Going Spelunking – The Insider Goes Caving, Part 1

Join two intrepid “Insider” reporters and the Outdoor Adventure and Community Service (OACS) club in spelunking the depths of Laurel Caverns on Saturday, Oct. 14. Signups began Oct. 2 and are open to 20 campus participants with a $5 signup fee. OACS will provide bussing from the school at 8:30 a.m. and the trip will last until approximately 3 p.m. OACS membership is not necessary to attend.

As OACS President Dan Weisser says, trips like these should be both exerting and exhilarating.

“It’s not something you would do in elementary school,” Dan says. “You are going into the cave. You will be climbing, you might be army crawling, there will be mud and angled rocks. You’ll wanna wear something you don’t mind getting dirty or stained.”

Both he and Brian Root, OACS advisor and assistant director of Housing and Residence Life, highly encourage wearing sturdy, ankle-supporting shoes and clothes that may never get clean again. Attendees should also come prepared with two sources of light besides their phone, such as a headlamp or handheld flashlight.

To ensure the safety of yourself and anyone else on the caving expedition, make sure to come equipped with the proper apparel and direct questions to Brian, Dan, and/or your cave guide.

“That’s something OACS always wants to make sure: that no one gets hurt having fun,” Dan says.

Aside from the upcoming caving trip, OACS hosts outdoor adventures ranging from paintballing to hiking, horseback riding, and even skydiving. But spelunking may be a once-in-a-college-lifetime experience for Pitt-Greensburg students.

“This is an event we’ve done previously… maybe like three years ago,” Dan says. “Brian went last time and took the hardest route.”

If you’re interested in joining OACS, membership costs $50 per semester, but membership and attendance fees contribute to the variety of events OACS can plan and may be used to cover transportation, food, and other logistical fees.

Like this one, OACS events typically occur over weekends or breaks to make attendance easier for students with busy weekday schedules, and Dan is eager to share these opportunities with other students.

“I’m looking forward to going caving and being able to say I’ve crawled around and had fun,” Dan says. “It’s going to be dark– the only light sources are from yourself or other people. For those who aren’t claustrophobic, it should be a lot of fun.”

To sign up to spelunk, visit https://greensburgpitt.campuslabs.com/engage/event/9393361 or stop by the front desk in Chambers Hall.