Just noticed this on UK caving - I 'm sure some of you guys might want to get involved
Mike
Date: Saturday 19th June '10
Time: 09.30 hrs onwards
Location: Ty Mawr Farm, Ponterwyd, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3JR
Map Ref. SN757792
Venue: Bwlch Glas Lead Mine
The South & Mid Wales Cave Rescue Team are running their annual mines rescue practice & regular/irregular (or wanna-be) members of the team are invited to attend*. The plan is currently under development (and that doesn't mean that we're making it up as we go along!) and there will be roles for everybody regardless of ability/experience: the Team relies upon enthusiasm as well as muscle! So if you don't fancy trying to get the stretcher through a collapse or up a pitch but would be happy to assist with communications, re-supply, taking photos etc then come along as you will be needed.
You will require the usual kit, but please remember the following (& sorry if this is egg-sucking): spare lighting, warm clothes, harness/cowstails and/or SRT kit (if you've got them), something to eat and a sense of humour. We'll be camping at the farm of one of our members (it has hot showers) and using the barn as the base camp/beer hall etc... The North Wales Cave Rescue Organisation are coming along and other teams are welcome/encouraged to attend. It should be a fun event & a lot of us have got plenty to learn about mine rescue.....
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133149570030048 If you want to come to this (or future) event(s) then please message me as I need some ideas of numbers etc... The last two practices have had about 50 people each so there's a lot to arrange. More details to follow.
*Please: whilst we actively encourage people to get involved this is not intended to be a training event for the masses but rather to encourage cavers/miners who would actually be willing/able to attend the real thing in the middle of the night during the finals of "Dancing on Ice"!!! If you join in & then decide that it's not your cup of tea then fair enough, but please don't come if you already know that you don't want or can't commit to future misery in the event of a real callout. Cave/mine rescue is 100% voluntary & is made up of normal cavers & is not a clique or an inner circle: if you don't know anyone else & think you might feel overawed then don't let that put you off as we'll make sure you're looked after. It would be particularly useful if people familiar with the Mid Wales mines (or mines in general) came along for obvious reasons.
Joel Corrigan
[email protected]