new and wanting to learn more bout caving

[keegan]

hi all my name is keegan Fielder of Hays ks, two years ago i fell in love with caves after taking my first tour or round spring cave in missouri. i am really new to the caving experience and would like to do more as time progresses but im lookin for tips and what not for basic cavers like my self. i have no idea what kind of equipment i need and how to find them, i suppose u have to go with a guide to find the good ones if u dont know where they are. any info and tips would be appreciated, books journals and other reading material suggestions are welcome, i did manage to scrounge up some old 1970s missouri speology journals from a library in delaware.

also if any one can tell me the name of a cave aproximately 8 miles down river from akers put in on the current river in missouri and any info on it we went in a lil ways but our flashlights were acting up soo we left after only goin in about 50 ft. there was a small streep coming out of it and about 100 ft in we could see a small step and pool.

happy caving!

[Azurerana]

May 10, 2008 12:30:28 GMT -5 keegan said:

hi all my name is keegan Fielder of Hays ks, two years ago i fell in love with caves after taking my first tour or round spring cave in missouri. i am really new to the caving experience and would like to do more as time progresses but im lookin for tips and what not for basic cavers like my self. i have no idea what kind of equipment i need and how to find them,

You can look at www.webstershomecave.net and see a lot of info about Missouri caves and caving. I know Hays is nowhere near Kansas City-- most caves in Kansas are in SE Kansas, but there is a caving grotto in Kansas City, and the Kansas Speleological Survey which caves in SE Kansas. There may be a few in the Flint Hills but I don't know of anything west of there.

any info and tips would be appreciated, books journals and other reading material suggestions are welcome, i did manage to scrounge up some old 1970s missouri speology journals from a library in delaware.

Caving Basics from the National Speleological Survey in Huntsville Alabama is a really good book to start with. The MSS is still publishing Missouri Speleology, but as the name implies, it only does Missouri caves. I'm on that board of directors.

also if any one can tell me the name of a cave aproximately 8 miles down river from akers put in on the current river in missouri and any info on it we went in a lil ways but our flashlights were acting up soo we left after only goin in about 50 ft. there was a small streep coming out of it and about 100 ft in we could see a small step and pool.

This sounds like Merritt Rock (aka Little Gem) if it was on the right hand side, up the hillside about 10 feet, and accessible only after a nasty bend in the river. It is after Pulltite Spring. If it was before Pulltite takeout, and a big entrance you can paddle into on the left it is Cave Spring. That is the 20th largest spring in the state. If neither description fits, PM me.