Vertical Caving in the Southwest Desert

Vertical caving in the Southwest desert is somewhat hard to come by, especially when there is little published information about vertical caves. We continue to keep locations quiet for protection and preservation. That said, there are ways to gain access and inspire curiosity — join your local grotto, get involved, train, and become an ambassador to continue the protection of these caves.

On a recent trip into the desert we encountered a couple of hypogenic vertical shafts with interesting geology. One pit was 120 feet deep and ended as a blind pit — with some very interesting and rather large popcorn formations on the walls. Another vertical shaft had only a 20ft drop but had very interesting hypogenic properties and mammillaries on the walls. These caves have taken millions of years to develop and can be destroyed with frightening speed. Reach out to me directly or your local grotto to learn more about responsible caving.

🎒 Gear for this: Petzl Tikka Headlamp · Osprey Backpack · Black Diamond Harness