What to wear for a Swildons short round trip
- Thread starter hannahb
- Start date
Babyhagrid
Well-known member
Ive done it in just a furry and was very very warm. But water was low (didn't have to do any bailing) and we went very quick.
JohnMCooper
Member
In summer I prefer a furry and keep moving.
In winter you won't do it anyway unless you free dive the Mud Sump.
I judge what I need by how I feel going to Sump II.
As Jester says it's currently full and has been for the past month. Unlikely to be opened until next spring now unless someone spends a few hours bailing it.
In winter you won't do it anyway unless you free dive the Mud Sump.
I judge what I need by how I feel going to Sump II.
As Jester says it's currently full and has been for the past month. Unlikely to be opened until next spring now unless someone spends a few hours bailing it.
aricooperdavis
Moderator
I feel the cold, so I always wear a wetsuit, and have rarely been too warm (there's very little totally dry cave where you couldn't dunk yourself if you needed to cool down!).
I've never worn a hood or mask for it, but I imagine a hood would be quite nice. I personally wouldn't bother with a mask.
I've never worn a hood or mask for it, but I imagine a hood would be quite nice. I personally wouldn't bother with a mask.
bagpuss
Member
Same here, I've gotten close to hypothermia on wet trips. Depends on lots of things, season at time of trip (water colder in winter), body weight of caver, how many people on trip, if there's a wait at the 20. Personally I wear a wetsuit if going below the 20. Possibly also depends on your oversuit, mine is a warmbac and water gets through, whereas the yellow ones (can't remember the brand) probably repell more of the water.
cavemanmike
Well-known member
Last time we did it sump 1 was a duck
cap n chris
Well-known member
Neoprene hood, fleecy or neofleece (depending on whether you'm dawdlin' or runnin'). Me and Kev used to be competitive but I've not visited SH for over 5 years cos Rn.
PeteHall
Moderator
It's been that way for several years now, unless the cave is particularly wet.
Shame if you ask me, as it takes away the absolute thrill experienced by every first timer. The number of people I've seen, summon up all their courage and dive into the unknown, emerging the other side, with the biggest smile in the world.
As a duck, first timers come out just as cold and wet, but without the smile...
One chap was so disappointed, as he'd got properly psyched for it on his first caving trip, that I had to take him through Sump 2. That did it! He was buzzing all the way out!
caving_fox
Active member
For the short round a furry is sufficient. Hood helps especially if you're a little nervous on the ducks - the Troubles especially depending on how much bailing you want to do. A vest might be useful if you're prone to the cold.
A Neofleece is not sufficient to get through to 4! (coldest I've ever been).
A Neofleece is not sufficient to get through to 4! (coldest I've ever been).
bagpuss
Member
Depends on the caver, as I've gotten dangerously cold in just a furry on wet trips.
bagpuss
Member
I'm terrified of going under water so haven't been through many times, didn't realise it was now a duck most of the time, had assumed it was just in dry weather. Might have to go back and see!
wormster
Active member
Shortie wetsuit and furry underneath my warmbac keeps me toasty (racingsnake me!!) Always use a hood at the ducks and dump because cold muddy water in the ears is orrible.
Approach the squeeze in Blue Pencil passage on your back - you can gain purchase on the ceiling with your Feet's!!
Sump one is a doozy either way, it's just a body length grovel.
Approach the squeeze in Blue Pencil passage on your back - you can gain purchase on the ceiling with your Feet's!!
Sump one is a doozy either way, it's just a body length grovel.
cavemanmike
Well-known member
One of our lads had to strip down to his pants and I still had to pull him through not birthday queeeeeeze
cavemanmike
Well-known member
Squeeeeze
