EQUIPMENT
BASIC
PRINCIPLES
We will
continually consider an important component of caving that affects nearly
everything you do underground : energy. Cavers rarely talk about it and
although the topic hardly seems compelling, keep in mind that when you enter
the subterranean world you possess a precious store of "energy
capital" that will diminish throughout the excursion. It is vital that you
know how to manage this resource
Criteria for
Choosing Equipment
1. Safety
Safety is
naturally fundamental to all our considerations since the risks involved in
fall in a 50- meter pit are not the same as those on hiking trail.
2. Weight
Weight is
enemy of every caver, especially in vertical caves.
.
3. Functionality
We could
also speak of simplicity here, which stems in part from the demand for
lightness; any redundant toll or useless function should be eliminated since it
compromises lightness.
