Caving Basics: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginning Cavers

For a guide for both the novice and the nightcrawler{in the sense of an expert caver}, Caving Basics lays down the facts about caving safety to equipment and other useful information. This comprehensive text compiled and collaborated by an influential group of expert cavers, a myriad of scientists, civilians, and adrendile junkies that have knowledge of safe caving techniques, helpful suggestions, and strengent principles that help leave the majesty of caves open to everyone. The National Speleological Society is more you think it is and the procedures in this book prove benificial to caving enthusiests and comforting to safety skeptics. They are willing to educate the masses including organizations such as the Boys Scouts{that include Eagles like me}, and many others.

Caving Basics is a compellation of essays for the beginning caver. The essays comprise the individual chapters. The book includes useful information on headlamps (carbide and electric), helmets, clothing, packs, caving safety, manuvering through the cave, first aid, cave maps, topo maps, conservation, and the basics of speleology. The book is well organized and layed out in a useful manner. The book also stresses two of the main factors of caving: safety and conservation. Since the book is written in 1992, there are a few subjects where the book is only slightly out of date. The use of shoulder cams is not as common with ropealkers as they used to be, for example. However, novice cavers cannot go wrong in reading this book. With the words in this book and the help of your local grotto, you will learn more than you think you could. The appendix is also useful as it contains legal forms which may be useful, plus the names and adresses of caving equipment vendors.

This book is a must for begining cavers and also valuable to those interested in the exploration of caves. Detailed chapters cover topics including, but not limited to; lighting, clothing, biology of caves and conservation. Caving basics is a good summary of general caving information.

This book is a must for begining cavers or anyone interested in caving. Detailed chapters cover everything from gear to conservation.