General Introduction To Caving
Caves can have varied ceiling heights and the floor can be smooth, pit_filled, slope up or down, lined with little rocks, piled with big boulders, etc.. You will be required to crawl or squeeze through some restrictions. You will possibly get muddy and wet. Expect to get wet...or at least your feet wet. Most caves in Indiana have a stream or pools in them. You will definitely "trash out" your clothes and footwear.
The temperature in caves is around 55o F. year_around. This is plenty warm enough when you're exerting yourself, but can be chilling if you stop moving for more than 10 minutes or so, and can even lead to hypothermia over extended periods of inactivity.
In a cave, never break anything and try not to touch or walk on formations. Both mud and the substances on a person's skin will permanently discolor and hurt formations. Cave formations and minerals of any kind must never be removed from the cave for any purpose. Instead of mineral or formation collections, substitute underground photography or art work for displays and science fair projects.
Minimize all disturbance to any cave life you encounter (particularly important for hibernating bats, which can die if wakened prematurely). Do not touch or disturb cave life. Leave bats alone and they will leave you alone.
Caving can be similar to most other outdoor activities like hiking, climbing, swimming, etc.. It depends upon what challenges the particular cave has to offer. The major difference between caving and these other activities is DARKNESS. A wild cave is totally void of all light. This means that you have to provide your own light. The difference between a wild cave and a commercial cave is a commercial cave is open to the public and has a lighting system, sidewalks or trails, and is inspected for safety. A wild cave, on the other hand, does not have any lights (you have to provide your own) and can be unsafe. NEVER cave alone. Always let someone know where you are going and when you will be back.
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