Squeeze question (Caving)

[BOD]

Caving has not been a regular part of my life and most of the caves I have been in are basically tourist caves though I have encountered a few nameless wild caves. This has been in Western Australia and South East Asia.

It’s the caves and their formations that fascinate me and I am not a proficeint caver.

Most of these have been walk, stoop or crawl with a couple with passages involving squeezes

I’m going on an adventure caving trip next week as a replacement for a teacher and have suddenly realised I have become broader over the years than my out-of-date mental self-image.

I’ve also been told that there are a couple of short but tight sections and am looking for advice on squeeze techniques. A teacher was stuck on one the previous year.

My practice in the past has been elbow and knee/toe crawling or lying on my back and wriggling through head first.

I’m sure there are smarter techniques but I haven’t been able to locate them on the net.

Can anyone direct me to a site or offer any advice?

Thanks

Ash

 

[bri66]

Hi you want to use your forearms and toes rather than elbows and knees,and relax,Brian

 

[Shewie]

You wouldn't get me in a squeeze situation, makes me feel sick just thinking about it

 

[helixpteron]

Caving has not been a regular part of my life and most of the caves I have been in are basically tourist caves...... I am not a proficeint caver.

Most of these have been walk, stoop or crawl with a couple with passages involving squeezes

I’m going on an adventure caving trip next week as a replacement for a teacher and have suddenly realised I have become broader over the years than my out-of-date mental self-image.

I’ve also been told that there are a couple of short but tight sections and am looking for advice on squeeze techniques. A teacher was stuck on one the previous year.

Given that you are not a proficient caver, have become broader and are about to go adventure caving as a replacement, at short notice, my advice would be..... Don't!

Caving is rather unforgiving, even on highly experienced cavers. Getting stuck can become fatal.

 

[John Fenna]

As a one time Local Cave Leader trainee (I had to quit caving after the left side of my face became paralysed after a martial arts accident - I cannot keep my eye clean underground and I end up with either both eyes closed and painful or have to use an eyepatch which is uncomfortable and incapacitating) I say - Go for it!

The main trick is to relax and breath shallowly...I have never been a "racing snake" yet have got myself through sqeezes where you cannot get a head through if you are wearing a helmet.....
Use elbows/ toes/ forarms/ shoulderblades/pelvis/buttocks to give you traction and enjoy every moment!

 

[Bravo4]

Hi BOD, if you've not run across this google book already, check it out, has a section on Squeezes.
http://books.google.com/books?id=J-...resnum=1&ved=0CAgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=&f=false

 

[lavrentyuk]

I used to really enjoy caving, started with the Scouts, carried on a College, but have done very little for years now.

Squeezes are okay, more depends on the angle of the approach. I hated going down into one as a slip and it proving too tight was.............. problematic.

Sumps were another joy. I took up diving with the intention of going cave-diving but quickly realised that was a daft idea.

What you want is a nice long crawl into the cave - Daren Cilau used to be good but I daresay they've found another way in now.

For your peace of mind just try to make sure you can get purchase to get out again. I used to sometimes find it easier to get one shoulder through first.

Let us hear how it went.

Richard

 

[Claudiasboris]

I've not been caving for a long time now, it's something that I really miss.

As far as squeezes go, relax: don't go in all stiff and worried. Don't commit too much so that you can't wriggle back out. Don't breath out all the way to fit through.

Enjoy!

Claudiasboris

 

[maddave]

I do a lot of caving and still enjoy it. The only thing to remember about the tight stuff is this...
1. Never bring your knees up towards your chest when crawling, you can get jammed by a "camming" action of your thighbones.. Bit of a bugger to extricate yourself from.
2. If you become stuck..RELAX. You're not in any hurry and when you get anxious or scared you get fatter.. Known as peripheral swelling it's a defence mechanism for your body but not helpful underground, so just chill for a few mins then ease yourself out.
Most of all have fun and don't fret. Few cavers get really stuck in squeezes it's more by rising water and the like, and this can be avoided by good planning.

 

[Ogri the trog]

Not been caving for about 30 years, though I recall some squeezes that had to be approached up-side-down, backwards or inverted.
I fear the squeezes that would be problematic for me now would be small enough for others to hold a party in!

Have fun BOD.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Sainty]

I used to do a lot of caving on the Mendips and in South Wales. My advice on squeezes is not to do what my mate used to which was to start stripping layers of clothing off until he was thin enough to get through.

Man, did that boy used to shed some blood underground!!!

However, as others have said, just relax and enjoy the experience. There's nothing as satisfying as getting to then end of a squeeze that you didn't think you were capable of.

Martin

 

[BOD]

Thanks all for the help.

Did a report here http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=625569#post625569

 

[BorderReiver]

You're all bloody mad.

You would never get me down a nasty, tight, wet, dark hole in the ground.

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