How do you get into caving?
Are you ready to start caving? Locate caves in your area by going to www.caves.org and contacting a local grotto (caving club). Most grottoes plan monthly cave trips which provide responsible guides as you become acquainted with caving.
What skills do you need to go caving?
Skills you should know.
- Proper stoopway techniques.
- Basic hands-and-knees crawl.
- Belly crawling.
- How to move through a squeeze.
- Chimneying; climbing up a vertical crack or a passage whose walls are close together.
- How to read a cave map.
Where in the UK can you do potholing?
Pot Holing in Yorkshire and the Peak District Caving in the Yorkshire Dales and the Peak District, we make use of some of the UK’s premier potholing destinations. In these vast cave systems, you’ll see labyrinths of winding passageways, delicate cave formations, giant chambers and waterfalls.
Is spelunking the same as caving?
Caving – also known as spelunking in the United States and Canada and potholing in the United Kingdom and Ireland – is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems (as distinguished from show caves). In contrast, speleology is the scientific study of caves and the cave environment.
How difficult is caving?
Caving. The caving (non-ropework) difficulty, 1=very easy, 5= very hard. A higher grade for this means that the caving involves more strenuous passage, crawls, squeezes or may simply be long and more tiring. A higher grade may also indicate challenging climbs, or exposed sections where experience in caving is essential …
Is caving expensive?
If you compare the cost of caving against many other “adventure” sports, caving is not so expensive. 600 pounds doesn’t go very far if you want to buy (for example) a set of scuba diving equipment, a complete set of ice climbing equipment and clothing, a decent mountain bike, a sailing dinghy, a hang glider, etc.
Can you go caving alone?
Don’t ever go caving alone. The National Speleological Society recommends caving groups of four or five. That way, the group is not so big that movement is impeded, and a team of two or three can be sent for help in case of an emergency, while another stays with the injured party.
How do you prepare for a cave?
A good general fitness level is important to go spelunking. The majority of caves require a great deal of walking, climbing, and crawling. Drinking lots of water and eating well balanced meals are a must to maintain your energy. If caving in isolated areas, you may need to be in great shape.
What’s the difference between potholing and caving?
What is the difference between caving and potholing? Potholing is a type of caving where the primary aim is to ascend and descend ropes to reach the bottom of a cave. It is a more sophisticated form of abseiling and prussiking. Caving is a demanding and challenging group sport.
What does the British Caving Association do?
The British Caving Association is the national body for underground exploration in Great Britain. We represent individuals and groups with a genuine interest in caves, karst and associated phenomena, whether from a strictly sporting viewpoint, a scientific viewpoint, or a combination of both.