by Geary » Jan 19, 2010 5:02 pm
Thought I would add my two cents.
I started caving in the early 70's with an Explorer Post in Maryland and quickly evolved from there to include rock and ice climbing and some other activities outside the post. I've been caving pretty steady since then.
When my son reached 14, he thought the Boy Scouts were to immature so I encouraged him to join a Venture Crew. The crew we joined was into backpacking and camping but hadn’t really tried caving or climbing. I became an advisor about 7 years ago and since then my daughter also got involved in the program. They are both away in college now but will go on the summer crew trip and other activities when they are home. Our Crew (410) out of San Antonio, Texas informally adopted Deep Cave and Punkin Cave which is owned by the Texas Cave Management Association. These are wonderful caves, both almost two miles long and are actively being mapped. One is a horizontal and vertical maze which does not require rope work. Punkin Cave has two vertical entrances, one a 30 foot rappel and one a 50 foot rappel into a large room. This is a wonderful training cave for vertical work.
Since we started caving, we have caved in West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia along with Texas and Arizona. We have also done a trip to Mexico where we did Bustamante.
Two years ago, we did a summer trip to TAG where we did Neversink, Fountain Pit, South Pittsburgh, Cagles Chasm, Vallahala, and a couple of horizontal caves. We’re planning on going back this summer and doing Fern or Ellisons, Mystey and some others if the WNS issue and permissions don’t get in the way. Our president wants to go to Mexico and do Golandrines but we’ll see. Things are a little unstable in Mexico and I’ve become a little hesitant to travel down there with kids.
Some of our youth have gone on to become quite accomplished cavers in their own right and have served as grotto offices as well as participating in caving expeditions to Mexico. Many of our summer trips are attended by youth that now have to register as adult advisors. They keep coming back.
I have found the BSA to be of limited use for the Crew other than providing insurance. The level of outdoor activities were doing is at a pretty high level for a Venture Crew. We have also had trips to climb 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado and also canyonneering trips at Zion (it’s a blast). Most of the high adventure trips that most crews are doing down here are through guided services such as rafting and rock climbing. I don’t know of any crews that have run trips to TAG like we have but they are probably out there.
Anyway, that is our story.
Geary Schindel
NSS 15827F