Bagshawe Beginners GiggleTrip 28/01

We often are able to help people get there with a combination of driving and public transport.

On our signup form, we'll ask you where you're travelling from and if you need, or can give a lift.

We'll try and match you up with transport options that'll support you.

It can help a great deal if you're able to make your way to the centre of Manchester or train stations like Chapel-en-le-Frith, Glossop, Hope, Buxton - if you can get to these places, we almost certainly can get you a lift the final distance.

People tend to meet from 6pm onwards, though some people arrive earlier, and some people get there later.

We tend to discuss arrival time in the group chat on Tuesday evening.

• We arrive at the cave's meeting/parking location - often at slightly different times.
• We get kitted up
• Everyone is really friendly
• We go caving
• We chat, laugh and share picnics together
• The Messenger group chat is there to help answer questions now and on the night
• Bring a cave snack, water and have fun!

Unfortunately, you won't be able to come caving with us this time.

We have to limit the numbers to keep it fun and safe for everyone, and so there's a set number of places on any trip.

It would be ideal if you didn't need to cancel after midday on Monday.

We need to know if you can't make it ASAP. The best way to tell us is by Messaging Us.

If you cancel at last minute, it can stop other people from caving, so please give us as much warning as possible - and try to tell us before we make the groups.

These evenings take hours of time behind the scenes to run smoothly, so we ask everyone to play an active role in taking on some of the admin to make them happen. Everyone takes part at some point or other.

Whilst a small team of permanent volunteers run the evening, and are always on the lookout for new faces, everyone does a little bit to help make these evenings happen.

At each crag, each week, there's a Cave Coordinator who is in charge of the evening at that crag, an Kit Coordinator whose role is to make sure that we all have the right equipment, and a Cave Reporter, who's job it is to share back to the Crew what happened that evening.

Other roles exist too.

• Bagshawe Cavern (main, lower series, gated series)
  
• Carlswark Cavern (Big Dig Series, Dynamite Series, Tourist Series)
  
• Merlin Mine
  
• Knickergrove Mine
  
• Mouldridge Mine
  
• Wapping Cumberland Caverns
  
• Giants Hole (Upper West/Upper Sumps/Round Trip/East Canal/Boss Aven)
  
• P8 (many variations to the sump)

And there are many others in our sights.

On this trip, no. We're focused on keepings things simple and fun.

After you sign up - you'll be added to a facebook messenger group where the meeting location will be shared and where you can ask questions.

The location we run these trips to is very predictable, and we've been able to run safe, fun, successful trips there in all the most challenging weather.

Sometimes we adapt our route through the cave to accommodate different conditions, and we're constantly risk assessing each trip - but the trip is 99.95% likely to go ahead.

We try to match people with the right level of challenge.

We don't always get it right, and as we're a mixed ability group, it can require a bit of understanding at both ends of the spectrum, but mostly we do a pretty good job.

Caving is just like anything - it ranges from very easy to very hard.

We cater for people of all caving abilities so whether you've done your first trip to Bagshawe or you're a Daren Cilau veteran, you'll be welcomed and supported.

You don't need any minimum skills.

The minimum fitness you need is to be able to walk up 3 flights of stairs - at your own speed - there's no rush at all.

If you're an experienced caver with years of experience keen to join us, please drop us a message.

Probably not. These are fun social caving evenings rather than training evenings.

You should get to cave, whilst people may be willing to pass on skills - the expectation is that you have a fun evening cave rather than anyone shows you how to do things.

The more you volunteer with the Crew, the more we'll push training opportunities your way, and be keen to support you on your learning journey.

Yes. All the equipment is provided.

Unlike some trips, there's not usually a break where everyone stops caving.

The best way is usually after you get back to the cars - put the cakes/snacks in an obvious place and tell everyone where it is.

People will usually be very grateful, and think you are a wonderful person.

Don't take the cake into the cave, unless you know the cave very well!

Yep.

If they're over 18 - yes, please do!

These events are specifically organised for over 18s only, in accordance with our over 18 policy.

Everyone needs to be signed up through this page so that everything is done properly.

In general, the Crew loves well behaved cave dogs, but caving is rarely an ideal sport for dogs, and we'd generally suggest you left them at home or in the car.

We do our best to support cavers with all mobility and accessibility requirements who meet the minimum requirements for these events.

If you have specific requirements, please sign up and put them in the comments section of the signup form.

If you want to talk it over with someone beforehand, please feel free to message us.

We are not perfect, and we're developing our awareness of different venues' strengths and weaknesses for different people, but we will try to support cavers as best we can.

In the past, we've supported pregnant ladies, and the Crew is very supportive of cavers with different requirements.

We are keen to support as much caving activity as we can.

We know that not all cavers have a good understanding of what caves are best for them, and what's nearby.

By organising our events like this (feel free to read about how it actually works) we manage to support more cavers of different skill levels than we otherwise would be able to.

We're also able to diversify the caves we visit more, and help the planet, by sending small groups to caves nearest them, and support lift sharing.

Our approach is not for everyone, and fortunately, we're lucky to be in an area where many caving groups operate and some may have approaches that work better for people who prefer the other approaches to organising caving events.

You do not need membership, though membership reduces the price of this trip, and all future trips by quite a lot!

After the trip, we send out feedback forms, to gather your feedback and input.

Every piece of feedback is read and considered in detail, and this is by far the best place to pass on information to the team.

Often messages get lost, conversations quickly get forgotten, but when we're contemplating places and ways to improve our events - the feedback from our feedback form is the first thing we consult.

Feedback is super useful, and constructive thoughts and things we could do better are things we're very grateful for. Even "it was ok" can be surprisingly useful.

Here’s what you should bring:

• Some warm older/less nice clothes to wear as a base layer underneath the caving-specific clothes we will provide. Some examples
  • Fleece jumpers
  • Leggings
  • Thermal base layers
  • Outdoorsy t-shirts

Avoid anything made from cotton or untreated wool (such as t-shirts or wooly jumpers); synthetic fabrics that keep their warmth when wet work best here. You will be provided with a thick fleece layer and a protective outer layer to wear over this, so if all you have is cotton you’re better going without.

• Change of socks/underwear/replacement clothing. Anything you wear into the cave will likely be too wet and dirty to wear afterwards in the car, so make sure you have spare clothes for the drive home.
• Wellies (we do have spares if necessary, but the sizes and stock are limited). These aren’t special wellies – £12 wellies from go-outdoors or sparkling pink wellies with fur linings are great for caving.
• Towel
• Any important medicines you take
• Contact lenses or string for your glasses.
• A full sealed snack you enjoy eating (eg a mars bar)

What will I be borrowing?

If you don’t already have them:

• Caving Oversuit to go over your undersuit
• Caving Undersuit to go underneath your oversuit
• Caving Helmet with Caving Headtorch and fully charged Batteries
• Gloves
• Kneepads
• Wellies
• SRT Kit

We’ll also be carrying the appropriate group equipment.

This is what we'd expect from experienced cavers:

• Undersuit
• Oversuit
• Helmet + Light
• Wellies
• Kneepads
• Gloves

SRT Kit:

• Descender
• Ascender + security link
• SRT Harness
• Chest Harness
• Cowstails

• At 12:00, signup will close and we will review the skills and locations of everyone who has signed up.
• Before 7pm, you'll receive a Facebook Messenger Message confirming the crag you're headed to.

• We arrive at the cave meeting point - often at slightly different times.
• We get kitted up and head to the cave
• We have a fun trip together

• The Cave Reporter will share a post from your cave about what happened there before Thursday