xped to the US?

[Brains]

Most i have ever worn was a cordura coverall (oversuit) but even then the cordura bibs (uhm...the term for there...farmer johns maybe? Overalls?) are more common than full coveralls.

I think these would normally be described as dungarees, unless fully waterproof with attached boots, then the term "waders" would apply.
Personally I would love a trip, but lack of money and the need for income keep me at work, and I have a unique form tourettes in that I swear profusely in the presence of those blinded by belief in an untenable point of view.

 

[Amy]

Most i have ever worn was a cordura coverall (oversuit) but even then the cordura bibs (uhm...the term for there...farmer johns maybe? Overalls?) are more common than full coveralls.

I think these would normally be described as dungarees, unless fully waterproof with attached boots, then the term "waders" would apply.
Personally I would love a trip, but lack of money and the need for income keep me at work, and I have a unique form tourettes in that I swear profusely in the presence of those blinded by belief in an untenable point of view.

LOL well luckily the cavers in our grotto generally are not bible-thumpers, you'd be safe. And Huntsville is an island in the south...highest ratio of PhD's per population in the US...which really helps to make it a smart city =) Also uh...cavers here tend to swear profusely too. And have dirty brains. You'd be safe! I mean...we like to rig to BFT's and BFR's all the time....Big F***king Trees and Big F**king Rocks...there you have it, we even swear in naming things. Hell, take this example: In one cave you have to go one of two ways: would you rather do the Blue Crawl or Suicide Passage? HA! probably said Blue Crawl right? Know why it was named Blue Crawl? *&@#&*@&*&*#&*&****@*!*!*!@@@!!!! is why! Swear so much trying to get through it you "turn the air blue"! Suicide passage sucks and you'll swear some, but it's do-able.

 

[Brains]

Is that an official collective noun for cavers, like a coven of withches? 
I shall save hard and see what happens, but think it unlikely at present 
If you get a job this side of the pond being too hot underground wont be such a problem!

 

[Alex]

The second pitch in Grange rigg is blue for the amount of swearing I did in there, I have melloed alot since then.

 

[Amy]

Never have to feed rope on this puppy....
(amazingly photobombed by fellow caver Billy...Ah vertical practices, always a laugh!)

All 24 inches are MINE!

 

[Alex]

Lol that thing is huge, would rent one for a "go" but buying one would be pointless as it would be useless over hear, though I guess it could go on my mantlepeice as a large orniment. By the way what the heck are those things attached to your chest?

 

[Les W]

By the way what the heck are those things attached to your chest?

If you don't know by now Alex then there is no hope for you...
:tease:

 

[dunc]

By the way what the heck are those things attached to your chest?

If you don't know by now Alex then there is no hope for you...
:tease:

Brilliant 


One hopes Alex referring to a large rack wasn't using an urban dictionary at the time  :doubt:

 

[Amy]

No no that is a 24" rack meant for over 300meter Single pitch drop. Standard rack we use daily is 14". Much smaller. Standard Petzl racks are 10" and are a piece of shit. I took some video Friday at vertical practice it turned out dark though. I worked with my 14" standard,  my 18" I'm currently train.ing with,  and my boyfriends 24 for El Cap which you saw in that photo. My own personal rack....that's something different

 

[langcliffe]

Brilliant 

One hopes Alex referring to a large rack wasn't using an urban dictionary at the time

I suspect that Alex was referring to the chest roller, rather than the rack. It's used to hold the rope close to the chest when ascending, hence keeping one upright

 

[Amy]

Ah, yes. It is used in both Mitchell and Ropewalking systems here.

 

[Brendan]

No no that is a 24" rack meant for over 300meter Single pitch drop. Standard rack we use daily is 14". Much smaller. Standard Petzl racks are 10" and are a piece of shit. I took some video Friday at vertical practice it turned out dark though. I worked with my 14" standard,  my 18" I'm currently train.ing with,  and my boyfriends 24 for El Cap which you saw in that photo. My own personal rack....that's something different

Now now, it's not the size, it's what you do with it that counts 

 

[droid]

I suspect that Alex was referring to the chest roller, rather than the rack. It's used to hold the rope close to the chest when ascending, hence keeping one upright

Wasn't that tried in the Dales many years ago, and referred to as the 'Buggery Box'?

 

[Alex]

Hmm we accomplish the same thing with petzl chest jammer and doing up your chest straps tight, it would certainly be intersting to see all your strange devices, though I guess I would not have a clue how to use any of them.

 

[langcliffe]

Hmm we accomplish the same thing with petzl chest jammer and doing up your chest straps tight, it would certainly be intersting to see all your strange devices, though I guess I would not have a clue how to use any of them.

The chest roller is effectively level with one's armpits, and is designed for rope walking which requires an upright posture. How high a Petzl Croll can sit is limited by it being attached to the sit harness, and tightening up straps simply puts one into a more crouched position.

The only way to achieve a similar effect with the frog system is to have a Pantin on one foot, and hold yourself upright with one's arms. This is easier enough against the wall, but I find it far too tiring when climbing free-hanging pitches to progress more than about 15 metres.

Rope walking is very energy efficient, but the American rigging techniques have developed for rope walking, and ours for the Frog system. Passing re-belays and deviations takes longer with the Mitchell's system.

