By Michael Fraley
More than likely, you are considering your first trip underground. Caves are delicate environments
full of wonders that cannot be found above ground. They are host to a variety of creatures, many of
which will never be found above ground. Likewise, rock formations that occur in caves are unique, and
have a beauty that will never be found on the surface. This manual is designed to introduce you to
what you will find while caving, how to prepare for your first trip, how to cave safely, and how to
make sure you do not damage the cave while you are on your trip. Knowing these things is helpful.
The underground passages are like nothing that you will experience anywhere else. Because of this, it
is not like your average daylight hike. It requires you to think differently. Caving can be
potentially dangerous. If you ignore certain rules of common sense, or if you are not adequately
prepared, you can be injured or even killed. When you go caving, your trip leader may even ask you
to sign a waiver stating that you know that what you are doing can be dangerous, and that you feel
that you are competent to go caving. However, if you listen to your trip leader, obey your own common
sense, and make sure that you are adequately prepared, then the risk is greatly reduced (but never
eliminated). If you have any questions about your equipment or anything about the trip, ask your trip
leader. He or she will be able to help you. There are no stupid questions in caving.
This guide is not intended to be a comprehensive manual to caving. In fact, this barely scratches
the surface. However, it will be enough to guide you to making responsible decisions about how to
cave, and what to take with you. Since you probably have not gone caving before, it is not expected
that you will have all of the equipment that experienced cavers do. Buying all of that equipment would
be ridiculously expensive for your first trip. However, you may already have most of the things you
will want for your first trip. If you do not, then much of it can be obtained for a reasonable price.
This manual is divided up into four sections:
- The Cave Environment
- Clothing and Equipment
- Moving Through the Cave
- Conservation
The underground world is very different from the world above. It is 100% dark, cold, wet, muddy
and very delicate. Most people have little conception of what it means to be completely in the dark.
There is absolutely no way to see anything underground without bringing in your own light. Yet,
because of the forces of nature, creatures survive and thrive in the world below. They have adapted
to live in complete darkness. These creatures live in a delicate system that is easily damaged.
When caving, it is up to each caver to make sure that he or she is doing little to disturb this environment.
Because most caves are formed by water, they are generally wet and muddy. Furthermore, when the caves
formed they were not laid out by an architect who had headroom in mind. When caving, you may be on
your hands and knees, or even crawling on your belly. Combine this with the water and the mud, and
the cool temperature and you may wonder why anyone would want to venture underground. Many people
simply do not have any desire to go caving. This is perfectly fine. Some people are claustrophobic,
do not like getting covered in mud (and you can get covered from head to toe in mud), and are not
thrilled about being cold. But for those who do not mind this, there is incredible beauty in seeing
what looks like a waterfall made of stone. Draperies hang from the ceiling, columns stretch from the
floor to the ceiling and infinite possibilities for the shape of formations. But to see any of
these things you must be prepared.
As you prepare your equipment for the caving trip, it is important to remember exactly what you
will be venturing into: a cold, dark, wet, muddy environment that has irregular walls, floors, and
ceiling. You will need to protect yourself from these elements. Furthermore, you should not take
any piece of clothing into a cave that you do not want to be ruined. Without any doubt, any
light-colored clothing you take into a cave will be stained with mud. Many times, this includes
even your underwear. Pretty much anyone who has been caving more than once has a set of clothing
designated as "cave clothes." This section is will help you to decide which clothing you should
wear and what sort of equipment you should bring to make your trip safe and enjoyable.
The first item that you will need is a helmet. Usually, when on a novice trip with a grotto, a
helmet will be provided for you. The helmet you should wear is either a construction-type hardhat
with a chinstrap, or a climbing helmet. The helmet can provide limited protection from falling
objects, and can help protect your head should you fall. However, the helmet is mostly used to protect
your head from low projections. Cavers will commonly bang their heads on low ceilings or unseen
projections. To provide the most comfort and protection your helmet should fit well. If it does
not, tell your trip leader and he or she will either adjust the helmet or find a new one for you.
