Adventure Club Story Writing Task

What You Need to Know About Spelunking

World traveler and photographer Lola Akinmade Åkerström tells you what you need to know before planning your next trip spelunking or caving.

Nothing unleashes your inner Batman faster than spelunking – a global sport also known as caving. This increasingly popular recreational activity has you explore caves or grottos, as you walk, climb, squeeze, and crawl your way through tight passages. Enthusiasts can also zip line or rappel down different cave levels, and even dive underwater!

With spelunking you never know what you’ll find around each corner while being guided by nothing more than a headlamp: Crawl spaces reveal interesting rock formations, underground streams, waterfalls, canyons, and critters, such as bats.

My fondest memory of spelunking was my first, in New Zealand’s Waitomo Caves. Lying on my back, I swam through a hole no wider than an MRI machine with the cave ceiling a few inches from my face. Yes, it was a lot of fun! While my first caving experience was abroad, you can also find great caves and caverns throughout the US -- in fact, the longest cave system in the world is the 400-mile-long Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Once you pick your cave of choice, check out our top spelunking tips below.

First, know your limits: While spelunking is an invigorating sport, if you’re claustrophobic, or afraid of heights, darkness or bugs, this recreational sport is definitely not for you.

Now the good news: being underground, caves maintain mild temperatures year-round. They’re often much cooler than surface temperatures, making caving a great year-round activity. Keep in mind, though, that caves with streams or bodies of water are prone to flooding, so avoid these during rainy seasons.

In addition, you should always go spelunking with a group. Never go alone. While exploring pitch-dark caves solo can provide an adrenaline rush, it’s not too likely your cell phone will work deep underground. Caves are dark and potentially dangerous places -- it’s very easy to lose track of where you are because many tunnels look the same with similar looking formations. Bottom-line: Brush up on these safety tips before you go.

What to Wear
When spelunking, you should have as little gear on you as possible -- remember, you will be crawling, squeezing, and climbing through confined spaces. Most caving clubs or groups will provide you with an essential gear list -- in a nutshell, here are a few general items to pack.

• Helmet - Wear a helmet at all times. Because your flashlight only illuminates a certain view plane, you might miss low-hanging, knife-sharp stalactites within your peripheral vision.

• Headlamps and batteries – Headlamps are so essential to spelunking that experts recommend you carry 2 with you. You should also pack extra batteries to power both headlamps. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck in a cave with no light source to guide you back out

• Comfortable clothing and shoes – Wear comfortable breathable clothes but not loose enough to snag on sharp edges along the way. Long sleeves and pants will protect you from unnecessary cuts and scrapes, while sturdy hiking boots with good traction will protect you from slipping on uneven cave floors. Elbow pads, knee pads and heavy-duty gloves are also recommended.

• First-aid kit – A handy first-aid kit is essential so you can quickly take care of scrapes and bruises before they get infected.

• Food and water – Bring enough to replenish you -- spelunking is a demanding sport both physically and mentally.

• Camera - You’ll want to commemorate your first caving experience. Who knows what other critters lurking in the shadows you might pick up once your camera’s flash goes off!

The National Speleological Society (NSS), which governs the sport of spelunking in the US, maintains an extensive database of local US caving clubs -- NSS calls these clubs “grottos.” The database is sorted by states, so you can search for groups close to home. So now you’re set, get your batman on.

Take a Glimpse: The Truth About the Dangers of Caving

 

There are many major and minor dangers of spelunking or caving. It is important for anyone who is considering exploring a cave to know the risks that are involved. 

 

Cave Water

Many beginner cavers think cave water is safe to drink. “It’s natural, so it must be pure, right?” Even if the water looks clear, not all cave water is safe to drink. Most cave water drips from the ceiling which can make you seriously ill.  In addition, many other dangers lurk in cave water. For instance, caves in suburban areas can have agricultural runoff that has a combination of fertilizers, waste, and pesticides. Cave water can also have viruses and animal carcasses inside that can affect your health in the long run.  Caves that deal with flood water often have residual waste and chemicals that can make you severely ill. If you see blue or green algae around the water, it may be contaminated and/or toxic.  If you don’t have a water bottle, or run out of water, and you are in a survival mode, filter the cave water first before drinking it. It is a good idea to bring a simple water filter with you when caving.

Falls And Drowning

Falls and drowning are among the leading causes of death inside a cave.  In the US alone, 42% of cavers who die will do so due to falls and drowning. Most accidents happen in vertical caves, where cavers must climb the cave to explore it.  These types of caves are the most demanding and physically challenging.  Experts believe these accidents usually happen at the end of the adventure when a caver is fatigued.  They begin to drag their weight and lose their grip. To avoid a fall be sure to have proper physical training before the visit, keep an eye out for small hazards and keep your energy up by eating and drinking while exploring the cave.

Exploring a cave with a dim light can also cause slips and falls. If your light is too dim to see the floor of the cave it is no longer safe to continue exploring. Conditions in a cave can change at any time, so it is very important to have proper lighting. Finally, caves with water can be prone to flooding.  Pay attention to the weather so you not caught in a cave with rising water levels.  It is probably best to avoid caving at all during the rainy season. 

Getting Lost

Getting lost inside a cave can happen if you are not prepared or are careless.  Fortunately, it is a rare occurrence.  However, if you, or your group, explore without a guide there is a chance you will get lost. Caves are amazing to see; there is a sense of astonishment and wonder as soon as you enter. Instead of noticing the path, you notice the cool formations within the cave. For that reason, when it comes to exiting the cave, the return looks very different and can be confusing.  There are a few things you can do to ensure you don’t get lost.  For example, always look behind after a few minutes to remember the way out. This helps you remember all the small details and formations that look different when you walk out of the cave. Another safety measure you can take is to leave markers along the way was you explore the cave.  On your way out you will be able to follow your markers out, even if the cave features look different.  Apart from this, keep an eye on the people around you, and stay with your group if you are with one.  It is a lot harder for a large group of people to get lost. 

Low-Quality Air

It is commonly believed that caves have low-quality air.  While there maybe pockets of poor oxygen in caves, only 1% of them have poor enough air quality to be considered dangerous. These caves have increased carbon dioxide levels as well as increased ammonia levels, and you can’t enter these caves without a mask.

To dodge low-quality air in any cave just avoid the small pockets and holes in any cave. These areas are often packed with carbon dioxide and because they don’t have good airflow. If it is necessary to cross the small pocket, try to do quickly, because staying in low-quality air or carbon dioxide can cause hypoxia (oxygen deficiency).  Hypoxia has many symptoms like anxiety, confusion, restlessness, shortness of breath, and an increased breathing rate.  If you experience any of those symptoms, you need to leave the cave immediately.

Conclusion

The dangers of caving are often quite avoidable.  Make sure you are prepared and have an emergency plan in place.  Caving can be an amazing experience, but if you go unprepared the experience can be ruined for you, and anyone who is with you.  Just remember…it is always better to be safe than sorry.