Spelunking or Caving?

Spelunking or Caving?
By: Cave Spelunking

So, which is it? It "spelunking" or is it "caving," and what's the difference? Clay Perry was a writer of books, novels, and short stories. During the 1940s he wrote about a group in New England that explored and studied caves.

The group called themselves "spelunkers." The term had been used in England for many years, but this was the first use of the word in America. All the way through the 1950s, the term "spelunker" was used to describe all of those who explored caves no matter their level of experience.

Then in the early 1960s a kind of "class" war between cavers of varying abilities changed the term "spelunker" from a general term that described a person who explored a cave to an almost derogatory term that described those who were amateurs. Those who were highly skilled called themselves "cavers." Cavers referred to those who were less skilled as spelunkers.

In 1985 Steve Knutson, who was the editor of "American Caving Accidents," wrote, "Note that I use the term 'spelunker' to denote someone untrained and unknowledgeable in current exploration techniques, and 'caver' for those who are." Well, that certainly cleared that up. Knutson's statement was probably what inspired the popular bumper sticker of the day that read, "Cavers rescue spelunkers."

The term "spelunker" is no longer derogatory. It simply refers to an amateur caver. A spelunker sees caving as a hobby and perhaps a sport, while cavers take the whole situation more seriously and like to "push the envelope," so to speak. They want to discover new caves. They want to get deeper.

Cavers see caving as serious business, while us spelunkers see caving as pure pleasure and enjoy the wonders of the mysterious underground world of caves...

Rock On & Keep Spelunking...
Cave Spelunking.