Caving, potholing, claustrophobia, etc
Discussion
Try Canyoning, it's a bit like caving but without the roof and overly tight squeezes.
You still get to do the fun stuff, like abseiling down waterfalls.
Been caving a few times (waaaay) back in Venture Scouts. I didn't mind the tight gaps and claustrophobia, but I did object to having to pee in my wetsuit on long trips
You still get to do the fun stuff, like abseiling down waterfalls.
Been caving a few times (waaaay) back in Venture Scouts. I didn't mind the tight gaps and claustrophobia, but I did object to having to pee in my wetsuit on long trips
I seem to have developed a morbid fascination with this subject.
I refer you to:
http://www.jocosarblog.org/jocosarblog/2009/11/man...
which I found whilst enjoying lunch today.
To me, as someone around 200lb, I would look at an opening 18" x 10" and think, nope, not big enough. He got stuck in it! Well no s$%t Sherlock!
These people are crazy I tell you!
I refer you to:
http://www.jocosarblog.org/jocosarblog/2009/11/man...
which I found whilst enjoying lunch today.
To me, as someone around 200lb, I would look at an opening 18" x 10" and think, nope, not big enough. He got stuck in it! Well no s$%t Sherlock!
These people are crazy I tell you!
silverthorn2151 said:
I seem to have developed a morbid fascination with this subject.
I refer you to:
http://www.jocosarblog.org/jocosarblog/2009/11/man...
which I found whilst enjoying lunch today.
To me, as someone around 200lb, I would look at an opening 18" x 10" and think, nope, not big enough. He got stuck in it! Well no s$%t Sherlock!
These people are crazy I tell you!
Grim.I refer you to:
http://www.jocosarblog.org/jocosarblog/2009/11/man...
which I found whilst enjoying lunch today.
To me, as someone around 200lb, I would look at an opening 18" x 10" and think, nope, not big enough. He got stuck in it! Well no s$%t Sherlock!
These people are crazy I tell you!
Wiki said:
"John Edward Jones (1983–2009) in Nutty Putty Cave in Utah November 2009. John, an experienced caver, had gotten wedged in an unmapped portion of Ed's Push at a 170-degree downward angle with his feet over his head complicating rescue. After some 24+ hours they had been able to move him two feet upward, and lower down food and water, when a part of the rescue rope system failed dropping him fully back into the wedge. It was after this that he became much too weak to help the rescuers in their efforts and he expired shortly thereafter. As of now it's been decided by JAYB and the family and landowner to leave his body in place and seal the cave permanently."
Sky News Link
Fun Bus said:
VinceFox said:
Just googled caving and tight...
What the hell is wrong with people?
fWhat the hell is wrong with people?
k that.The only thought I would have would be "What if something moves and squashes me? Or I get stuck and nobody realises?"
I'd rather s
t in my hands and clap everyday for the rest of my life, thanks.The one Ezi posted for me is worse to my mind.
ezi said:
I'd rather st the bed...
Pinned arms and zero space... I'll take water any day, with a bit more room.t the bed...Funny how you both want to s
t yourselves as an alternative, though 
Like so many things, I love the idea of this but you wouldn't get me anywhere near a brochure for this kind of trip. I am a bit of a photography fan and some of the images you see of the caverns are great, and it would be great to take them, but no, all these thread photos just remind me why not. I guess the thrill is the challenge, either that or they're all on day release.
I've done this a couple of times, including a wriggle through not unlike that bloke in the bandana above. At the time I was running on adrenaline and thought nothing of it, but now it absolutely terrifies me. I could never do it again.
I'm not claustrophobic as-such, got no problem with crowded trains and suchlike, but the thought of getting stuck deep beneath the Earth, in a situation where no-one could do anything about it just sends a chill down my spine. Almost a sense that you were crawling into your own grave.
You mess with nature at your peril. Enjoy it by all means, but it's no fairground ride - get it wrong, and you WILL die.
I'm not claustrophobic as-such, got no problem with crowded trains and suchlike, but the thought of getting stuck deep beneath the Earth, in a situation where no-one could do anything about it just sends a chill down my spine. Almost a sense that you were crawling into your own grave.
You mess with nature at your peril. Enjoy it by all means, but it's no fairground ride - get it wrong, and you WILL die.
I think we're losing a bit of perspective, caving really isn't as scary as suggested here.
Some of the photos being posted are from the more extreme ends of potholing & caving and not altogether representative of what you have to do to enjoy a bit of caving, imo.
For what it's worth tho, nothing posted so far scares me
Some of the photos being posted are from the more extreme ends of potholing & caving and not altogether representative of what you have to do to enjoy a bit of caving, imo.
For what it's worth tho, nothing posted so far scares me
Edited by TheJimi on Thursday 23 May 16:47
I am claustraphobic. Which is, not a fear of small spaces as such, just a fear of not being able to escape. So a small room with a wooden door, no windows etc I'd be okay with as I could smash my way out. However, elevators are a big no-no.
