Derbyshire Caving Association
Information Circular 2008/2, March 2008
NEXT DCA MEETING
The hall will be open from about 9.30am with tea, coffee & biscuits available. The Old Smithy Café next to the Pub does an excellent breakfast from about 9am.
Council Meetings for the rest of 2008 - Saturday, 28th. June; Saturday, 1st.November
AGM 2009 - 10am. Saturday, 21st. February 2009.
DCA OFFICERS FOR 2008-2009
DCA Cave Discovery Fund Panel: Panel Members are Terry Jackson, Iain Barker, Boyd Potts + DCA Chairman, Treasurer & Conservation Officer.
CONSERVATION & ACCESS
If you have any queries or problems about Conservation or Access in the region, please contact the Conservation Officer, Dave Webb, 0115-840-1109, or Asst. Conservation Officer, Wayne Sheldon, 01226-710368, both at conservation-off@theDCA.org.uk; or the Access Officer, Iain Barker, 0114-264-7561, 07710-689704, access-off@theDCA.org.uk.
CARLESWARK CAVERN
COLLAPSE
A collapse
in Carleswark cavern was reported in February in the Stub Scrin area of Big
Dig, close to its upstream junction with John Smith's Passage Some timbers have
fallen out and poised blocks in the roof appear unsupported. The area has been
inspected and must be regarded as highly unstable, and until such time as
remedial work can be put in hand, you are strongly advised to keep away from
this part of the system.
GIANTS HOLE
ACCESS
DCA has just been
informed that the charge for Giants has been raised to £3.00. According
to our informant: "There's a big sign pinned to the side of the box where you
fill out your envelope and post it, which says quite clearly that it's now
£3 each." DCA Access Officer will be querying this but doubt there's much
we can do.
EYAM DALE HOUSE
CAVE
There is currently
some confusion about access here: In February DCA Access Officer, Iain Barker,
sent revised details for access as follows: "Park in the gravelled area
immediately on left upon entering the grounds. There is no need to call at the
nursing home. The entrance shaft is not locked but please replace the lid.
Please be aware of residents and visitors when getting changed and keep your
presence as 'low profile' as possible." However, we received a report at the
end of March, saying that the cave lid had been padlocked again and that no key
was available. The situation is being investigated and we'll try to sort it
a.s.a.p.
SUICIDE CAVE
The boulder choke above the low crawl
has now collapsed completely so there is no access to the further reaches of
the cave by this route. Access to the top of the pitch is unaffected.
INSTALLATION OF ECO-ANCHORS
If you have any queries about Eco-anchors installed in the region, please contact the Equipment Officer, Dave Cowley, 0114-255-1285, 07956-560055, equipment@theDCA.org.uk.
OXLOW CAVERN, Y-HANG
PULL-THRO'
Oxlow now has
a cable & ring Y-hang pull-thro' on the climb up to Pilgrim's Way.
(Replacing the former 'chain & maillons' pull-thro' system.) The new setup
is not yet quite complete, it awaits installation of two Eco-anchors at the
base of the climb to allow free run for the pull-back rope and to allow a
secure lock-off. It does work OK now, even though it's not quite complete, but
we'll let you know when the job is finished.
DCA NEEDS A NEW TREASURER FOR 2009
Present DCA Treasurer, Jenny Potts, has been doing the job for many years and would like to hand over to a new Treasurer in 2009. (She is willing to continue as Secretary for a couple more years so that the post of Secretary/Treasurer is once again split.) The post would suit an experienced club treasurer or someone similar who has experience of dealing with varied and detailed accounts. If you are interested yourself, or know of someone who might be suitable, please contact Jenny direct on 01335-370629 or email secretary@theDCA.org.uk with a view to discussing what's involved.
CAVING EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY - HOME AND ABROAD
MENDIP CAVING 2008, 6th to 8th June
2008
More info. from website
http://mendipcaving.org.uk when it becomes available.
SHEFFIELD CLIFFHANGER, Millhouses Park, Sheffield.
12th & 13th. July
There will be a caving
stand, organized by DCA, at the UK's largest open-air outdoor-pursuits
festival. Also featuring: The British Bouldering Championships, Mountain
Biking, Local Beer Festival, Come-And-Try-It Climbing Walls, Open Air Market,
Skateboarding, Reverse Bungee, Orienteering Races, A Guinness World Record Dyno
Competition, Demonstration Events, Massive Bargain Area, Music, Children's
Rides, And Much, Much More.
NAMHO Conference 2008, 11th. - 13th. July 2008
Details will be posted on the NAMHO website -
http://www.namho.org/
FRANCE: Vercors 2008, 23rd. to 30th.
August
Further details from the website:
http://vercors2008.ffspeleo.fr
HIDDEN EARTH 2008, 26th to 28th September
The Venue is Prince Henry's Grammar School,
Otley, Leeds. Further information from the Hidden Earth website:
www.hidden-earth.org.uk
NEWS FROM BCA BCA
AGM, Saturday, 5th. April The BCA AGM will take place at 10.30am. at the Baptish Church Hall, Alvechurch. The Agenda has not yet (at the time of writing this) been circulated to Club, Associate and Direct Individual members.
FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER / NOTICEBOARD
31st March 2008