optimal caver build?

[caving_fox]

Idle question, following a discussion in a pub with non-cavers.: what's the optimal caver shape?

First thought was small and thin, which has obvious advantages, but downsides when climbing, traversing and on SRT.

Tall and thinhas the opposite issue, struggling in stooping passages and particularly with tight corners.

Even thin has disadvantages: gets cold quickly, less muscle mass power and stamina?

I'd say for varied caving it would have to be a medium build, but that gets some of the worst of each world. What would you choose?

 

[Alex]

I think being smaller is best as you can overcome the above mentioned difficulties, even if it is a bit harder but if your too big you simply don't fit which you can't overcome.

 

[cap n chris]

Small, thin, muscular (high power to weight ratio).

 

[bograt]

I used to be small and thin, now I'm just short & fat and not fit for anything!.
Small & thin is good for small, low caves but I used to come unstuck on big pitches, a taller person does not have as far to climb.
I think it depends on the cave you are in at the time, I would suggest that flexibility is a valid criteria though, I have come across many "high power to weight ratio" people who could not bend enough to get round what I would consider a relatively simple obstacle ( "Yoga Hole" in Dr Jacksons for example, before it was "modified")

 

[rsch]

I reckon the optimal caver build is a mental question not a physical one.

If your head can handle it, you'll find a way to manage the physical side, whether that's getting your mate to put a rope on it first or finding holds a taller person doesn't see at first glance, or even thinking it's a good idea to wear nothing but a bin bag to make yourself that tiny bit smaller to force a squeeze or two!

 

[bograt]

"Mental" being the operative word!!

 

[Bottlebank]

The secret is undoubtably to adapt the cave to suit your build 

 

[alanw]

I'm 6'2" (or 1.88m in new money). I'm forever stooping and banging my head, but clipping the deviation on Dihedral in Gaping Gill is a doddle. Likewise, I often find (de)rigging is easy (the overhead bolts  at the eye-hole in Titan, for instance),  whereas my shorter friends really struggle to reach. The other issue isn't height per se, but the length of my femur and tibia. There are some bends I just can't get them round. And as for the Pie Muncher in Fossil Pot above Grassington, the least said the better.

 

[r_walklate@hotmail.com]

I'm 6 3, 14 stone and physically strong, so climbing ropes, rigging, de rigging def advantages but when it comes to tight corners getting my legs round is a nightmare as is my chest in tight squeeze!!!

 

[Alex]

A 6"4 person got through that "Pie muncher" on a trip I was on, admit-tingly he was very red in the face afterwards lol.

 

[dunc]

Long legs certainly help with some rigging; I very recently had a job getting a hanger in - did manage it eventually, nearly gave myself groin strain in the process though! If it had been p-bolted it probably would have been far easier and not really a problem.

Optimal is more or less as the Cap'n has said I reckon. Having to reach for bolts or holds etc can be overcome, having longer bones cannot. Although having said that, it too can probably be overcome; I know of a number of taller cavers who have managed some fairly awkward obstacles - mind over matter and all that..?

 

[David Rose]

I'm 6'3" with a 46" chest. At 54 I can still get through most things, and the ones that stop me are the ones that always did: the Crux in Quaking Pot, for example. (Had a few goes back in the day!) Reach is sometimes an advantage, and I've always had a lot of stamina.

The worsts queeze I can remember was the Newt in 12/5 (Pozu la Cistra), the cave OUCC pushed in 1984 that turned out to be a Xitu inlet. Just below the entrance was a vertical slot we had to hammer. It was the top of a 30m pitch and there was almost nothing to stand on once I had forced my way through, something I could only manage without a harness. Very tricky, especially on the return. And very dangerous.

 

[Elaine]

If any of the 6ft plus men with big big chests would like to be taken caving somewhere just let me know. I would be glad to help!

 

[Rob]

.
Optimal is more or less as the Cap'n has said I reckon. Having to reach for bolts or holds etc can be overcome, having longer bones cannot.

Yup, I've never not been able to follow due to being too short, but often leave taller people behind when pushing things...

 

[graham]

Slightly off topic, but I remember that, after bottoming Strans Gill back in the day, we arrived in the pub and, having been informed of our trip, certain members of CUCC said "YOU'VE done that - huh takes all the fun out of it." 

I was a lot thinner and more flexible then.