What's Your Caving Obsession?

[Brian Roebuck]

This is for all you obsessive compulsive cavers out there. Do you eat sleep and dream about caving? Do you get stars in your eyes when someone mentions a cave? Do your palms get sweaty at the mention of a new cave that was found and you weren't there? Do you find yourself checking the Cavers Forum all throughout the day and night?

Well this topic is for you! We want to hear all about your caving obsessions!

So let's have 'em!

[Brian Roebuck]

OK I guess I gotta be first again.

I really get fired up about finding virgin passage especially in caves that have been looked at a lot. If one studies the cave and pokes around in the right place further passage is usually a short dig or squeeze away! Many huge systems have been "discovered" this way!

[Azurerana]

I like being alone by myself, deep in a cave, with no light. Just the sound of the water, and the smell of the damp clay and the various bacteria and molding things. It's a great way to relax and think. Not to mention the hynogogic images and drug-free hallucinations after a half hour or so. It bothers me that most cavers go caving like a herd of elephants--tromping through, being noisy, talking incessantly. They don't take the time to listen to what the cave has to say.

[Tony Anders]

Well, I guess you know your ate up with it, when your driving down the road almost run off the side craning your neck around when you see a cliff or depression in the hillside and the first thought that runs through your mind is, "do I have my flash light with me, in case there is a hole there to peak my head in." the second though being where is my GPS so I can keep this coordinates for later.

To me there is nothing like the feeling of finding what might be a new crack or hole to explore. The day we found what we think might be a new cavern I couldn't tell you who was more excited myself and brothers or the kids for possibly getting to name the new cavern.

I guess for the most part, I can tell I am caving crazed due to the fact that I recently sit in on a interview for a position and caving came up yet again. All though I think it helped me in interview. The person that would end up being my boss told me about a few more cave locations here close by that he had been too. Ha ha, looks like it is a small caver's world after all.

As for the forum, if they put a log tracer on it, I would get frequent flier miles. I find my self on here looking all the time for cave trip reports and pictures from other cave buds.

Well I guess I have carried on long enough. It is about time to go turn in for now anyhow.

Cave hard, ya all. Take care.

[L Roebuck]

As for my caving obsessions well there is nothing like the feeling of finding a brand new cave to explore. Just the thought of standing in front of an undiscovered cave makes my heart beat faster and my palms get sweaty! Then whoop we get to explore it too! The second obsession to caving in undiscovered caves would be discovering historical signatures, evidence of prehistoric usage, or a brand new undescribed cave species! ;D

[Off Rope]

I guess my obsession is the vertically wet cave. Pull downs being the best because I don't have to wait on others to climb. For some odd reason, I am usually the last to climb.

What a rush coming over the lip with a raging stream right in your face. Just keep your eyes closed and your mouth shut! Save the wooping for after you get over the lip.

And, as Mudpuppy put it, "Follow the string at all times." lol