Guano Ecstasy? Nah I’m Good… Caving at Paxtons- INTERMEDIATE

OVERVIEW

Hey all you outdoor lovers! We are heading back to the amazing Paxtons cave and we are gonna go so speedy to try to make it to some cool sections. Some of the names of these really cool cave places include: Anthodite Galleries, Clambake Alley, Worm Garden, Guano Ecstasy, Guano Agony, and many more fun places to explore. But the ultimate goal is the Christmas Room. This room has some really beautiful and unique formations that I would LOVE to see!

Due to the path to get there being a little on the tricker side and we will be short for time, this trip is an INTERMEDIATE trip. Meaning you have to have been caving at least twice OR at least once at Paxtons. And of course the tradition of after-caving Chipotle will live on!

Schedule:
10:00am – Leave Echols
12:00am – Arrive at cave and go over safety/conservation information
12:30am – Start caving
4:30pm – Finish caving
7:00pm – Return to Charlottesville and chill at Chipotle!

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 (GLOVES, long pants, and long sleeves are mandatory)
– Close toed shoes that can get dirty/ripped/ruined
– Caving helmet (please don’t use the club’s climbing helmets; the caving helmets are the old Petzl Ecrin Rocs or the new Petzl Boreos)
– No fewer than 2 working headlamps with spare batteries
– At least 1 spare light (can be a headlamp or flashlight)
– A bag or backpack that can get dirty/ripped/ruined
– Clean clothes/shoes for the car (please please! Also make sure you bring layers! It is still a little chilly out!)
– Trash bag for dirty clothes, shoes, and backpack (make sure it’s big enough)

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, 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

***Need drivers! You’ll get priority off the waitlist.

If you have any questions or concerns or are unable to pick up gear, my phone number is (970) 294- 8781 (Allie),(703) 268-6864 (Jack), or (757) 985-9543 (Lillie).