Basic Training For New
Spelunkers
Chances are you have just attended your first
grotto meeting, or maybe someone from the grotto
has invited you to accompany them on a wild cave
trip. In any case there are a few things you must
prepare for in order to have a safe wild cave
adventure.
What to wear in the cave
Mandatory Equipment to go
caving
What to expect in the cave
The Caver's Creed
Speaking of bats...
Reasons why you should and shouldn't
go caving
What to Wear in the
Cave
Inside the cave it can vary considerably, but
plan on the following as a rule of thumb:
Rock, Dirt, Water and Mud!
Whatever you wear in the cave will never be the
same again, I'll guarantee it! The air temperature
in the cave will be around 58 degrees. That may
sound cold but considering the fact that you will
be walking, crawling, climbing the whole time
you won't get cold. In fact most first time cavers
wear too much in the cave.
However, there may be a long walk to the cave
entrance and suitable attire outside the cave
will depend on the season. Below is the recommendation
for what to wear in the cave on a typical wild
cave excursion:
- Pants - Something allowing you to stretch
(Blue Jeans/Fatigues/coveralls/etc...)
- Shirts - 2 layers; both tucked in pants
(T-shirt - 1st layer / Sweat Shirt - 2nd layer)
- Footwear - Some tread is desirable
(Old work boots or hiking boots)
Special Notes:
*If there is a chance that your glasses will fall
off
while you are in a crawling position, purchase
a strap
that will secure them to your head. If optional
do not wear
into the cave.
*Bring a Complete Clean & Dry change of clothing
for after
the cave trip. You will be too dirty to even sit
in a car.
*Bandana or head band worn while caving may help
keep sweat
out of your eyes.
Mandatory Equipment
Here is the Mandatory equipment that must be used
while wild caving. All items listed below can
be found at local sources such as Wal-Marts, Sporting
goods stores and Army Surplus stores.
- Helmet - It must have a chin strap
- Lights - Must have three sources of light
1.) Main light must attach to helmet!
2.) Choice - (Mini Mags* are a good buy)
3.) Inexpensive LED Lights
*JackStrap - This is used with the Mini-mag
light listed
above
- Knee Pads - Thicker the better: They should
not be the
hard plastic types used by skate boarders as
they may
damage the cave
- Gloves - Typical Work/Garden gloves will suffice
- Elbow Pads - Not mandatory but if you can
afford them
get them!
- Cave Pack - There are a few items you will
want to carry into the cave with you so you
will need a small cave pack. You will be crawling
a lot so a pack with shoulder or waist strap
works great. Find the cheapest, smallest day
pack you can find or get an over sized fanny
pack. Just remember this item will be thrown,
drug and dropped in dirt, water and mud. (It
doesn't have to be water proof)
What goes in the Cave Pack?
- Drinking Water - 16 oz plastic bottle
- Light Snack - Energy Bar/Trail Mix
- Extra Batteries for Light
- Disposable Camera W/Flash
- Inexpensive LED flashlight
- Heavy Duty Garbage Bag - Bag will be used
to put dirty cave
clothes in after you change.
What to expect in
the cave
Caving is strenuous, which is why you should
be well rested before you enter the cave. If you
have any type of health problems that may become
aggravated by exercise you will not want to go
on a wild cave trip. Also, make your trip leader
aware of any special medical needs that could
possibly arise.
To put it in simple terms, water is what forms
caves. Therefore, often moving through water is
unavoidable. Typically speaking on your first
Wild cave trip you should not encounter areas
of deep water. You may however, walk and/or crawl
through shallow pools and streams of water. How
much water depends on the amount of rain the area
had recently.
Where there is water and earth there is usually
mud..and sometimes lots of it! Do not be surprised
if you wind up crawling through mud, dirt or water.
The other prominent substance in a cave is ROCK.
Hard Rocks, Pointed Rocks and Sharp Rocks.
Once you are in the cave you most likely will
be walking, stooping, crawling, scooting, and
squeezing through a combination of all the ingredients
listed above. Wild caving is very different than
commercial (pay) caving.
The Caver's Creed
It is very important that you make yourself aware
of and practice safe, environmentally sound caving
techniques during your visit in the cave. Unlike
a commercial cave, on a wild cave trip there will
be no barriers between you and extremely delicate
cave formations. It is forbidden to touch or handle
any formations because it can stunt future growth.
Follow, watch and stay close to the person in
front of you during your trip. Observing the subtle
details of where they place a hand or a foot can
hold valuable clues as to how you should cross
that 2' wide x 3' long x 40' deep pit. Catch my
drift? Never venturing off the leaders
path protects you and the cave. Everything you
take in the cave MUST be carried out of the cave.
Caves are not self-cleaning, trash, paint, human
waste and even food crumbs should not be left
in the cave.
Make Slow and Deliberate Movements!
TEAM WORK is a must! I mean you certainly would
want the person in front of you to let you know
there was a bat hanging at eye level just ahead
wouldn't you? So be nice and tell the person behind
you as well.
Speaking of bats...
you will see bats in the cave. Most of the time
they will be sleeping or hibernating. Most bats
are small, about the size of a walnut, not like
the huge monsters you see on TV. Many of the bat
species are endangered and never under any circumstances
should you harass a bat of any kind. You leave
them alone and they will leave you alone! There
isn't much that lives beyond a few hundred feet
in a cave. If lucky you may see Cave Crickets,
Blind Cave Fish, Blind Cave Crayfish, Salamanders,
and a few others. Nothing that can hurt you.
Maybe I should .
. . Maybe I shouldn't try this
Still Interested?
By this point you may be asking yourself..Should
I do this or not? Let me give you several more
reasons why maybe you shouldn't and then a few
more reasons of maybe why you should.
Maybe I shouldn't because:
- I don't like tight places
- If I were to get injured the rescue would
possibly take days
- I have possible health problems that don't
allow me to
exert myself
- I have a tendency to panic
- I really don't want to get dirty
I think I will because:
- I like a physical challenge
- I want to see rare cave formations
- I am curious about the mysteries underground
- I want to see a place where time stands still
- I want to feel a sense of adventure
- I want to see things that can't be seen anywhere
else
- It's there.
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