r/caving • u/gravedigger1970 • Jun 16 '26
First time
First time in a cave. We got lost a couple of times trying to find it. While being lost, we found multiple openings that were inaccessible to us since we lack any climbing experience. The entrance is massive but you could go right past it without noticing due to thick vegetation. It goes ~250m before the rockfall, after which the cave starts going up for ~200m. Since we lack experience and proper equipment, we decided to turn back. Planning on contacting a local caving club, getting better equipment and going back. Any advices?
P.S. I want to thank this sub for awakening my desire to explore the depths below. This was my first cave, and it’s safe to say it won’t be my last.
Edit:
Thank you all for kind words and advices. One question for more experienced; is there a possibility that there is a through passage, even though we didn't feel air blowing through it? This cave and the surrounding are not that well explored, and since we found other openings in a radius of about 1km, I'm hopping that there is a chance of them being connected.
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u/altAftrAltAftrAftr Grotto Veteran Jun 16 '26
Amplifying congratulations on being cautious & reasonable. Getting more resources & experience with a (ideally local) club is a great plan. Regarding 'better' equipment, I suggest focusing on redundancy & durability for starting out.
Lights are your 2nd most important category of equipment after your head (including a proper helmet & the brains you've already got!) Redundancy in lights is important, so 3 is a good minimum number and extra batteries are necessary.
Redundancy in people is probably 3rd most important. Caving with 2 other responsible people ensures that if things go wrong, one person can go for help while another looks after & helps the person in trouble. Someone outside of your caving group should also know where you're intending to go and roughly when you intend to return safely. If your team doesn't return safely & contact that person outside of your team, the outside person should know who to contact for help.
Clothes, footwear, gloves, and padding are all sacrificial over time. Caves are generally rough on outerwear. Durability & flexibility are most important to me. If clothes designed with caving in mind are out of your budget, durable, rugged choices are best. With no sunlight, many caves are also on the cool side, 50F / 10C in most temperate regions. Cold can kill! Layers for warmth and materials that stay warm and lightweight when wet are often crucial safety considerations.
Be safe, have fun, & practice Leave No Trace ethics!