Following a number of avoidable caving incidents, the NSS Vertical Training Commission ("VTC") was chartered, in 2021. VTC's curriculum is designed to help interested individuals obtain the appropriate and sufficient competencies, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills needed to be safe while vertical caving with single-rope techniques. These materials are used in conjuction with a training program that provides hands-on experience while being accessible, attainable, and understandable to a diverse range of cavers. Also available in convenient lay flat spiral bound format.
VTC is based on a train-the-trainers model. Students who master the curriculum may later attend a trainer course, designed to prepare competent and active cavers to safely teach others at the grotto level.
This is the first edition of the student materials for the Level 1 Curriculum, "Basic Vertical Techniques."
Catawba Murder Hole Cave in Botetourt County, Virginia is a unique place of danger and beauty. Caver, landowner, and artist, Marian McConnell shares this fascinating collection of legends, history of its early explorers, and stories from those who survived accidents in its dark depths.
This quality 8-1/2 x 11" book contains over 150 pages of historical and current photographs, maps, artwork, stories, and more. Chapters include: Legends of Murder Hole; Death, Injuries, Rescues and Incidents; Caves in Virginia; Early Explorers; A Trip into Murder Hole; Mysteries; plus appendices on Safety, Conservation, and a Chronology of Trips from the almost 20 years Marian and Dan McConnell have owned the cave.
By Culver and Pippin. 2014, 288 PP. Hardcover. Shallow subterranean habitats (SSHs) are areas of habitable space that are less than 10 m in depth from the surface. These range from large areas such as shallow caves and lava tubes, to tiny areas such as cracks in ceilings, or spaces in soil. Whilst being very different in many ways, they are often bound together by shared characteristics of the habitats and their faunas, and their study can help us to understand subterranean habitats in general. This book concentrates on the more typical SSHs of intermediate size (seepage springs, spaces between rocks, cracks in lava etc.), describing the habitats, their fauna, and the ecological and evolutionary questions posed. Similarities and differences between the habitats are considered and discussed in a broader ecological and evolutionary context. The book is mainly aimed at students and researchers in the field of subterranean biology, but will also be of interest to a wider range of ecologists, evolutionary biologists, freshwater biologists, and conservationists. There will also be an audience of environmental professionals.
3rd Edition, Version 2.2, 2022. Edited by Anmar Mirza. Including information on safe caving, the underground environment, cave rescue equipment, litter rigging, psychological considerations, cave search, cave rescue management, flooding considerations, small party rescue, patient care and communications.
