Monday, June 29, 2009

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.

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Saturday, June 27, 2009

Friday, June 26, 2009

The Spiritual Mystery Of Caves

The Spiritual Mystery Of Caves
By: Cave Spelunking

Caving or spelunking is, without a doubt, one of the most fun ways there is to get really dirty. Caves are places to be astounded. Caves are places to be amazed. Caves are places to be inspired. Caves are places to experience the spiritual.

There's a place when one is going into a cave that's called the twilight zone. It's the area where the world above meets the world below; where sunlight and total darkness converge. The fresh air of the world above mingles with the cold, stale air from below. The sunbeams from above bend in strange ways as though they were being deflected by the darkness below.

There is something so "connecting" about caving. When you crawl through a small tight passageway and emerge into a magnificent, cathedral-like room, your own spirit soars; but you feel connected to the people who lived centuries ago and experienced the exact same wonder that you are experiencing in the exact same place you stand.

The incomparable beauty of caves can always amaze and inspire, but the feeling of being closer to the beginning of the world is a feeling that cannot be really described. It's a feeling that can only be felt when caving.

It isn't hard to see why ancient peoples believed caves to be places of great mystery and spirituality. Many cultures used caves as places to make sacrifices to try to appease the gods they thought controlled their lives.

Caves are spiritual places. They are also places of great mystery, and all of our modern-day science can't explain so many of the wonders found in caves. Oh, there are theories — lots of them — but still the wonder, the mystery, and the spirituality is there waiting to be found in caves all over the World...

Rock On & Keep Spelunking...
Cave Spelunking.

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Cave Spelunking - Test Post

Another Post From...Cave Spelunking

This post is just for me to get familiar with Blogger.

Also, I hope to complete my set-up and and some cool stuff.

Thanks from,

Cave Spelunking

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