Anchor<\/strong> – A solid object \nsuch as a tree, rock, or bedrock wall that a rope can be tied to or attached to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bad air<\/strong> – Air that is \neither low in oxygen or high in non-breathable gasses such as methane or carbon \ndioxide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Balaclava<\/strong> – A hood that \ncovers the entire head with an opening for the face, usually made of wool or \nsynthetic material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Belay<\/strong> – A safety line used \nby one caver to help another keep from falling if he should slip. Also the act \nof providing a safety line for another caver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bolt <\/strong>– A metal pin driven \ninto the rock so that a hanger can be attached to fix a rope to solid rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boulder cave<\/strong> – A cave that \nis essentially the spaces between fallen rock, also known as a talus cave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Breakdown<\/strong> – Large blocks of \nfallen rock in a cave. These rocks generally fall when a cave is first drained \nof water or as surface streams intersect the cave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Calcite<\/strong> – A pure \ncrystalline form of calcium carbonate, the primary component of limestone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Canal<\/strong> – A narrow stream or \nriver passage with a swift current and solid bedrock walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chimney<\/strong> – A climb narrow \nenough to bridge across in order to go up or down. Also the act of climbing a \nchimney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Duck under<\/strong> – A place in a \ndry passage where you have to lower your head to get through. Also a short \nsection of submerged cave passage that you can hold your breath and quickly get \nthrough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dynamic rope<\/strong> – Nylon rope \ndesigned to stretch in order to absorb the shock of a fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Epigenic cave<\/strong> – A cave \nformed by the action of surface waters descending into the ground and dissolving \nrock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Etrier<\/strong> – A simple ladder \nmade of webbing or rope with loops to put your hands and feet into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Flowstone<\/strong> – An area where \nwater has flowed across a wide area and deposited thin layers of calcite to \nresemble a frozen waterfall or smooth surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Formations<\/strong> – Cave \ndecorations such as stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and flowstone. Also \ncalled speleothems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Free climb<\/strong> – A climb that does not require rope to ascend or descend. \nAlso the act of climbing without rope. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Guano <\/strong>– Bat or bird droppings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gypsum<\/strong> – A soft mineral made of calcium sulfate that can form \nspeleothems such as flowers and needles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Handline<\/strong> – Rope or webbing used to assist a caver up or down a climb \nwithout technical ascending or descending devices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Harness<\/strong> – A belt with attached leg loops used to support a caver while \nattached to a rope. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Helictite<\/strong> – A speleothem that twists or curls as it grows, making it \nlook like a worm or snake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hypogenic cave<\/strong> – A cave formed by water rising up from below and \ndissolving the rock, usually as the result of two different kinds of water \nmixing together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hypothermia<\/strong> – A reduction of body core temperature more than two \ndegrees. Also called exposure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Karst<\/strong> – A landscape characterized by poor surface drainage, caves, \nsinkholes, and springs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lava tube<\/strong> – A cave formed by cooling lava as it flows away from a \nvolcanic vent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Limestone<\/strong> – A rock made primarily of calcium carbonate and usually \nformed around oceans or seas by living organisms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Popcorn<\/strong> – A knobby speleothem formed by evaporation of water from cave \nwalls or caused by water splashing off the floor or a stalagmite. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pothole<\/strong> – A hole carved in the floor of a stream passage by water \nlarge enough to step into. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rappel<\/strong> – A pit that requires a rope and technical descending equipment \nto go down. Also the act of descending a pit on rope. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rebelay<\/strong> – An anchor or other rigging point to redirect a rope away \nfrom waterfalls, sharp edges, or other obstacles. Also the act of redirecting \nthe rope. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rigging<\/strong> – The combination of ropes, bolts, and webbing used to anchor \nor redirect a rope for descent or ascent. Also the act of anchoring a rope for \ndescent and ascent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Rimstone dam<\/strong> – A speleothem caused by the slow buildup of calcium \ncarbonate at the downstream end of a shallow pool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sinkhole<\/strong> – A surface depression where water enters the subsurface in \nkarst areas or a depression caused by the collapse of an underlying cave \npassage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Speleothem<\/strong> – Cave decorations such as stalactites, stalagmites, \ncolumns, and flowstone. Also called formations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Squeeze<\/strong> – A cave passage just large enough to fit through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stalactite<\/strong> – A speleothem that grows downward from the ceiling like an \nicicle by the slow accumulation of minerals such as calcium carbonate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stalagmite<\/strong> – A speleothem that grows upward from the floor by the slow \naccumulation of minerals such as calcium carbonate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Static rope<\/strong> – Nylon rope designed with very little stretch in order to \nminimize bouncing when used as a fixed line in vertical drops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sump<\/strong> – A place where the cave passage is completely filled with water.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Troglobite<\/strong> – Cave dwellers that are adapted to and complete their life \ncycle in the total darkness of a cave. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Troglophile<\/strong> – Animals that prefer environments like caves but can \nsurvive outside of a cave if suitable habitat exists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Trogloxene<\/strong> – Animals which frequently use caves but must return to the \nsurface for food or other needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tyrolean traverse<\/strong> – A traverse along or across an obstacle that is \nrigged with a rope anchored tightly between two points so that you hang directly \non the rope.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Glossary of Common Caving Terms Anchor – A solid object such as a tree, rock, or bedrock wall that a rope can be tied to or attached to. Bad air – Air that is either low in oxygen or high in non-breathable gasses such as methane or carbon dioxide. Balaclava – A hood that covers … Continue reading Glossary<\/span>