Caving Article

What Should I Pack For My First Caving Trip?

While cave exploring can be a very fun, thrilling way to spend your time, you should know that it can be quite dangerous as well. People end up needing medical treatment for hypothermia, falls, and being hit by falling objects while caving, most often due to improper equipment. You can’t just wake up one day and decide that you want to go caving, you have to take the time to do your homework, and gather up the equipment you will need first.

One of the most important pieces of caving equipment that you will need is a sturdy hard hat. When picking out your hard hat, check the quality of construction, and also make sure that the hard hat you choose comes equipped with a sturdy chin strap. A hard hat will do you no good if it does not stay in place, and a chin strap is made to do just that. You may also want to think about getting a hard hat which has a built in light so that you can have extra light, as well as have both hands free if needed. Caving requires you to be prepared to deal with different situations, and having the proper amount of light will help see well enough to get things done.

You will find that most caves can be quite cold once you get inside them. It is therefore very important that you dress in the right manner when you go cave exploring. You should dress in clothes which tend to retain body heat well. Synthetic fleece is a good choice and it should keep you comfortably warm. Whatever you decide to wear, you may want to also wear coveralls. Coveralls are a very good choice to make for your top clothing layer as they tend to be great at retaining body heat. Hypothermia is one of the most common cave accidents, so you will want to dress appropriately to avoid this situation.

You should never attempt cave exploration with just one source of light. To be safe, you should have at least three sources of light, and bring extra bulbs and batteries just in case. At least one of your light sources should be something other than an ordinary flashlight. This extra source should be a light which is stronger and brighter than an average flashlight.

For safety reasons, you should also wear a good pair of work gloves and a pair of quality boots which are waterproof. The gloves will help protect your hands in the event you should slip and fall, while the boots should help you from slipping in the first place

It should go without saying that each person in your caving party should have their own emergency first aid kit. Each individual should also bring their own food and water. When it comes to bringing food and water, it would be advised that each person bring extra in case of an emergency.

Lastly, bring extra clothing to change into once you are finished caving, with something to place your soiled clothing into. Also, please respect our natural wonders by keeping an extra bag to place your trash in when you are finished with it.