Required Equipment List:
Your selection of caving equipment is your responsibility and is a very
personal decision. It is recommended that you seek further
information and instruction prior to caving (see the below links for
more information.) This list is generally considered to be the
minimum requirements for safe caving, and cavers will not be permitted
on grotto trips without this equipment.
- Helmet UIAA or CE approved mountaineering
style helmet with a three or four point suspension, and a non-elastic
chinstrap. (Members can borrow a helmet from the grotto.)
- Carbide or Electric head lamp with extra batteries
or carbide. (Members can borrow a headlamp from the Grotto, but bring your own fresh, new batteries.)
- Two backup light sources - small headlamps
work well. Bring extra batteries. All together, you should have THREE
sources of light bright enought to exit the cave and TWO of the light
sources need to be helmet mounted.
- Old rugged clothing. Sturdy synthetic clothing is strongly
recommended for warmth when wet. Synthetic coveralls are preferred by
many cavers as they don't come untucked. The grotto has overalls you can
borrow for your first few trips. Check with your trip leader regarding
cave conditions so you can choose suitable clothing. Consider the outside
conditions - will you be hiking 2 miles in 10 degree weather? Will you
be scrambling up long hills in 95 degree weather?
- Thermal layering underwear. Synthetic or wool underlayers,
fleece for cold caves or if you get cold easily. NO COTTON - it provides
no warmth if you get wet, and wet cotton makes you very vulnerable to
hypothermia - the saying is that "cotton kills!" Bring an extra synthetic
or wool top - fleece perhaps - in case the trip is colder then you anticipated.
- Synthetic warm socks.
- Sturdy boots - good fitting hiking boots with good
treads are very suitable. Sturdy boots help prevent ankle sprains and
good treads give you more secure footing. Boots are likely to get very
wet and will wear quickly - many cavers use work boots from discount stores.
- Sturdy work gloves - leather work gloves are usually sufficient.
Bring synthetic (polypro) glove liners if you get cold hands. Some people
prefer rubberized work or neoprene divers gloves for wet caves.
- Small sturdy back pack.
- Water - bring 2 liters of water or more.
- Food - High energy/non crushable snacks, energy bars,
granola, trail mix. Bring extra in case the trip runs longer then planned.
- Plastic garbage bag - can be used as a heat tent for
an in-cave emergency, and holds your wet dirty caving gear after the trip.
- Change of clothes - clean clothes to change into after
the trip
- Small First Aid Kit - be able to manage blisters, headaches,
loose bowels, small cuts, dirt in your contact lenses, etc. Coordinate
with your trip leader to ensure that the group has the resources necessary
to handle larger problems.
- Group first aid kit
(one needed per group) - be able
to manage sprains, lacerations, simple fractures, etc.
Tailor this kit to the trip - 5 experienced cavers camping in a cave
for 3 days have different needs then a 1 hour trip with 20 boy
scouts. Keep it small so you take it into the cave.
The grotto has a kit for trip leaders to borrow.
Optional Equipment:
- Knee and Elbow pads - highly recommended!
- 1" climbers webbing - 30 feet or so - many possible uses in-cave
- Cave map and compass
- Watch (kept in a container inside your pack)
- Whistle
- Camera
- Large first aid kit. A large kit in your car or by the cave
entrance to handle more serious incidents. Send two
experienced cavers out to call for help and to bring needed supplies to
the incident scene.
DO NOT bring anything into a cave that you do not wish to get wet or
mud covered. Cave mud is very difficult to remove and will not wash completely
out of most fabrics. DO bring a garbage bag to hold your dirty caving
clothes in for the ride home.
More Information
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Conservation 
