Safety & Techniques — Resources

There are many online, printed and recorded materials out there for you to learn from. The following are simply a few of the myriad available to those who want to learn about caving.

Websites

Animated Knots - essential knots with animated examples by Grog.

The Carbide Caver - this site will help you find a lamp, help determine a reasonable price, tell you where to find repair parts and how to keep the lamp operational.

Cavediggers - a forum for those interested in caves, caving and cave digging.

Learn About Caves and Caving - provides a basic introduction to the world of caves and caving. Has many links to additional resources providing: introduction to the NSS, cave literature and sciences, conservation, basic caving techniques, caving environment, and cave rescue.

NSS Brochures - download or order brochures like the "Guide to Responsible Caving."

Project Underground - is the National Education Program on Cave and Karst Science. Their guide can be used to teach citizens of all ages about karst topography and the management needs of the karst resources.

Youth Group Caving - contains information that will help adult youth group leaders plan and execute the best and safest trip possible.

Video

The NSS Audiovisual Video Catalog has many videos to view under the category of Safety and Techniques. You can rent materials like slide shows, videos, and DVDs.

Books

The NSS Bookstore has a some of the following books available for purchase, plus many more about safety and different underground techniques, like vertical and project caving.


	Alpine Caving Techniques by George Marbach and Bernard Tourte © 2002 320 pages, hardbound A complete guide to safe and efficient caving. Emphasis vertical caving and rigging practices, also presents new and thorough discussions in other aspects of cave exploration such as: equipment use, training, mental well-being, traveling efficiently through the cave, on and off rope, systematic prospection methods and emergency self-and small party-rescue techniques.
	Caving by Chris Howes © 2003 32 pages, hardbound A brief introduction to caving techniques for children, which is illustrated with numerous color photos.
	Caving Basics: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginning Cavers edited by G. Thomas Rea © 1992, Third Edition 187 pages, softbound A very readable, yet thorough manual for beginning cavers. Detailed discussions with photographs and diagrams acquaint the reader with lighting systems, helmets, clothing and other caving equipment for both the horizontal and vertical caver. Other chapters geology and biology of cave systems. Emphasis is placed on cave conservation and safety.
	Cave Conservation and Restoration edited by Val Hildreth-Werker and Jim C. Werker © 2006 600 pages, softbound This book provides ideas and practical tools for cave conservation. It contains current concepts and practices in cave conservation, identifying and protecting cave resources, methods for cave restoration and repairing speleothems. Nearly a hundred pages of appendixes include a cave-protection act, sample management plan, sample agency cooperative agreement and a reference list.
	Encyclopedia of Caves edited by David C. Culver and William B. White © 2004 680 pages, hardbound Encyclopedia of Caves is a self-contained, beautifully illustrated work dedicated to caves and their unique environments. It includes more than 100 comprehensive articles from leading scholars and explorers in 15 different countries. Has hundreds of full-color photographs, maps and drawings from the authors' own work.
	On Call: A Complete Reference for Cave Rescue by John C. Hempel and Annette Fregeau-Conover © 2001 384 pages, softbound This book brings together the knowledge and experience accumulated by cave rescuers during 50 years of rescue in American caves. Intended to serve as a comprehensive reference for those interested in cave rescue, it is useful as a field guide for rescue squads and search and rescue (SAR) personnel.
	On Caves and Cameras: A Comprehensive Guide to Underground Photography edited by Norman Thompson & John Van Swearingen IV © 2005 336 pages, hardbound Whether you are just beginning to take pictures with a point-and-shoot camera, or have many years of experience photographing in the dark, you will find information tailored to your needs. This book will enable you to take better photographs and inspire you to do so!
	On Rope by Bruce Smith and Alan Padgett © 1996, Second Edition 382 pages, hardbound This book covers North American Vertical Rope Techniques. It covers ropes, knots, harnesses, rappelling, ascending and belaying. There are over 700 detailed drawings. Coverage of European SRT rigging techniques and climbing systems is covered. Includes detailed descriptions of other rope uses including used by arborists, river rescuers, window cleaners and circus riggers.
	On Station by George R. Dasher © 2011, Second Edition 240 pages, hardbound The most comprehensive manual for surveying and mapping caves available, divided into three sections: collecting data, managing data and drafting the map. An appendix contains numerous sample cave maps, with comments by the author. Table of cave-map symbols on the endpapers. The definitive work on cave surveying.

For suggestions and additions you would like to see in the resource list, please contact the Safety and Techniques Webmaster Nikki Fox at nikkicfox@yahoo.com.