How many people in the forum are both Cavers and Urban explorers?

I started exploring urban places before I started going caving (have not been in a cave in a long time ...not sure if i want to join the grotto here or not). I also met a few cavers interested in urban exploring as a way to satisfy the urge to explore things. This forum reminds me of the rules cave groups have. No giving out locations and to be a full member you have to explore with a full member etc...

Are they similar in your mind or completely different?

I think caves and man made structures, are very similar in some aspects, and apples and oranges in others, Each have their own check list of dangers...


Caves have always interested me but where I live they are few and far between, though we do have the bear caves in new hampshire and what not in the white mountains region...


its kinda like, do you like coke or pepsi, they are both cola, but taste totally different..

Posted by Mike Dijital I think caves and man made structures, are very similar in some aspects, and apples and oranges in others, Each have their own check list of dangers... Caves have always interested me but where I live they are few and far between, though we do have the bear caves in new hampshire and what not in the white mountains region... its kinda like, do you like coke or pepsi, they are both cola, but taste totally different..

Very well put, I personally like underground the most. Caves/tunnels hold the most interest for me because nothing else to me gives that whats around the corner and whoa what does this connect to feeling.

UE and caver, and offroader here.
They all have their rules.

Here in AZ, cavers can be worse than MSP'ers. 3ft covered over entrances, false walls, 2nd covered entrances. I've been yelled at for having names and/or locations written down, a map, and "how did you find my cave, who told you?!?" on places I've stumbled across on my own.
Same basic rules like not photo'ing POE or too many outside views.

Offroad trails tend to get shut down a lot by greenies out here. So you can never take a photo of say a desert tortoise on a trail and post it, never mention "----------," and if you post a photo of someone doing something wrong even if it's silly as not wearing a seatbelt, prepare to get lambasted by someone.

There are good rules with real reasons for cool places and of course there are your beehive helmet paranoid overenforcers that no one really wants to associate with anyway.

I have done both. I do prefer abandonments to caves though. There was time when I would love being underground in the complete darkness having wiggled and waded though tight spaces and lots of water. But now I'm all about history and the things left behind. Well and photographing them. Not saying I would never be a caver again but this is where my interests lie now. There are definite parallels though. Well I think more between draining and underground things though.

out this way the 4X4 guys are VERY tight lipped with trails

I get into where ever i can. Caves, Abandoned mines, drains, old buildings and climbing bridge towers.

I like caves for their natural features. Ive been in old lava flow caves around mount St Helen. Some Ice caves ( very kewl to find ice walls 100' underground while its 35 degree celsius outside) and also more traditional caves.

Mines are pretty neat, especially when you find artifacts. They are definitely more dangerous. I have come across old dynamite sticks laying randomly on the floor. Cave-in. Floor opening. Various gases (highly recommend bringing gas monitors)

Urban exploration to me is more about finding old building in various state of decay. Bridges are just too cool not to climb.

I haven't done too many caves. Not because I wouldn't like to but because I haven't had the opportunity for many years. I recently attended a mine exploring event where there were quite a few cavers in attendance. Since then I've had a couple of opportunities. Unfortunately my schedule didn't work out. Hopefully soon.

I think the mine exploring I do checks off a few of the boxes for UE. It's industrial decay. Generally quite old. Just can't really check off the box of Urban really. Although when I went to England a few of the mines we did were right on the edge of town.

All that said, it seems like the vast majority of us are into the adventure of exploring interesting locations. Whether it's an old factory, rooftop, abandoned mine, or even a cave, it's about the adventure. Life's to short to live a boring one!

Abby Normal

I wouldn't consider myself a "caver" but there was a cave at my college we always used to go explore. Other than an abandoned school that's really all there was in Bennington.

Caver here! I think the two activities really go hand in hand, as you said fulfilling that urge to explore. Also like you I started with urbex and then went to caving. Urbex fulfills my photography urges and caving is a lot more physical so I think they make a great combo.

Amature caver, mine explorer, climber, and off roader here. Used to do caves back east with both research groups as well as recreational grotto groups. I was instantly hooked and moved into exploring buildings, tunnels, and sewers. After moving to the west coast I immediately became interested in mines. I think to me it just has something to do with a draw towards large and industrial spaces. And all these locations allow for foot rope practice when I'm not somewhere with big rocks to climb.

This pretty much sums up the ecosystem of underground-goers in Minnesota.



Since I made the comic there's been yet another stratification, with the more purist natural cavers forming their own club separate from the original club (whose members mostly live in the metro area and might have once gone in a sand mine, making them blasphemers).

best comic ever....

Used to be a caver (rappelled sinkholes in AL).
On a Venn diagram, I think there's a moderate degree of overlap; it's the desire to see what's hidden, for me.

Posted by Freak ...members mostly live in the metro area and might have once gone in a sand mine, making them blasphemers...

*nervous sweating*