The Gouffre Berger 2013

[Ali Wiseman]

I very much doubt I have the stamina for this at the moemnt... unnles I've looked up the wrong place, it's over 1KM vertical!

Might need to work up to that.

[Tim Watts]

yer - 1.2km to the bottom. get hitting the gym fella!

[Ali Wiseman]

One of the reasons I love underground exploration... no need for a fecking Fitness first membership!

Just need to arrange things to get out more often, though the tree outside my house works for a spot of SRT practice (Re-belaying up and down), and if the Neighbours think I'm "bloody crazy", so much the better.

[Joel Colk]

Only 400 metres Of the vertical difference is done on ropes I was reading, the rest is hiking and crawling. Still sounds like a good challenge to me

[Ali Wiseman]

Interesting...

I have a proviosonal "Yes" from the other half.

I suppose I had better get a passport sorted out then.

[Frank Hill]

[quote="Suboffender" post=5909]Only 400 metres Of the vertical difference is done on ropes I was reading, the rest is hiking and crawling. Still sounds like a good challenge to me [/quote]

And a night underground, upside down mountaineering!!

[Vikki Sestan]

AMAZING! Count me in :-)

[Joel Colk]

[quote="cavefrog" post=5926]AMAZING! Count me in :-)[/quote]

If you can run a marathon, you can do this.

[Joel Colk]

[quote="frankthesurf" post=5925][quote="Suboffender" post=5909]Only 400 metres Of the vertical difference is done on ropes I was reading, the rest is hiking and crawling. Still sounds like a good challenge to me [/quote]

And a night underground, upside down mountaineering!![/quote]


And just a night underground? easy peasy. Last time I slept down a mine, i slept for 12 hours :silly:

If i can send a week in the field with the TA with helicopters and fast jets launching flares at me every hour keeping me awake im sure i can spend a night in a cave.

Anyone seen sanctum? First thing i thought of when i noticed this trip
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaZHjv3ASfw[/video]

[Tim Watts]

I made the mistake of taking Sarah to see Sanctum at the cinema when it came out.

Prior to seeing it she'd agreed to me getting a rebreather (me and an ex-navy diver at work were going to get them at the same time). Half way through one of the first scenes of the film she leans across and said "You're not getting a rebreather".......... and that was that.

[mike leahy]

give les from the wessex a nudge, there booked in this august. and they will probably go next year as well , that will bump the numbers up .oh les is still in mulu caving at the moment but should be back in a fortnight ish.they are also coming up to northwales on 2nd,3rd,4th,5th of june .  :woohoo: PARTY :woohoo:

[Tim Watts]

Mike, I know - I already spoke to Les about it a while ago. He invited me on the Wessex trip but it clashes with work :-(

It was Les who suggested I apply for a permit for next year - and open it up to fill places.Permits for 2013 have to be in October (before the November cut-off).

Wessex only do it every few years - its too big a thing for them to arrange every year (he says).

I'm off for 2,3,4,5 June :-) PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!! - Any plans yet?

[Claire Brimson]

party in Finlando is much better :lol: :lol:

[Ali Wiseman]

Just a quick question.

How much is this going to cost? Having looked around the net a little bit... that's a LOT of kit needed.

[Tim Watts]

Very loosly speaking.....

Its your personal food and travel (I may drive the landy over with the trailer so some seats there) or a cheapo flight and then split cost for hire of mini bus/van in france (for ten days)

Its cheap camping fees

Some (slightly out of date info on travel and camping costs here):
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/85493680/Gouffre-Berger-2010

Regarding the actual expedition costs: Some people buy rope out there to save on costs transporting it.

Assuming we bought all new rope it would be in the region of 850m of rope and around 100 hangers.

I'd say about £2000 quids worth or gear (maybe less) but of course there is already a quantity of rope in the club which we could take, and of course any rope we bought could maybe be bought by the club afterwards - or in the first place? - I might be speaking out of turn here - only an idea! We'd probably need more rope/equipment bags too.

I imagine about 30 people in total, possibly a mix of some people who might only want to make the -600m target and some who wanted to push for the full -1200m?

Theres some other gear we'd need to think about too, i.e. hiring underground radio sets etc. Lets take worst case that the expedition costs were about £3000 all in, thats £100 each between 30 people. Plus cheapo flights and car hire etc - Say another £150 each?

I think it could be done for under £100 (expedition) + £200 (personal) transport = £300

Obviously people will need additional gear of their own that they may not already have. i.e. for spending a night(s) underground etc.