First time caver-name of easy longish cave needed

[cap n chris]

Contortions. Clearly, though, it depends on what cave you're in.

 

[Rachel]

Someone mentioned that caving is more physically exerting than rocking - what would be the reason for this? is it the contortions involved in crawling through tight spaces? Or not knowing whats ahead?

Caving does tend to use muscles that no other activity uses. I remember aching in all sorts of odd places after my first trip.

If you're limited by availability, joining one of the bigger clubs is probably a good idea. Most big clubs have a published meets list (have a look on the websites) and once  you're a member, you would be able to turn up for meets at very short notice. I'm sure the southerners on this forum would be pleased to recommend specific clubs.

Good luck, Rachel

 

[kay]

Contortions. Clearly, though, it depends on what cave you're in.

Even an easy walking passage cave is very unlikely to have a level floor - and think what it's like walking across a rocky or bouldery beach compared with walking on gravel or short grass.

 

[Roger W]

And the sky is a lot lower!  The mental effort of watching where you are putting your head as well as your feet can be tiring at first.

 

[Alkapton]

Havn't read all this thread and don't know where you are or if South Wales caves are close.  But I pick up you have done climbing/absailing.  To do 'interesting' caves you want to know SRT which is probably slightly different to what you already know. At risk of getting flamed my warning is a figure 8 is not an absail device - it is a suicide device - when I see one I start shaking with fear!    They are not hands free and should be avoided.  A rack, whilst not exactly hands free is easy to use - best for long pitches and easy to do smooth descents.    A stop descender is hands free (ie. take your hands away you go nowhere), harder to do smooth descents and if you suddenly become scared you might squeeze the handle rather than let go of it - so you will get more scared until you remember to let go.    Make sure you can change from descending to ascending confidently and easily before you forget to tie a knot in the end of a 20m rope you throw down a 60m pot!!! it has been done with bad results

The 'big' beginners cave by here is Eglys Faen - big (long) easy cave.    A cave that is really nice and not too hard is Ogof Nant Rhin  (excusse bad spelling)
Once you happy with srt Nant Rhin has a scond entrence - Pont Gam - tight, grabby, sharp, muddy but very satisfying.

You want big caves we got em in the Clydach Gorge and surrounding area!  but they are not really first time caves.    Wherever you go especially if you go solo, try to find a survey and description of the cave so you know what to expect.    Most of my caving has been done solo - starting with 'easy' caves I've worked up to challenging caves by using descriptions to get to 'next step'.

 

[kay]

And the sky is a lot lower!  The mental effort of watching where you are putting your head as well as your feet can be tiring at first.

And your head is two inches bigger than you are used to.

They reckon teenagers' clumsiness is due to their bodies growing faster than their brains can adapt to the new dimensions - adding a helmet to your head is a lot more rapid growth than any teenager's.

 

[cap n chris]

Did TJ make it out alive? How did it go?

Trip report? Feedback? Pros and cons (if any)?

 

[martinr]

Perhaps he was trying to set up a Climate Camp.

In which case the location will not be announced until noon today.

(....a longish cave .....relatively undemanding walks and crawls .....needing no specialist diving equipment ....where I could just turn up ...unlikely to get stuck)

 

[cap n chris]

Perhaps they'd do better to set up a World Population Camp instead, since that is the root cause of much of the problem.

 

[caving_fox]

How about Aggi? (agen aallwweedd or however it's spelt)

Or is that a 'club only and no novices' cave?  If not, the key is generally available at short notice, it's a big system, but not too confusing navigationally, stable, unlikely to flood (all only as far the sand caverns/music hall) and about as safe as can be expected for a cave. I might consider solo caving there.

 

[teabag]

So - what happened to TJ.  Was he just a troll?  Is he lying dead in one of the caves that were suggested?  Did he find another new hobby the following week? 

 

[ronaldjprice]

Think he was just trying to get out of the "drink" he had mentioned for us......
or has found a more caver friendly way of disposing of his item.

 

[Lampwick]

Think he was just lonely, apparently he's now asking similar questions on the UK-Knitting forum.  :blink:

 

[rocky]

Is there a UK-knitting forum?

What am I missing?

Was in yordas the other week with dog at heel but not a sniff of Tj.

 

[FelixCulpa81]

I know i can't really comment cause i'm not a 'caver' as such - but does anyone think that the valley entrance KMC would be good for a lone caver? but NO FURTHER than the pitch, cause then it could get a bit dodgy. 


But to TJ -  i don't think you should go alone, have you considered factors like hypothermia?  What if you got too cold and could not function properly (ie remember the way out or have adequate strength!) there would be noone there to help, also what if you got lost, or if water levels suddenly rose.  Why not use some holiday to get a definate day off for your first experience. 

 

[crickleymal]

If you say "yorkshire dales", then you may get different suggestions than if you say "norwich"

Norwich 

Haven't you heard of the Kings Lynn crab mines? They run out under the sea through the winkle seams to the edible crab and spider crab lodes. The tunnels are so narrow that the miners had to walk sideways to reach the richest seams. Lighting was mainly by cod fat lamps.

 

[ttxela]

Plenty of Chalk mines under Norwich, but no official access. Rumours of an annual council inspection and some commercial use for storage etc.

 

[Lu]

I was reading this thread again and thought I would add my opinion.
(TJ this in case if you haven't gone solo caving yet).
ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET no matter how easy/large is the cave and ALWAYS CARRY AT LEAST 2 RELIABLE WATERPROOF LAMPS WITH NEW BATTERIES.
I would try Shakespear's cave and Ogof Clogwyn in Clydach Gorge, South Wales. If you are driving you can park nearby and there's also a bus stop nearby.
However Shakespear's Cave has a few ducks which mean you will have water up to your neck (if you have no wet suit you gotta be really brave to venture the extremely cold water) and have to duck your head to go through. I would go in the summer when it's drier and make sure the forecast says there's no chance of even as much as drizzle.
But for Ogof Clogwyn you only need wellingtons as the water will at the most go up to your knees.
When you get to the entrance you need to free climb up to the upper shelve and that's the way in. Great fun and beautiful phreatic shelves (if you like watery places). And you can not get lost here.
For drier option Aggie as mentioned here before is good too and slightly bigger/longer than these 2.

But just make sure you do tell someone that you are going there and call them back when you are safely out. Caves are fun but really dangerous if something goes wrong and there's no one who knows you there.