Anyway, the BCA is currently doing better than the BMC... https://www.thebmc.co.uk/ceo-open-letter

I think they do work better than a Torse for long bodied and particularly larger top-heavy cavers (who also benefit from harnesses with a higher waistband/attachment point). They are a faff though, and the more modern types of chest harness are probably better for almost everybody. But they...

I'm not sure there is an option for that. You can change the font size of the label under 'Sketch Settings' -> 'Point' -> 'Labels size' but I think that's a display font size (i.e. it is related to your screen size rather than your sketch zoom). Probably an important question is why: either...

Assuming the linked Treasurer's report in the post directly above yours was accepted in full: Caving member £20 -> £24 Non-caving member £6 -> £8 Student £8 - £10 Club £25 -> £36 Club hut or ACB £60 -> £72

Or which don't apply to the BMC? Setting up as a company is not without cost, additional legal hurdles and effort, so what's the advantage for the BCA?

For the clubs that I know that have become mutuals (limited by share I think?), the risks were a) running a public winch meet or b) contaminated land remediation from historic mining (albeit highly unlikely to be required). Would the BCA policy cover these? :P

Be warned the fumes off 2402 are fairly violent :p

If 'the powers that be' were convinced that CROW did apply to caving, it is likely that some of them would soon (probably after being leaned on by cavers) issue restrictions to some caves on CROW land that are currently gated. For example, I believe NRW own most of OFD (or at least the land...

Hardly seems fair to blame the BCA for an access agreement arranged, as you say, locally that you find inconvenient? Particularly as the BCA has generally pushed for better and simpler access for all cavers including non-members. Perhaps if the BCA were some centralised superpower it would be...

The public liability element protects the landowner against you being poor, basically. The landowner can be confident that, should you cause them damage or liability while caving on their land, they can sue you and the insurance will pay up what you owe. Without insurance, a landowner might fail...

*role It is entirely reasonable to criticise the work done by a volunteer, or their opinions on how things should or are done. It gets a lot more murky when you start criticising the volunteer themselves. A lot of volunteers are only doing the job because someone has to and they have been...

Being mean doesn't look good on anyone, regardless of the target.

Descending down past a ledge is usually OK, if very thrutchy (basically get right down against the rock and slither down ungracefully). There are still significant hazards from loose rock disturbed by the rope and rope-cutting swings across the edge. I would be extremely hesitant to prusik...

based on experience from someone I know who had one, not very long at all... the mechanism on the slider became rubbish very quickly. However, that might have been a one-off... There is also the Petzl Ball-lock which is available on the Am'D.

Pedant note: The Petzl device being tested in those videos is not the Petzl Connect Adjust, but the Petzl Evolv Adjust which is explicitly not PPE i.e. not a personal anchor but is only positioning equipment. All the diagrams in the manual will show a belay system being used with the Evolv...