The Perpetual Tourist

The winter can be kind of a drag for someone who likes the outdoors but doesn’t have the coordination for skiing (yes, I am talking about myself). Finding activities out of the house can be a challenge, but if you’re up for a real adventure, maybe it’s time to take up caving.

There’s a whole world beneath our feet, and few people ever see it for themselves. That’s one of the main draws for many spelunkers, to see things that have never been seen by others before. Caves can be really beautiful (and quite muddy), and a caving trip is a great group activity (but never something you should do on your own).

Cave safety is very important, because you’re not likely to have cell phone reception inside the cave and if you get injured, it’s not easy to get out quickly. You should always go spelunking with someone trained in cave safety. If caving becomes a regular hobby, you should probably take a cave rescue course. Hopefully you’ll never need the training, but of course it’s better to be safe than sorry, as they say.

If you’re a caving novice and you don’t know anyone with experience, look up a caving club, known as a grotto, here. Caving clubs will have information about where to find caves in your area, and they may provide the gear you’ll need for your first trip. Many caves are on private property or are closed at certain times of the year, so you want to be sure you have permission to go into a cave before you head out on a trip.

The temperature inside a cave is pretty steady year round, so as long as the cave is open, you can go exploring any time of year. If you like the idea of exploring the underground world, but you’re worried your claustrophobia might be too strong to overcome, check out commercial caves like Luray Caverns in Virginia or Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. These are just a few of the popular caves in the US that are open to the public for tours, and you won’t have to get muddy or crawl on your belly to see the spectacular limestone formations.