Jasonbirder
17 years ago
Am i the only dissenting voice?
I genuinely don't believe you actually start learning until you do it underground...
Minimal surface training...how to pass a rebelay etc...then get underground...you learn by doing
I had about half an hours surface training (and bear in mind i'm not a climber...i'd never been anywhere near a rope before) then i was taken underground to do a 40M pitch with 3 rebelays...
My brothers first trip after the same was a 210 foot descent...probbaly not the health and safety dor the i's cross the t's way o doing it...but we learned and learned fast...
ditzy
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17 years ago
thats exactly what i was thinking that why i would prefer to do a short amount on the surface but really think it would be good to get underground asap. only problem is were to go underground ...
iv had a few suggestions like jug holes but i am trying to find other possible places too.
http://ditzycaving.blogspot.com 
my underground blog
Jasonbirder
17 years ago
Hillocks is a good place to learn....our club always use Hillocks Mine as their SRT training venue
Go down Whalf Climbing Shaft 3 rebelays on the way down (great practice) but a ledge at each one so you can practice the technique without worrying about taking your weight....
ditzy
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17 years ago
i think iv done hillocks before, how big is the shaft/pitch (s)?
http://ditzycaving.blogspot.com 
my underground blog
Vanoord
17 years ago
"Jasonbirder" wrote:

Am i the only dissenting voice?
I genuinely don't believe you actually start learning until you do it underground...
Minimal surface training...how to pass a rebelay etc...then get underground...you learn by doing



Indeed JB, but a bit of basic knowledge of how to change over from up to down and vice-versa might be a sensible idea!

It would be much easier to rescue someone from 5' up in the air than it would be from 40' down a hole!

But yes, proper learning of all that odd caver-type stuff would be most easily done where there is some under real circumstances, rather than trying to mock things up.
Hello again darkness, my old friend...
Jasonbirder
17 years ago
Quote:

proper learning of all that odd caver-type stuff



Don't you have shafts, sumps and stopes in mines then?
Vanoord
17 years ago
"Jasonbirder" wrote:

Don't you have shafts, sumps and stopes in mines then?



Shafts - yup, but we tend to walk in on the flat as it's easier for removing product and spoil
Sumps - yup, but I avoid them and SRT in sumps is a bit on the weird side in my book!
Stopes - apparently in metal mines, yes :)

I was mostly referring to rebelays and deviations, which tend to be found more commonly in cave systems whereas many mines can be rigged with a single pitch - albeit not always in a manner which accords with rigging best practice! 😉
Hello again darkness, my old friend...
ditzy
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17 years ago
"Vanoord" wrote:



I was mostly referring to rebelays and deviations, which tend to be found more commonly in cave systems whereas many mines can be rigged with a single pitch - albeit not always in a manner which accords with rigging best practice! ;)



iv normally found that there are similar amounts of straight down pitches/shafts in mines and caves and the only deviation i have come across was in a mine! i half to admit tho i havent done that much srt, iv done sevral trips but not enough to say fairly. most of my srt trips have also been in mines! i normally find that a lot of pitches can be done as one long as a deviation isnt needed aslong as you have a long enough rope! or is there isnt ledges inbetween that would make it difficault or the potential to rub when going down.
http://ditzycaving.blogspot.com 
my underground blog
Barney
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17 years ago
"Jasonbirder" wrote:


I genuinely don't believe you actually start learning until you do it underground...



Remember Hillocks? a steep learning curve for a certain someone!!!
hymac580c
17 years ago
It might sound dangerous but I learnt, or did a proper srt with a descender on the Croesor/Rhosydd thru trip last weekend. Straight on the job as one might say. And enjoyed every minute of it. But then again that is me.
I do use ropes with my work and work at up to 16ft, climing up and down using double hooks and sliding down a rope.
But I would recomend practising somewhere quiet from about 12 ft or so before an underground venture.

http://www.aditnow.co.uk/photo/Personal-Album-106-Image-057/ 
Bellach dim ond swn y gwynt yn chwibian, lle bu gynt yr engan ar cynion yn tincian.
Barney
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17 years ago
"hymac580c" wrote:



http://www.aditnow.co.uk/photo/Personal-Album-106-Image-057/ 



Is that your personal soft landing for when it all goes wrong??? 😮 :lol:
hymac580c
17 years ago
Unforunately there is no soft landing if I fell off unless I landed onto a passing farmer and his dog.
But I think there might be a good market perhaps for srt soft landing bags filled with sponge, wool or some other soft material.

😉
Bellach dim ond swn y gwynt yn chwibian, lle bu gynt yr engan ar cynion yn tincian.
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