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Find out what kind of caver you are.
Test your knowledge and find out how good you know rope rescue and what kind of caver you are. Can you answer these questions?
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A cave trip in which two groups enter separate pit entrances, each leaving their rigging in place for the other group to use in the opposite direction, is called a:
Passage is the term used to describe the parts of a cave that a caver is able to go through. Although all caving trips go through passages, "passage trip" it is not used to describe a given type of trip.
So named because the two groups "cross-over" or one another's location at some point in the cave
Sorry, this isn't really a thing
In caving, a 'bypass' is a passageway used as an alternate route at some point in the cave, often to avoid another, less desirable passageway (like a tight squeeze.)
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Safety requirements for entering caves, mines, tunnels are all pretty much the same.
This assumption has resulted in many a catastrophe. Things like self-care, negotiating passageway, and navigation all take on unique characteristics in a cave.
Right! And when it comes to rescue, would-be rescuers should be trained not only in rescue skills but also experienced, and adept in functioning on their own in the cave environment
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Limestone caves are most often formed when carbonic rock is dissolved by __________.
While water can expand passage through the effects of erosion, it cannot by itself dissolve rock.
This is not known to be a statistically significant cause of cave development
Carbonic acid is formed when water and carbon dioxide mix; this solution can dissolve limestone (among other things)
Carbon fiber makes a great bicycle, and may even be made into a shovel… but it is not known to dissolve rock.
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Icicle-like columns protruding from the ground are called
One way to remember this is that "you'd better be careful, or you might step on them!"
Hold that answer for a moment… it doesn't work for this question, but soon…
This term actually refers to limestone cave topography in a general sense
A Fissure is a long, narrow opening, or crack
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Icicle-like columns hanging from the ceiling are called
Cairns are small mounds of rough stones, sometimes used as trail markers
Yep, this is a word! It is the name of a type of drip-sensor used by cave researchers to count individual drops as they fall Stalagmites
One way to remember this is that "It holds on tight to the ceiling!"
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Springs differ from siphons in that
Springs are obvious access points between underground passage and the surface, but they can be called a cave only when they are large enough for a person to enter.
Nope, other way around - A siphon is simply where water flows into a cave
Cavers might enter through a spring or a siphon… but entering at a siphon can be more dangerous
Since both terms have to do with water, neither can really be present at a dry cave
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Cave environments are typically
Flowing water indicates a live or active caves in which mineral deposits and other natural development continues to occur.
A cave without a running stream of water; also called a 'dead cave', referring to the fact that solution and precipitation have ceased and the cave is not still forming.
Typically this is true only if the mean ground temperature of the area is also cold – or if you are in an ice-cave.
Typically this is true only if the mean ground temperature of the area is also warm – or if there are fumaroles involved!
Caves tend to be at the mean ground temperature of the area. In very warm climates, caves can be so hot that cavers are at risk of heat illness; whereas alpine mountain caves in locations such as Montana measure close to freezing temperatures and may even contain ice.
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A vertical cave passage is called a
Pits can be found both inside caves and at the surface. Most open-air pits form when the roof of a sinkhole collapses. Pits can also be formed by solution reaction or erosion of passage by flowing water.
Fissure is a long, narrow opening, or crack.
Not Usually
Related, but not exactly. Most open-air pits form when the roof of a sinkhole collapses.
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How many sources of light should cavers carry?
A rescue waiting to happen!
Better than one, but still not enough.
At least two of these lights should be helmet-mountable for hands-free operation, each with sufficient "burn time" capacity or spare batteries to travel into and out of the cave.
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Cave Passage generally flows in
Navigating through the cave environment can be disconcerting, particularly because of the three-dimensional nature of travel.
When it comes to caves, there is no downhill
Sometimes it feels that way!
Although water can contribute to cave formation, passage can form in any direction.
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Keyboard caver
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BNC (Big Name Caver)
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