The Christmas List:

 

Caving gear in your pack or on your person is often divided into 3 categories: Must have items, Nice to have items and Optional items.

So many cave trips, so many memories, so many mistakes. After so many, what can I share with you to allow your trips to be safe? Let’s put together a list of items that a good safe caver should have from the most important items to the least important items.

 

Must Have Items

  • A light  A light to a caver is like air to a SCUBA diver. You need a reliable white light with an extra bulb and enough batteries to double your expected underground time. If the manufacturer says 3 hours, you’ll probably only get two. Consider weight. Every half oz is important. Dead batteries weigh the same as fully charged batteries. Take enough light (battery life) for the adventure. This can vary dramatically. It is easy for a trip to last 8 hours longer than originally anticipated. Do not forget that the walk back to the car may be in the dark.
  • Helmet A helmet with a mount for the light mentioned in #1. Be sure it can sustain a side impact, a tumbling rolling fall and has a 3-5 point non-elastic chin strap. Foam between your head and the helmet’s shell may not flex enough when sustaining a substantial impact. Besides, many people put their survival heat tent in helmet’s 'crawl' space.
  • Sturdy boots with a gripping sole.  If the cave is wet, then wet suit booties make warm socks that will hold in core heat longer than most other socks.  Avoid cotton. Slick-bottom tennis shoes are out.  Do not even consider these as cave footwear.
  • Warmth We lose heat from our core from 5 primary places. Our 2 feet (which we discussed in #3), our two hands, and our head. Our chest, or core, should be protected as well.  A cave will assume the year around mean temperature of its location. In the South that is in the low to mid 60’s, in the North that could be in the low to mid 50’s, in the Canadian Rockies cave temperatures are below freezing, while in Mexico cave temperatures may be in the mid 70’s. Dressing for your anticipated environment is important. I always consider: a Brain Freeze hat and/or balaclava, Polypro top, Polypro bottoms, Polylpro glove liners, and rubber caving gloves. Leather gloves may be good for rappelling, but wet leather in a cave is bad. Some type of shell or wind barrier is an option. A serious caver would wear a cave suit.
  • 2nd Light Source This too should be helmet mounted. Consider a light like your primary light, then you can exchange bulbs or batteries depending on which goes out first. A 3rd light source should be available. Consider a 200 hour LED option. This is a survival light.
  • Water A pint or two depending on the length of the cave trip.
  • Survival Heat Tent Put a 4 mil contractor trash bag in your helmet 'crawl' space. If you get lost, or need to rest, crawl inside it with your head poking out of a tight hole made in the bottom of the bag.  See figure # 1
  • Heat source   A small candle and a way to light it. This can be held under the bag to fill the bag with hot air. You would be amazed how well this works.  Get a good candle. A tea candle may only last an hour.  Get a candle that can last 8 hours. Put it in a zip-lock bag with a Bic lighter.
  • Common Sense  Know when you are in over your head. Know when to stop and turn around. Sense the condition of the weaker members of your party and turn around when they are half tired. Make conservative and smart choices.
  • Knowledge and wisdom This remains the lightest piece of critical gear in your cave pack. Take it with you and use it without hesitation. Read up on the ethics of good caving and consult a seasoned veteran.  Remember the NSS Cavers Motto:

                      Take nothing but pictures,

                      Leave nothing but footprints,

                      Kill nothing but time.

 

Nice to Have Items

  • 20’ piece of 1” tubular webbing   This is a useful piece of webbing that can be used for a multitude of emergency needs. If everyone has one, the team has an arsenal of tools at their disposal.
  • Knee pads Especially if crawling is involved.
  • Cave pack   You may have pants with large cargo pockets, but typically most cavers put their gear into a durable cave pack.
  • Carbohydrates (food) for energy.
  • Cave maps and a compass These can be incredibly helpful if you find yourself confused.
  • Knick-knack pouch This small pouch may include a spare shoe lace, a tiny roll of duct tape, candle, bic lighter, note pad, small pencil, glow stick, flagging tape, water purification tabs, pocket knife, multi-tool, first aid kit, small whistle, and/or ashort piece of wire.
  • Poop Bag   Wilderness receptacle for toxic environmental waste.

 

Optional Gear

  •  Vertical gear (Must Have in a vertical cave!)
  •  Camera gear
  •  Surveying gear
  •  Special interest equipment
  •  Telephone  <;^)

 

Figure #1 Heat Tent. Place an upside down contractor bag with a small hole cut out for the head to fit through. Light a candle between your feet. Don’t catch your clothes on fire.