Spelunking

Spelunking, also known as caving, is the exploration of cave systems for recreation, science, or adventure. Spelunking emphasizes recreational exploration, while caving and speleology refer to broader study and documentation of caves.

Trips can involve walking, crawling, squeezing through narrow passages, climbing, and vertical descents using ropes. Common gear includes helmets with mounted lights, sturdy clothing, gloves, boots, a climbing harness, ropes and belay devices, and pads to protect against abrasion. Some trips require cave maps, guides, gas detectors, and respect for water quality and fragile formations.

Cave exploration presents several risks, including falls, hypothermia, flooding, bad air, rockfall, and getting lost. Good practice includes training, guided trips for beginners, planning, weather checks, a buddy system, and informing someone about the itinerary. Participants carry multiple light sources and spare batteries, and bring basic first-aid and emergency signaling equipment.

Ethical cave use emphasizes minimal environmental impact: leave formations and wildlife undisturbed, travel with care to avoid erosion, and pack out all trash. Visitors should avoid touching stalactites and stalagmites, respect nesting sites, and follow permit and access rules, especially in protected areas.

The term spelunking derives from the Latin spelunca and early English usage; speleology is the scientific study of caves. Caving communities organize clubs and expeditions. Notable sites include Mammoth Cave in the United States and Carlsbad Caverns, recognized for their extensive cave systems and research significance.