Intermediate Caving at Breathing Cave

OVERVIEW

If you’ve ever been caving before and want to go again, come explore Breathing Cave – Virginia’s third largest caving system! This cave has a good variety of features and fun technical challenges – everything from low crawls to tight squeezes to mud chutes to rock climbs. With almost seven miles of passages, we’ll be spending approximately six to eight hours exploring underground. If we are fast enough we may even make it to the back of the cave to see the waterfall as well as have time to explore the historic mine section.

This cave is not recommended for people without caving experience. It is somewhat intense, and we will be in there for a long time. Priority will be given to those with prior experience. Please note that the gear list for this trip is more extensive than for shorter caving trips.

Drivers get priority off the waitlist and get reimbursed for gas with a 50% tip.

Logistics:
– Leave from Echols at 0600
– Drive two hours to the parking area
– 30 minute hike to the cave
– Gear up, talk safety, and adventure through the cave as far as we can go (~6 hours)
– Hike back, clean up/change clothes, and drive home
– Arrive back in Charlottesville no later than 8pm (hopefully significantly earlier)

You bring:
– 2 headlamps
– backup batteries for your headlamps
– helmet
– 2 trash bags (one for hypothermia kit; the other for dirty clothes/gear)
– gloves (these are mandatory for protection of the cave and geological features)
– water
– snacks/emergency food supply
– breakfast for the road
– lunch for in the cave
– sturdy closed toed shoes
– backpack that can get dirty
– change of clothes
– container for human waste (pack it in, pack it out; we’ll be in there for a good long while)

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, getting dirty, 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 important scheduled for the evening of the trip just in case we are delayed.