Swildons making people ill?

[darkplaces]

I was in swildons Sat night ( came out between 9-10pm) and coming out it stank horridly (going in was ok) and I had a real struggle getting out. Over the last few days i havent been very well. Just general feableness, funny tummy, under the weather etc. I'm sure it happen the first time I went in.

Is this something other people experiance?
Totally unrelated to swildons?
Should I stop drinking the water?
Or do I just need to keep going in till I'm imune to cow poo?

 

[cap n chris]

It wouldn't be surprising to think you've had (and are getting over) the bovine form of lep; your experience is similar to other cavers. As I understand things, you should now be immune to bov. lep.. You may have caught it anywhere and so Swildon's should not necessarily be blamed (it might be a good plan not to point the finger just in case it results in limited access BTW).

:shock: YOU SHOULDN'T DRINK THE WATER AT ALL ANYWAY! - do you know what cavers do to it?....

 

[Hughie]

I would have thought it highly unlikely that cowsh was the cause - especially as DP was in the top part of the cave. In my experience cowsh is pretty innocuous in it's own right - mainly undigestible grass fibre. Any shite making it's way into the cave from grazing cattle would be very diluted.

 

[cap n chris]

Thanks for your wise/expert comment Hughie.

BTW, the little "puddle" at the top of Jacob's Ladder on Thursday contained some lovely rank rancid piss which some kind and thoughtful person decided in their wisdom to leave for others. The recent wet weather should hopefully have washed this away by now.

 

[Peter Burgess]

This makes me wonder what ancient cave dwellers did when they were busting for a pee. Did they retire to an inner dark corner, or go outside? Did they consider the inner darker parts of the cave a suitable place to relieve themselves, or did they appreciate that the outside world was a more appropriate place. I suspect social dynamics were much the same as they are now, and there would have been a proportion who couldn't give a toss, and got ostracized for being disgusting individuals by the rest of the group. Given that the cave was part of their everyday life, then finding that a corner of the cave hade been rendered smelly and unpleasant would have mattered more that it does today, given that we can at least leave and go home to our (hopefully) clean and tidy homes, and then moan about it on a forum.

 

[cap n chris]

our (hopefully) clean and tidy homes

:wink:

 

[graham]

This makes me wonder what ancient cave dwellers did when they were busting for a pee. Did they retire to an inner dark corner, or go outside? Did they consider the inner darker parts of the cave a suitable place to relieve themselves, or did they appreciate that the outside world was a more appropriate place. I suspect social dynamics were much the same as they are now, and there would have been a proportion who couldn't give a toss, and got ostracized for being disgusting individuals by the rest of the group. Given that the cave was part of their everyday life, then finding that a corner of the cave hade been rendered smelly and unpleasant would have mattered more that it does today, given that we can at least leave and go home to our (hopefully) clean and tidy homes, and then moan about it on a forum.

Pete

"Ancient Cave Dwellers" didn't live deep in caves, but in rock shelters and cave entrances. That being so, I sincerely doubt that they fouled their own nests, but nipped round a corner or behind a tree or something, as I am quite sure that they found the smells just as unpleasant then as we do now and, unlike, Chris's friend in Swildons, they weren't moving on.

 

[darkplaces]

:shock: YOU SHOULDN'T DRINK THE WATER AT ALL ANYWAY! - do you know what cavers do to it?....

I try not to drink the water, coming up 20pitch or climbing the waterfall it just gets everywhere. Its always smelled in the tight bit towards the entrance at the top of Jacobs ladder. It pools and without a lot of water stays. My issue maybe totally unrelated with Swildons and its not going to stop me returning.

Well hopefully I'll be fine by the end of the week, Thursday I am in the Church of Goats and Friday I leave for Gawpin Gill in the fun bus.

 

[Peter Burgess]

"Ancient Cave Dwellers" didn't live deep in caves

I know.

a "Rock Shelter" would still have little corners where lazy people might behave indiscretely. And they wouldn't have used 'caves' with active streams, so any mess they made would have stayed where it was.

 

[cap n chris]

The earth at cave entrances is sufficiently full of life/bacteria to absorb and consume faeces/urine without it causing offensive smells. It's when faeces/urine is deposited further inside caves on bare rock surfaces that it becomes an enduring disgusting problem which others have to clear up.

 

[Peter Burgess]

Who'd like to try some experimental archaeology?

 

[Dave H]

I always get sick in Swildons.

Sick of waiting behind numpties faffing around at the pitch :x

 

[Peter Burgess]

I suppose I was a numpty once, with regard to climbing ladders. We all have to get used to it somewhere - though somewhere other than Swildons 20 might be less inconvenient to those who don't like waiting half an hour. Unfortunately Swildons I is largely a single passage where a slow party is going to get in the way of a faster one. Is cave tailgating a problem? Does it lead to cave rage?

 

[Peter Burgess]

Back towards the subject of the thread, I can't recall anytime when a cave has made me feel ill, but I have the digestive capabilities of a waste-disposal unit, so am disgustingly healthy most of the time. "Disgustingly" is the appropriate word - ask those who "enjoy" caving trips with me present!

 

[tubby two]

Friday I leave for Gawpin Gill in the fun bus.

Caving trip? main shaft? Hope you've got used to the SRT!

Though anything in GG is awesome. You might be converted into a full time caver and not go near mines again if you come up north too often....

tt.

 

[Peter Burgess]

You might be converted into a full time caver and not go near mines again if you come up north too often....

A trip up north to go down Brewery Shaft will put you on the 'straight and narrow' again. The mining equivalent of GG Main Shaft!!

 

[cap n chris]

Caving trip? main shaft? Hope you've got used to the SRT!

It's a winch meet, TT.

I might even see you up there, DP! :wink:

 

[whitelackington]

Went to a cave in France once, Vercours, I think it was called Coronche, you have to cross a large lake first, I went in with Hugh Penny, after walking about a kilometre, we were surprized to see lots of flies.
Yes, you've gussed it, some dirty sod had dumped one in the middle of the passage, the amazing thing was that these hungry flies has swam over a lake prussiked up a rope, then buzzed for a kilometre, just to eat shit!

I bet the person who did it was French, no Englishman would do that, would he.

 

[Les W]

Went to a cave in France once, Vercours, I think it was called Coronche

More likely to be the Gournier which is next to the Choranche (tourist cave, no lake)
The lake is immediatly inside the entrance and after an awkward climb up you enter a large passage full of formations and dry gours etc, until you regain the stream. A very fine stream it is and eventually after several deep pools (with wire traverse lines) ends in a climb up about 12m followed by a furthur climb up a large aven.

 

[Brains]

The water in the lake is very clear and extremely cold... as my friend that capsized the dinghy found out...