The next piece of equipment that you will need is a headlamp. This is a helmet-mounted light that
will help you see your way through the cave. The cave is completely dark without a light, and a
head-mounted source will help keep your hands free. Most grottos will provide this for you when
you are on a novice trip. You may see a variety of headlamps used by the grotto members. Some lamps
are electric, others are carbide. A carbide lamp will be distinguishable by the flame that produces
the necessary light. If the person behind you is using a carbide lamp, make sure that you do not back
into his or her lamp. The flame is hot, and you will be burned.
The headlamp that you will be using will be electric. Most headlamps are powered by AA batteries. It
is important that you find out what kind of batteries you will be using, and to make sure you have at
least two sets of backup batteries with you. In addition, you must carry a minimum of two backup sources
of light. Having backup batteries for you headlamp is not enough. Should your headlamp become damaged,
you will be left in the dark. You may choose to carry flashlights, chemical sticks or candles.
Flashlights are commonly carried because small, durable, bright lights can be bought for a reasonable
price. When you put your flashlight in your caving pack, you might want to use duct tape to secure the
switch in the "off" position. There is nothing more discouraging than to reach for a light and find
that you have already run down the batteries. Chemical sticks are found in camping supply stores, some
military surplus stores, occasionally in hardware stores, most stores around Halloween. Also, you may
find them in the camping sections of K-Mart and Wal-Mart. Chemical sticks provide light by a chemical
reaction within a plastic tube. To start the reaction, bend the stick to break a small glass tube inside.
When the two chemicals meet, they will glow (usually green). Chemical sticks last for several hours,
though they are not very bright. They are usually unreliable for finding your way around inside a cave,
and only provide limited help while remaining stationary. These are probably best kept as emergency
sources of light if you are remaining in one place awaiting a rescue. Candles are a good source of light
while you are remaining in once place. They provide light and limited heat. However, if your matches
or the flint on your lighter becomes wet, then the candle is rendered useless. Candles are also easily
extinguished (even if by accident). If you decide to use candles, you will find the best ones at camping
supply stores, or in the camping section of many retail stores. When you are selecting your backup
light sources, it is highly recommended that you carry at least two reliable flashlights with fresh
batteries, and then chemical sticks or candles. Chemical sticks and candles are not efficient sources
of light while trying to find our way out of a cave.
Now that your helmet and lights are covered, you now need to think about your feet. You are going to be
spending a great deal of time on your feet, so you should make sure that you have them in something that
is good for the task. Your tennis shoes will not be good in a cave. Tennis shoes have a bad habit of
getting sucked off in sticky mud, and they also provide no ankle support. Sure, they may be comfortable,
but how comfortable will they be if you have lost them in a patch of sticky mud which is a foot deep?
You are going to need some sort of boot. There are three basic principles that you have to think about
when you are selecting your footwear: fit, ankle support, and tread. They must fit properly, or you
will be miserable. Too tight or too loose and you will have blisters. Blisters can easily ruin a good
caving trip. Your ankles must be supported because you will be sometimes be walking on uneven ground.
A twisted ankle can become a serious problem underground. It will be almost impossible to carry you out
of the cave, and it will take several hours to help you back to the entrance, even if you have traveled
less than an hour into the cave. The third thing you have to think about, is tread. You must have good
traction on your boots. Either a lug sole or a good tread will work fine inside the cave.
There is a small difference of opinion in the caving world when it comes to footwear. Some people like
boots that are waterproof and others like boots that let water flow in and out very easily. Those who
like waterproof boots naturally enjoy keeping their feet dry and warm. However, you have to think about
how deep in water you are going to be. If the water level in the cave is higher than your boots, your
boots will quickly fill up with water. The thing about waterproof boots is that they keep water in just
as well as they keep water out. It is for this reason that some people try to wear boots that let water
flow in and out. Some hiking boots and some styles of combats boots are designed for this. Rubber boots
(with a good sole), hiking boots, and combat boots are all acceptable choices for footwear. Just make
sure that your footwear is well broken in before you go on your caving trip. Remember that blisters can
easily ruin what could have been a great caving trip.
