Spelunking clubs?

Desertboots · Post by **Desertboots** » Sep 15 2003 3:24 pm

I was told that there are some spelunking clubs here in Arizona. Does anyone know if there are web sites and/or how to get in touch with them? I'm tired of hiking above the ground, I'm going underground now....

-=db=-

olesma · Post by **olesma** » Sep 15 2003 4:08 pm

Wow! That's ambitious. I've been there, done that and it is a serious workout. Hiking just works your leggs - spelunking really gives you the full body workout. It's a LOT of work. Totally worth it - don't get me wrong - it's just difficult.

Keep in mind you'll have to have a minimum amount of equipment:

- Hard hat
- Headlight
- Minimum of 2 other light sources (one electric, one manual and both preferably water-proof - also preferably providing 8+ hrs of total light)
- Boots you don't mind thrashing to no end
- Backpack (same story)

Don't forget the ability to pretend you're a worm and get through little tiny openings that initially make you think "No freaking way man!" and the absolute lack of anything resembling claustrophobia or fear of heights.

That last one sounds wild, but it's true - you run into all kinds of crevases and pits that you have to jump/climb over and the drop can make you dizzy sometimes.

Overall though - there is nothing like exploring a cave that doesn't have any trails or electric lights installed on the floor. It's beautiful, serene, rewarding, unusual, and exceptionally rewarding.

I recommend it.

Unless you're claustrophobic.

Nighthiker · Post by **Nighthiker** » Sep 15 2003 7:35 pm

Several years ago I attended a presentation. As I recall there were two clubs, one in Phx. and one in Tucson. The federal land managers under the cave protection act are mostly mum on the subject. I went to Peppersauce and Redman (I think that it was called) with some club members. Some of the cities in the valley from time to time offer some cave visits.

OlenWhitaker · Post by **OlenWhitaker** » Sep 19 2003 12:54 am

I'm also interested in spelunking. I hiked the lava river tube this spring and it was the first time I'd been in a cave that wasn't laced with artificial light and paved trails. It really put the hook in me. I don't know of any other caves in the area (Flagstaff;) does anybody know where there are other accessable caves? I know there must be many more around. Does anybody have directions?

olesma · Post by **olesma** » Sep 19 2003 10:54 am

There are some clubs out there that do spelunking, and you really do have to get involved with someone who knows where the caves are. I've been in a number of them, but I always went with a buddy who knew where they were. They were almost always a fair distance off the beaten path, and I would have walked right past them if I didn't know they were there.

Adding to the difficulty, most of the caves that are worthwhile are gated. Meaning that they have a lock and you can only get the key from the Forrest service. You can usually check out a key for a small fee and keep if for something like a week.

There are a few groups who go actively looking for new caves - but that is kind of hit or miss and they are REALLY hard core. My buddy was one of them and he liked to tell the story of a passage in the middle of one of the better caves in the Grand Canyon area that was referred to as the "Falopian Tube" - let your imagination run with why they titled it that way and I guarantee that it doesn't come close to how difficult it sounded as he described it. Very long, very narrow and lots of very difficult bends and twists. Made me claustrophobic just listening to him.

Anyway - if you are nice to the forrest service folks where you get they keys they can put you in touch with a couple of the groups.

One more thing - there are caves all over the state. Southern AZ has some dandies - but Northern AZ also has some pretty impressive caves - and there are even reports of some seriously impressive caves just sitting out in the middle of nowhere right near the valley. Go figure.