| |
Caving
Description
Caving is an excellent activity for the adventurous and curious
individual any time of the year. Cave temperatures in the
Southeast remain around 55 degrees Fahrenheit year round. On a
trip with Pathways you will feel like a true explorer in an
undeveloped, “wild” cave. We use caves that are suitable for
beginners, meaning that many of the main passages are tall
enough to walk through, with some narrow corridors and shallow
ceilings. These caves also contain much smaller passages
branching off and curving back around to the main corridor, so
those who have the desire to explore can experience crawling and
wiggling through some tight places. The caves are safe for
beginners and groups, providing an authentic and beautiful
introduction to the life and landscape of the subterranean
world.
Location
We frequent caves in Trenton, Georgia and Lafayette, Georgia.
We'll work with your group to figure out which cave will
be best suited for your experience.
When
It's never too cold or too rainy to explore a cave - the climate
underground is always cool and damp. Caving can also be done as
an evening activity since we’re not dependent upon daylight
anyway.
|
 |
Group Size
We’ll take no more than 10 people in the cave at a time. If the
group consists primarily of minors (18 years old or younger)
than we also require that 2 of the 10 participants be an adult.
If you have more than 10 people, plan on doing multiple trips
into the cave.
What to expect
~ A safe, positive, and encouraging environment to get out of
your comfort zone and push your limits.
~ Guides who are experienced & professional, friendly & helpful,
willing & able.
~ Spend 3 - 4 hours inside the cave – this is awesome, strenuous
and tiring! You will travel in many ways: walking, crawling,
climbing, scooting, sliding and at times wriggling.
~ You WILL get muddy and possibly wet.
~ Discuss cave formations (stalactites, stalagmites, soda
straws, calcium flows, streams, etc.) and cave life (bats,
salamanders, etc.)
~ Discuss and use appropriate "leave no trace" etiquette to
protect the fragile cave environment.
~ Pathways provides Helmets, Petzl Zoom Headlamps and a light
stick in case of emergency. Your guides will also carry in a
first aid kit, a rope, and a pee bottle.
~ Every Participant is required to carry in their own gear in
and to wear the right clothing into the cave. (see caving gear
list)
~ Pathways reserves the right to only take in participants who
have met these gear requirements.
~ Additional Information
A Note To Other Cavers
We
understand that many in the caving community frown on group
guiding. Because of that we'd like to go on record and say that
we understand and respect the very fragile environments that
exist beneath our feet. For that reason, we've established solid
guidelines for our cave trips in order to do our part to protect
those environments. First, we only use caves that are widely
know to be "sacrificial" caves, that is, those caves that over
the years, have already been used, abused, cleaned up, and that
continue to see quite a bit of traffic. Secondly, we do not list
directions to the caves we use to prevent people from going on
their own. Thirdly, as a matter of policy, all participants are
required to wear helmets with headlights and specific clothing,
along with carrying in back-up light sources and other emergency
supplies, and are given strict instruction on what can and
cannot be done while inside the cave. Fourthly, we practice and
teach a sound Leave No Trace Ethic, usually leaving the caves
cleaner than when we entered them. Fifthly, we have limits on
the number of people in the group, age limits, and time limits.
And sixthly, we do not venture into the arena of vertical caving
at all. Cave rescues take massive amounts of time, resources and
manpower, so we do due diligence to make sure that we will not
need to be rescued.
|
 |
Camping
If
you’re doing Pettijohn’s, you can camp there at
Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife
Area
(link to page on Rocktown)
for free. DNR manages the area and there
are only a couple designated sites so read the signs. There are
NO facilities, so bring your own water in and make your own
restrooms!
Another great place for you to go is
Cloudland Canyon State Park.
They have all
kinds of lodging options. |
Cost
$300 – for up to 10 people for a standard trip
If multiple trips are needed for one group during an event,
additional trips are $150 each
If the caving trip is secondary to a day of climbing, the cost
is $150 per trip
What to bring
Caving Equipment List
Participant Waiver
Book your Caving Trip
pinkston@catt.com
Let us know who you are, give us your contact info, fill us in
on what your requested dates are and any other details you have
about your group. |
|