One last thing about your boots: make sure they are tied well. It is a good idea to double knot your boots.
If your boots are covered with a thick coat of sticky mud, re-tying your shoes will be a chore. Make sure
they don't come untied in the first place.
Socks are another thing to consider. Cotton socks will do fine, but if you have wool or a well insulating
sock, then those will work much better. If your boots are just slightly too big, you may consider wearing
two pairs of socks to keep the boots from rubbing your feet. Remember that your feet are more likely to
blister when they are wet, and there will be plenty of water underground. If you still have problems with
blistering, you may consider buying a pair of panty hose, cutting off the feet at the ankles, and wearing
them inside of your sock. This will allow your foot to slip easily in your boot while limiting the
possibility of getting blisters. If you blister easily, it may be a good idea for you to put on moleskin
where your boot is likely to rub your foot.
Most cavers prefer to have gloves. When you are crawling on your hands and knees, your hands can be rubbed
raw by gravel or a rough floor. Many cavers use leather or leather and canvas gloves. They are thick,
and offer good protection of your hands. Cotton work gloves will quickly take on water and become cold
and uncomfortable. Nonetheless, cotton gloves are better than nothing, and will still protect your hands.
Now you must cover your body. While dressing for the caving trip, you have to keep two things in mind:
warmth and protection. Though some do not, many cavers wear some sort of long underwear. If you do not
usually get cold very easily, or if your body has a good layer of natural insulation, you may not need
long underwear. However, if you do get cold more easily, you may consider wearing them. Cotton long
underwear is great for a normal winter day, but will prove ineffective in a cave. Once cotton is wet it
will no longer insulate your body. In fact, it will make you colder. The long underwear should be able
to wick moisture away from your body and be able to insulate while wet. Nylon and polypropylene are good
choices. Water will drain easily from nylon, and nylon will dry much more quickly than cotton.
Polypropylene is more expensive, but it will drain quickly, and it will keep you warm even when it is wet.
Again, long underwear is not a necessity, but you might find caving slightly more comfortable when you
have it.
Now you are ready to think about what you are going to wear for your outer layer, which will protect your
body while you are slithering on your belly or crawling on your hands and knees. Most experienced cavers
have a one-piece set of coveralls. They are usually either specially made caving coveralls, mechanic's
coveralls, or military flight suits. If you have access to any one-piece coveralls, they will work well.
Military issue fatigues have also been known to work well while caving. Although it is likely that you
do not have access to these items. Many people have found that normal denim overalls work well. If you
are wearing overalls or denim jeans it is likely that you will wish to wear a T-shirt and windbreaker jacket
with it.
With all of the crawling around that you will be doing you may wonder if you should do something to protect
your knees. Fortunately, a variety of kneepads can be purchased at most retail or hardware stores. Soft
BIKE kneepads have been known to work well. If you choose to go use your rollerblading kneepads (which
several people do) you may want to think about how the hard shell is attached to the rest of the kneepad.
Companies will either stitch or rivet the shell to the pad. Riveted shells are known to be sucked off by
sticky mud. The rivets will pop out. A stitched shell will remain intact while crawling through most
sticky mud. When you put your kneepads on, it may be better to wear them outside of your coveralls,
overalls, or jeans. If you crawl on your knees with your kneepads inside your pant leg, the knees of your
pants will wear out very quickly.
Since you will be carrying a number of items, you will probably need to have a small pack. Most novice
cavers use book bags, or large hip pouches. You should make sure that the pack is large enough to carry
all of your items, but not so large that it becomes cumbersome while navigating the smaller cave passages.
A half-empty pack will have slack material. This material can get caught and will be difficult to push
ahead of you if you decide to push some of the smaller passages. Furthermore, after caking on mud, zippers
can become difficult to manage. Although, it is better to bring your old book bag than to spend $50 on
a caving pack that you might only use once. But if you decide that you want a pack that will be more
suited to your task, you can find sturdy, inexpensive packs at most military supply stores. There are
several varieties of gas mask bags that have found their way into many cavers' cache of equipment. Some
can be found for as little as $8 to $10.
