November 2015 - ICU-Caving-Announce

Winter Tour! 29th Dec- 5th Jan
by Imperial College Caving Club 26 Nov '15

26 Nov '15

Hey all, The hype has been building for some time, and some times it feels like you can't enter stores without someone talking about it. That's right, it's almost that most magical time of year, where we leave of work and studying to join together and celebrate the true meaning of this most special time of year. Caving. Winter Tour is almost upon us, and it is my job to work out whether you're nice enough to join us, or naughty enough to get sent down an abandoned coal mine*! WHAT: Cecilia, our Tours Secretary has worked hard to make this an incredible week of caving over New Year's Eve and into the New Year. Yorkshire is the premier caving destination in the UK, and you'll have a chance to tackle some the most exciting caves on offer, such as Gaping Ghyll (30th Dec), Easegill (Dec 31st), King Pot, Notts 2 (Jan 5th), and many more! You'll have a chance to learn advanced skills such as rigging and the length-ways table traverse. *Don't worry if you can't make it for the full week*, many people come and go by train (see TRANSPORT). Please make sure you've attended at least one of our Wednesday afternoon Tree Training sessions if you want to come on Winter Tour - the trips will be technical and you'll need the training. On Jan 4th, six people will be able to take part in an all day Cave Rescue Training course with Tony Seddon (priority for current and upcoming leaders, a caving trip will run on this day). TRANSPORT: A minibus will leave from the Union during the day on Dec 29th. It will return to the Union on 6th Jan. We only have 9 seats cos the rest of the space is needed for vast quantities of caving gear and rope. The closest train station is Clapham, North Yorkshire. It's about 30 minutes walk away, or we can pick you up if you arrive in the evening or early morning. If you take the train up you'll need to pack your own kit before the minibus leaves (probably before Christmas!) so we can take it up for you. Contact me if you need any help getting the right trains and finding a cheap ticket. ACCOMMODATION: We'll be staying at Greenclose cottage, the North Pennine Club's caving hut, and our spiritual home. It's got great showers, a drying room, wifi and a really warm fire - the perfect place to spend a week! FOOD: Food will be of the standard you have come to expect from the caving club. COST: Cost will be worked out on a per person basis, depending on how long you come for. The cost of the minibus is split between everyone regardless of whether you got a seat, cos we have to get the rope North somehow! As an example, the full cost for a week last year was £92.99 - not bad for a week of food, booze and caving! If you want to sign up, email me on ic.caving(a)gmail.com. If you need a seat on the minibus it's important you email me soon cos if there's a huge demand we might get a 15 seater. Otherwise, let me know when you plan to arrive so Cecilia and I can start to plan. Cheers, Jack *Just kidding, this ain't Derbyshire. -- Imperial College Caving Club <http://union.ic.ac.uk/rcc/caving>

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Upcoming Caving Club events: Trips, Training and Talks!
by Imperial College Caving Club 08 Nov '15

08 Nov '15

Hey all, As always, tree training is every Wednesday from 12 pm in Princes' gardens, and we meet at the Union for drinks on Tuesday evening from 7 pm. Note that Yorkshire 1 has sadly been cancelled. Yorkshire 2 is full. There are still places for Yorkshire 3. 1. Knot and Rope Training, 24th Nov. 6 pm, Union Meeting Room 2. First aid Training, 1st Dec. 6 pm, Union Meeting Room 3. Cave Geology, 8th Dec. 6 pm Union Meeting Room 4. Yorkshire 3, 11th-13th Dec. Yorkshire Dales 5. Christmas Curry, 15th Dec. 7 pm, Brick Lane 1. Knot and Rope Training, 24th Nov. 6 pm, Union Meeting Room Learn some knots and rope-work that might be useful underground, including alpine butterflies, the clove hitch, Italian hitch, bowline on a bight and maybe even Tanguy's secret French knot. Followed by the Union. Location to be confirmed. 2. First aid Training, 1st Dec. 6 pm, Union Meeting Room I'll be giving a short presentation on the fundamentals of first aid in a cave, following the maxim 'Keep the warm and stop the bleeding'. We'll then have a practical session to practice these skills, involving darkness, bandages and some screaming. So just an average Tuesday night at Metric, then. Followed by the Union. Location to be confirmed. 3. Cave Geology, 8th Dec. 6 pm Union Meeting Room Tanguy will present a brief introduction to caves - what are they, where are they, how do they form, and what cool things facts you should know to impress your friends and relatives over the Christmas break. Followed by the Union. Location to be confirmed. 4. Yorkshire 3, 11th-13th Dec. Yorkshire Dales An ICCC classic - on Saturday we'll go to Lost Johns', a massive vertical cave system with multiple routes down. We'll split into groups to tackle different routes before meeting up at the top of Battleaxe Traverse, a winding passage where the floor drops away 40 m below into the massive chamber of Valhalla, which leads to roaring streamway. On Sunday we'll head to Notts II, a rather novel cave that always inspire the imagination. We'll stay at Greenclose Cottage. 2 places remaining. 5. Christmas Curry, 15th Dec. 7 pm, Brick Lane What better way to celebrate celebrate Christmas than with a feast on curry followed by 2 for 1 cocktails? Place: TBC (somewhere in Brick Lane) After the curry, we will be heading to Be at One, a short walk from brick lane, for some cocktails. Sign up via fb: www.facebook.com/events/1481711295469219/ or email ic.caving(a)gmail.com if you're note on facebook. Cheers, Jack -- Imperial College Caving Club <http://union.ic.ac.uk/rcc/caving>

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Yorkshire Trips: Signups open!
by Imperial College Caving Club 02 Nov '15

02 Nov '15

Hey all, Signups are now open for the three trips to Yorkshire this term. You must email me on ic.caving(a)gmail.com to sign up. I will then send you instructions on how to pay for your trip. Your place is confirmed only when you have paid. You should come to tree training (every Wednesday, 12 pm-4 pm, Princes Gardens) at least once before any of these trips - the more training sessions you do, the more fun the trip will be! *Trip details:* *Yorkshire 1: 13 - 15th Nov*. We'll be doing our first SRT (Single Rope Technique) trip in the exquisite caves of West Kingsdale, in the Yorkshire Dales. This is your first chance to try out your skills from Tree Training in a real cave! Deep under the ground you'll visit stream ways, decorated passages and huge caverns before climbing to the surface once again. We're staying at Greenclose Cottage. *Yorkshire 2: 27 - 29th Nov.* We'll be doing a long trip through Easegill, a mostly horizontal system in the Yorkshire Dales, before exiting the cave using our SRT skills. Easegill has a stunning diversity of cave passage, from huge chambers to beautifully sculpted passages like the Minarets, and the bottomless abysses of Scylla and Charybdis. We're staying at Bullpot Farm right next to the cave, so after we're out it's just a short walk back to a warm fire and dinner. *Yorkshire 3: 11 - 13th Dec.* An ICCC classic - on Saturday we'll go to Lost Johns', a massive vertical cave system with multiple routes down. We'll split into groups to tackle different routes before meeting up at the top of Battleaxe Traverse, a winding passage where the floor drops away 40 m below into the massive chamber of Valhalla, which leads to roaring streamway. On Sunday we'll head to Notts II, a rather novel cave that always inspire the imagination. We'll stay at Greenclose Cottage. To sign up, email me on ic.caving(a)gmail.com Cheers, Jack -- Imperial College Caving Club <http://union.ic.ac.uk/rcc/caving>

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