Passionately Packing, Playing, and Passing through Paxton’s- CAVING INTERMEDIATE

OVERVIEW

Guess what’s creeping up faster than a startled bat in a cave? The end of the year! And you know what that means… say goodbye to ODC caving for now. But fear not, it’s time to dust off our headlamps and descend into the abyss of my all-time favorite cave! But wait, hold onto your helmets because this isn’t just any cave trip – oh no! This is an intermediate expedition, a full 8-hour journey into the depths of Paxton’s underworld. There are still vast uncharted territories waiting for us down there, and I refuse to let Sunday come without a double dose of cave adrenaline. We’ll be diving headfirst into the mysteries of Anthodite Gallery, Christmas Room, and Guano Ecstasy and Agony, deciphering what looks like a toddler’s attempt at cartography. But that’s not all! The outside world is finally warm enough to lure out all the critters, from salamanders to frogs to skinks, lounging around the waterfall like it’s their own personal spa day. So, if you’re looking to squeeze in one last pre-finals season escapade (don’t worry, we’ll be caving during and after finals too), then strap on your boots, grab your gear, and join us for the one of the most epic underground adventures of the year!

Intermediate means one prior caving experience (unless you are feeling like REALLY confident and want an 8 hour caving trip to be your first cave experience…) so come on out this Saturday and scurry around in the dark with us! If you haven’t been caving in awhile (yes I mean you) come on out for one last adventure before finals stress sets in!

*** Need a driver! Priority off the waitlist!

Schedule:
8:00 AM– Leave Echols
10:00 AM– Arrive at cave, go over safety/conservation information
10:30 AM – Start caving
6:30 PM – Finish caving and head back to car (at the latest)
9:00 PM – Back at Charlottesville, maybe get some grub if people are down?

Gear: You absolutely need all the gear listed! Please contact me ASAP if you cannot get everything on this list! This is a very intimidating list so please please please contact me with any concerns!

Gear we have:
– Caving helmet
– No fewer than 2 working headlamps
– Gloves

Gear to Bring:
– Water (at least 2 water bottles)
– Snack/Lunch (Bring lots of snacks!)
– 24 hour emergency food supply (just anything that can last you a days worth of meals, worst case scenario kind of item)
– A container for any human waste – pack it in, pack it out (like a screwable Tupperware, old water bottle, etc.)
– Clothes that can get dirty/ripped/ruined (Long pants, and long sleeves are mandatory- please try to avoid cotton at least for socks)
– Close toed shoes that can get dirty/ripped/ruined (sneakers, hiking boots, anything like this works)
– At least 1 spare light (can be a headlamp or flashlight or even your phone )
– A bag or backpack that can get dirty/ripped/ruined (can be found at the gear room as well, I will also have some extras)
– Clean clothes/shoes for the car (Please please! Also make sure you bring layers!)

Gear we have extra but please first try to bring your own. If you cannot get your own please notify us ASAP:
– A trash bag for hypothermia kit (Hefty trash bags work well)
– Trash bag for dirty clothes, shoes, and backpack (make sure it’s big enough and can be the same trash bag as hypothermia kit)
– AAA batteries (like 6)

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 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). Please please let me know and I will help you get all the gear you need!
– 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.

If you have any questions or concerns or are unable to pick up gear, my phone number is (970) 294- 8781 (Allie) or (703) 268-6864 (Jack) . Also feel free to reach out to me if you just want to talk about the trip! Caving is very intimidating so literally contact me about ANYTHING. See you all Saturday!