Lord Strange
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- Oct 10, 2011
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If so, how did you make sure you were comfortable ( supply wise) ? Also, do you know of any empty caves in your area.
I've been to a party or two in abandoned mines and it can be done. I can't speak for multilevel shaft mines, but single level room-and-pillar mines are ideal for this- usually these are old limestone, zinc, or lead mines where the deposits were close to the surface.
These mines tend to be well ventilated, and the party I was at had a bonfire fairly deep in. The cave filled with smoke but oxygen wasn't an issue as there were multiple entrances/exits. You'll want a ground pad for sure as the floor was rough and rocky, and many of these mines are easily extensive enough for you to wander days without finding your way out if you lose your light. A similar mine I visited used to host 10 km runs in the tunnels before it was abandoned to give you an idea of scale.
I'd be more worried about getting lost than anything else- temperature tends to stay fairly constant (around 60 degrees fahrenheit) inside, but those temperatures are in areas far from exits.
I'm from this area. This is the primary reason I do not stay in caves around home. They are always damp and can get very cold.There's a cave in columbia missouri called the devils ice box for good reason its stays a cool 62 degrees year round. And it goes deep. like hills have eyes deep. Recently the bats have migrated to a cavern unacessable unless you bring a raft. Flash light is a must. And if you dont want to be chinese water tortured from dripping moist cave bring a tent or tarp. Still a bit of a gamble. Ranger has been spoted on the trail but rarely gose into the ice box. Tent camping is permitted in the area just before ice box. It State park rangers be observing for safety.
Fire can also cause the roof to fall-in on top of you and crush you to death while you're sleeping. If you're going to build fire in a cave be sure to heat it up slowly. The few times I've stayed in small caves and under rocky overhangs I've built fires hours before I planned on sleeping. Even then I'd be nervous all night about the roof falling in on top of me. If possible I build the fire just outside of the cave and reflect the heat into it using a backstop. I don't want a car sized boulder breaking loose in the middle of the night.also building a fire can burn all the air up , and smoke you out to the point of not being able to fine your way back out.