Risk
I think ultimately this is the reason that the majority of folk cave. The pleasure, the ?raison d?etre?.
Whether the risk is just perceived or real is debateable. I would reckon for the majority it is perceived. However the results being is that they feel good, in some cases superior to the tiddlywink players. Probably nowhere near as dangerous as a walk in Peckham or any other suburb in a major city but more satisfying.
Risk is often defined as evaluating the hazard by looking at the possible consequence and the frequency that said consequence has actually occurred historically. You cannot apply a Lockerbie to every situation. We each evaluate and make our own decision as whether to continue. This necessarily excludes those paying for sanitised adventure. In major risk assessment you are still only allowed one big IF. Many seem to create scenarios that could but have never happened by adding several IFS. Search CRO and the other teams data.
One of my fears is that all the risk averse posts re knots and anchors is actually increasing risk. My experience in the workplace is that one of the greatest factors leading to an accident is complacency / familiarity. That is to say if you start to believe all safeguards are in place and the responsibility of others then you cease to use your own judgement. There is nothing better than a dodgy spit to make you search for a suitable back up. But you have to see that dodgy spit.
The difficulties of untying knots is not a great issue when it comes to the choice of knot. After all when you recover the rope just stuff it into the sac and sort it when you are sorting the kit later above ground. How often is this a critical factor that you need to undo the knot underground in extremis?
Adding percentages of efficiency into knots and increasing complexity when the simple overhand would suffice seems completely unnecessary, though many others may be more clever.
I particularly like knots and have a reasonable repertoire but prefer the simplest in the dark so you know that everyone else recognises them and is confident.
We regularly use spit placements that are in excess of 30 years old, we back up but to date have never experienced a failure, but to listen to some of the posts justifying the sanitisation of caves you might expect every other one popping.
Create some safe honey pots but please leave the rest for what caving was.
To misquote Jim Eyre it isn?t a game, there should be no whistles and referees.
Enjoy your adventures and close shaves.
Go for it Aberystwyth.
I think ultimately this is the reason that the majority of folk cave. The pleasure, the ?raison d?etre?.
Whether the risk is just perceived or real is debateable. I would reckon for the majority it is perceived. However the results being is that they feel good, in some cases superior to the tiddlywink players. Probably nowhere near as dangerous as a walk in Peckham or any other suburb in a major city but more satisfying.
Risk is often defined as evaluating the hazard by looking at the possible consequence and the frequency that said consequence has actually occurred historically. You cannot apply a Lockerbie to every situation. We each evaluate and make our own decision as whether to continue. This necessarily excludes those paying for sanitised adventure. In major risk assessment you are still only allowed one big IF. Many seem to create scenarios that could but have never happened by adding several IFS. Search CRO and the other teams data.
One of my fears is that all the risk averse posts re knots and anchors is actually increasing risk. My experience in the workplace is that one of the greatest factors leading to an accident is complacency / familiarity. That is to say if you start to believe all safeguards are in place and the responsibility of others then you cease to use your own judgement. There is nothing better than a dodgy spit to make you search for a suitable back up. But you have to see that dodgy spit.
The difficulties of untying knots is not a great issue when it comes to the choice of knot. After all when you recover the rope just stuff it into the sac and sort it when you are sorting the kit later above ground. How often is this a critical factor that you need to undo the knot underground in extremis?
Adding percentages of efficiency into knots and increasing complexity when the simple overhand would suffice seems completely unnecessary, though many others may be more clever.
I particularly like knots and have a reasonable repertoire but prefer the simplest in the dark so you know that everyone else recognises them and is confident.
We regularly use spit placements that are in excess of 30 years old, we back up but to date have never experienced a failure, but to listen to some of the posts justifying the sanitisation of caves you might expect every other one popping.
Create some safe honey pots but please leave the rest for what caving was.
To misquote Jim Eyre it isn?t a game, there should be no whistles and referees.
Enjoy your adventures and close shaves.
Go for it Aberystwyth.
