Cave Exploration: A Guide for Beginners
And for good reason: spelunking – the sport of cave exploring – is a dangerous, gear-intensive, logistically-exacting activity. But nowhere else on earth, with the exception of the deepest parts of the ocean, will you ever have the chance to explore a place where few or maybe no one has ever been before. You will be awed by the scenery, physically challenged by the terrain, and instilled with an overwhelming sense of wonder and adventure.
So how does one begin caving? With the exception of tourist caves, there are no signs that say “cave here.” Most wild caves are on private property and permission is needed to gain entrance. And once there, how do you navigate the labyrinth of passages and pits? What do you take for lighting and what should you wear?
Go with an experienced caver, one who follows the safety rules and wears protective gear such as a helmet, gloves and carries a backpack full of “just in case” supplies. Or find a local caving club in your community. Many cities, even those hours away from cave areas, have cave clubs, known as “grottoes.” Attend a few meetings, get to know the people and learn about the sport, and then prepare for the adventure of a lifetime. Or contact the National Speleological Society at caves.org to find the closest grotto.
What To Expect
Caves are dark, which goes without saying. Not dark like a moonless night, or in a closet with the door closed. Above the ground, there is always ambient light. Not so in a cave. The blackness is absolute. For that reason, three or more sources of light are carried by each caver. Most use battery operated headlamps mounted on a helmet; others use the old miners’ method of carbide lights, which actually burn a flame. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Back up lights include flashlights and candles, along with extra batteries, light bulbs and matches.
Caves are generally muddy and damp. The temperature inside remains constant year round, determined by the average outside temperature of the region. Layers of clothing are the best option, with the layer next to the skin being of a breathable type fabric to allow moisture to be wicked away from the body. Boots, leather gloves and knee pads are a must, and for the vulnerable head, a helmet with a reliable chinstrap.
A small daypack should include these essentials: the extra lights, water, food, first aid kit and a space blanket. Don’t forget a disposable camera.
Plan to be crawling, both on your knees and your belly, commando-style. And plan, too, to climb boulders as well as slither through the crevices underneath them. Traversing streams is another consideration; many caves have bodies of water coursing through them. Use the three-point method of contact when climbing: at least one hand, one foot and your rear end should be anchored at all times.
Sights
Cave formations are varied, ranging from interesting to magnificent. Beyond the familiar stalactites and stalagmites, other cave structures include thin tubes aptly named soda straws, multi-colored flowstone, mysterious helectites, crystalline particles such as dog-tooth spar, majestic shields and cave pearls, which form in puddles in the same way as a pearl in a clam.
Streams and sometimes rivers can be part of a cave’s environment. Some areas of a cave can be bone dry, and others wet with dripping water. There may be passageways barely passable, or rooms the size of football fields. Each new tunnel leads to a unique and wondrous sight.
Critters
The most famous residents of caves are bats. Some caves have few, some have entire colonies of bats. In either case, bats are not to be disturbed. These much maligned mammals are actually very benign and beneficial to the environment. Bats are important in insect control, eating their weight in bugs nightly. And many species of plants are dependent on bats for pollination.
Near the entrances of caves, where light is still present, a variety of animals may live and forage, but deeper in the cave, where there is no light and no food source to allow animals to survive, wildlife is limited to bats and specialized cave creatures. These creatures include albino amphibians and blind fish, their pigments and eyes phased out by evolution as unnecessary in the total dark environment.
Rules
Caving is a risky sport. There are no paved walkways or handrails like those found in tourist caves. An injury deep inside a cave can mean a rescue effort involving dozens of emergency personnel and hours of extrication time. Falls and hypothermia are very real dangers, with ill-prepared persons suffering the highest number of injuries. Exploring a cave with experienced, knowledgeable and safety-conscious people will not only decrease risks but will heighten the adventure.
A group of four is the minimum number of cavers for a safe trip. If one person is injured, one stays with him and two go for help.
Always leave exploration plans including expected time of exiting the cave with a responsible person.
Wear the proper clothing and carry the necessary equipment.
Secure permission before entering a cave on private property and respect the landowner’s rules.
Cave exploration is an unusual, strenuous and fascinating sport, but one that requires planning and strict adherence to safety rules. Release your inner Lewis and Clark and seek out a cave to explore.
