Introduction to Caving at Whiting’s Neck, WV.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/b/b/f/event_23019871.jpeghttp://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/c/3/4/event_23019988.jpeghttp://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/c/3/1/event_23019985.jpeghttp://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/c/1/f/event_23019967.jpeghttp://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/c/1/0/event_23019952.jpeghttp://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/b/f/6/event_23019926.jpeghttp://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/b/e/d/event_23019917.jpeghttp://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/b/c/d/event_23019885.jpegCaving or “Spelunking” as many prefer, is an adventure sport
that combines many different skills into one amazing experience. Crawling through tight squeezes, wiggling down tunnels on
your belly or your backside, climbing up walls of rock – these
are just a few of the challenges you might find in a cave environment. Pitch darkness is what makes caving so different from other adventure sports - all of the challenges of movement in a confined space are increased when you have nothing more than a headlamp or flashlight for light!

Whiting's Neck
The wild caves near Shepherdstown, WV give explorers new
to the sport an opportunity to descend into timeless caverns
that are home to ancient “speleotherms” or cave structures.
Keep your eyes open and you might see tiny “soda straws,”
the beginning stages of stalactite growth. “Flowstone”
deposits shaped like ribbon candy and wedding cakes, “cave
coral” that looks like burnt popcorn.
These are just a few of the formations we might find at Whiting’
s Neck.
At the end of the trip, most people are amazed not only by
the beauty of the cave structures, but by the challenges that
they have overcome.
Whiting’s Neck cave presents the opportunity to rappel and
ascend a rope, squeeze through the “keyhole,” (which only works if you figure out the right combination!) and cross over chasms that drop 30 feet.
A trip through Whiting’s Neck Cave is an opportunity to see and
learn about the fragile ecosystem within a limestone cave, while also challenging ones-self physically.

The Cave
The Cave is known as Whiting Neck Cave, (an ecologically dead and growth retarded formation). This means in simple terms that the cave is no longer supporting any bio diversity or growth, so there is nothing for us to harm or to influence. This allows camping in the cave, along with the introduction of our person biodiversity when we go into the system.
The caves are on WV public land, and therefore open to the public to use at will.
While the cave itself is on a small stretch of public land, the surround area is not, and is a nature preserve. Therefore we must park in the lot and walk to the entrance.
The cave is roughly a .8 mile in horizontal gain and has multitudes of pyrite and carbon deposits to check out. It’s a granite construction (which means no shifting) and is wet as all caves are, but has no flowing water.
There is a grotto in the back that all the camping is done in.
Nice place really...

SAFETY DETAILS:
This cave is VERY well traveled and used. While it is not a commercial cave with lighting, there is clear evidence of multiple uses and is a very popular trip.
While there are small keys and crawls, there is no space on the cave that is less than 12 inches across any amount of space. Aka, you aren't going to get stuck in this cave.
The cave is wet, but there is no running water, so there are no concerns of safety there.
This cave is VERY well mapped and has no exteriors leads to other caverns. Aka, there is only one way in and out so you can't get lost...
I will also be following proper LNT and caving guidelines in ICE
ICE- In Case of Emergency. A contact person will be established with knowledge of exact time of departure and number of people along with ETA return date, with GPS Cords and local EMS services contact information.
This isn't to say that anything will happen, but with all serious adventures safety is paramount.

I wouldn't take people in there if I didn't think it was safe.

Gear Require:

1. dirty/old clothes that you do not mind getting very dirty and wet. (Need to be long sleeve and long pants of any type.
2. Change of clothes (warm) to change into when you get out.
3. Light- MINIIMUN TWO SOURCES OF LIGHT PER PERSON. This is a safety issue that has always been drilled.
4. Snacks- as we will be in the cave roughly 4-5 hours
5. Min- 2 liters of water per person.
6. Change of Socks
7. Head covering/hat- You will want it when you stop, as it gets chilly when not moving.
8. Helmet- this is a must. Any type will do, bike, climbing, whatever but you need a helmet.
9. knee pads are a must, recommended hard shell.
10. Small towel
11. Small pack to put gear in.
12. We will need to rent 1 Climbing Harness for each attendant.

This trip doesn't really require anything that you can't get from anywhere and there isn’t any need for heavy camping gear at exception of climbing harness.

This is a straight up bad ass hike.
I like to call these hikes "interest hikes"

Whiting’s Neck cave is a bat habitat in the fall and winter, as
well as home to frogs, crickets, spiders, and the occasional shrew. When temperatures drop outdoors, the cave maintains a steady 50-55 degrees, making the cave warm in winter (and cool in summer).

Itinerary:

Meet a Rockvile Metro Station at 9:30 AM
10:45 am Arrive at Yankauer Preserve
11:00 am Hike to cave
11:20 am Unload, assign equipment and safety talk
11:30 am Enter cave and exploration
2:30 pm Rotate to next cave or lower chamber using rope, we will go down straight to hell 30 feet.
4:30 pm Exit caves and back to parking lot
5:00 pm in our way to partake at local food place.
6:30 Drive back home.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are claustrophobic this trip is NOT for you.

See you there!
Please email me with any questions.