Tips for Exploring Unmapped Caves

[pyro4lif]

So I was talking to @chumley while floating down the Salt River the other day and we had a conversation about caving.
I told him how I have always had dreams at night of going out doors and climbing MTs swimming in rivers and very often I explore caves. Usually the caves have water in them.
I only know of 3 caves in AZ that are well documented that have water in them Bell, thunder river, and Tapeats. All these caves are well documented on the web (especially outside of HAZ on the gov sites) but are a bit too far for me to day trip to explore.

So last year I was scrolling around a topo map, ya know as one dooz, and I stumbled upon a cave name. I did quite a bit of research on the cave but I could only find one article on it on the web. This was a popular cave in the early 1900's but was blown shut but a nearby mine. They used to give boat rides in this cave lake. Only recently the cave has washed open. I see on sat view that there is a trail leading to the cave entrance. So I know people know about it. I figured it was mainly locals. but talking to Chumly he was saying the caving community is very protective (which I understand as a lot of the caves have been closed due to damage) so I figured I would reach out here and see if any of you might know about this, and maybe would like to share or even plan a trip there as I am a noobie caver. I wanted to visit the cave in the summer monsoon season or in the middle of winter when/if whether isn't nice.

I have read up on caving online, conservation is one of my priorities in all wilderness areas that I go. Here are two links to pages that I read. I read the pages linked on the advanced pages too. Tips and advice welcomed!
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Thanks everyone! I hope you are having a blessed week!

[GrottoGirl]

I'm a member of the Southern Arizona Grotto (caving club) in Tucson. As Chumley has told you the caving community is very protective of the caves in Arizona and it's easy to see why. Go visit Peppersauce. I recommend joining bit the NSS and a local grotto. They will guide you to how to care for the caves and the ecosystem surrounding them. Because of my involvement with my Grotto and other organizations I have helped map caves in Arizona and Belize. I also am going to Montana to do the same. I recommend taking advantage of the Grotto systems. If you need introductions please let me know. Anyone is welcome to attend meetings and get introduced to caving!

[RedRoxx44]

What she said above, my boyfriend did some of the first push caving in the back of Thunder, with the permission of the park service. He used to be a member of CAG, but disagrees with some of the politics and has not been associated with them for many years. However it is the best way to get a started. The best advice, learn where and what not to touch, and to not share unless you can protect the cave. Some of the damage starts when you tell friends and then they tell someone, etc. You and your friends are careful, others may not be. I've pretty much retired from caving unless it's a tourist deal as I feel I am just not athletic, graceful enough for a really delicate area. Old mines , though, that's where it's at for me right now.

[GrottoGirl]

@RedRoxx44 made a good point about the Grand Canton caves -they are closed with the exception of Cave of the Domes. You have to get a permit to visit them and they only grant those for research such as mapping. And mines are really cool!!!