Caving Leader Training (Crossroads Cave)

OVERVIEW

So many of you cavers want to become caving leaders that we’re doing a dedicated training trip! For those of you who want to lead caving trips of your own, this is a great opportunity to prepare. You’ll learn the safety and conservation guidelines that need to be told when leading beginners, practice flagging, learn how to understand and navigate a cave map, and we’ll go in-depth on how to prepare for and react to emergency situations.

We’re going to Crossroads because it’s a cave Renee and I are familiar with, but its mazeyness provides a good challenge in flagging and navigation. Depending on our pace once we get underground, we might head for the deeper parts of the cave we usually aren’t able to reach, which I’m stoked for!

This trip is reserved for those who have been caving with Renee and/or myself before, and priority will go to those who’ve already expressed interest in becoming a caving trip leader.

Schedule:
9:00 – Leave Echols
11:00 – Enter cave
3:00 – Finish caving and head back to car
5:00 – Back at Echols

Gear to Bring:
– Water
– Snack/Lunch
– 24 hour emergency food supply
– A trash bag for hypothermia kit
– A container for any human waste – pack it in, pack it out
– Clothes that can get dirty/ripped/ruined, INCLUDING GLOVES
– Close toed shoes that can get dirty/ripped/ruined (I recommend boots, but hiking/running shoes with good traction will do)
– Caving helmet (please don’t use the club’s climbing helmets; the caving helmets are the old Petzl Ecrin Rocs with a suspension system instead of a foam system)
– No fewer than 2 working headlamps with spare batteries
– At least 1 spare light in addition to your 2 headlamps (can be a headlamp or flashlight)
– A bag or backpack that can get dirty/ripped/ruined
– Clean clothes/shoes for the car (please please)
– Trash bag for dirty clothes, shoes, and backpack (make sure it’s big enough)
– Knee pads (optional)

Important notes:
– You MUST read the Caving Checklist provided by the club. It can be found under the Resources tab on the website. I have also linked it here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lv1Hz8qOIvGb0BgVwFrU6NH1EyT3wPqt/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115487946960226883937&rtpof=true&sd=true
– 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 such 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 massively important scheduled for the evening of the trip in the unlikely event we are delayed

*Driver needed! You’ll get priority off the waitlist, and gas will be reimbursed.