With all of this exercise you will be getting, you are likely to become hungry and thirsty. You should
bring high-energy snacks with you. Some people choose to carry a mixture of peanuts, M&M's, and raisins
for a combination of proteins, and what cavers call "quick sugar." If you have a mixture of carbohydrates,
proteins, and sugar you will have long and short-term energy. The carbohydrates and proteins will digest
slowly, and the sugars will digest quickly. It is advisable that you carry your snacks double-bagged in
ziplock bags. Because you will have to carry out everything you carry in with you, you should make sure
that you are bringing food that will not make a mess, and will not get smashed while caving. This is not
a good place for your favorite sandwich. Most people also carry water in a water bottle, canteen, or even
in baby bottles.
Also, you will need to carry a few other items in your pack. Because you must carry out everything you
bring into the cave, you will find a need for a couple of extra containers for human waste. If you need
to relieve yourself in a cave, a peanut butter jar is helpful for liquid waste and two ziplock bags and
two paper towels will be necessary for solid waste. Urinating and defecating in a cave is not acceptable.
Doing so could poison the creatures that live there; not to mention make another caver's trip uncomfortable
if he or she happens to find what you left.
An absolute must for your pack is a trash bag kept inside of a ziplock bag. This can be used as a heat
tent in the case of an emergency. Should something happen, and the group need to remain in one place for
an extended period of time, it is likely that some people will be in danger of hypothermia. Hypothermia
can be a serious threat to your health inside a cave. If you are unable to move, your body temperature will start to
lower. Since caves are cold, and you will already be wet, this can happen more quickly than you would
expect. If in an emergency, you can sit on your pack, and then climb inside your trash bag, closing the
opening around your neck. This will allow you to keep your heat longer than you normally would.
Once you have finished your trip, and had a great time with the other cavers, you will need to change
clothes. Always bring an entire set of clothes with you, and leave them in the car: shoes, socks, pants,
shirt, underwear or anything else that you may need. It may also be helpful to bring an old towel as well.
If you have special needs, tell the trip leader. Are you on any medications? Do you have any allergies?
Do you have any medical conditions such as asthma or epilepsy? If you are on any medications, bring some
with you. If you have a condition that can be potentially serious, such as an allergy to bee stings, then
make sure that someone else knows how to give you your medication. If you become incapacitated, it will
be necessary for someone else to help you. Also, ask the trip leader if any nurses or doctors will be
going caving on your trip. See if they can administer your medication if you cannot.
When you are caving, you will be introduced to an entirely different world. You will probably enjoy
most of it, but there may be some things that the group wishes to do that you are not comfortable with.
If you are slightly more claustrophobic than the rest, you may not want to go in any tight crawls. If
you do not feel comfortable with doing something, then tell the trip leader. Also, you may be asked to
do some minor climbing. If this frightens you, then tell the trip leader. There will be no shame in
telling someone that you cannot do something. You will actually earn more respect. It will tell the
other cavers that you know where your limits are and that you do not want to cross those boundaries.
While you are walking through the cave, it is vitally important to look where you are going. You may
be caught up with what is on the ceiling. It is very beautiful, but you should not walk on while you
are looking at the ceiling. Stop for a moment, and then look up. This may seem very basic, but it is
something that novice cavers sometimes forget. You may trip or even fall down a sharp slope if you are
not careful of where you are going. You should also make sure to check out the shadows in the floor
before you step in one. Caves can have small holes in them that are several feet deep. You can
unsuspectingly put your foot in one thinking that it is just a shadow on the floor. Similarly, pools of
water may be deeper than they appear. Use caution while moving through them.
It is also important that you do not engage in any risky horseplay. It is already been stated how
much of a problem something as simple as a broken ankle can be. So you should not run, jump or slide
on slopes in a cave. Running puts you at greater risk of tripping or running into a projection. Jumping
down even minor drop-offs can cause you serious problems. It is very likely that you can twist your
ankle on a previously unseen rock. A simple controlled slide down a slope can easily turn into an
uncontrolled slide.
