Didn't see a thread about cave exploration up so I want to start one. I've only ever been in commercial caves before and I want to know more.
I don't know much about what equipment I'll need but I wanted to learn a bit more about spelunking, you know squeezing into tight spaces and then squeezing out again alive.
No thread because the op from the one from last month got stuck deep underground and bled out as they were cutting off his leg before he starved.
>>963613
Wait really? I never come here so I don't know.
>>963589
I cave, bro.
Gear for the most part is simple stuff. Helmet and a headlamp is the minimum (coveralls are nice though). Depending on the cave you may want ropes and harnesses. If you don't know a cave, I would recommend finding a cave map and knowing how to read it.
Going through tight spaces is practice and remaining calm.
>>963613
Haha what?
Used to go to cool spring cave in cadiz, ky and sweet potato in Livingston county ky. All the caves around here seem to be being covered up and/or forgotten about. Cool springs was a wet cave, complete with waterfalls, swimming spots you had to cross, a bat shit slide, and knee-drag trails you used to get in and out. Pic is I think an old photo of the entrance, last time I tried to go the entrance had been bulldozed. As i remember water flowing out of it, i suspect it's only time until the water eats another exit out of the side of the hill. Sweet potato (which I used to have a map to a portion of) was a dry cave with many deep pits that was rumored to run underneath the river and emerge on the other side, although I don't know how this would be possible. Used to be popular with boy scout troops.
>>963847
oh i remember that, that shit was from years ago wasn't it?
>>963645
what can i expect while in a tight space? i've seen videos of people coming out of holes in the ground and they seem to wiggle around alot, is there any specific manner to go through them?
>>963850
how far out of the city or town do you have to travel to find a cave? there are literally dozens of caves around here but they're all converted for commercial or storage use
>>963863
Where do you live? Cadiz is about an hour away and sweet potato is maybe 45mins. I live in a sparsely populated area as opposed to a big city though.
>>963863
>what can i expect while in a tight space?
The challenge of each particular tight space can really vary. It's technique you've sort of got to learn through experience. But yeah, once you've decided on the best body position (ie. arms in front or behind, head first or feet first) it's a lot of wiggling and manipulating your body position.
>>963589
you know every time a caver dies I get an erection. It's weird. I worked in mining. I've been in mines. granite's like 2500 kg/m3. That shit comes down on you and you're fucked. It pins you, you're in your coffin. But I take solace in knowing the guys who go into and die in caves were having fun and weren't the greatest minds. Good caving to you.
>>963875
The Midwest, that's all im gonna say. But I live in the city, legit 5 minutes away from a cave complex that's underground storage, about 20 from the op pic, and 35 from another commercial cave near a casino
Damn I need to find me some caves. Only been in one, which was in amish country PA and pretty legit. Not super big, but easy going. Honestly I would never try squeezing through a small space. Not worth it.
>>963850
>the entrance had been bulldozed
Fucking why?
>oh gee, look at this beautiful natural formation
>let's destroy it so some crackhead's unattended children don't manage to die in it
>>963613
>>963616
>>963751
>>963847
>>963863
On /out/
>Be first post
>Make up outrageous story based on various bits of fact
>Anons actually confirm because FPBP
This is how memes begin /out/
>>964358
> in the Midwest
Areas that have been geologically stable for thousands of years are now getting more earthquakes than California due to fracking.
Wouldn't we all love to be squeezing through a tight space in a cave when an earthquake happens?
>>965045
I don't know. There had been restrictions on entering it because of some endangered bats but wouldn't bulldozing it kill any bats inside?
Pic related is from the main entrance of cool springs cave in Cadiz.
http://www.troop1paducah.com/sweet-potato-cave/ is some boyscout photos (see I told you) of sweet potato in livingston. Go past the road to get to it once every few months but never go up there.
>>966115
>Areas that have been geologically stable for thousands of years are now getting more earthquakes than California due to fracking.
Eh, we sit on top of the new Madrid fault line. Any caves in the present survived the 1811-1812 series of quakes should be OK for the tremors we get these days.
>Wouldn't we all love to be squeezing through a tight space in a cave when an earthquake happens?
Not really, super scary. Honestly though, I don't spend almost any time underground. If by chance im entombed on one of the once-every-few-year I'd think it came down to shitty luck, which wouldn't really surprise me.
>>966115
>Wouldn't we all love to be squeezing through a tight space in a cave when an earthquake happens?
Apparently it's super scary but depending on the cave you might actually be really safe.