Cave – Page 5 – Steve Banks Outdoors

Cave Leader training courses

Our 2022 programme is starting with more caving – this time we have two 2-day Cave Leader training courses on the 17th & 18th and 19th & 20th January in the Yorkshire Dales. Steve also has a Vertical Cave Leader training course on the 15th & 16th March.

If you are interested in furthering your caving knowledge or qualification – or, indeed, qualifications in other fields such as paddlesport or mountaineering, please get in touch with Steve who will be pleased to hear from you and happy to assist.

Steve is also available for personal guiding and coaching at any time: steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk and 07796 213817

By Steve|January 5th, 2022|Cave|Comments Off

Vertical Cave Leader training

Steve has a Vertical Cave Leader training course coming up on December 16th & 17th and has two places still available. The course, previously known as Level 2 Cave Leader, is based in Ingleton in the Yorkshire Dales and covers the personal skills, rigging skills and incident management approaches required to lead people in caves with simple vertical pitches of up to 18m. You need to have some vertical caving experience and to have done the Cave Leader (Level 1) training as a minimum to enrol.

If you’re interested in this course please get in touch with Steve at steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk or call 07796 213817. He’ll be pleased to hear from you and happy to help.

By Steve|December 9th, 2021|Cave|Comments Off

Cave Leader training

Steve has just run a two day BCA Cave Leader training course in the Yorkshire Dales. Using the Great Douk area, Long Churn, Borrin’s Moor and Wilson’s Caves we covered lots of relevant limestone geography, geology and geomorphology; environmental, historical and speleological issues as well as critical equipment, group management and ropework – and much more! An enjoyable time was had by all.

If you are interested in trying caving, working towards caving awards or just moving your current caving forwards Steve will be pleased to help you. He also runs a caving trip to Northern Spain in April which is appropriate for any suitably fit and interested individual – no significant caving experience is required as it is mainly trekking in vast and spectacular spaces. Just call on 07796 213817 or email for a discussion about any of the above.

By Steve|October 21st, 2021|Cave|Comments Off

Family caving day

Steve ran a fun, introductory, family caving day in the Yorkshire Dales in ideal conditions. A great time was had by all as the venue allowed for wandering along easy cave passage enjoying the environment or, in the case of one 10 year old aspirant caving ‘connoisseur’, the opportunity to delve into every small space they could find!

Caving does offer experiences of all levels to match with individual interests. There are plenty of venues where straightforward walking and easy scrambling underground is the norm. If this is an environment you’d like to experience get in touch and we’ll be pleased to help.

By Steve|August 31st, 2021|Cave|Comments Off

Going Underground

Not quite as intended by The Jam – and we certainly weren’t in a jam, but last week we did manage to run our first caving course for 15 months. Perfect dry and warm conditions, coupled to new freedoms, enabled us to provide a Cave Leader assessment in the Ingleborough area of the Yorkshire Dales. Whilst we adhered tightly to Covid-19 rules, this didn’t prevent the candidate and their group having an excellent day out. We later also learned that this was the first such course to be run nationally since the easing of lockdown, so we’re pleased to be at the vanguard of what we hope to be more exciting but safe adventures going underground.

If you’re interested in trying caving, or in progressing your caving qualifications, please get in touch with Steve who’ll be pleased to help you.

By Steve|April 20th, 2021|Cave|Comments Off