Introduction

[Julie H]

Hello - thought that I'd better introduce myself as a new person to the forum!  I'm an MCG member and have been caving for (ahem) 17 years (I know I don't look old enough I hear you say!), doing lots of digging (East Twin, Pinetree, Pinetree, Pinetree, Pinetree, Upper Flood and Draenen) with moderate success (UF 10 Sept 2006!) plus various expeditions/holidays.  Currrently based in Edinburgh and also cave with the GSG - another very friendly club.

I am having fun trying to work out who you all are from your pictures and email addresses!  I've (hopefully) uploaded a piccy though I am not very gadgety so fingers crossed it works.

As my company view message boarding as a henuious crime punishable by sacking, I'll be about some evenings.  Looking forward to joining in! 

Julie

 

[cap n chris]

In the picture it appears that you are placing your hand on a stal column.  :spank:

 

[Andy Sparrow]

In the picture it appears that you are placing your hand on a stal column.  :spank:

Yeah, go on Chris, make her feel welcome!

 

[Julie H]

Correct.  It is the defined route through Penya Rotya in Mallorca. 

 

[cap n chris]

I'm not unwelcoming, Andy; it's an observation from a conservation viewpoint. If it's the defined route through the cave then obviously that's considered OK.

 

[Julie H]

OK - less controversial photo added...  I havent got many more electronically so that's your lot!

 

[martinr]

Hi Julie

Glad to see you on the forum. Ignore Capn Chris - he is just jealous that you have discovered 600m on Mendip. Well done, by the way.

You probably know whitelackington (Mike N) - if you dont, you soon will.

See you at the HYGM

Martin R

 

[Julie H]

Hi Martin!  Yes, I know Mr. Whitelackington - I wonder if he'll spot where my profile photo was taken...?
See you next weekend!

 

[martinr]

I'm an MCG member

Thats Mendip CG, not to be confused with another similary-sounding club

 

[whitelackington]

Hello Julie, may I say
"Welcome to this forum, you can have some fun" :

 

[bill chadwick]

Julie,

Do I get 10/10 points for your photo being the squeeze after the 'Nun So Tight' rift in Carcass!

Had to get that in before Whitelackington!

 

[Julie H]

Bill!  Long time no see.....

Beyond Nun so Thin...  Spot on!  Come to think of it, have I used one of your photos? :-[  If so, its very good and thanks!

 

[Ship-badger]

Correct.  It is the defined route through Penya Rotya in Mallorca. 

Cap'n Chris. I too have been to Penya Rotja. In addition to putting your hands on stal, you also have to walk all over stal, and do most of the rigging from stal if you want to see more than the cave entrance. Caving in Mallorca requires that you leave your "calcite protection ethics" at home. Most of the caves are so crammed full of the stuff that you just can't avoid it.

Hello Julie. You see how easy it is to start a debate.

 

[Julie H]

Hello!  You are right about leaving ethics at the entrance out there.  If only that were all that is left.  I once did a cave there that had string from entrance to end - for route finding I imagine...  Isnt Penja Rotja just brillint though? 

 

[paul]

My club have a trip planned to Mallorca early next year - any tips on caves to definitely not miss, amount of gear/rope needed generally, places to stay, etc.?

 

[Peter Burgess]

From what I've heard, a bathing costume, towel and sunglasses can be quite handy.

 

[cap n chris]

Probably a waste of time but perhaps it's worth trying to make a distinction/point.

In certain countries it's perfectly acceptable to behave differently but this doesn't make that behaviour retrospectively applicable elsewhere. e.g. breaking the speed limit is only relevant where there is a speed limit. If you're in the desert and there's no-one around for 1,000miles and no police exist then you can do as you please. If you happen to be caving somewhere where there's stal on every surface and everyone is happy that you wander around wherever you like putting your boots and hands all over the surfaces then that's fine.

However, to do similarly in this country is a no-no.

To post a picture showing such without qualifying where the picture was taken and the specific circumstances which apply to the site (thereby meaning that it is actually OK to put your hand on stal) is bound to elicit a response along the lines above.

So, to summarise: if Julie had put the original picture online with a note saying "It's OK, I know I shouldn't normally put my hand on stal but the photo was taken somewhere where it's actually normal practice and acceptable but, hey kids, don't try this at home `cos it's strictly frowned upon" then that would have meant I wouldn't have bothered pointing out the topic in the first place. Therefore I believe the topic was relevant under the circumstances.

 

[truescrumpy]

Hic You re righto cap 'n chris you ave hic made a point, want me to  :spank: Juile H !  or welcome  :halo: her ?? hic  pint time 

 

[whitelackington]

Hi Julie, when are you coming back to Sunny Mendip, there is more of Flood to find yet!

 

[cap n chris]

Rumour has it that they've found Elvis and the Holy Grail as well