

Pack with spare supplies and emergency equiptment. Trip the substance user is surely going to spoil.īasic cave visiting equiptment includes sturdy shoes, knee pads, hard hat with light, gloves, and a cave These substances are likely to be looked upon as something dangerous and unpopular with those whose cave In a caving situation where a person must be mentally alert, Consult with an experienced caver if there is doubt about the demandsĭrugs and alcohol can be a real problem. Beginners should start with short cave trips and Know your limitsĪnd do not attempt caving beyond your capabilities. A person in poorĬondition will tire quickly, slow the group, and ultimately shorten the cave trip. If in doubt about the potential for a particular cave to flood, visit a different cave.Ĭaving is extremely physically demanding. It is always wise to check the weather forecast before entering this kind Flooding of cave passages has resulted in five of the seven deaths Some caves have active streams running through them and are subject to flash flooding during rainstorms. Large canyon passageway that water has abandoned in a Monroe County Cave. Important depending on the number of hours you plan to spend in the cave. For comfort and safety, food and drink may be very Spare parts like batteries andīulbs are required to make a light source reliable. Sources of light should be durable and able to get you out of the cave. The primary source should be attached to the hardhat or helmet. Every caver shouldĬarry three sources of light. Leave an extra margin of time, as most cave trips take longer than planned. A whistle carried for theĪlways leave word with a reliable person as to what cave you will be visiting and your expected time of Stay alertįor someone searching for you and call out occasionally to alert rescuers. Conserve electric lights by turning them off for long periods. If you do happen to get lost, stay where you are and get asĬomfortable as possible. Look behind to see what the cave will look like on the way out. Getting lost in a cave can happen, but can usually be avoided by following a few simple rules. The body into places one cannot back out of, or where companions cannot assist the stuck person. While traveling through a cave, narrow crevices and tight places may be encountered. Piece of gear is dislodged, warn those below by shouting "ROCK!" loudly and clearly. Stay off to the side of any climber that is aboveĪnd secure all loose gear to prevent dropping something on someone below. Standing under anyone doing climbing or other vertical work places the caver in danger ofīeing struck by falling rocks or cave equipment. Avoid unstable breakdown (fallen rock) and steep rocky The Big Brown Bat is one of seven bat species that use caves in Indiana.īe aware that objects may fall while caving. Vertical training fromĪ competent instructor is necessary before doing climbing in a cave. Some climbs require a hand-line or belay (safety rope) controlled by a companion įree-climbing a rope (hand over hand) is foolish and could be fatal. Test handholdsĪnd footholds before committing yourself to your next move where there is a possibility ofįalling. Running, jumping, and other fast movements lead to risk of injury. Exercising good judgment willįalls are by far the most common type of caving accident. Lack of proper equipment, lack of preparation, or poor judgment. For the most part, caving accidents result from a lack of training, It can also be affected by a wide variety of conditions Risk-taking behavior of the participants. The level of risk involved in caving is, to a very large extent, related to the

Small, others will have the visitor in awe of their vastness.Ĭaving is not necessarily a high-risk activity, but in certain situations and particular conditions, Mineral formations (speleothems) may be unfamiliar to the visitor. The dampness, an occasional bat, and unusual Some cave systems have interconnecting passages that may extendįor miles, but a majority of caves are short. Majority of caves are formed in soluble rock, usually limestone or dolostone, dissolved by theĪction of slightly acidic water. This is to be expected, because you haveĮntered an environment that is completely different from life on the surface of our planet. When you enter a cave you may have a strange feeling. Indiana Geologic Names Information System Underground Coal Gasification Potential in the Illinois Basin Landmarks in Indiana Geology - A Timeline
