QuestionQuestionReplyA person undertaking caving should be in reasonably good physical shape and not claustrophobic. Anyone can get a touch of claustrophobia (even cavers with years of experience), but it certainly shouldn't be the norm!
A good caver also recognizes that he/she is a visitor in an unknown world. When you're in new cave, you have no idea what's ahead and what challenges await you. This is not a place to bring drugs and alcohol, as we see a lot of young people do these days when they visit caves. A good caver knows how important it is to keep one's senses underground.
A person interested in caving should also be conservation-minded. He/she should recognize that cave formations can take hundreds (or even thousands) of years to form, and it can be wiped out in an instant. Anything that permanently defaces the cave in any way (spraypaint, trash, etc.) is frowned upon by all professional cavers. A good caver recognizes that a cave can have its own fragile ecosystem, one which can be destroyed by leaving trash, old batteries, and the like. The goal of any good caver is to leave the cave as it was found, for countless others to enjoy. The NSS has a motto which applies this principle : "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time."
Because of the irreplaceable resources that caves contain, many states have conservation laws that make it a felony to damage cave formations, cave life, civil war artifacts, and even cave gates.
A good caver is also a team player. He never caves alone, and he always leaves word with someone as to where he is going and when he can be expected back. He recognizes the abilities (or lack of abilities) of individuals in his group. He makes sure his group stays together and watches for any sign of trouble. If a person in the group is uncomfortable about doing something, it has always been an unspoken rule that the person is not to be ridiculed - the other cavers do what they can to help.
A good caver is also prepared for the trip. He checks weather forecasts beforehand, in the event that the planned cave trip is affected by weather. He makes sure he has permission from the landowner to visit the cave. (Remember, all land is owned by someone.) With his equipment, he should be completely self-sufficient and should even carry repair parts in the event that a piece of his caving equipment fails. He plans for any possible anticipated problem. And when a problem does occur, he knows where to draw the line and abort the trip.
Communication is important. Any good caver communicates any problem; machismo is not appropiate.
The best way to learn about caving is from cavers in touch with organized caving; that is, NSS members, grottoes, etc. You can expect to get the most up-to-date information about caving and you can even get supervised instruction. Most grottos even offer training trips every month for new members. This is very important, because cavers in grottoes know the types of caves in their area and what they require. A person can read books and magazines, but it is no substitute for personal, hands-on experience with people who know what they are doing.
Now, this said, here's the basic equipment each person should carry on a cave trip. This list was composed by NSS member Tom Moss for beginners; more experienced cavers add to this list. Many caves in a region require different hardware and clothing. For example, caves in the southeastern United States have a temperature of around 56 degrees; caves in the southwest United States have a temperature in the 70s.
| Equipment | Equipment Comments |
|---|---|
| At least three sources of light | Primary source should be helmet-mounted. If you must use a flashlight, have it tethered to your body to free hands for climbing. The main light source should have fuel for twice the expected length of the trip. Note that these are three independent, dependable sources of light. You should be able to exit the cave with any one of them. If you count a candle as a source of light, but you can't exit the cave because you have to hold it, what good is it? |
| Hard hat (helmet) with chin strap | Every caver recognizes the fact that caves have uneven walls, ceilings and floors. You will hit your head at some point during a trip. Any helmet should also have a chin strap in order to keep the helmet on your head in the event of a fall. When thinking about wearing a helment, consider this : how important is your head to you? |
| Footwear with good tread | Boots are always preferred to sneakers. Also, boots should have light-colored soles (dark soles leave scuff marks) and should have excellent ankle support. |
| Rugged clothing | Use clothing that you don't care about; chances are good that it will get permanently stained or ripped. Dress in layers so that you can adjust for comfort. Gloves and kneepads are recommended. |
| Garbage bags | For insulation (they make a great poncho!), trash cleanup, and to put muddy clothes in after a trip. Take some with you to the cave. |
| Small pack | To carry your gear in the cave. It should have good closure so that things don't fall out, and should be rather durable. It shouldn't have zippers - they get clogged with mud and become useless. A side pack or fanny pack is preferred to a backpack. Beginning cavers might check an army surplus store for starters. Premium cave packs from speleo-suppliers usually run around $40-$50. |
| Food and water | A plastic bottle or canteen of water (no glass bottles!), and some high-energy compact food. You should take as much food as you think you will need for the length of the trip. |
| Complete change of clothes | For after the trip. This includes socks, shoes, and underwear! This stays outside the cave. |
| Common sense! | Remember everything mentioned above. Look out for your companions. Look behind you at junctions, and use removable markers to mark your route out. (Removable markers includes flagging tape, small reflectors, etc. that you pick up when leaving the cave.) |
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