reads cavern advice please

[stealth]

can anybody tell me if reads is an ok cave for totall novices. They have only been in Goatchurch, ive heard that the boulder ruckles are a bit loose and im unsure whether to take my lot down there or not

 

[cap n chris]

Your question is open to interpretation. Is walking up Snowdon suitable for young people? - depends which route(s) you take. Walking into Read's properly equipped, along with usual caving practices is fine; walking on/crawling between poised unstable boulders isn't. Read's is an active cave - it's constantly moving. It's up to the trip leader(s) to determine, via ongoing hazard assessment, the wisdom of the route ahead and its suitability for the group members - or, the suitability of the group members for the cave.

 

[stealth]

thanks capn'chris,
i know the question wasnt put right, but you have answered it anyhow, ill take them into another cave then. Maybe rods or sidcot

 

[Peter Burgess]

Reads is fine down into the large chamber for a look-see. If you go further into the boulders then Chris's advice applies. My boys who are 8 and 9 liked it - we had the place to ourselves and dropped a short way into one or two stable squeezes, but no further. Just use common sense.

 

[stealth]

thanks peter

 

[cap n chris]

Many of the chambers at either extremity of the main chamber are used for shelter by bats large dark moth-like creatures. Please do not disturb them during winter months i.e. now until April.

 

[whitelackington]

I think I recall reading in a copy of Descent, maybe three or five years ago, that, possibly for the first time in years, some group had got to one of the bottom's of Read's Cavern, they were on a further occassion going to attempt to go down the other botom, btw Read's has two bottoms, which may connect , with a smidge of dangerous digging, where is castle 46 when u needd him

 

[stealth]

years ago (must be at least 12) I got down as far as the junction chamber, it didnt feel safe though ( lots of creakin sounds) ( unless it was just paranoia as i was solo) so didnt push it any further.