Hi. I'm sort of new to the world of caving, only been in the hobby for about 6 months.

What is your "policy" on flashlights? How many do you carry and how many spare batteries do you carry? Do you re-charge absolutely everything before any caving session, or do you recharge only the "active" lights, trusting that the spares won't have self-discharged much?

This is what I typically carry: my main headlight (1x21700), a spare headlight (1x18650), a hand torch in a much warmer tint (1x21700), a spare hand torch (1x18650), 2x18650 spares, 2x21700 spares. If I know we're gonna be stopping a lot in comfy places I'll take a portable lantern (1x21700) as well. So typically I'll have 4 or 5 lights with me and 2x2 spare batteries.

I normally recharge all lights before going, but I don't recharge the spare batteries. Should I?

Overall, am I overdoing it?

Hi! I've had this idea for a while and have finally mastered the courage to ask about it its target audience. So, it's a mobile app that doesn't require Wi-Fi/gps for tracking user location. It tracks in all three dimensions, so climbing and descending are also taken into account. You are able to record a certain route, which is represented by a 3d map,and you can see your position within it. I believe such an app can be made, but would it be in any demand?

English isn't my first language, sorry

Hi,

does anyone have any experience in resizing an oversuit? I have an extra one (the standard orange ones, waterproof) and would like to atempt to make it smaller because it is huge on me. And the other one i use is also too big but if i fail i can still use that one (i got both second hand, but dont want to buy a new one just yet because i am still a beginer).

I think i have a sewing maching strong enough and i know ld have to buy an waterproof seam sealer.

Does anyone have any experiences or tips on how to resize it, espacially make the torso part smaller. And how do diffrent seam sealers hold up, what stiching wpuld you recomend. I am on rope so i dont want it to just burst because i sat in a harnes also caves in my area are pretty wet.

Thankssss

The other day one of the members of a canyoneering group I'm a part of, found a cave (in basalt bedrock) below a huge dam. It's only accessible during the winter when the lower reservoir is low (the dam is in the middle of two reservoirs). The cave is directly below the waterfall formed by the water outlet. It's currently unexplored, would it be safe to explore when the reservoirs are dry? Also would the cave be a structural concern for the dam above.

On my last caving trip last week. We decided on cutting our dead harnesses as they were accidentally taken into a cave and I cut the brand off so got me thinking about what other mementoes are out there

The mods have noticed, and received feedback, about the overwhelming amount of posts here regarding passing through tight spaces, rescuing from them, etc. In a way, it feels like a passive violation of Rule 4. Future posts about small spaces may be removed under Rule 4. This post however is open for discussion of all things small spaces!

Please, however, we still do not want to talk about Nutty Putty.

If you find the thread is too big, please feel free to make use of the search feature to look for tight spaces.

I

I posted this on this subreddit a couple years ago but no one was able to help me figure it out. I’ve spent the last couple years scouring youtube to try and find it but I can’t, maybe this description could help someone else remember it though, and the channel is not Mr. Ballen or Mr. Deified.

I don’t know if anyone will be able to help me, but i’m trying to find an account on youtube that often discussed tragedies involving caving. The youtuber did one video on floyd collins, and another video that was about a scientist(I’m not really sure what he was but for some reason i think he was a scientist) who went into a cave/crevice and while he was ascending his rope snapped and he fell to the bottom hitting his head. He was too heavy to lift and he basically died at the bottom of the cave a few days later, and then he was cremated and his name was inscribed on a rock. I doubt if that will be helpful to anyone but if it is please tell me the youtubers name because I’ve spent the last 20 minutes searching for him.

So I’ve been thinking …..how do you know there isn’t another caver in the very tight & long tunnel you are about to enter, either ahead of you going forward or coming back your way??
Has anyone encountered this & what did you do?

I’m wanting to start caving and was wondering if mining boots are good for caving or not. The only reason I ask is because I figured since most mining is done underground and with all the sharp and jagged rocks that in caves I feel like they would be better than hiking boots or lightweight winter boots since they’re probably more durable and suitable for being underground

Hi, I’m new to the hobby and looking to possibly meet people interested in the same thing in my area. I’m a photographer mainly and I like photographing beautiful places and caves are definitely on that list! I have a bunch of places I already found that I’d love to explore - Hartford county area CT. Private message me if interested!

For our high school Capstone Project, we are required to engineer a device that could help solve an issue that many people encounter (Me and my Team are in a STEM Academy, hence the Capstone Project needing to be related to engineering). Our team have decided to make a device that could help to more efficiently and cost effective solution to clean rope as research has shown that dirty rope can be weakened by up to 30%, we would really appreciate it if people could fill our form as we need survey response to get an idea about how impactful our product could potentially be that would be greatly appreciated.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdd1sGDmNUuz4WSae17u4uFL6ShPLzMv8A1jv92B95qJeRCgQ/viewform?usp=sharing

hi everyone! i've been caving pretty casually for about two years, but recently joined my local grotto and have fallen head first in love with it since having the opportunity to go more frequently. i'm already thinking about going to convention next year, but having a hard time trying to conceptualize the logistics. so, a few questions:

1. would you mind sharing your total cost, and a general breakdown of it? please include any expenses you can think of related to convention, no matter how insignificant!

2. what were your travel/lodging logistics? i'm in the west and will need to fly, so bonus points if you've done the same and can talk about how you transported all gear, camping supplies, etc. i hear they have motels, too? what's that all like?

3. what's something you wish you had known before you went? any advice? information regarding the general vibe/environment of the caves in cobleskill and type of gear you'll want to have for them is appreciated as well.

and really just anything you want to share, i'm all ears. none of my close friends i've made through caving are able to go this year so i'm feeling nervous and lacking guidance! thank you in advance :)

Hi, I am a researcher who just moved to Florida only a few months ago. I study speleothems and I'm well versed in the lab side of things but not until recently have I started to collect my own samples. Being inside a cave is a new world for me and I'd like to practice caving more outside of my job.

I know about the Grotto but just haven't had the time to reach out to that group.

Would any local cavers be interested in info dumping about Florida caves to me so I can learn more about them from frist hand experience?

(For context I do not do research in Florida just the lab I work in is here and I genuinely know nothing about Florida caves)