Pit or Vertical Caving: A Fast Growing World Extreme Adventure Sport

A Guide to the Worlds Best Pit Caves

If you enjoy the exploration of one of the worlds last frontiers then pit caving or vertical caving might be the extreme adventure sport for you. Around the world this sport is known as caving but in the United States it is more often called spelunking. This is the sport of traversing the worlds cave systems. However, for the true adventure junky there is the sport of pit or vertical caving which is to ascend into a deep vertical cave shafts using lines, ropes, and cables because there is no other way to negotiate the terrain.

Experienced vertical cavers will utilize the single rope technique (SRT) pioneered by Bill Cuddington (Vertical Bill). This is a way to combine a passion for climbing with a need to explore in a highly charged adventure atmosphere. It is not to undertaken by the novice but for the more experienced there is no better adrenaline rush in the world then to explore deep within the Earths surface suspended from a small line.

Here is a guide to ten of the best vertical caves in the world.

1) Vebebita located in Croatia

This caves depth is 1026 meters. The largest shaft measures 513m. It is an extreme vertical caving experience. It is located in the mountain of Verbita in central Croatia. It was discovered in 2004. It is a relatively humid cave and supports diverse life such as unique snails that were discovered and the largest known colony of endemic troglobitic leech Croatobranchus mestrovi ever found.

2) Baiyu Dong in China

This cave was discovered in 2003. It measures 560m down. There is no way onto the bottom of this cave. A lead remained at 400m.

3) Las Golondrinas Mexico

This vertical cave is home to a large population of swifts and parrots. This is one of the most famous caves in the world for pit caving. The entrance is a sheer 376m drop. It is the second deepest cave entrance in the world and proves a wonderful challenge for the experienced caver. One the most experienced and physically fit cavers can meet the challenge of Las Golondrinas.