How much can you collapse your own chest?

[bloodhound31]

I re-discovered this great little squeeze in one of the caves recently. The duck-under we normally go through was a couple of inches deep in mud and water these last two weekends after all the rain and most uninviting. There were a couple of other cavers sitting in front of it, contemplating going through or back.

Rather than go back, I remembered back to 1992, when I was a lot younger and skinnier, there was a way over the top that was extremely tight for me then. I didn't fancy it.

We thought we could give it a crack so I led on through the knee knocker and into the roof. The chamber flattened, ceiling dropping lower and lower every foot. After much grunting and groaning from the group as we bruised every joint, the hole turned peanut-shaped and narrowed to a dark squeeze with the depths of the chamber beyond beckoning the way on.

I remembered the other side of the hole dropped 90 degrees and a full body length to the floor, so I turned around, lay on my belly and backed into the squeeze feet first. I must have been eating well, plus the gym hasn't helped. It doesn't pay to get big.

My bum jammed. I gave another shove and it pushed through, but now the problem was my chest. I could feel the floor on my chest, the roof on my back and every time I inhaled, the rock pressed tight around me.

I remembered a bit of a horror story I read recently called Ted's cave (http://www.freewebs.com/huclan/caver/) (don't read this if you scare easy..I mean it... you have been warned), so I thought I would try his trick. I wriggled in as far as I could, took a breath as much as the rock would allow, then prepared my muscles.

I exhaled hard and short to collapse my chest, at the same time gave an almighty shove and POP! I was through.....heart was beating rather fast I can tell you, but I am happy now that I know a bit of a creek running through the bottom of the cave is no-longer an obstacle.

I couldn't get a shot of it, but here's a similar squeeze, head first on the back.

I LOVE CAVING!! Next on the list, canyoning. Can't wait!

More photos of this excursion coming soon to my Journal (http://barryarmsteadphotography.webs.com/expeditionjournal.htm).

Baz.

[Miaplacidus]

Hi, Barry.
You sound happy, which is good. And I know that "the heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing". But please, can you explain for the uninitiated claustrophobes amongst us (myself included) precisely what it is that appeals to you about this harrowing experience? I almost break out in a sweat reading about it.
Cheers,
Brian.

[supernova1965]

My question is how much would you want to collapse your chest I have a great respect for any who can do this that being said I think you are stark raving mad. I mean this in the nicest possible way as I fear for your sanity when I see pictures like this.:scared::scared3::scared2::con fuse2::eek: :screwy::D

[troypiggo]

Dictionary extract:

"Lunatic (noun) - refer to Barry Armstead"

I thought caving was just walking around in the dark. Particularly after reading and posting that article you mentioned the other day, why on Earth would you attempt this stuff?!

[multiweb]

:eyepop: I just looked at the picture and started feeling funny Baz ... I'm not claustrophic or anything (that I know of) but this is really really scary the hell out of me... what about if you get in one of those rat holes and can't back up? :shrug:

[suma126]

THAT does not look like fun to me. but i love the photo

[bloodhound31]

Brian, it's all about taking the body beyond it's comfort zones and breaking down the barriers of fear, doubt and limits. It is a great team-building and bonding activity for groups of friends, fathers and their kids, the short and the tall. All who try it learn something and come out victorious with a real sense of achievement.

To the first part of your question I can say with confidence....not much more.... to the second part about stark raving mad.....I'll go along with that..;)

HEY!! I resemble that comment!! Why dive to the bottom of the ocean, why go into space? It's all dangerous. Actually it's more dangerous driving there and back.

If you got in, you can get out.


Give it a go mate! You might LOVE it!

Baz.

[kinetic]

Ahhh sunken chest...reminds me of a joke , Baz.

A bloke walks in to a sex shop and slams a blow up doll on the
counter. He yells, "what sort of sicko do you think I am"?
"I asked for a doll with a 36 inch chest, all the gear in the right places,
including hair and you give me a bald one with a sunken chest and
a 6 inch appendage!"

The bloke behind the counter calmly says," you have it inside out mate"

Steve

[multiweb]

:lol::lol::lol: If you told that joke to Baz while he was in that hole I reckon it would have hurt. :rofl:

[leon]

Baz mate, have you lost the plot, :rolleyes: I would have been in panic mode there and then. :eyepop:

Leon :thumbsup:

[Octane]

That picture makes me feel sick.

The description made me feel uneasy.

Kudos to you, Baz, for having the stamina and mental fortitude to attempt this kind of thing.

