Hands up who likes adventures! Who likes rolling around in mud and splashing about in water? Who likes witnessing the wonders of nature, untouched by humans, in the secret chambers of the underground? Who likes clambering about, meters below the soil, adrenaline rushing through your veins, and the cool air of the cave filling your lungs? Did I mention there would be chocolate (guaranteed)?! If you answered “yes” to these questions, caving is for you!
I joined the U.C.D. Caving and Potholing Club at the Sports Expo during “Fresher’s Week”. I had recently turned 21, and I decided it was time for a bit of adventure in my life! (You could say I was going through a quarter-life crisis…). I joined up full of enthusiasm, eager to embrace this new sport and excited to see what the club would be up to in the coming year. Then college began and my ambitions of becoming adventurous in this new chapter of my life faded into the distance as the assignments and exams piled up.
Come trimester two, I was ashamed of myself for letting it go so easily last year, and I became determined to make the most of my membership this semester. Training took place once a week for 3 hours at the U.C.D. climbing wall. Having previously been a part of the Mountaineering Club, I was familiar with bouldering and rock climbing, but when I arrived at the wall for caving training, there was just ropes hanging down from everywhere! And the equipment! There was a harness, and then more straps you put around your upper body in a complex “X” shape… and then there was all the things you had to attach to the harness! Between cow tails, ascenders, descenders and an interesting looped rope, it all seemed very complicated! One of the senior members took me aside and taught me how to correctly put everything together and what each piece of equipment was used for.
We then headed over to the hanging ropes and I got myself connected up. Slowly but surely I climbed the rope to about 5 meters high before I was instructed to stop so that I could learn how to come down! Having acquired this new skill, I spent the entire next 2 hours literally just going up and down the ropes, perfecting my technique and gaining confidence in myself with the equipment. My hands and fingers were in pieces, but it was so much fun, I just wanted to do it again and again! Whilst I was essentially acting like a yoyo, some of the more senior members of the club were learning and practising caving rescuing techniques on the ropes beside me. It was very interesting to watch, but also very entertaining! Just before training ended, I tried something a bit more advanced – switching between ropes. This was particularly exciting, as it seemed a bit more “real-life”, although the danger was increased as if you undid the wrong part, you could very easily fall to the ground!
I have since become a regular member at training. The first trip this semester will be to Fermanagh, where we will be expected to put all this practice to use! I can’t wait to go and explore some real caves!
