Ask Cavers: Do You Have a Caving Collection?
August 28, 2013
An 1930’s era postcard of Florida Caverns State Park. Photo via Boston Public Library
Although collecting in caves is frowned upon by the caving community, for this week’s Ask Cavers question we’re curious to hear what other caving related items you may have acquired.
Beyond the piles of headlamps that most cavers likely have lying around, what special items do you hold on to, or go out of your way to collect?
Let us know in the comments below.
Whatever your answers, we doubt many of you have gone as far as infamous Minnesota caver, John Ackerman, whose growing collection of caves was recently the subject of an article in the New York Times.
Comments (12)
I collect caving related postcards and have several hundred in my collection. In order for me to collect it, it has to be at least 50+ years old and the majority of the ones I have are over 100 years old. I also collect old caving publications.
I collect virgin cave passage. I have a nice collection but I’m always looking to add to it! 🙂
Haha nice one mud. I also have a couple of virgins under my belt, well knees, :).
but I have a growing collection of cave art that have produced 🙂
Memories, simples!
I have complete collection of the NSS Produced Speleo Digest. I have almost a complete collection of the NSS News as well.
After memorable push trips, survey trips, etc. I smoke a celebratory cigar (outside the cave of course, back at camp) and write cave name, date and brief details on the back of the cigar band. It has become quite a collection over the years because most cave trips ARE memorable… one way or another.
Postage stamps with caves on them, and cave postcards mainly from SE Asia.
Carbide lamps and the stuff to go with them.
Cave and Karst related books!
Maybe we need to set up a swap or for sale site here !!!!!!
Good idea…
I have enough rocks collected from quarries that it would be moot to collect from caves.
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