Books
Note that these links take you to an external, commercial site where the books may be purchased.
Cave Exploring – the Definitive Guide to Caving Technique, Safety, Gear, and Trip Leadership. A great beginner’s guide to caves, caving, and safety that will help you get started in this fantastic activity. Click on image for ordering information.
Deep Secrets: The Discovery and Exploration of Lechuguilla Cave is the story of how a small, dusty cave in the desert of New Mexico became one of the most heralded cave discoveries of the 20th century. This narrative tale, written for the caver and non-caver alike, describes in detail the struggle to explore the first fifty miles of what is now the fifth longest cave in the world and the second deepest limestone cave in the United States. Click on image for ordering information.
The Longest Cave. The history of the exploration of Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. This is considered by most cavers as the best caving book written about exploration in the United States.
Beyond Mammoth Cave. The sequel to the Longest Cave. It continues the exploration story of the longest cave in the world.
Additional Books that Cover Advanced Material
Alpine Caving Techniques. Covers technical rigging of ropes, methods of ascending and descending, and other advanced topics. Much of the vertical techniques described here are those used widely in Europe and outside of the US, but it is a very good book. Click on image for ordering information.
On Rope. Covers technical rope rigging and vertical ascending and descending methods that are common to the US. There is some overlap with the above book, but this one deals exclusively with vertical caving and not techniques in general. Click on image for ordering information.
Cave Geology. This book, written by one of the world’s foremost geologists, covers how many different types of caves are formed. The book also covers cave hydrology, mineralogy, and almost every other topic related to caves and how they form. An excellent book that is a must for every caver. Click on image for ordering information.