Cave Exploring: The World of Spelunking
Cave exploration is a fun activity for kids, teens, adults, groups, and families. From mythical caves in old Aztec and Mayan territory, the famous Colossal Cave in Tucson, Arizona, or Kentucky’s famous Mammoth Onyx Cave, the variety and experiences available for spelunking are unique and exciting. Eco-adventures have taken new heights with varities of packaged tours. These adventures often include kayaking, mountain biking, island tours, and the recent increase in interest of cave exploration. Combined with guided snorkeling, cave exploring reaches a new dimension with underground secrets, tunnels, and cave creatures awaiting your arrival! The options vary by region, and guidelines to carry forward your spelunking adventure are necessary for the best trip.
The term ‘spelunking’ is derived form the world of speleology, the study of caves. Most of America’s national parks offer opportunities for cave enthusiasts to pursue their hobby; explorations today involve crawling through passages, walking and crawling through maze-like tunnels, all while discovering geological formations such as crystals, underground reefs, lakes, and walls Each passage is usually named by previous explorers, and offers unique and distinct features. The discovery of the entrance to a cave is a monumental event, as it is usually marked by the discoverer and named after them or their group. Since many natural caves were discovered by Indians who initially inhabited most national park areas, these areas are often held as sacred.
Various zones of each cave are ‘marked’ by previous explorers, and give us an opportunity to venture further and alongside previous tracks. Although mapping a cave can be difficult, today’s technology enables us to create beautiful and complex digital maps of certain areas.
Biospelogolgy is the scientific/technical term for adventures in spelunking, and is the combination of ecology and biology in the world of caves. The National Speleogical Society is an organization that supports cave exploration,and provides and protects access to caves and preservation. The society promotes safety and techniques to encourage self-reliance while exploring. It also sponsors over 200 grottos, which are well-organized cave exploring groups. These range from beginner to expert levels, so finding the best fit for you is essential to ensure you are able to meet the requirements of your expedition. Many online forums, groups, and discussion areas offer tips and strategies for your local area or interested cave destination.
As with any outdoor and adventurous activity, there are key guidelines and safety rules to ensure that you can benefit from the full experience. Some key safety techniques for spelunking include the following:
âÂ?¢ Make sure others know where you are exploring. This may involve a tracking device, but for those who choose to with just another person, it’s vital that you tell someone where you are. You should never go alone, and as a beginner, it’s best to join a group or go with an experienced cave explorer.
� Do not touch marked areas that are closed off. Do respect the property and areas that are marked to be preserved, and leave formations as they are.
âÂ?¢ Dress appropriately. Hypothermia is a frequent casue of concern for cave explorers as the climate and temperature changes can vary by depth, and level of cave. Make sure that you’ve eaten well and have enough water.
âÂ?¢ Know your physical limits. Just like hiking, outdoor exploring, and other activities, it’s important that you know when you are tired or need to rest. Caving can be physically exhausting and cause fatigue quicker than other settings simply because of the environmental changes and differences.
� Make sure your light is working and stay where you are if it goes out. Someone will find you, since you have told them where you will be.
âÂ?¢ Leave bats alone. Bats are natural habitants of most caves, and are harmless! Don’t touch or pick at them, and they will not disturb you
âÂ?¢ Don’t leave trash behind. It’s important to respect the area and maintain it as best as possible.
