Will we see lil bat friends again? Or the prow of a ship?

OVERVIEW

Ooh this time I’m leading TWO trips while I’m back in Virginia?!?!?!
We will be going to Lowmoor mine/cave! Lowmoor is super fascinating because it was an iron mine from 1875-1898, but now is abandoned. The front part of the cave is the mine, but it transitions to being natural cave passage in the back. We will get to explore both sections, featuring the enormous main rooms of the mined section and some neat features in the back half. Also, if it doesn’t have the coolest parking lot you’ve ever parked in, I’ll eat a rock.
This is a great beginner cave as no tricky climbs or squeezes are required. There is some slightly trickier stuff towards the back of the cave but there’s tons to explore before there! If you’ve never been caving before, this is a phenomenal first trip.

Schedule:
9:00 am – Leave Echols
11:00 am – Arrive at cave and go over safety/conservation information
11:30am – Start caving
3:30pm – Finish caving, return to car
6:00pm – Back at Echols

Gear we have:
– Caving helmet
– No fewer than 2 working headlamps with spare batteries
– Gloves
-Knee pads (optional)

Gear to Bring:
– Water
– Snack/Lunch
– 24 hour emergency food supply (just anything that can last you a days worth of meals)
– A container for any human waste – pack it in, pack it out (old water bottle or screwable tupperware)
– Clothes that can get dirty/ripped/ruined (long pants and long sleeves are mandatory- please try to avoid cotton)
– Close toed shoes that can get dirty/ripped/ruined
– 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)
– Clean clothes/shoes for the car
– Towel

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 are good)
– 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 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

**Drivers needed! You will get your gas reimbursed**