Mr Rawles:
Well, this is an area of knowledge where I do in fact have some expertise, being a caving professional. I hadn’t ever really considered caves to be of much use from a prepping standpoint, but as an expedient shelter with a constant temperature they could have their uses.
A bit about my background – I have logged about 3,000 hours in caves during the past 5-6 years during which time I have been a ‘wild cave guide’ – meaning that I run tours through rugged and undeveloped caves – not the wheelchair accessible type. I am also an active and trained member of the regional and national cave rescue organizations.
The disclaimer: Caves are inherently risky. If you manage the risks properly, the danger level goes down, but if you ignore the risks they can be one of the most dangerous environments a person can enter into. This danger chiefly arises from the darkness, the rugged terrain and from the remote nature of caves. There is no recourse for help when in a cave – no cell, no 911 – except the people you have with you and the trip plan that you (hopefully) leave with a trusted loved or friend on the surface.
That said, I love caves and think they are marvelous places. Caves of any reasonable size are a constant temperature year round. They generally take on the average temperature of the climate that they are located in. Caves in the Bahamas are about 90 degrees Fahrenheit while others in the Rockies can be 30-40 or below freezing. Some caves have permafrost – a relic of glaciations. Practically every cave has critters, usually in the form of wood-rats, bats, or bugs (like cockroaches in warmer climates).
Most mine shafts would have the same characteristics of caves, unless they are particularly deep, in which case they can get very warm.
You might have difficulty finding resources on cave locations, because cavers are tight-lipped and keep their cards close. That is because they have been burned time and time again by some bozo learning where a cave is and partying/spray painting and trashing the place. Particularly at risk are the speleothems – the stalactites and stalagmites and so forth. They take many, many, many years to form and a careless second to be destroyed. They are irreplaceable. But this thing called the Internet was invented and it seems to be great at searching out information and disseminating it to all. Treat the caves you find with respect, I beg you.
Clubs: The best place is your local ‘grotto’ of the National Speleological Society (NSS). Membership is inexpensive, their training is top notch and if you show them you are responsible they will open wide the gates for your area. In Canada there are equivalent regional caving organizations. Just about every nation in the western world has a caving organization. Caving clubs also survey and map every cave they find, usually to a very high standard. A map (or “survey”) is indispensable.
Publications: Books like “Caves of Montana” are usually outdated, as the caving clubs lobbied governments in the 1980s to keep from disclosing new caves that are discovered due to conservation concerns (the bozos I mentioned earlier). The caves are still there, but access may have changed. Topographic maps will give you cave locations that were discovered long ago – but the caves are still there. They are also the best source I know for local mine shaft and adit locations. There is such a thing as ‘Mine Exploration’ that is becoming more popular (‘Mine Ex’ or ‘MinEx/MinX’). Mines are often an order of magnitude more dangerous than caves due to unstable and loose rock from the mining and blasting process. Mines cave-in, but caves don’t.
Internet: There are a number of sites where cave locations are posted, usually by amateurs, such as Facebook or personal web pages. Seek and ye shall find. There are also several good kml files for Google Earth that users have created.
Check land ownership and BLM, National Forest or other governing bodies before traipsing out to a cave – there are often restrictions for environmental conservation, such as endangered hibernating bats, and some caves have seasonal restrictions on them.
From a prepping standpoint, I have cached first aid and hypothermia treatment equipment in caves, bundled in garbage bags and stuffed in five gallon buckets and covered with rocks. We check it yearly for any problems and in the past 10 years or so have had none. I can’t say it would be the same if the buckets smell like food, though, as the critters have sharp teeth and nothing but time on their hands. Caves are also usually very, very humid – up to 99% humidity in some. So keep that in mind. And they are, again, generally public. So you might get pilfered by the five-fingered bipedal rats, too, if you’re thinking of storing anything in a cave.
Above all be careful. Join the NSS or local caving club and learn the risks and how to deal with them before you go. Please, please, please. The last thing I want is to hear of another cave-related fatality in the news. – E.B.
Hi Jim,
The geological term for areas that have natural underground caves and passage ways is Karst, A German named Karst first described these areas where this type of underground passages exist. It is called Karst Topography. Usually found in geological formations that can be dissolved away with rainwater. Such as limestone and alabaster [gypsum] formations.
Use a search engine to locate areas of Karst Topography. This kind of topography often shows up on topographic maps if you know what to look for. Areas of Karst Topography that are aged will have many of the structures collapsed. This creates a number of large “dimples” on the surface. The topographic maps will show the larger ones with a broken topographic line indicating it is a lower elevation than the surrounding area. In northwestern Oklahoma north of Woodward and Mooreland is a vast area of Karst Topography. There is an natural underground cave system called Alabaster Caverns State Park north of Moorland.
You may want to use a search engine to locate alabaster caves also. I have explored a group of these caves on private property north of Woodward. Most of the Karst Topography in that area is private property. Never came across snakes, coons, possums, bobcats, dogs, cats, insects, rats and other rodents in the caves. However I did encounter large colonies of bats. Many many of them banded with metal leg strips that were different colors, sizes and evidently from differing study groups. Quantities of guano on the floor in some places. Bats carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Be aware that caves formed in alabaster may contain water that looks clear and fresh. This is what is called “gyp” water. Dissolved gypsum which is a superlative transbowel movement piece of music set to moans and flatulence if you mistakenly drink it. It will produce an ovature of movement of feces that may be uncontrollable.
In the Malpai areas of New Mexico exist large lava tunnels and caves created when air bubbles were formed in the molten lava. But this type of geological structure is rare and confined only to areas of Malpai [lava runs on the surface] Karst Topography is much more common. Cordially, – J.W.C.
JWR Adds: There are also large lava tubes in Hawaii and in the Pacific Northwest, but most of them are very well-known.
Hi Jim,
Robert R. asked about resources for locating caves, mine shafts or other underground shelters. I don’t have such a resource to offer but would like to point out that many such excavations and formations are on private property and it is unlikely that he will be welcome in the event the SHTF.
We have a hundred year old horizontal mine shaft (10’w x 7’h) that goes about 500 feet into a mountain on our retreat property. It borders National Forest land and most who climb the mountain probably assume it is public land. It’s not, and neither is the mountain. I’m quite certain a lot of folks have decided that’s where they will go if the balloon goes up. They will be met with the stark reality that it’s not theirs and they will be removed using whatever level of force they make necessary. Best, – Matt R.
JWR Replies: As previously discussed in SurvivalBlog, there are precious few caves or horizontal mine tunnels on public land that don’t fall into any these categories: 1.) Sealed-off, 2.) Well-known, or 3.) Seasonally restricted. In essence, “secret caves”are just about mythical. I suppose that given lots of research, scouting, and logistical planning, there could be some utility in short-term use by families or small groups in the event of a nuclear event. But don’t be surprised if someone else has the same idea for the cave or mine shaft that you have in mind.