- list everything taken down to camp and share this list (eg put a photo of it on Signal) so the next team can see it
- idiot check the essentials before leaving - have you enough mats and sleeping bags? Is the toilet stuff packed? Are you *sure* the previous team has left at camp the survey kit / drill batteries / thru bolts or whatever you are relying on?
- ideally, leave time on the surface for the exiting camping team to give info (leads, state of camp) to the next team because this will influence what gear, food, etc the next team takes ... discuss this timing before the first team goes in to avoid the next team waiting ages and/or having a late start
-- use stoves with pre-heat coils to avoid super-slow cooking due to gas burning too cold
+- use stoves that will work well at the temperatures in an Austrian cave. We have used gas stoves in recent years, but these have often proved to be sluggish. This can be mitigated by using a stove with a heating coil such as the Optimus Vega. Other alternatives are petrol or meths stoves. Petrol is probably the best fuel for low temperatures, but requires more skill to use. An MSR field repair kit is strongly recommended. Meths stoves are simple, but can be slow - have not been used in Austria in recent times.
- whenever a team leaves camp list *everything* left both at the camp and elsewhere (eg drills, charge left in drill batteries, rope, etc left further in the cave) plus any rigging that needs fixing and, once out of the cave, share this list (eg put a photo of it on Signal)
- make laminated cave surveys (large so detail legible) and descriptions and rigging guides. Prepare these before Expo starts to highlight the best QMs
- label any bags of powder - eg milk, custard, etc which are confusable
- do NOT overpack food ... each of the 2024 Balkon camps took in more food than they ate leading to the camp derig including a 15kg tackle bag of food that, exhaustingly, had to be dragged back out. To help with this, a) try to give time between camps so food can be adjusted based on what is already in, b) check with camp-goers if they are taking personal food so the group food can be reduced accordingly
+- do NOT overpack food ... each of the 2024 Balkon camps took in more food than they ate leading to the camp derig including a 15kg tackle bag of food that, exhaustingly, had to be dragged back out. To help with this, a) try to give time between camps so food can be adjusted based on what is already in, b) check with camp-goers if they are taking personal food so the group food can be reduced accordingly. It is a good idea to have enough food in reserve at camp so that a camping team can cope with an unscheduled extra day in camp - but probably not much more than this.
- do NOT pack the kitchen sink - be minimal eg if you think you will use 2 x 18650 batteries then pack max 2 as spares, not 4; do not pack more clothes than you can wear at one time; do not pack kit that you haven't checked works or probably won't use
- do NOT leave stuff you brought down to camp and didn't use that you have, conveniently, persuaded yourself somebody else might find handy - nobody wants to have to drag it out at the end
- hammocks were trialled in Balkonhoehle in 2024; they were fine to set up but all 3 who tried them found them colder than the tent - this might be improved if tarps could be rigged more effectively
- Daren drums for water collection (for Balkonhoehle; not needed in Fischgesicht) - 1 big, 1 small is ideal, camp First aid kit can be transported to camp in the small Daren drum then be moved to a bag; other camps may need different water collection eg a large sheet of plastic on a slope can collect small drips
-- gas cannisters (or move to meths?)
-- gas stove with pre-heating coil (or try trangias?) plus spare stove
+- stove and fuel; spare stove if available
- lighters
- 2 pans plus handle if needed
- 1 large mug and 1 spork per camper - use for both drinks and meals - Expo owns 4 sets of these specifically for underground camping
@@ -37,7 +36,7 @@- Daren drums for poo collection plus toilet roll, hand sanitiser and compost bags; each camping trip brings their drum out so every trip needs to take a poo drum down. There are 2 designated poo drums
- tent (not essential but helps keep mud out and a bit of heat in; keep the doors tied wide open otherwise you get heavy condensation) - can sleep up to 5 people if they lie top to tail and this improves warmth!
- thin string for rigging tent and making gear and tarp lines
-- sleeping bag for every camper - there are 3 good quality Expo underground sleeping bags and a 4th which is nearly as warm; Expo goers can also use their own pits
+- sleeping bag for every camper - there are 3 good quality Expo underground sleeping bags (green Snugpack brand) and two others which are nearly as warm; Expo goers can also use their own pits
- quality karrimat for every camper - Expo owns 4 of these specifically for underground camping
- camp notebook and 2 x pencils for writing lists and leaving a note of where you are going on pushing days
- 3 or 4 bum-sized bits of foam for insulated seats
@@ -50,12 +49,12 @@- alarms on watches and/or phones - it is very easy to oversleep on underground camps; alarms should be checked as not audible if inside sleeping bags
- main meals - we have used dehydrated expedition meals, try to maximise calories and minimise cooking time; curries and couscous would also work
+- main meals - we have used dehydrated expedition meals, try to maximise calories and minimise cooking time. In 2024, we used meals from Adventure Food which provide 600kCal. Curries and couscous would also work
- smash - use this to thicken anything, eg soup, noodles, to add calories
- instant noodles
- custard
- hot chocolate
-- coffee, tea, sugar - NOT TOO MUCH
+- coffee, tea, sugar
- instant soups
- muesli
- milk powder
@@ -64,6 +63,14 @@- flapjack
- chocolate
- nuts cheese etc for during the day
+To avoid over-catering and ending up with a massive bag of uneaten food to take out at the end, here is a suggestion for daily rations per person:
+- survey kits - CALIBRATED instuments, survey phone, backup survey notebook and pencils, nail varnish, powerbank and USB leads; take at least 2 kits if 4 people, more for redundancy
@@ -80,7 +87,8 @@- MINIMISE what else you take and check with others to avoid excess eg share one tube toothpaste for the team and check how many powerbanks are going
- essential toiletries - pack plenty of sanitary products if there is any chance you will need them
- enough battery for your main light for the trip plus spare capacity
-- spare socks and thermals so you have dry clothes to sleep in. I usually sleep in my furry suit, thermals, balaclava etc but with sleeping socks on and I keep my caving socks in my pockets in the evening to try to dry them out
+- spare socks and thermals so you have clean, dry clothes to sleep in; optionally gloves and a hat. These should not leave camp. I usually sleep in my furry suit, thermals, balaclava etc but with sleeping socks on and I keep my caving socks in my pockets in the evening to try to dry them out
+Consider taking a sleeping bag liner, especially if you know you get cold. Silk liners are the best compromise between warmth, bulk and cost.
- the first team who have to set up camp will take a long time to reach camp (as many bags) then will need hours to set up camp so its best if they pack the night before and set off early