You may be asked to do some minor climbing. Mostly it will involve climbing over a very large rock, and
will not be difficult at all whatsoever. But, when you do this, make sure that you have three points of
contact. This means that out of your four limbs, three of them are touching the rock at all times. Move
only one hand or foot at a time.
You will find that some of the passages are slippery with mud. Walking though them may be somewhat
difficult unless you change the way you walk. First, put your foot down then slide it forward a bit
until it sticks a little. This should make walking through these passages much easier.
You should also pay attention to your surroundings. When the group is finding its way out, everyone will
notice that the cave looks very different on the way out than it did on the way in. So, you should turn
around and look at what the cave looks like in the other direction. It will help everyone find his or
her way out more easily. You should also notice the direction of water flow in the cave. If there is a
steady flow of water, note whether it is flowing in or out of the cave.
On a novice trip, you are highly unlikely to become stuck in a passage, but it can conceivably happen.
If you become stuck, the first thing you should do is relax. If panic you are less likely to be easily
dislodged. You may even be panicking over nothing. Many people on novice trips who believe that they
are stuck really are not. When you panic you are not thinking clearly and your body is much more rigid
and difficult to move. To get yourself unstuck, you will need both to be thinking clearly and for you
body to be loose. Take a few deep breaths and then let them out completely. You may find that your entire
problem was that you were nervous and had a lot of extra air in your lungs. That would make your chest
expand and more easily stuck. See if you are just caught by something that you are wearing. Will it
help to take off your pack, helmet, or other piece of clothing? You can always put things back on after
you are past your squeeze.
It is very dangerous to cave alone, and since there will always be other people caving with you, it is
important to think about them. In smaller passages, give people more personal space. Just because you
are not claustrophobic, does not mean that the person in front of you is not. You are also responsible
for the person in front of and behind you. Make sure that the person behind you is not falling too far
behind, and the group should always stay together. Your group should not become separated. If the
people in front of you are getting too far ahead, yell to them and tell them to wait up for you. If you
are in the middle of the group and you hear someone yell "WAIT!" or "HOLD UP!" from the end of the line,
make sure that it is heard up front. You should repeat the request if you do not think the trip leader
heard it.
Conservation simply means preserving the natural beauty of the cave as best you can. Caves are
very delicate and can be easily damaged. Your very presence inside a cave can forever alter it. Humans
bring in foreign bacteria and spoors. But it is the job of the caver to make sure that the influence is
minimal.
It is never justified to kill a creature inside a cave. The animals inside of a cave will pose no threat
to you. You are over 300 times their size, why would they try to do anything to you? You are likely to
see bats. Bats have earned a bad reputation but most of the ones you will see are smaller than a silver
dollar and are quite happy staying on the ceiling. They will not try to bite you, they will not get
tangled in your hair and you are not at a high risk of getting rabies from them. Statistically, you
should be much more afraid of cats and dogs than you should of bats when it comes to getting rabies.
You should also do your best to make sure that you do not accidentally harm a cave dwelling creature.
When there is a bat on a low ceiling, or one flying around, let the other people in the group know so
that they do not accidentally bump into it. There are also creatures living in the water in caves. If
there is clear standing water, try not to step in it if it is likely that cave salamanders live there.
The collection of any animal or mineral samples you find in a cave is prohibited. Removing formations
or animals from the environment (this means even previously dead or broken samples) is never justified
unless instructed to by a scientist. Even then, the removal is very small and very controlled.
Do not break the formations. Keep your head low in rooms where the formations hang low, or where the
ceiling is low enough that you might break one. Do not even touch the formations unless you absolutely
need to.
Leaving the cave the way you found it is the key. This means that you carry out all of your trash.
This means even your own human waste. Carry out all of your burned out batteries, plastic bags, and if
you drop any of your food, pick it up. If you find trash in a cave that is not yours, pick it up on the
way out and take it with you. Part of caving is to make sure that the environment is preserved for the
creatures that live there and for the beauty of the cave for those who will visit in the future.