Grotto Flags

[Tony Anders]

Do any Grotto's use flags when they park somewhere to mark they are caving.

Something like you would when you are scuba diving.

I have mixed feelings on these: from the emergency location of missing caver it would be a plus; however, it could also flag the 'scum bags ' in the area to note that there is a group of under the ground and they will not be out so have a good time trashing our vehicles.

I guess the safest thing would be not stray from your original plans, but the I remember one day we went to two different caves. I mean we didn't move the vehicle but there was no real way of knowing other than writing a note saying we have left one cave and went to the other.

I guess this is where a cave marker or cave register would come in handy. We have thought about such a thing, but there again, I am afraid some of these wonderful people in the area will destroy the marker or register we place there.

Short of putting a bolt and metal ring for us to hang a accountability tag on I sort of don't know what to do, other than attempt to call someone when we come out of one cave and enter a second or third one.

That brings yet another problem. A lot of the caves we go to, there isn't any cell service there. There again is why I am attempting to get my amateur radio license.

Oh well. This should be enough to get the cave dust and bat guano out of our heads and think of a way or share proven ways of letting others know where we are. Especially in the case of something happening

Carry on fellow caver's

[madratdan]

Tony,
Instead of a flag, cavers put a bat sticker on their vehicle. They are very easy to spot, but descrete since their is no writing on them. Alot of grotto's have flags and banners. You'll see them flying at the different campsites at caver get togethers, like convention.

[Azurerana]

People have grotto flags, but use them at NSS conventions and regional gatherings to flag other cavers where to camp. NOT when caving .Locals *DO* trash caver vehicles occassionally-- that's the point of the bat (but not NSS) sticker. Some locals do know what's up with the bat sticker, but most non cavers don't. Some places where bat stickers are well-known other sorts of car ID are used--someone who knows me well would look at two stickers on my car, and narrow down the owner to about a half-dozen people in Missouri.

Usually, leaving word with someone not going caving that day is the best. This is the point of 'tell someone where you are going, when you are expected to return and what to do if you don't." Add a couple of hours to the 'expected return' time-- most cavers and caver spouses don't panic until someone is about 6 hours overdue, because they know little stuff happens, trip times are mis-estimated, etc.

This system works pretty good, even when people don't have cells, or radios or such. If you want to call when you're out of the cave, or at the restaurant, or whatever, fine.

If you leave a note before going into a cave, place it face down in the car. A caver will notice it if a callout is needed, but it won't tell a local where you are.

[L Roebuck]

Also it is always a good idea to let a responsible person know your caving plans and the time you plan to be back, in advance.

I have found that most cavers will be able to tell if it's a cavers vehicle, espically if parked in a karst area. Caver vehicles just have a certain look to them. Most cavers do have the bat stickers.

I noticed we didn't have one on the forum so now we do. ;D

[Tony Anders]

I guess a personalized cave plate would be another dead give away. Maybe I will just keep my firefighter tag. Most the time they leave us guys alone.

[NZcaver]

FYI - those bat stickers are also available in magnet form, which I personally prefer.

You can choose between the regular size, or the really tiny one. I usually slap my magnet on when I head out to go caving, but when I get back it comes off again. Occasionally I've even temporarily "baptized" rental cars with it. Dotted across the mainland around caving areas these bats are not uncommon, but interestingly I've never seen a single bat sticker out here on any of the Hawaiian Islands. This could be because virtually all caving here is project caving, and it's a fairly small, discrete, and mostly seasonal crowd.

There's some pretty cool grotto flags/banners around too (especially at OTR), but I wouldn't fly them by caves in the same way divers use dive flags!