Beginner Caving – Crossroads Cave

OVERVIEW

Do you think caving sounds exciting, crazy, and terrifying all at the same time? Have you been curious as to what caving actually is? Are you looking for an opportunity to try crawling, squeezing, and climbing underground? Then this is the trip for you!

Caving is a super fun and exciting sport with everything from climbing to crawling to awkwardly straddling chasms; bats to newts to albino cave fish; mud to underground lakes to beautiful geological formations. With the lights out and teammates still, most people have never experienced such darkness and silence. It is a truly amazing and unique sport, so why not give it a go?

This is a beginner trip to Crossroads cave. As far as caves go, Crossroads is pretty mild – plenty to see and do, but nothing too crazy; great for the hesitant (or not-so-hesitant) first-timer. Since this is a beginner trip, it will be a short adventure into the cave, so you don’t have to worry about being underground forever. I’ll teach you all the basics and what you need to know, and we’ll get you exploring the depths of the earth in no time.

Logistics:
– Leave from Echols at 1400
– Drive two hours to the cave
– Gear up, talk safety, and adventure through the cave for 4 hours or so
– Clean up/change clothes and drive home
– Arrive back in Charlottesville around 2100

You bring:
– primary light source (headlamp)
– 2 backup headlamps
– backup batteries for your headlamps
– helmet
– 2 trash bags (one for hypothermia kit; the other for dirty clothes/gear)
– gloves
– water and snacks/emergency food supply
– sturdy closed toed shoes
– backpack that can get dirty
– change of clothes

Important notes:
– You MUST read the Caving Checklist provided by the club. It can be found under the Member Resources tab (policies > officer policies > caving checklist).
– You are responsible for gathering all of your own equipment. Most of the gear is available at the club’s gear room.
– You should be comfortable crawling around in tight spaces and being in the dark.
– Because caving is a dangerous sport; I will be very strict in ensuring you have the proper equipment (i.e., if you are not properly equipped with EVERYTHING mentioned above (even trash bags and spare clothing), you are not entering the cave).
– It is a good idea to not have anything important scheduled for the evening of the trip just in case we are delayed.