Cave Leader Courses 2009/10

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Contact

Graham Derbyshire
Sycamore House
Stainton
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 0EP
 
01768 895418
07825 305789
 

Cave Leader Experience Requirements

 Pre-Assessment Experience

            The minimum experience expected before a candidate may progress to assessment is as follows: -

 

For Level 1: candidates who are ready for assessment at LCMLA Level 1 will have experience amounting to an absolute minimum of: -

§         One years caving with at least 30 trips in at least 10 different systems across at least 2 different regions.

§         5 of these trips should be quality days.

§         A proportion of these trips should be as a leader under supervision.

§         Some trips may be above and beyond the remit of level 1.

 

For those wanting a mines award the minimum experience is: -

§         One year mining with at least 30 trips including 5 quality trips in mines of different types, i.e. metal, stone and /or slate.

§         A proportion of these should be as a leader under supervision.

§         Some trips may be above and beyond the remit of level 1.

 

For Level 2 an additional 30 underground trips all of which should be in vertical cave systems.

5 of these should be quality days.
 

 

A quality day should satisfy at least 4 of the following criteria: -

1.        Exploration of a new route or cave (new to the candidate that is),

2.        Incorporates at least 4 to 5 hours of underground exploration.

3.        An experience that develops an individuals caving knowledge, skills and awareness.

4.        Incorporates caving skills above the level of the candidate’s qualification.

5.        Of the candidates own making i.e. the candidate is to lead the trip, or it is one done with peers and not led by an external source.

6.        For level 1, involves the application of vertical skills, digging or exploration. For level 2 an extension of vertical skills, digging or exploration.

7.        Exploration of caves with a streamway that responds to rainfall.

 

 

Prerequisites for Revalidation

 

The new prerequisites for Revalidation are shown below. These will be phased in during 2010. From January 2011 these prerequisites will become compulsory. 

 

At level 1 and 2 the minimum experience required is as follows:

  • 20 trips leading groups in caves reflecting a cross section of the difficulty of the caves on the candidates list, and
  • 10 different personal exploration trips, of which 5 must be quality days. These may be repeats of trips done in the previous 5 year period. (See above for definition of quality days).