H

[JD2439975]

Just what I was thinking, caving is fine but that desciption was giving me a panic attack. :help:

Have fun but stay safe Baz, we like having you around.

[Analog6]

Ditto! Not for this little duck!

[bloodhound31]

Cheers for the concerns peoples!:thumbsup:That's very special. It all really is all about calculated risk though.

Apart from that, it is invigorating, gets you out of your daily urban grind, and is a great all-over body workout! Keeps you fit and healthy! Beliveve it or not, I have been out of the Army for five years now and sit behind a desk. Booooorinnnnnnggg...So, I'm not parachuting, hanging under blackhawks, doing obstacle or bayonet assault courses, no more survival courses, not blowing stuff up or shooting things anymore, so I NEED to do these things.:shrug:Keeps me sane.

The beauty is, I get so much joy out of sharing this experience with new cavers. So far I have lost count of the amount of people I have led through the caves in the last 20 years, but it is so rewarding to see how exhausted, sore, yet satisfied and happy they all are at the end of the day. Some people push through their limitations so far, I just stand in awe of them! The least likely people on first appearance, really shine when put in difficult situations.

Believe it or not, some even come back for MORE punishment...:lol:



Knowing that the big fellow upstairs well and truly has my back, is reassuring all the way mate. Believe me, in some places, it helps. ;)

Baz.

[erick]

Did a little bit on an Outward Bound course when I was much younger, fitter and narrower! Nothing like really tight squeezes, but climbing chutes etc was challenging.

Love caves, but these days walking on concrete paths and with fixed lighting and a guide does me just fine! :)

Keep enjoying it, Baz! (But keep a jackhammer, handy ;)!)

[sheeny]

Nice one Baz.

I've enjoyed a lot of caving over the last 25 years or so. Haven't done much lately though (one trip in the last month and then it was seven years ago to the one previous:rolleyes:) and I think I see myself do less in future. But I have excellent memories and it is fun!;)

Like a lot of people, there was a time when my reaction was absolutely "No way" could I do that! But that reaction is a natural self preservation instinct when faced with something you don't know enough about. As you get to know about caving and your capabilities and learn appropriate techniques all this becomes "old hat".:)

If you think of your "comfort zone" as a bubble... its good to keep stretching the bubble;). The trick is not to bust it, but unless you keep stretching it, it will contract to cocoon you into doing nothing!

:)

Al.

[bloodhound31]

Word bro!:thumbsup:

[supernova1965]

It's not stretching my comfort bubble that worries me but my bubble would get constricted not stretched if I was the one in that photo and the bubble would probably burst.:P:rofl:

[Suzy]

Now looky here Baz - I was going to give you a good talking to! :rolleyes: But from what you say in the above quote, I actually think this is now the safest out of all the horrors you mention above! Clearly, you must thrive on adrenalin. I bet your parents had their hands full with you as a child hey?! :lol: Now I have to go see what i can do to bring my own heart rate down after seeing that pic of you.:poke:

[renormalised]

Nothing a rock drill and half a plug of ampho wouldn't fix!!!:):P

Then you could walk through:):P

[jjjnettie]

Oh my.
What a heading to a thread.
Those in the know know that I'd never fit through there.;)

[Octane]

:dribble:

[Davros]

I had the great joy of doing the confined spaces training at the combined emergency services academy out at port of Brisbane. I was not comfortable going into a hole like a cork in a bottle to say the least but once i was inside and tunneling for a few meters i found myself liking the peace and quite. At one point i realized i was dragging myself through a tunnel that was actually a gutted fridge. The pools of freezing water weren't nice though!! Would i do it again YES. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: Sometimes you have to scare yourself a little bit to taste life better.

[bloodhound31]

Here's a couple of photos from Ted's Cave story for comparison. Good squeezes!:thumbsup:

Baz.

[supernova1965]

Well if I were built like your avatar I might consider it myself but I am a tad more substantial than that:P:rofl:

[Davros]

Believe me so am i, it was a snug fit. I would have sworn black and blue i would never have done it but then your put on the spot and next thing you know. Will say it is an experience never to forget and the rescue guys must have huge brass ones to work in that sort of environment with cutting gear etc.

[Ric]

So what happens if you meet something scary coming the other way???

[bloodhound31]

Hopefully you will fart in terror and that will be hideous enough to repel said scary beast...

[Ric]

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Fair enough Baz. :thumbsup:

Mental Note:

When caving with Baz, go first. :D