new cavers new clubs and first trips

[ronaldjprice]

Most if not all clubs in the UK will take new members on suitable trips and most will enjoy the safety offered by being in the company of experienced cavers most of whom will try their best to accommodate newcomers or even members whom are changing clubs for whatever reason.

But please if you are a newcomer on a trip ensure that you inform the leader of any problems that you have that may become a danger to yourself or others.
Please do not try to play down any problems you may have.
Experienced leaders can only lead properly with the correct information at hand.
Remember that You have a responsibility to yourself and others around you.
So please if you are out with some new people tell it like it is and stay safe.
:spank:

 

[Cookie]

I sense a story.  :-\

 

[Brains]

when I am leading a group of people new to me, I try and make a point of asking quietly of each person if there are any conditions that I should be aware of from a caving point of view. This has produced a few surprising answers from time to time, but has alerted me to things that were not obvious. Perhaps most simply the attendance of asthmatics and the location of their medication...

 

[ronaldjprice]

I have not had any problems on trips that I have lead, but I have seen problems on others where I am aware of the leaders asking about problems prior to taking the trip.
I generally ask outright and as you say there are many interesting ailments underground.
Ron

 

[Peter Burgess]

The oddest one I've heard of recently was a fear of mud.

 

[ronaldjprice]

I like it it keeps my skin soft 

 

[martinb]

Erm, I have a fear of heights...  :-[

Am also doing a SRT trip down Knotlow next Weds... 

At least I don't live in pothole land, sorry, Yorkshire......

However, having taken about a dozen or so groups of Year 5 or 6 pupils (9 to 11 year olds) over the last 3 or 4 years, I usually find that the most outspoken of them - usually boys, become gibbering, blubbering babies once underground.

Conversely, the quiet, tiny ones - normally girls who wouldn't say boo to a goose, are brilliant when underground, slipping through all the little squeezes and showing up the boys.

 

[ronaldjprice]

I am scared of heights & spiders and women 

 

[ttxela]

The oddest one I've heard of recently was a fear of mud.

Poor Belle really was terrified, and it was only an inch or so deep. She still mentions it most times I see her.

 

[Gurney]

There are a lot of cavers who have a fear of heights, even those who are ok on ladder and lifeline or single rope.

Somehow heights overground are not the same!

 

[ronaldjprice]

The worst heights fear I can remember was replacing the lamps in the football club floodlight towers they sway like mad in the wind and the floor is a see through grid and to top it off a milk crate for extra height.

 

[martinb]

There are a lot of cavers who have a fear of heights, even those who are ok on ladder and lifeline or single rope.

Somehow heights overground are not the same!

Yes they are! I don't like them either! 

 

[Rachel]

I find climbing down climbs absolutely terrifying (we're talking anything over about 4ft 6"). I'm not the slightest bit bothered about climbing up though.