Lost helmet Swildons sump 1

[matty007d]

Did the Swildons short round trip first time saturday. 2nd guy through sump 1 on way back got helmet knocked off. Thought i had pushed it through, but it went down and drifted downstream. Bit too cold and tired to be searching a sump for a helmet, we decided to head out (overdue anyway). Hat is white with no strap. If found, leave in barn, we'll be back soon enough. Still best trip to date though.

 

[Burt]

with no strap.

Without wishing to sound like a smart arse, there's a learning point here.

You'll get it back Matty, someone is bound to find it this weekend. Good luck!

 

[Hughie]

Did the Swildons short round trip first time saturday. 2nd guy through sump 1 on way back got helmet knocked off. Thought i had pushed it through, but it went down and drifted downstream. Bit too cold and tired to be searching a sump for a helmet, we decided to head out (overdue anyway). Hat is white with no strap. If found, leave in barn, we'll be back soon enough. Still best trip to date though.

Surely the effort required to retrieve helmet and light would have been considerably easier than exiting the cave hatless and lightless?

 

[graham]

Strange, I would have thought that a shining light would have made it quite easy to locate.

 

[Dear Noel Axle]

Strange, I would have thought that a shining light would have made it quite easy to locate.

Who said anything about a light going missing?

 

[graham]

Nobody, but does anybody seriously cave with their light anywhere else? 

 

[menacer]

Welcome to the forum Matty.
Are/where you the group of 3 guys with the hand drawn map of the short round copied from the new swildons book?
(met you outside the hunters at lunch time saturday?? )

Well done for finding your own way round guys, a bloody grand effort..  (if it was you)

 

[cap n chris]

BTW, Matty, if it was you with Chris and Rich that we spoke with outside the Hunters' Lodge Inn yesterday there's a couple of things to add:

1) Ali (one of the co-authors of the Swildon's book) was very happy to hear about your success on completing the round trip using info you've got from the book - she was chuffed `cos that's pretty much one of the book's main purposes!

2) If you don't get your helmet back I'll give you one of my ex-stock ones; PM me and we can arrange a drop off.

Keep on cavin'! Cool!    8)

 

[matty007d]

Yep, Definitely a lesson learned, sort out straps next time. The light was on his head, not helmet, and was happy going on without it.
I am 1 of those 3 you saw outside the hunter's, thanks a lot. It was without doubt the most epic caving undertakings of my life to date. Figuring out the way on from a rough map, the well worn paths, "landmarks" i'd remembered, and maybe some intuition, maybe some luck. When at the bottom of muddy rockslide, had a gander down through the  boulders on the left and saw the handline going down the landing, the feeling of exhilaration and relief! We'd done it!
Would be nice to get helmet back but not the end of the world. Chris, thanks for the offer, but my granddad has a few I can borrow, it's just they need chin straps. We've been ok without them before the hat clattering roof of sump 1 took Rich's off. Kids eh? That'll learn em'.
Passed dozens of other paths and routes on the way. I think I might be some time down there.

 

[graham]

So the light was on his head but under his helmet?  :-\

 

[Neil]

AND the helmet had no chin strap    might the helmet be of the type used in a builders yard  :-\

So how useful is this type of helmet in a cave if an accident was to occur  :doubt:  (I feel a new thread coming on    )

 

[cap n chris]

Probably as useful as the lardy ignoramii smoking fags in the Water Chamber for what seemed like half of Sunday afternoon while the cave was busy with people trying not to have asthma attacks.

 

[matty007d]

More use than none at all Neil. That's right Graham.

Anyway, to add to this intrepid tale, as I was passing Shatter Pot, saw a necklace on floor. Have pinned it on notice  board in barn.

 

[Aubrey]

Nobody, but does anybody seriously cave with their light anywhere else? 

Bob Lewis always used an EveryReady tourch, usually in his mouth! 

 

[Known by None]

AND the helmet had no chin strap    might the helmet be of the type used in a builders yard  :-\

So how useful is this type of helmet in a cave if an accident was to occur  :doubt:  (I feel a new thread coming on    )

I'd say it would be incredibly useful if you have just started out caving and don't want to commit 40+ smackers to a sport you aren't even sure you will like or stick at. I started off with a builders helmet, I've known of people who have started off with even less and I won't condone it, but nor can I condemn it. At least these folks felt the need for a helmet, were keen and from the conversation I overheard in the car park, were interested and willing to learn.

I remember turning up one day to Waterwheel Swallet in shorts T'shirt, a tatty army boiler suit, with a dodgy light and a battered helmet that didn't fit right, a certain Mr Sparrow was less than impressed and I froze my nuts off, I realised he may have a had a point. Since then with club and forum advice I have acquired some gear and appreciate the benefit of every piece, but I certainly never started that way. With gear hire and clubs lending kit it is very easy to get what you need to start out, but not everyone starts out knowing that.

Sounds like you guys had a great trip and took a few lessons away from it, I was the guy making rude gestures behind the Caps back while you were talking to him outside the Hunters! 

 

[graham]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning or condemning anything, here. I'm only trying to work out how wearing a light on your head but under your helmet can ever work. Unless there is a make of transparent builder's helmet out there that I haven't come across yet.

 

[Known by None]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning or condemning anything, here. I'm only trying to work out how wearing a light on your head but under your helmet can ever work. Unless there is a make of transparent builder's helmet out there that I haven't come across yet.

I too was thinking labout this, maybe it was strapped around their forehead just under the front bit of the helmet?, I have no idea. I do recall seeing a certain Wessex member traversing through Lionel's with a torch in his mouth due to a light failure. That was an experience for all involved 

 

[SamT]

I wouldn't be too critical.

I started out with a builders hat way back when.

It takes a few trips and a few minor incidents to make you realise why things are done a certain way.

Its few steps up from the kids found in Jug holes years ago - one with a collinder tied to his head with string. 

 

[Peter Burgess]

Good effort Matty. What I noticed when I stopped using a site helmet and bought my first caving helmet (which was actually a site helmet with a much better cradle and chinstrap - that's how long ago it was!) what I found was I hardly noticed I was wearing it, whereas I was always conscious of this 'thing' on my head beforehand. I hate wearing site helmets now because they are so uncomfortable!

Regarding the round trip - I'll try to dig up J-Rat's first round trips in his log books and, if I recall correctly, he expressed his satisfaction on working it out like you did.

 

[Neil]

 

Its few steps up from the kids found in Jug holes years ago - one with a collinder tied to his head with string. 

At least the colander was tied on with string