i have been caving independently for about 7 to 8 months and it has come to the point where i need to decide wheather or not to join a caving club i know it has its advantages like having access to the locked caves on the mendips and a great knowledge base but from my first trips down fairy's cave using a rope as a guide line to making the full round trip round into fairy and out Hillier's this is before i even had a survey of the cave the feeling of achievement was amazing to our lastest round trip in swildons having only a survey map to guide us and having to route find all alone having mixed feeling of our we going the right way are we lost and then finally finding the rope at the landing the feeling was overwhelming we had done it took us 4 hours but the best experiences of my life. there has been a mixed responce from cavers some say join a club and others have said well done for doing it yourself. thanks to cap n Chris for your time at the hunters good advice and very friendly and to Andy sparrow for all the advice on equipment and taking the time to educate us on how to use it even when your closed. so my question is does joining a caving club take the fun out of caving having someone tell you where to go and how to do it?
should i join a caving club
- Thread starter chris1984
- Start date
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Member
In short, no. I am sure people will go into great lengths about this one. Joining a club for me opened up new friendships, skills and possibilities. No-one told me where to go, or really even how to do it, joining a club only contributed to the fun of caving, it certainly took nothing away. After all, if it did... I wouldn't have joined.
Gina
New member
chris1984 said:
Not at all! It just means all that excellent advice, such as that you've had from Cap'n Chris and Andy Sparrow, is more freely available.
You can still have exciting trips like you've been doing. I used Ali's fantastically excellent description of Priddy Green Sink to find my way through a couple of weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed it
D
Dear Noel Axle
Guest
Once you've joined a club you don't always have to go caving with them! Taking Mendip for example there are very few caves with leader systems, but a fair number which you would be able to access with a key but no leader.
Stupot
Active member
Should you join a club :-\
I suppose it all depends on what you wish to take / put back into the sport, if you enjoy the odd week day evening trip with your mate to easy (open) caves and you don't really want to take it much further than that, then I would say probably not.
However if you want to broaden your caving horizons and:
- Gain access to locked caves
- Have access to club library's
- Insurance
- Equipment (Ladder's, Ropes, Kit Bag's, Survey Kits etc)
- Club Expeditions (UK & Abroad)
- Club Socials (BBQ's, Curry Night's, Annual Dinner's)
These are just a few things that you may benefit from joining a club. When I started caving I was exactly the same as yourself and I went off into Swildons with the Mendip Underground and my mate, we had hour's and hour's of fun, but there came a time when we needed more equipment and the advice of others to step it up another level, so we joined a club, straight away we met lot's of people and got invited on many superb trips and likewise got involved in club projects and social events.
Personally I feel joining a club was the best thing I ever did, I enjoy being part of a 'team' and I have forged many solid friendships along the way, and there is always the inter club rivalry that will keep you amused (well it does me).
Why don't you come along to the BEC one weekend and get a feel for the club way of life, you can meet other members, go caving, have a few beers, and generally have a good time - You and your friends would be most welcome.
Stu.
I suppose it all depends on what you wish to take / put back into the sport, if you enjoy the odd week day evening trip with your mate to easy (open) caves and you don't really want to take it much further than that, then I would say probably not.
However if you want to broaden your caving horizons and:
- Gain access to locked caves
- Have access to club library's
- Insurance
- Equipment (Ladder's, Ropes, Kit Bag's, Survey Kits etc)
- Club Expeditions (UK & Abroad)
- Club Socials (BBQ's, Curry Night's, Annual Dinner's)
These are just a few things that you may benefit from joining a club. When I started caving I was exactly the same as yourself and I went off into Swildons with the Mendip Underground and my mate, we had hour's and hour's of fun, but there came a time when we needed more equipment and the advice of others to step it up another level, so we joined a club, straight away we met lot's of people and got invited on many superb trips and likewise got involved in club projects and social events.
Personally I feel joining a club was the best thing I ever did, I enjoy being part of a 'team' and I have forged many solid friendships along the way, and there is always the inter club rivalry that will keep you amused (well it does me).
Why don't you come along to the BEC one weekend and get a feel for the club way of life, you can meet other members, go caving, have a few beers, and generally have a good time - You and your friends would be most welcome.
Stu.
paul
Moderator
Do bear in mind that there is no such thing as a "Caving Club" - just lots of different caving clubs. All are different depending on those who are members, etc. Some are more friendly than others, some are more into digging, some not, some are more active some less. Some are more formal with overnearing comittees, some totaly informal.
If you try out one club and decide it's not for you, try another.
If you try out one club and decide it's not for you, try another.
Aubrey
Member
You should join a caving club ..... Join the Wessex then you can come & help on our digs & find even more cave
see www.wessex-cave-club.org
see www.wessex-cave-club.org
whitelackington
New member
Some people are so greedy that they are in several clubs
:greed:
:greed:
Stupot
Active member
Aubrey said:You should join a caving club ..... Join the Wessex then you can come & help on our digs & find even more cave
see www.wessex-cave-club.org
If you like tea, going to bed at 11pm and pointless dig's - Join the Wessex, If you like beer, huge parties and proper 'going' digs - Join the BEC.
It's a no brainer really, oh and the Wessex have 5 members under 25 out of around 250 ..................
www.bec-cave.org.uk
Stu.
Peter Burgess
New member
Why not start your own club called the Axbridge, Wessex and Mendip Exploration Group of Bristol (Shepton Branch) and adopt all the good aspects of the various other clubs?
Misty
New member
Hi - I caved for a long time with out being a member of a club - about 12 years. I will only say I had no insurance and in hindsight I maybe should have got some independent cover from the BCA and a good insurance company.
Joining a club helped me become a better caver, learnt to repect and understand caves and their conservation better. I met better cavers than me who could offer real advice and give proper instruction.
Sometimes you can learn bad habits and it's wise to get into good practices and understand the dangers of caving fully. So many novices end up being rescued through over confidence and lack of skills.
Most caving clubs offer loads of benefits - some offer clubs huts (similar to a youth hostel) and partner with other clubs. The accomodation is usually a few pounds a night and some will allow guests. Membership varies from a ?10 and year to approx ?40 a year depending on the club.
It is excellent you want to cave and you will surely find some kindred sprits in this sport.
Joining a club helped me become a better caver, learnt to repect and understand caves and their conservation better. I met better cavers than me who could offer real advice and give proper instruction.
Sometimes you can learn bad habits and it's wise to get into good practices and understand the dangers of caving fully. So many novices end up being rescued through over confidence and lack of skills.
Most caving clubs offer loads of benefits - some offer clubs huts (similar to a youth hostel) and partner with other clubs. The accomodation is usually a few pounds a night and some will allow guests. Membership varies from a ?10 and year to approx ?40 a year depending on the club.
It is excellent you want to cave and you will surely find some kindred sprits in this sport.
rich
New member
chris1984 said:
I think you've got a bit of a skewed idea of what a club is. If you join a caving club, you are under no obligation to go caving with any of the members, or pretty much anything else apart from paying your subs. You can join, then go caving with your non-club friends and only meet up with other members when you feel like it and no one would find that unusual. There are a handful of caves that need leaders, but that's the case whether you're a member of a club or not.
As to whether you should join a club, that depends. If you have access to the tackle you need, don't need a place to stay while caving, have all the weird friends you want, already have places to party apres cave, etc., then maybe not.
