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Spelunker's Delight Traditional Cache

Hidden : 11/15/2012
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is called Spelunker's Delight because I originally wanted to hide it near Delaware's only cave, which has been explored by, and delighted many spelunkers over the years.

However the cave is too close to the road and too close to another geocache for a good hiding spot, and if I hid a nice big cache inside or right near the cave, spelunkers would quickly muggle it. So I marked the cave as a waypoint if you would like to visit it.



The word Spelunker was invented by Clay Perry, an American caver of the 1940s, who wrote about a group of men and boys who explored and studied caves throughout New England. This group referred to themselves as spelunkers, a term derived from the Latin spēlunca and Greek σπῆλυγξ (spēlunks) meaning "a cave". This is regarded as the first use of the word in the Americas. Throughout the 1950s, spelunking was the general term used for exploring caves in US English. It was used freely, without any positive or negative connotations, although only rarely outside the US.

In the 1960s, the terms spelunking and spelunker began to be considered déclassé among experienced enthusiasts. The word "spelunkers" began to convey the idea of inexperienced, unprepared explorers, using unreliable light sources and cotton clothing. In 1985, Steve Knutson (editor of the NSS publication American Caving Accidents) made the following distinction: …Note that I use the term 'spelunker' to denote someone untrained and unknowledgeable in current exploration techniques, and 'caver' for those who are.

This sentiment is exemplified by bumper stickers and t-shirts displayed by many cavers: "Cavers rescue spelunkers". Because of its relatively small size nobody has had to be rescued from Delaware's cave yet, please make sure you do not become the first.

Delaware's only cave has a long and interesting history. It has been mapped and written about probably more than any cave of its size in the world. If you would like to read a short description of this cave and see a recent map of the cave or find out if you are currently allowed to explore it, please click the following link: Beaver Valley Cave

If you think you might be interested in exploring caves as a hobby, please contact Delaware's local chapter (grotto) of the National Speleological Society for more information Commander Cody Caving Club. If you are not from around this area you can contact the National Speleological Society and their informative website will show you how you can contact the cave club nearest to where you live.

Congratulations to Pitch_Black and BenamBenam3 for being the first to find this cache.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Yvxr n pnir, vg vf va n fcnpr orgjrra gur ebpxf.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)