Tony_B
Member
Just when you thought that turning out the lights and ignoring the doorbell on 31st October was enough to avoid the dreaded Hallowe'en, now it's going to disrupt your caving too - if you want to go into Dan-yr-Ogof.
The DYO company livens up half-term by running some Hallowe'en events, and as part of this they use a smoke machine in the chamber at the end of the showcave, just below the gate you climb over to get to the lakes. The inevitable consequence of this is that the draught takes the smoke into the 'wild' part of the cave and, after a while, the visibility is reduced to almost zero. Last year a party got caught out by this and had a real problem finding their way out of Boulder Chamber and the lakes.
You might think that you know that bit of the cave like the back of your hand, but caving in almost-zero vis is disorienting and if you (literally) can't see where you are putting your feet you are likely to have an accident. Cavers are politely asked to avoid DYO on the above dates.
One more thing; before you start coming on here and complaining about this, please be aware that the relationship between cavers and the showcave management is currently rather delicate. There are some imminent changes to the DYO Cave Advisory Committee, which will be explained on UKC in due course (but which won't directly affect DYO Wardens or cavers). Nonetheless a rescue or an incident caused by cavers ignoring the above advice would be very harmful.
And please also bear in mind that showcave owners have internet access too...
Many thanks
Tony Baker
Wardens' Sec, DYO Cave Advisory Committee.
The DYO company livens up half-term by running some Hallowe'en events, and as part of this they use a smoke machine in the chamber at the end of the showcave, just below the gate you climb over to get to the lakes. The inevitable consequence of this is that the draught takes the smoke into the 'wild' part of the cave and, after a while, the visibility is reduced to almost zero. Last year a party got caught out by this and had a real problem finding their way out of Boulder Chamber and the lakes.
You might think that you know that bit of the cave like the back of your hand, but caving in almost-zero vis is disorienting and if you (literally) can't see where you are putting your feet you are likely to have an accident. Cavers are politely asked to avoid DYO on the above dates.
One more thing; before you start coming on here and complaining about this, please be aware that the relationship between cavers and the showcave management is currently rather delicate. There are some imminent changes to the DYO Cave Advisory Committee, which will be explained on UKC in due course (but which won't directly affect DYO Wardens or cavers). Nonetheless a rescue or an incident caused by cavers ignoring the above advice would be very harmful.
And please also bear in mind that showcave owners have internet access too...
Many thanks
Tony Baker
Wardens' Sec, DYO Cave Advisory Committee.