As for caving experience - I went down some cenotes in Maxico and I didn't think twice, until we had to swim between small gaps, were in freezing water and literally if this small gap collapsed, we would be stuck in a freezing under-water cave. That scared me.
As for caving experience - I went down some cenotes in Maxico and I didn't think twice, until we had to swim between small gaps, were in freezing water and literally if this small gap collapsed, we would be stuck in a freezing under-water cave. That scared me.
E24man said:
Claustrophobia? Try being a submariner when it starts to go just a little bit wrong......
I used to work with a German chief engineer who had been sunk, twice, in submarines in the war. He told me that you know when you have been truly scared, when you've s
t yourself and not even noticed. That was all he'd ever say on that matter. 
In an idle moment, just before bed, I searched YouTube for tight squeeze caving.
Why did I do that?
More to the point, why the feck do sane people do this?
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8M7883VXkIc
Sme of the videos you can follow links to are simply hideous. There is one with something called the psyc squeeze. 60 ft through a tube about the size of a microwave. Who the hell goes down that first to see if it leads anywhere?
Nightmares, here I come!
Why did I do that?
More to the point, why the feck do sane people do this?
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8M7883VXkIc
Sme of the videos you can follow links to are simply hideous. There is one with something called the psyc squeeze. 60 ft through a tube about the size of a microwave. Who the hell goes down that first to see if it leads anywhere?
Nightmares, here I come!
To follow from my post about Waitomo right back at the beginning of this thread, I see the caves now have a promo video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I71oMEH0iWM
Yep it's open to the general public, albeit fit and mad ones, but it's still one hell of an adventure.
The Haggas holes kick bottom too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjFSkzxc5Tc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I71oMEH0iWM
Yep it's open to the general public, albeit fit and mad ones, but it's still one hell of an adventure.
The Haggas holes kick bottom too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjFSkzxc5Tc
silverthorn2151 said:
In an idle moment, just before bed, I searched YouTube for tight squeeze caving.
Why did I do that?
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8M7883VXkIc
OK. Cool. So, for the formal PH breakfast next month, us men will meet in the mens chamber which has the beer tap.Why did I do that?
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8M7883VXkIc
And we'll bring you the nail file, polish and lipstick, to the wimmins cave. Which is actually just a makeup booth disguised as a cave to get them on board.
OK, I admit, I wouldnt go there.
You can still have your manicure and a sip of the dregs if there is any left, though.
Ruskie said:
Don't mind the big caves. But the little tight ones?! No way. I have been along time ago and didn't have a problem. Being 6ft 4 doesn't help I don't think.
This is my thinking. Big Dwarves type Lord of the Rings style beer cave inside. (6 food inside will do).We drink it all and stumble outside heroes!
Cinematography DEPT will make it look perilous! = More beer for us Heroes!
Mobsta said:
silverthorn2151 said:
In an idle moment, just before bed, I searched YouTube for tight squeeze caving.
Why did I do that?
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8M7883VXkIc
OK. Cool. So, for the formal PH breakfast next month, us men will meet in the mens chamber which has the beer tap.Why did I do that?
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8M7883VXkIc
And we'll bring you the nail file, polish and lipstick, to the wimmins cave. Which is actually just a makeup booth disguised as a cave to get them on board.
OK, I admit, I wouldnt go there.
You can still have your manicure and a sip of the dregs if there is any left, though.
silverthorn2151 said:
Oi! Mind you, I expect its murder on the nails.
You'll be fine. Apparently, no one is meeting in the mans breakfast cave today, so we could sort of prop up a tarpaulin with a rock pattern on it, against a fryup joints front door. But you wouldn't be allowed to tell anyone. Or we would do your nails in the following week when my third cousin Jippo Jessica and her nail file elephant come to town.Mobsta said:
silverthorn2151 said:
I seem to have developed a morbid fascination with this subject.
I refer you to:
http://www.jocosarblog.org/jocosarblog/2009/11/man...
which I found whilst enjoying lunch today.
To me, as someone around 200lb, I would look at an opening 18" x 10" and think, nope, not big enough. He got stuck in it! Well no s$%t Sherlock!
These people are crazy I tell you!
Grim.I refer you to:
http://www.jocosarblog.org/jocosarblog/2009/11/man...
which I found whilst enjoying lunch today.
To me, as someone around 200lb, I would look at an opening 18" x 10" and think, nope, not big enough. He got stuck in it! Well no s$%t Sherlock!
These people are crazy I tell you!
Wiki said:
"John Edward Jones (1983–2009) in Nutty Putty Cave in Utah November 2009. John, an experienced caver, had gotten wedged in an unmapped portion of Ed's Push at a 170-degree downward angle with his feet over his head complicating rescue. After some 24+ hours they had been able to move him two feet upward, and lower down food and water, when a part of the rescue rope system failed dropping him fully back into the wedge. It was after this that he became much too weak to help the rescuers in their efforts and he expired shortly thereafter. As of now it's been decided by JAYB and the family and landowner to leave his body in place and seal the cave permanently."
Sky News Link
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