounds like a stupid idea but has anyone ever thought of leaving a note on the end/start of your rigging. ie make up a laminated note telling other people that you are down there and how many there are of you?

 

[Dave H]

Great avitar notmatt.

I may be a member of C******S, Mendips, but I was not on that particular trip. Please don't tar us all with the same brush, we are getting a lot of keen, younger members at the moment, and I have never seen any bad rigging on any club trip I have been on (I know because I would have re-rigged it if I had not liked it!)

I'm definately a rig underneath existing ropes person, and I have enforced that during all the SRT training I have given over the years.