QuestionQuestionReplyAny outdoor sport comes with risks, and caving is no exception. It requires both mental and physical preparedness, and common sense. For people who do not prepare adequately (and use their head), it could cost them their life.
But before I scare everyone to death, let me put things more into perspective:
Just about the only time the public hears about caves is when there's been an accident. Naturally, if all you ever hear about caves is cave accidents, then pretty soon you'll think of caves as nothing else but a death trap.
What the public doesn't hear is about the hundreds of other trips that took place before an accident occurred. Every week, all across the country, there are cavers underground somewhere. Yet - do you hear about caving accidents all week long?
Also : The NSS keeps track of caving accidents all the time, and sends a yearly report to all members. Scanning through the reports year after year, I see that the worst accidents (including those that resulted in death) seem to take place among non-NSS members who had no contact with organized caving. Many resulted because alcohol or drugs was involved.
The 1994 report on caving accidents states the main causes of accidents to be caver falls, equipment problems, and rockfalls. (Note: By rockfalls, we are not talking about natural rockfalls. In 99.99% of all rockfall accidents, the rockfall is due to human intervention.) Again, most of these serious accidents occurred among people who were not involved with organized caving.
So, yes, caving is inherently dangerous. But it is ten times more dangerous for people who don't get the proper information and experience. For the properly equipped caver, caving can be very rewarding.
As for what kind of shape to be in, I answered that in question #2.
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