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OPEN DAYS AND WEEKENDS - PHOTOGRAPHS

DEMONSTRATION OF CAVING TECHNIQUES

Demonstrating abseiling in Engine Vein

Demonstrating single rope techniques.  A member demonstrates the use of a single rope for descending and climbing vertical shafts in a mine or cave.  The equipment, developed by cavers such as Fernand Petzl in France, is used extensively to give us access to shafts in caves and mines.  The techniques require practice and training but are quite safe The DCC squeeze machinewhen applied correctly. Crawling in Wood Mine (optional!)

(Left) Crawling.  We do  not usually demonstrate crawling!  However, any keen visitors are welcome to have a try for themselves.  In this case, the miners have filled an old passage with sand and rocks dug out elsewhere in the mine.  In some mines and most caves, crawls such as this may be between a solid roof and floor requiring the caver to squeeze through, hence the squeeze machine used for practising crawling.

(Right) The DCC squeeze machine.  The top board can be raised and lowered.  The person on top is making sure the squeeze machine does not move!

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