The opening to the cave is at the bottom of a quarry and is only tall enough to crawl through. You have to crawl feet first over a ledge and let your feet dangle. Because of how dark it is you can not judge the distance to solid ground again and you try to move around to get your head light to show the way. Finally you realize its about a ten foot drop so you chimney cling drop the rest of the way down. Then there is a second small drop but you can see it the bottom but you still have to climb down the rock.
Next is a tall skinny passage causing you to walk sideways and suck in your gut to get through and then you come to what appears to be a cave in. You stop and think about the tons of earth and rock over your head and what is keeping it from falling down. you will actually have to crawl through the boulders and rocks from the cave-in. You wince in pain as you drag your legs over some sharp corners and curl up in a ball so you can crawl through the rest of the rocks and boulders. You might get stuck a few seconds here and there as you move your hips one way and wiggle your shoulders another way. Once through the cave in you look back and there is no sign of sun light at all turn off your light and you can not see anything.
Now the cave starts to get wet and its only fifty degrees so anything on yoour body that gets wets gets cold. You might start to wonder about how fresh oxygen gets into the cave or start to feel a bruise on your leg from crawling through the cave in. Once again you look over head and think about all the material above you and what is keeping it there.
Further in the cave you are crawling on your belly through a shallow stream. Most of your body is wet now and you are coverd in mud. The water is very cold and your head is bouncing off the top of the cave since it is only about eighteen inches high at this point and a few spots are only twelve inches.
Along the way you have noticed a green mold growing from the floor here and there and it looks nasty... and it is. You have a few more bruises from climbing, crawling, and slipping your way through the cave. And for some strange reason you know every curve of the person's butt in front of you because like they say... if your not the lead dog. Is that sand in your butt crack?
Further on in the cave you are standing on a small ledge and there is a fifteen foot drop in front of you and it is a three foot step to the next ledge. Your hands are wet, the rocks are wet and smooth your boots are muddy and yes it looks scary. You kind of reach hop chimney onto the next ledge and there is another drop in front of you... and a nother and another.
So you made it to the back of the cave and now your crawling out but this time your body is wet, tired, bruised and cold. Oh crap.... forgot about the cave-in to crawl through and crapola there is the small cliff to climb up and your arms are sore. You can see the sun light and now you can feel sand and mud on every part of your body and there are a few dry places on your back but everything else is wet. You crawl closer to the light and it hurts your eyes.
Now your outside and its hot as hell becuase its a hot summer day and you have on long pants, a tshirt, a sweat shirt, gloves, boots and a helmet. You strip down and notice you are covered in dirt and mud. No time to be shy now. You strip down to your undies or maybe nude in order to get some dry cothes on. You use some of your drinking water and the inside of the sleeve from your sweat shirt to try to clean up a little. The walk back to the car you can feel sand in your butt crack and you are tired. Time to go home.
If that sounds like fun you are my kind of person! Trust me the things you will see in a natural caves are awesome and worth all the discomfort. I may have take liberties with the details of my story but I want to make sure you know what you are getting into. The green stuff growing on the cave floor... Its mold or fungus, people who have fungus on their hands can leave it behind in a cave to grow. Thats why you wear gloves, to protect the cave from you not you from the cave.
Clothes: You will need two full sets of clothes, the first set is for the walk up and back and the second set is for the cave. I am sure you can dress yourself for a hike so lets talk about your spelunking outfit. First make sure these are clothes that you don't wear anymore because you are going to trash them. And here is t he list feet up.
BOOTS - sturdy with good tread
SOCKS - wool is nice but cotton will do
PANTS - long pants with room to move and stretch
UNDIES - try to stay away from cotton if it is going to be a wet cave.
T-SHIRT - if you want... not really needed
SWEAT SHIRT - long enough to always cover your belly, tuck it in if you have to
snicker.... sorry but sweat shirts tucked in look funny and so will you.
GLOVES - I like to use leather gloves from the Army / Navy store, good grip and cinches around the wrist
HELMET - with a chin strap to secure it to your head. You dont want it moving around
Light: Don't get cheap here or you can say hi to a rescue team in a few days. Have at least one helmet or head mount light with extra batteries. Don't even go near a cave without one. There will be times when you have to use both hands to crawl around and then what? Some suggest a replacement bulb for this light.. thats up to you. But you should have two back up lights somewhere on your body. mini mags are great for this since they are small but shine enough light and you can hold them in your mouth if you have to. Make sure all light sources have fresh batteries. I have a head light with extra batteries and then two mini mags that take the same batteries in case one breaks.
Water: Depending on the hike you face or the weather will determine how much you need for the trail. Bring an extra litre if possible, you can sponge bath in a litre of water if you have to, I have in the past. And just because it is cold in the cave does not mean you will not sweat because you will and you will get thirsty.
Food: Snacks are always good! Bring some trail mix or pop tarts for the hike back. After getting out of the cave I like to sit on my butt for a little before the hike back. If you are low on water then don't eat them because eating uses up water from digestion.
Misc: Before going to any cave try to speak to people who have been there. You might need special equipment to repelle in or climb out. Maps are always good if you can find them so think again about joining a grotto since they can hook you up with guides, maps and training. Not only that but its hard to find caves and grottos will walk you straight to them. Just remember the three most important check list: Lights, water and clothes.
Don't be a Jerk: Don't litter, don't mark anything even with chalk, don't leave any trace you where ever there. Pay attention to any signs in the woods for tresspassing or restricted areas.
In the Cave: You are not allowed to remove anything, damage anything or distrurb anything. Do not break anything in the cave or take rocks out of the cave. Do not damage any plant life in and around the cave. Do not pollute the water, a lot of water in caves ends up as drinking water somewhere. Do not disturb bats, insects or animals around a cave. Several species of bats are protected in PA and they hep get rid of insects! Do not mark cave walls or drop bread crumbs or anything like that. Almost any of the above will get you a fine. Never ever light a fire at a cave entrance or inside a cave. Fire burns oxygen and I have been in some caves where I felt lighted headed from a lack of it. When you change after leaving a cave find a place off any trails to do it. It is still illegal even in the woods and if you are a guy just remember that cave are cold so don't shame yourself. We all know what happens when it is cold.
Misc: Know regulations for the cave you are going to. Some areas do not allow camping, fires, large groups, and any number of things. If you are to sign in then do so and if you have to cleave before dark then gat out. Do not ruin this for the rest of us. Like I said a lot of caves are on private land and the owner is awesome for letting us use the land. They could also close this land off to the public.
Who to Sue When: Nobody!! If you thought you could sue somebody for going on your own will into a cave and getting hurt then you are wrong... go drink coffee at McDonalds with the other idiots who like to sue for no good reason. Several PA laws protect landowners from being sued by people that get hurt on their land. There a few reasons when you can sue but I am not going to tell you because if you decided to do something you knew was dangerous and got hurt you are the only one to blame.