NOTE: This article was originally published on July 22, 2013. However, several members of the Project Caving Community of the Ozarks group asked us if they could rewrite some of the information. They did so, and this is the new article, republished on August 20, 2013. A big thanks to Shawn and Jo for helping us give out the right info!
If your family plans to take a float trip this summer, you’re bound to come across a cave or two along the shore. With more than 6,200 recorded caves, Missouri is second in the nation in cave numbers. With bats, salamanders, stalactites, stalagmites, mazes, chambers and waterfalls, caves are mysterious and fascinating places that beg to be explored.
Caving is the sport of exploring caves. Cave exploring can be very safe, like walking in a basement, or extremely dangerous, requiring climbing, rappelling, swimming in extremely cold water, wriggling in tight spaces and of course, crawling, all in a dark space where you cannot see beyond the beam of your light. It’s most important that you are physically up to the challenge, and that you don’t outcave your physical or mental abilities. Caving should always be done sober.
If you plan to explore a cave, get the landowner’s permission first. Some caves on public lands are temporarily closed due to concern for bat survival; it’s always best to get the OK first. Ideally, a caving party should be at least four people, and no more than eight. It’s tempting to go in a cave with a flashlight and float clothes. That might suffice to duck in and take a quick look around, but if your plan to go way beyond the entrance, long sleeved shirt and pants, hard hat with a helmet mounted light, at least two other lights per person. Boots with good tread and ankle support are a must. Gloves and kneepads are a plus.
Any sort of synthetic material is better than cotton to keep warm. Jeans and a t-shirt might do in July, where you will shortly be back in sunshine, but never in winter. At a minimum take an old wool or acrylic sweater for added warmth in the cave. Leave caves with cold deep (over thigh high) water to experts. Even in summer, 60-degree water can make you hypothermic in 20 minutes or so. Your clothing should be easy to move in. You’ll make moves in a cave you may have forgotten since babyhood.
Don’t underestimate the value of multiple lights. LEDs work well in caves and are long-lived and lightweight. Your cell phone cannot call out from a cave, but it is a source of light. Move slowly and carefully. Don’t show off. If someone becomes injured and cannot move under their own power, leave one person with them and take a person with you to go for help. Don’t count on cell coverage in the backcountry. It often doesn’t exist. Without a signal, climb to a ridge and try there.
Take time to really see the cave. That’s why you are there, no? Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time. If you can, leave someone outside with the boats, and tell them what to do if you don’t return when expected. If caving is on the agenda, tell someone at home the same thing. Local first responders usually know how to get hold of people expert in cave rescue. If nothing else, call 911, explain the situation, and let them call in the experts.
When you’re back off the trip, wash your cave clothes first with a hose, then in the hottest water possible to kill any bacteria, fungus or viruses. You can spray or wipe things that cannot be washed with Lysol or Formula 409 to kill any nasties. Take a good shower or bath yourself. (You will be dirty; you will want to do this anyway.)
Caves are amazing places. The beauty and animals are fragile and deserve protection. If you find you like the sport, visit www.caves.org, and learn more how to cave safely while protecting what lives and exists there.
PLEASE keep in mind that ALL caves along the Current, Jacks Fork and Eleven Point Rivers, as well as all caves on ALL state park, Forest Service and Missouri Conservation Department lands are CLOSED to all entry. You are trespassing if you enter one. Any other cave you find along a river will be on private land and as a courtesy you should get the landowner’s permission before you enter.
This closure is to avoid further disturbing bats that are being challenged by White Nose Syndrome, a disease that is killing millions of bats nationwide. Caves are fun, but bats are important and they are living things. Think about your values before you trespass in a cave. Due to the overwhelming expense they are not all gated nor signed, but please stay out. thank you.
Bill thanks for the reminder. Nearly all caves on private land are closed. While our article is meant to keep people safe when entering a cave, rules should always be followed when it comes to entering caves in Missouri.
Dont listen to Dill o’ Bonnell. For some reason he loves that fact that cavers can not visit caves. He must of had a bad experience with a cave when he was young, or his parents never hugged him.
Mr. Hanke,
Your “article” is wrong on so many levels! Encouraging people to even enter caves along the rivers is wrong. As stated, ALL caves on federal lands are closed. Most private landowners do not want inexperienced “spelunkers” in their caves. We, the project caving community of the Ozarks area ask you to please consult with us to re-write this article. We know you meant no harm, but the majority of it is very misleading and much your information is incorrect. Thanks, Shawn
Based upon several of your statements in your blog post, it is evident that you are interested in cave exploration, but that you do not have the experience or proper training required to safely explore the majority of caves in Missouri.
For example, your statement “Die hard spelunkers always wear hard hats with headlights, knee pads, gloves and proper shoes,” is misleading and incomplete. This equipment, with multiple backups, is absolutely REQUIRED to safely navigate ANY cave. There are other misleading statements in your blog article that are, at best, incomplete.
I encourage you or any prospective cave explorer to contact any of the caving organizations found at http://www.caves.org. You and your readers should minimally learn about the sport of cave exploration, watch a few videos, go on a few trips led by an experienced caver, and ONLY THEN think about cave exploration.
By exploring caves with less training than I have indicated is asking for trouble.
Once you have obtained permission to cave on private land, what to do to safeguard the bats? The fungus Bill refers to is 99% spread bat to bat, but the spores may be in the soil. You can still cave and help the bats by decontaminating your clothing and gear between cave. First, wash everything to get the dirt off. Next, clothing should be immersed in 122 degree water (use a sanitizing washer or a candy thermometer to measure the heat) for 20 minutes. Things that cannot be immersed should be wiped with Formula 309, Industrial strength Lysol, or a 10% bleach to 90% water solution. Any of these methods are lab proven to kill the fungus and spores. Hey, if you fish or boat, you clean your waders, boat bilge and other gear between streams. This is no different.
If you want to know more about caving, go to http://www.caves.org. There you can find information about WNS (white nose syndrome) in bats and how to prevent the spread, as well as a local grotto (club). Be prepared on how to cave safe for both you and the cave.