Upper Flood Warden Information

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Rules and Guidelines for Wardens

Commitment

Wardens should be available to take a minimum of 2 trips per year.

The MCG committee will collate logbook data annually. Wardens who have not taken 2 trips into the cave will lose their status, unless the committee is made aware of any mitigating circumstances beforehand. Wardens whose status has lapsed may re-apply, subject to completion of any additional re-familiarisation trips thought necessary by the committee.

Rules

Number of non-MCG wardens to be limited to 10. Prospective wardens should be active Mendip cavers who are willing to take regular trips. Prospective wardens must be paid up-members of the BCA (British caving Association)

Party size is limited to warden plus three, except where the fifth member of the party is a prospective warden, pre-notified to the MCG committee.

Digging is controlled by the MCG. Guest wardens are welcome to dig with MCG leaders

All trips must be logged. The logbook is kept in the Key Box next to the Tackle Store in Nordrach Cottage

Wardens must leave a trip card on the MCG callout board, regardless of whether they set an additional callout. This card must then be posted in the adjacent hut fees box on completion of the trip

Any problems relating to Nordrach Cottage should be reported in the first instance to the MCG Cottage Warden, or another member of the committee

Lost keys must be reported to the MCG caving secretary. Any warden who loses a key will be responsible for the cost of its replacement

No carbide

The party must be suitably competent to move through the delicate cave and pass formations without damage, for the entire trip. All members of the party should possess the necessary levels of stamina and fitness. The Warden should decline or curtail a trip in the event that these expectations are not met

The Warden should check that the party is suitably equipped

Existing fixed aids must be left in place. No additional fixed aids to be added without first consulting the MCG caving secretary. Any damage to fixed aids must be immediately reported to the MCG caving secretary

The rescue dump is maintained by the MCG. Any person found to have tampered with it unnecessarily will be permanently refused access to the cave

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Out of bounds areas

Due to its unique, profuse and extremely vulnerable formations, the original entrance to Neverland, from the start of West Passage to the Bare Hands Dig, is strictly out of bounds. All trips to Pork Pie Passage must use the New Link from the middle section of West Passage. For the time being, only cavers working on the Second Neverland Link are to proceed beyond Funnel Chamber.

Conservation

All visitors to Pork Pie Passage must remove their oversuits at the lake reached just after passing through the New Link and avoid touching the passage walls whilst doing so. Before proceeding to Pork Pie Passage, feet and hands must be cleaned of all traces of mud. Great care must be used to avoid touching anything other than the tape marked section of passage floor. The small ponds in Pork Pie Passage may be used for further washing. The final approach to the Pork Pie Lake is to be made by a flat out crawl. Beware the sharp calcite needles on the passage floor, the use of clean gloves is suggested.

Any conservation, safety or security issues (i.e. damage to formations, instability, problems with entrance etc.) in the cave must be reported to the MCG caving secretary as soon as possible

Conservation of the cave and its wildlife is the prime responsibility of a warden. Trips must have minimum impact on the cave so this means taking an active role in guiding a party through the cave. If a party does not seem sufficiently competent or are careless, the trip must be abandoned.

Warden expectations

Demonstrate a level of caving and leadership ability commensurate with the difficulty of a trip to the far reaches of the cave

Have a sound knowledge of the history of exploration within the cave

Have visited (as far as is practicable) all areas within the cave and be competent in route finding, particularly with regard to the main boulder choke

Be aware of the particular dangers and conservation sensitive areas within the cave

Actively participate in conservation and maintenance projects

Have knowledge of the cave's rules and guidelines as detailed in the Rules section above

Take a minimum of 2 trips per year.

Warden training 

Prospective wardens should participate in a minimum of three training trips and demonstrate knowledge of the expectations above. These trips should be accomplished in a time frame of not more than 18 months, with at least two different established wardens, one of whom must be a MCG member.

On completion of each trip, applicants should fill in the form provided by the MCG noting the accompanying warden. Once the form is completed, it should then be submitted to the MCG trustees who will consider the appointment as a leader.

Upon approval, for a one-off donation of £5, wardens will receive a key and access card to Nordrach Cottage, as well as the combination for the box containing the cave key. Wardens and their guests are welcome to use the facilities in Nordrach Cottage, in return for a £1 day fee, payable in the changing-room donation box.

The rules and guidelines set out in this document are not intended to be exhaustive. The MCG reserve the right to make changes at any time.

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