Occasionally people confuse me for a caver with lots of experience. I’m not.
I have some caving skills, and some experience in certain environments and some transferred skills from other sports… But there is more to learn.
(There’s always more to learn!)
Painfully aware of my own limitations and weaknesses in SRT, I took myself to one of Nigel Atkins SRT Masterclasses and self rescue workshops.
Whilst being reasonably confident I wouldn’t get myself into tied up in too many pickles, I was looking for more confidence I could help a struggling member pass a deviation or rebelay.
The best lesson I got from the day was: “do all you can to avoid that – do surface training til that won’t happen” but despite the helpful/unhelpful nature of that advice, I did get some useful thoughts on how to unpick problems when something doesn’t go to plan.
So now you can think of me as mildly less unskilled, slightly wiser, and much more good looking than before.
Whether any of that is true…. Well, I’ll leave you to judge!
Originally posted on this post on Instagram
