Recently, I was on a 12 hour survey trip in Roaring Red River Cave up there in Montague County with Tex Caver. We were racking up hundred foot shots like they were going out of style. So we had some time to kill while we were waiting for Godot. He is a notoriously slow sketcher, if he shows up at all. But anyway; this issue of caving boots and caving sandals came up. My boots kept filling up with gravel. And I figured ³there must be something better². Well, good ole Tex had some good recomendations about boots. Heck he always seems to have an opinion and seems to know a lot of stuff about a lot of things. I always appreciate his opinions that he freely shares whether you want to hear it or not. Anyhoo, He told me that his side kick, La Macha recently picked a pair of these boots;
http://www.snaz75.com/el-ferocious.html She likes to wear them with her latex rubber caving suit. Now I am not sure what he was getting at---but he said these were just the thing for ³those hard core push trips.² See for yourself. On 6/12/05 11:37 PM, "David Locklear" <[email protected]> wrote: > How many of you are willing to admit that you have been on > a real caving trip in sandals ( like Tevas )? > > I know there are occasions where you are wearing sandals > and you want to go caving, such as while canoeing or > sea-kayaking. > > I went on an off-trail trip thru the Grutas de Juxtlahuaca which > is led by a sandal wearing guide. About 40 people did the trip > in el cheapo "huaruaches." > > Anyways, here is my point: > > Ozark Trail Company has a new pair of sandals that are worth > taking a look at. > > They call the sandal, the "Breaktime 2," and it is sold at Walmart > for under $ 18.00 > > This sandal has a heavy duty rubber covered toe section. The sole > is similar to some lightweight hiking boots. The rest of the sandal > is neoprene with ability to add shoe laces. ( The laces it comes > with are probably not suitable for caving. ) > > I don't know if these sandals would be suitable for a thru trip in > Honeycreek, but I am sure they could survive at least one trip. > ( The suede surface of the upper sole will be the first part to fail ) > > If you are worried about ankle support, well just wrap your ankle > in duct tape. I recommend you buy the sandals one size too > big and wear neoprene scuba socks. > > I am going to go out on a limb here, and claim that any caver > who likes to cave in walking stream passages should own a pair > of these sandals and use them for caving. > > I can think of several caves to wear them in, like the going upstream > in Grutas del Tolantongo, or Grutas de Carrizal, or Grutas de Juxtlahuaca, > etc. > > I could not find a link with a picture. > > David Locklear > >
