Caves? Yes or No?

[LUNCHBOX]

Have you been in a cave? Do you have them near you? Would you use one? Trust one?

My take....temporary at best, you would be cornered, possible collapse. IDK....just to many negatives. How about you?

[RedJohn]

A cave is one of the best options in case of troubles if you don't have a BOL, IMHO.

[bacpacker]

I have to go with RJ. Caves would be pretty constant temps, out of wind and weather, and ready made. If they don't have a second enterance you could be cornered, but other than critters I can't think of any others negatives. I try and go to as many caves as I can, both commercial and not. I think there cool and are very nice on a hot day.

[LUNCHBOX]

I don't disagree completely...I've just seen where the heat from a fire can make the stone crack and fall. I like checking them out also.

[RedJohn]

I am talking natural caves. are you?

[bacpacker]

Agreed fires would need to be kept small, less smoking as well. Something else I keep an eye out for when hiking is what I call a rock house. It' nothing more than a rock overhang where the soil or rock itself has eroded away. They will provide some decent shelter for a quick set up. I know you go to the Red River Gorge to hike, that place should be covered with them. I know the Big South Fork is down here. They have very similar terrian.

[Grumpy Old Man]

Jerry has a story about a guy who uses a cave in his BOL, which take place in southern MO. My concern with caves is that reptiles like to hole up in them. The same can be said for old mine adits. I have up close and personal experience with buzzworms in old mines- not fun!!!! On the other hand they make an expedient source of food when you find them. Caves and mines can also be used as fallout shelters with a little improvisation. Using a hobo stove in them is also easy as is a Coleman stove or a whisperlite type of stove. Uniform temperature also serves to minimize the fuel required to keep warm.

So.. there are tradeoffs to caves, but by and large I wouldn't dismiss them out of hand- they could be a prime BOL. I just can't stand buzzworms!!!

[RedJohn]

Caves: Animals use them, Neanderthal used them for thousand of years, Afghans are still using them. They work real well. If the one entrance can be a problem, it is also a good tactical advantage.

Just my opinion though.

[The Stig]

I spent the night in a cave back in cub scouts.

Freaked me out to no end.

[Kodiak]

Don't forget about flash floods, if a cave has flowing water in it that would be a concern.