Hello.

[Rob Blackmann]

Thought I'd say hello, so hello.
I'm based in West Sussex and new to caving and have been reading with interest some of the forum posts this last week. A bit of background:
Started out trad climbing and the passion became chalk climbing using ice gear. Some on lead and some using a top rope shunt technique. I see it as half climbing half roped access.
The caving rope and hardware techniques interest me as well as the geology so I'm looking to get started in caving a bit and learn and have some adventures, hopefully. There's not much around here bar the odd chalk karst, which is interesting in itself, but I can travel.
Anyway, that's hello.
Rob.

 

[JoshW]

Hey, I started caving (as have several others on this forum) when I was living in West Sussex. There is still a reasonably strong contingent of cavers from around that area.

Plenty of subterranean quarries to get stuck into: merstham, godstone systems (Wealden will be best positioned to provide info).

West Sussex caving club do alot of stuff for scouts but also personal caving as well.

@badger @PaulW might have info on monthly pub meets which used to happen (and may still do I’m just 300 miles away now)

 

[Rob Blackmann]

Hello Josh,
Thanks for the info, I've been looking at the Kent Underground Exploration website but couldn't find much on the West Sussex Caving Club, but yeah there is things to explore down south. Would be nice to meet some local cavers. I might have to arrange a trip to Mendip or somewhere and maybe do a couple of crash courses for experience and contacts etc.
Thanks again.

 

[JoshW]

depending on which part of West Sussex you are, I’m pretty sure there’s a Brighton exporation club (or similarly named) that do trips around the country - think I met them at the YSS

 

[CNCC Training]

Thought I'd say hello, so hello.
I'm based in West Sussex and new to caving and have been reading with interest some of the forum posts this last week. A bit of background:
Started out trad climbing and the passion became chalk climbing using ice gear. Some on lead and some using a top rope shunt technique. I see it as half climbing half roped access.
The caving rope and hardware techniques interest me as well as the geology so I'm looking to get started in caving a bit and learn and have some adventures, hopefully. There's not much around here bar the odd chalk karst, which is interesting in itself, but I can travel.
Anyway, that's hello.
Rob.

Hi Rob

Appreciate it is a bit of distance (you mentioned you can travel), the CNCC have a few spaces on our current batch of workshops. These include a couple of geology ones and “caving rope and technique” type ones.

With some clever planning, you can make a very productive time away in Yorkshire (the surface geology walk in August is on at the same time as the Gaping Gill winch meet, you could have a trip down there on one of the other days) there are numerous clubs in the area that offer very affordable accommodation and even some light hearted “banter” if you are lucky.

Details and booking here:

CNCC Training

The CNCC has been providing training opportunities for northern cavers for over 50 years, helping to deliver skills ranging from first aid, conservation techniq

cncc.org.uk

Regards

Ian Patrick
CNCC Training Officer/ coordinator

 

[Goydenman]

Hello Rob welcome. I too trad climb as well as cave

 

[Rob Blackmann]

Thanks Ian.

Just booked the 2 day SRT at Helwith Bridge on 31st May. Looking forward to meeting you there.

Rob.

 

[Rob Blackmann]

Hello Rob welcome. I too trad climb as well as cave

Hello, good to meet you.

 

[Ian Ball]

When I hear people mention Geology I thinkl British Cave Research Association.

British Cave Research Association

We are a charity that promotes the study of caves. We issue research grants; organise meetings; manage a library; and operate the British Cave Science Centre and its climate-monitoring projects.

bcra.org.uk

 

[Rob Blackmann]

I'm not a geologist but it's a fascinating thing, and very grounding.
When we started climbing on the chalk quarries and cliffs in the early 2000's we had a sense for what looked safe and what didn't and some geological features stood out more than others, although we didn't know the proper terms for them. We tought ourselves self rescue as well in case it all went wrong. Over the last year or so I've delved more into chalk geology and it's very interesting and quite sobering in hindsight.
I think I'm going to like caving.
Thanks for the link!

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Thought I'd say hello, so hello.
I'm based in West Sussex and new to caving and have been reading with interest some of the forum posts this last week. A bit of background:
Started out trad climbing and the passion became chalk climbing using ice gear. Some on lead and some using a top rope shunt technique. I see it as half climbing half roped access.
The caving rope and hardware techniques interest me as well as the geology so I'm looking to get started in caving a bit and learn and have some adventures, hopefully. There's not much around here bar the odd chalk karst, which is interesting in itself, but I can travel.
Anyway, that's hello.
Rob.

Do you occasionally work in central London? If so there's a caving club who meet in a pub once a month near Charring Cross and regular trips round the country especially S Wales and Mendips, but Peak and Dales too

Home

WSG Caving Group based in London

www.wsg.org.uk

 

[Rob Blackmann]

Do you occasionally work in central London? If so there's a caving club who meet in a pub once a month near Charring Cross and regular trips round the country especially S Wales and Mendips, but Peak and Dales too

Home

WSG Caving Group based in London

www.wsg.org.uk

Hello.
No I only work around the south east (water utility) but might visit and drop in in the at some point.

 

[Rob Blackmann]

Hello.
No I only work around the south east (water utility) but might visit and drop in in the at some point.

Tom, I've PM'd you