Cantclimbtom
Well-known member
Yes I know this is going to be (quite sensibly) met with robust suggestions to be chaperoned by people already indoctrinated in the dark arts of caving - understood and I consider myself duly warned. But I have a potentially silly question about caving rigging guides. Often there is a number...
Having looked at some random examples Is that the drop, is it the rope required for drop and rigging and why are sometimes there 2 numbers. There doesn't seem to be consistency.
Just for example I looked at one for Meregill Hole. NO, I am not planning on driving up there this weekend so everyone step away the CAPS lock on your keyboards it's a random example (and looks a fun jaunt). Anyhow, in the middle section is "55", is that the vertical drop of the pitch so far, the rope length required to get there or what, and why a second number (is it suggesting using 2 ropes, in which case it is rope length not drop size?). What do these mysterious numeric symbols mean used by cavers? Just when I think it means one thing, I see another example that looks more like another possibility.
I agree that if you have to ask, you shouldn't be going, and if you don't have enough rope don't do it (or jug back up in shame) but humour me please... Some of you must at least socialise with these caving folks, right?
Having looked at some random examples Is that the drop, is it the rope required for drop and rigging and why are sometimes there 2 numbers. There doesn't seem to be consistency.
Just for example I looked at one for Meregill Hole. NO, I am not planning on driving up there this weekend so everyone step away the CAPS lock on your keyboards it's a random example (and looks a fun jaunt). Anyhow, in the middle section is "55", is that the vertical drop of the pitch so far, the rope length required to get there or what, and why a second number (is it suggesting using 2 ropes, in which case it is rope length not drop size?). What do these mysterious numeric symbols mean used by cavers? Just when I think it means one thing, I see another example that looks more like another possibility.
I agree that if you have to ask, you shouldn't be going, and if you don't have enough rope don't do it (or jug back up in shame) but humour me please... Some of you must at least socialise with these caving folks, right?