RE: Caving

[Starcraft Dad]

 Nick
When we lived in Tenn, I went " spelunking"  (sp) quite often.  It was great fun going back thousands of years into a totally different world.  
 
 On one particular trip, I had to climb down an eight foot wall to get into the lower part of the cave.  Once down there I was concerned on how I was going to get out.  My friends reassured me that they would pull me out with no problem.  I am not a climber, not having the experience of climbing.  Well once in the lower cave, there was a strong amonia odor.  Shined the lights toward the ceiling and there was thousands of bats that decided to take flight.  Lets just say my big a** got over that wall with absolutly no help at all.  I don t even remember climbing it back up.[]  I didn t know I could move that fast.[]

[Nick]

 Nick
I got buzzed by a few bats too, saw a lot of guano.  
 
 I always called it spelunking also until I joined up with a grotto (caving club).  Its more that just going out for fun.  They do a lot of research also.  They are working on a cave named Lilburn up in Kings Canyon that is turning out to be the longest cave in CA.  So, the translation of spelunker is " someone who goes in a cave who does not know what they are doing" .  They tend to like the term caver or caving.[8D]

[angelsmom10]

 Nick
I used to know someone years and years ago and he always called himself a spelunker.

[Trlrboy]

 Nick
My DW and I have been climbing under the crust of the earth for 25 years.  We ve been in caves in 28 states and all of them have something unique, from the majesty of Carlsbad to the vastness of Mammouth Cave to the tourist traps on the east cost.  We ve never seen a bad cave and have our share of mud and skinned knees.

[Nick]

 Trlrboy
Hey Bob,
 Ever been to any in CA?

[vjm1639]

 Nick
eeeeewwwww.....gives me the heebee jeebees to even think about it!  LOL  NO way could i do that.   The big commercial caverns is as close as I can come to caves!  
 
 DH knew a guy through his office that does a lot of caving here in Virginia.
 
 

[B-flat]

 Nick
Luray Caverns is the only experience I have with that....first and last time.  Anything could happen once inside.....gives me the creeps.[&:]

[ckkevin]

 Nick
Nick,
 
 I used to do some spelunking in Colorado.  We should plan a NNC Rally close to some good caves![]

[springer02]

 Nick
Our 12 year old DD things caving rocks.  She s taken a class through our local community college for two summers now and she loves it.  She comes home dirtier than I thought possible and one day there was a worm in her hair.  They go to caves around here (Staunton, VA) and also somewhere in WVa.
 
 It s not for me!  Just the thought of being that close to bats gives me the heebie-jeebies.
 
 Let me know if you want the name of the company that does the trips.  Great people.
 
 Tena

[Miss-Teri]

 Nick
Glad to hear you had a good time!
 I like the big caves, but just your talking about the small spaces and getting stuck (ugh, can barely even type it) bothers me to no end.  I guess " real"  spelunking is not for claustrophobics!