 

[Amy]

Alex we can teach you. I just posted a video in the equipment section of some quick shots taken at vertical practice on Friday. They aren't training quality by any means but gives an idea. Eventually our cave rescue team has been meaning to make some training videos for when we teach SRT courses. I have a feeling I will be delegated to that activity now that I have an idea how to use the recording on my camera better and have the editing program figured out!

A chest roller works very different from a croll. Completely unalike. I started off on a frog system (your standard frog system, that part is synonomous!) and being shorter and very topheavy with a shortish torso, this makes it completely uneffecient for me and I max out around 100-120ft of climbing. If I trained a TON i could build up more muscle I'm sure and stretch that, but I would never be able to do the big stuff, and it would be hell, not enjoyable. I basically caclulated even with a ton of practice my max would be at most 200-250ft, which doesn't get you into much here. It was a great system for Indiana and Kentucky, where I was doing little in-cave stuff and nusance 30-60ft entrance stuff. That's about it.

When I added a pantin to frogwalk (which I believe is where you call it a ropewalker, hahahhaha) this helped make it easier, I could do the 100-ish ft stuff instead of just around 60 or so, but the mechanics are still totally wrong as being so topheavy i'm walking at like a 45deg angle not straight/almost straight up!

Traded the pantin for a cmi foot ascender, purchased a chest roller, and re-tied my system into a single bungee ropewalker and bam...I'm climbing 600ft with ease.

I think sometimes guys have a harder time understanding just how much boobs can get in the way...especially 36DDD/F's >_> The weight distribution in my body is so CRAZY different between that and having hips. I'm carrying at least an extra 30lbs of weight in my upper half than I would if I was a male version of me. Even looking around at the rare other female who does srt here...95%of the time they are very masculine in build.

A note about passing rebelays and such though - I can't comment on a mitchell (never tried it on that system) but there are a few guys here (usually tall sticks of guys) who prefer frogging (and it's funny to watch them try to ropewalk, it's the rare body-completely-built-for-frog they have!) and past few vertical practices we've done rebelays varying in crappyness of rigging. the one that was like 10ft down, 10ft over to the rig point and very shortrigged (rope stretched downward gave about 6" past the rebelay, there was nothing to rappel into!), I was a bit slower on climb, and much slower on rappel (rappel slowness due to not having something that short on me as I didn't have cowstails so I had a hell of a time figuring it out!). All the other rebelays I was basically as fast as the froggers. And to be honest everyone struggled with that one rig...I just hope I never run into one of those in a cave. LOL

 

[amoses]

Alex,

Our caves are generally a lot less sharp than those Dachstein caves.  We've got plenty of tight caves too, but most of the popular sport caves don't have much small stuff on the main routes.

The "long frame microrack" I had works for pitches approaching 200m if the rope is good and it's also quick on rebelays and comfortable to walk around with.  You might find one worth owning, but racks are easily borrowed around here.

Aaron

 

[Amy]

Micros aren't generally recommended for beginners on racks. Have to be quite mindful, even one bar pops off and you are good as dead which has been known to happen on lip crossings especially with folks who try to feed the rope. NEVER feed rope on a micro. Also, they are a lot easier to get going too fast on, at which point it is very hard to regain control because they don't have the same friction variability as a standard 14" rack. Everything combined, they are a great tool, but as I said not recommended for beginners.

Yes though, I definitely say long frame if you are going to own a micro, gives you more friction control ability. For the drop distance you can do it's gonna depend on the rope used and your weight. 150-200ft is their maximum useful range for a single drop.

Between my so and I we have 5 different racks (long frame micro, 2 standard 14, 18", and 24"), definitely have enough to cover you though should you want to try one (or need to use one). Probably put you on the 14" (safest and easiest to train you on) and depending on the drop use a larger frame for ourself or micro.

 

[cap n chris]

http://www.kentuckytourism.com/outdoor_adventure/caving.aspx?utm_source=CavingNews&utm_medium=staticbanner&utm_content=Cave300x250&utm_campaign=ADVDigital

Just seen this advert for an unbridled KY adventure. Not too sure it translates well across the pond. Or perhaps it does and will result in a lot of dismayed punters who were expecting something a little different. Also, not too sure what their definition of unbridled is but if it's the same as the one in my dictionary then I think I'll pass.

 

[Amy]

LOTS to see in Mammoth...I've never been in the "main" mammoth but I've done some trips into Roppel (all wild, one very guarded entrance) which is "the backdoor to Mammoth" it's connected via sump.

I haven't done any tours in Mammoth but I have heard the lantern tour and wild tour both are worthwhile by other cavers. Mammoth is prettymuch CRF controlled for anything offtrail so what I've been able to gather, rather political and tough to get in. However there are work weekends and weeks in Mammoth cleaning up old tourist trails so you are off the beaten path and they usually do trips from that. So volunteering for those is a good way to see non-tourist Mammoth. Another good way to see more of Mammoth is to take Art Palmer's geo course which maybe next summer I can do. Been meaning to take it since I heard about it last year.

Unbridled spirit is the Kentucky state motto. After all it's where all the horseracing is headquartered. I actually really like Kentucky there is a lot to see and do there. And Kentucky cavers are quite nice.