Survival in a Cave

I got lost in a cave about 2 years ago. None of us had been in it before and while it was only a quarter mile long we took a wrong turn that left us crawling on our bellies thru tiny shafts with water running thru them into big rooms and up and down and everywhere.

Not only could we not find out way out to the other end we couldn't find our way back the way we came:rolleyes::eek:

Was down to my last flashlight when we saw a small shaft with arrows spraypainted around it and crawled thru it to the outside.

I believe if I went again I'd bring a pocketful of glowsticks and leave one at each juuncture.

My suggestion is if you bring a Surfire which is great for illuminating the whole cave area and seeing it be sure to bring LOTS of batteries cause they are great for caving due to the brightness but the batteries crap out quick.

Was happy none of the 3 folks I was with freaked out. When our flashlights started running out of batteries I asked the one guy "well, how much carbide you got on ya??" he had a carbide lamp. "About 2 weeks worth" he replied. I said "well we'll have light" and he pointed down a the stream and said "well we have water" so we can hold out if we have to, but after a few minutes of sort of being discouraged after much searching we hit it again and found our way back out- about 2 hours after when we should have come out much to the relief of the people waiting for us at both ends who were REALLY starting to freak out.
 
caves are scary things...they make me feel claustrophobic...maybe becuase there is no way out if something bad happened.

in the cave i was in, i wouldn't want to try to get out if i was injured. it was difficult enough as it was (soaking wet, ice buildups everywhere, small streams running through, vertical climbs out, etc)

my tip for survival in caves: don't go in them! or if you do, use a line to find your way out or bring lots and lots of light.
 
hollowdweller said:
I got lost in a cave about 2 years ago. None of us had been in it before and while it was only a quarter mile long we took a wrong turn that left us crawling on our bellies thru tiny shafts with water running thru them into big rooms and up and down and everywhere.

Not only could we not find out way out to the other end we couldn't find our way back the way we came:rolleyes::eek:

Was down to my last flashlight when we saw a small shaft with arrows spraypainted around it and crawled thru it to the outside.

I believe if I went again I'd bring a pocketful of glowsticks and leave one at each juuncture.

My suggestion is if you bring a Surfire which is great for illuminating the whole cave area and seeing it be sure to bring LOTS of batteries cause they are great for caving due to the brightness but the batteries crap out quick.

Was happy none of the 3 folks I was with freaked out. When our flashlights started running out of batteries I asked the one guy "well, how much carbide you got on ya??" he had a carbide lamp. "About 2 weeks worth" he replied. I said "well we'll have light" and he pointed down a the stream and said "well we have water" so we can hold out if we have to, but after a few minutes of sort of being discouraged after much searching we hit it again and found our way back out- about 2 hours after when we should have come out much to the relief of the people waiting for us at both ends who were REALLY starting to freak out.
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That was a good story HD. It is really cool that you were with some really level headed folks. Often times, half the battle is people freaking out and you having to split your attention to the matter at hand while at the same time trying to calm people down.

I seem to find myself in the latter position often, especially given that I work with students on fieldwork. We have this older boat that I use for river runs that is going on 25 years old. I've been captaining the thing for the last 15 years and this boat and I have a special relationship. Yes, she is cranky as hell and sometimes doesn't want to cooperate fully but then I just do a bit of tweaking here and there and get her going again. Usually on the river we are within 1 km of safety or shoreline, I always keep a UHF radio with me and there are two coast guard stations at both end of the river.

Just about every time I start to trying to deal with the boat and its little issues, I'll have a student just start to panic. They want to do stupid things like start to swim for shore and I have to get really darn right mean and nasty with them to keep them seated in the cabin while I work on the engine. Then they start with their cell phones and begin calling everyone they know like they are in dire straights.

I actually fired a summer student a couple of years ago over this because they phoned their parents saying they were in danger when they absolutely weren't. I then had to deal with all kinds of administrative hassels about unfair firing and work/safety conditions. I did everything by the book and had the documentation to prove it so it turned out okay. Basically the issue was that the student didn't fallow my directions and chain of command as the boat captain.
 
Had all the power go out in a building we were in during a large storm at around 9 pm, the backup generators didn't work so it was complete darkness.

That was the day I forgot my flashlight (Surefire 6P) :(
 
My mother had a saying: "Those that don't listen have to feel."

Back in my university days, when trying to prove the earth was round, and evading the Inquisition were popular passtimes, I was known for always being equipped for most eventualities. A few friends and acquaintances I met there went along with me on hikes and camping trips during those days, and some of them were inclined to joke about the way I always seemed able to pull a solution out of my ass when the daily issues cropped up. Even so, when I STRONGLY suggested that certain minimum individual equipment be brought along on our outings some would inevitably show up with nothing but their clothes :jerkit:.

So these people would see me taking a long and refreshing pull from a canteen and ask, "Can I have a drink?" My answer was, "No. This is mine. Drink your own."

Something needed cutting. "Can I borrow your knife?" someone would inevitably ask. After a long stare, "What do you need cut?" I would ask. I'd cut it for them ... once.

Now over half a century from my day of birth (what's the f'ing smiley for old f'er???) I'm both less tolerant and less diplomatic, but even more inclined to teach the true path to self reliance.

As my mother said, "Those that don't listen have to feel."
 
Whynacht said:
My mother had a saying: "Those that don't listen have to feel."

Even so, when I STRONGLY suggested that certain minimum individual equipment be brought along on our outings some would inevitably show up with nothing but their clothes :jerkit:.

So these people would see me taking a long and refreshing pull from a canteen and ask, "Can I have a drink?" My answer was, "No. This is mine. Drink your own."

Something needed cutting. "Can I borrow your knife?" someone would inevitably ask. After a long stare, "What do you need cut?" I would ask. I'd cut it for them ... once.

I'm both less tolerant and less diplomatic, but even more inclined to teach the true path to self reliance.

As my mother said, "Those that don't listen have to feel."
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I understand that! I think the movie The Deer Hunter with Robert De Niro had the perfect scene that fully explained this sentiment (hint: it was a scene concerning a pair of boots). I would explain it here (including his hunting philosophy of "one shot, one kill"), but if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.
 
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