how did you get into caving

[rm128]

TLDR: I was a climber and I turned to the dark side.

Apologies Pete, but can I please ask what you mean by TLDR? I realise it's probably just me being an old dinosaur (apologies to Fulk for the derogatory use of the term). I must try harder to keep up with these abbreviations. Ta

 

[andrewmcleod]

Apologies Pete, but can I please ask what you mean by TLDR? I realise it's probably just me being an old dinosaur (apologies to Fulk for the derogatory use of the term). I must try harder to keep up with these abbreviations. Ta

https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=tldr

TLDR: Too long, didn't read. Generally used to indicate a summary of the subsequent longer information contained in a post or other piece of writing.

 

[rm128]

Thanks Andrew.

 

[jollypudd]

In a shadowy corner of Aber uni’s fresher’s fair, a sign read ‘second chepest sports club’. I asked if the spelling error was intentional (it wasn’t) and decided to give caving a go. My second trip was Ogof Pasg to Ogof Foel Fawr where the crawling nearly did me in.

 

[SpeleoNessie]

I realise it's probably just me being an old dinosaur

Oooh another dinosaur! 🦕
Be still my beating heart 💓

 

[KAZER]

School trip when I was around 7 years old. Just asked to bring some old stout footwear and a torch. Goatchurch Cavern. Mendip 1961.

 

[tommyfarr79]

I first went as a kid with Dolygaer (now parkwoods) outdoor pursuits centre in South Wales in 1989-1990, but didn’t start caving properly until 2001 when i finally talked one of my mates to come to look for the Chartist’s cave and Ogof Tarddiad Rhymney with me, his words were ‘I’m only going to the entrance’… aye ok! Instantly he was hooked and very quickly we we’re balls deep into it, just wish I’d started a long time ago! Most rewarding hobby I’ve had!

 

[Brendan]

Plas Pencelli outdoor centre as a Wiltshire school kid aged 15. We did Porth yr Ogof, and I opted for an extra trip on the Friday down Llygad Llwchwr. Turns out it was an activity where being tall, skinny and wearing glasses was not a major disadvantage. Not a lot of opportunity back home, but had clocked SUSS when I got my place at Sheffield Uni, joined in Fresher week, club captain by halfway through my first year, and still going strong.
The impact some of these outdoors centres have on school children shouldn't be underestimated - I am intensely grateful to the leaders at Plas Pencelli, and having revisted Porth yr Ogof for the first time last year, the memories were still very stong, even 25 years later

 

[JAshley73]

I married a beautiful woman with a "weird uncle," whom she told me had taken them caving, and rappelling when they were kids. I would get invites to go caving with him at family get-togethers for a couple years. Finally, I took him up on it, and joined him on a trip to his cave property. It was a short cave maybe 1000' long at most, but i followed him as far as he was willing to lead me, which was up to a muddy slope before a pit. "No more without being clipped in" he told me - and I was quite comfortable the whole time.

We enjoyed a sip of The Macallan, and some cheap cigars before leaving the cave. After a couple more trips, I was hooked.

A little more than a year later, we have cave gear for the family - my 6 year old son, and 10 year old daughter as well. My wife and I have taken SRT classes and have a full vertical kits now.

But the highlight for me, has been caving with my 10-year-old daughter, who is just an animal in cave. She's done some pretty challenging 6-7 hour trips, and is eager to tag along now.

 

[benshannon]

i was doing an adventure race in wales and one of the special stages was a small caving section once we ran off the side of the brecon beacons. (i still dont know what cave we went in) proper touristy through trip but i loved it.

spoke to a friend after that and he said if you liked that you need to try a proper cave. He took me around the swildons round trip. i was completely hooked but didnt know how to proceed with it as a hobby. started uni as a "mature" student. joined NUCC. loved it and got properly into it. now part of eldon and absolutely in love with caving and everything that goes with it, especially the exploration side of things