Frequently Asked Questions
Pretty things (and Mike) in Illusion Pot
Click the links below to answer any questions you may have. If your question is not answered here, why not try the forum, or maybe email one of the committee?
What is Speleology?
That sounds crazy! Why do people do it?
Isn't it really scary? I have claustrophobia/vertigo/fear of the dark!
Is it safe?
Where do you go to do it?
How often do you go?
Where do you stay?
How much do the trips cost?
Do I need any special equipment?
What is SRT?
Do you provide training?
Who can join your club?
I suffer from diabetes/asthma/other medical conditions! Can I still join?
How do I sign up?
What's with the purple sheep?
What is Speleology?
Speleology, also called Caving or Potholing, is the practice of climbing down caves and holes in the ground in order to explore the passageways and caverns found underground. It involves climbing, abseiling, rope work, squeezing through tight spaces, getting wet and muddy, and wearing lots of daft looking kit. It is not a particularly widespread hobby but those who do it find it to be very enjoyable and totally worth it. There is quite a well-stablished caving scene in many parts of the UK, and cavers tend to be highly sociable types, usually with beards, who drink lots of ale and generally are very nice friendly people.
That sounds crazy! Why do people do it?
There are many reasons for caving.
- The sense of adventure and excitement
- Beautiful rock formations and scenery found in caves
- The knowledge that you are going to places few others will
- The sense of achievement at having completed a trip
- The fun of learning to SRT (abseiling and ascending ropes) and put it into practice
- Socialising with other cavers and generally having a good time
- The health benefits from doing an active sport (not quite cancelled out by the increased beer intake!)
Regardless of what your reasons are, our club will welcome you, provide equipment and help you to enjoy this wonderful sport.
Isn't it really scary? I have claustrophobia/vertigo/fear of the dark!
It's perfectly normal to be frightened of some aspect of caving at first - most of our club members still suffer some sort of fear when caving, even with years of experience. Part of the fun of caving is overcoming your fears and it is a real buzz to push yourself and do things you would normally be far too scared to do. When we are underground, our leaders are trained to make sure everyone is OK and nobody is doing anything they don't want to do.
Is it safe?
Any adventure sport carries an element of risk, and some people find the danger to be part of the thrill! However, safety is the highest priority when on trips - we have an excellent track record for accidents and incidents while caving, and our health and safety officer is always on hand to ensure everyone is prepared. With proper preparation and common sense, the risk of anything happening is minimal. all our equipment is checked regularly, and we make sure we plan around the weather to avoid floods while underground.
Where do you go to do it?
We go caving in a variety of places around the country - the Yorkshire Dales, Derbyshire, the Mendips and South Wales to name a few. We also sometimes organise trips abroad during the Easter break - In 2006 we went to Ireland, in 2005 we managed a trip for a whole week to Belgium, and in 2004 the club went to the Vercours in the south of France.
How often do you go?
We have full club trips once a fortnight during the term, which usually works out at about 4 trips per semester. These trips last a whole weekend, departing on Friday evening and returning on Sunday evening. In addition, smaller groups sometimes do day trips or overnight stays to other places, going in cars to places like the Yorkshire Dales or the Peak District.
Where do you stay?
For the club weekends, we usually stay in Caving Huts, which are converted farm houses or bunk houses, with bunk beds, a kitchen area, bathrooms and dining room. They also usually have a changing room for caving kit and sometimes a drying room for wet gear. They are often quite basic, but staying there works out very cheaply - just a few pounds a night. Sometimes there is a pub close by, and sometimes we just sit round the fire and enjoy the company!
How much do the trips cost?
Weekends away will cost around £20-25, which includes the accommodation, transport there and back, food for the whole weekend, and any gear you may need to borrow. The cost reduces slightly if you bring all your own kit. Beer is not included, you must bring your own!
Do I need any special equipment?
MUSC has an overflowing tackle store full of gear for you to borrow, and all you need to provide is enthusiasm, and maybe a pair of wellies if you have any. We will lend you furry undersuits, waterproof oversuits, a helmet and light, and eventually SRT kit when you start using ropes. For more information about caving gear, visit our info pages.
What is SRT?
SRT stands for Single Rope Technique - it is the practice of using a single rope to ascend and descend in caves. This means abseiling down using a friction device, and prussicking up ropes using a combination of two rope jammers and a foot loop. It is very safe, and at all times when using SRT you will be attached to at least two points in case of failure of equipment. Once you have learned to SRT, the variety of caves you can reach increases greatly, and it is a brilliant way to get around underground. If you don't fancy it just yet, we also have metal rope ladders you can use when starting off to get down into big holes.
Do you provide training?
We can train you in everything you need to know to go caving, including safety concerns, and in particular how to SRT - including how to put on all your gear properly, how to ascend and descend ropes safely, and how to get yourself out of sticky situations when underground. We usually hold training once weekly at the Church of Holy Innocents in Fallowfield, who kindly let us use their bell tower to climb up and down. For more information on training sessions, see the training section in the info pages, or check out the forum.
Who can join your club?
Anyone is welcome to join - we mostly consist of Manchester Uni students, but there are a number of non-student members, mostly ex-students. Don't worry if you are a total beginner, as we run caving trips for people of all abilities and levels of confidence, and we will show you everything you need to know. We honestly are really friendly and nice!
I suffer from diabetes/asthma/other medical conditions! Can I still join?
These do not preclude you from caving. However, we must be told about this and it is still your resposibility to take any necessary medication underground with you.
How do I sign up?
The best way to meet us is to come to the pub - we meet every Wednesday at the Whitworth in Rusholme, usually from about 7.30pm onwards. If you come down and meet us, we can sign you up and tell you more about our club. The membership fee is £25 for new members, which covers insurance for caving trips. If you can't make it to the pub for whatever reason, why not post on our forum introducing yourself, and some friendly caver will soon sort you out. Alternatively, email the committee.
What's with the purple sheep?
We have a purple sheep as our mascot, as a group of our members once helped rescue a sheep who had lost its way and found itself stuck at a bottom of a cave. They managed (after a bit of a struggle) to get a harness on the sheep and lift it up to safety. I don't know why its purple to be honest, except that it's the best colour of them all!
