How to Pack for Caving

Wikimedia Commons

Caving, or spelunking, is a sport that shares some skills, gear and circumstances in common with mountain climbing. The sport is unsafe or impossible without a complete set of gear. Even more so than with mountain climbing, the best sites require at least a day hike and camping. Hauling a complete kit of caving gear, plus anything else that might be needed for the trip requires some planning.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Helmet Helmet lamp Knee pads Caving jump suit Backup flashlight Extra batteries Glowsticks Hammer Climbing irons Map Ropes (optional) Carabiners (optional) Repelling harness (optional) Water bottle Snack or share of camping provisions Tower backpack or rucksack
Helmet
Helmet lamp
Knee pads
Caving jump suit
Backup flashlight
Extra batteries
Glowsticks
Hammer
Climbing irons
Map
Ropes (optional)
Carabiners (optional)
Repelling harness (optional)
Water bottle
Snack or share of camping provisions
Tower backpack or rucksack

Step 1

Plan the division of carrying labor in advance. If your cave is some distance from roads and civilization, you will probably need to hike in and camp there. Furthermore, no one should ever cave alone, so there will be a party of at least two involved. Talk to your partner(s) and divide who is carrying what part of the camping kit.

Step 2

Decide with your partner(s) who will carry specific parts of the kit that only one, or at most two members of the group need to have. This part of the kit includes a hammer, climbing irons and a map of the cave (if one exists).

Step 3

Assemble your caving kit. This will consist of at least your helmet, helmet lamp, knee pads, caving jump suit, back-up flashlight, extra batteries and glowsticks. It may also include rock-climbing gear like ropes, carabiners and a repelling harness. The latter gear depends on the cave and the ambitions of the caving trip.

Step 4

Pack your tower backpack or rucksack. If this is a day caving trip, then all you need is your caving gear, a water bottle and a snack. A good plan in the event of a combined caving-camping trip is to pack your caving gear into the bottom of the pack. This equipment will not be needed until after camp is set, so it should be the last set of items you get to after arriving at the site.

Step 5

Weigh your pack. A seasoned trekker and caver ought to know how much he can carry on a trek. A novice should draw the line at 50 lbs.

Article Written By Edwin Thomas

Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.

Editor's Pick

5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...
More National Parks...
Popular Article

National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...
More National Parks...
Featured Destination

Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...
More Camping Basics...