Reaching into a dark hole

November 10, 2003

Several of the caches I've found recently have involved reaching into a dark place and feeling around for the cache.

Now, I'm as daring and adventurous as the next guy, but I wonder about snakes, skunks, spiders, badgers...the kinds of wild life that love dark holes.

I don't normally wear gloves or carry a stick, but both seem like a good idea. What do people do to protect themselves?

1.4k · November 19, 2003

Ah, I just got for it and hope for the best.

1.7k · November 19, 2003

I think everyone's caching pack should include a dental inspection mirror. American Science & Surplus has them for dirt cheap (though you'll probably have to buy some other trinkets to get your purchase up to the minimum order. Not that that should be difficult for a geocacher. )

1.6k · November 19, 2003

I picked up an 3.5" inspection mirror that extends to about 30". It's compact when collapsed. Works good when searching for a micro or clues when you're being observed from a distance. It's much less obvious than crawling around on hands and knees!

It's also good for searching high hidey holes! You don't have to actually climb that tree to look in the knot hole.

CR

November 19, 2003

I usually poke it with a stick if I'm unsure but carrying a pair of gloves in your backpack is a good idea.

38.2k · November 19, 2003

I often hunt with a trekking pole. The pole goes first into any dark holes.

November 19, 2003

I agree with BrianSnat - I poke my hiking stick in first. I'd rather my stick take any punishment - it's replaceable but my fingers aren't.

- Mark (S-4-C)

1.1k · November 19, 2003

I am a little more careful about reaching into the dark hideys since I sliced my thumb open on some unknown (thankfully not, say, a rabid fanged creature) but still haven't come up with an ideal prod for curving around a rock when there's only a small opening. I have very small hands, which I do find advantagous at times!

Currently I carry a stick - either brought with me from the truck, or picked up nearby. I tend to find a lot of caches by poking them. Those ammo cans do make a lovely sound!

If the hole is larger, but not big enough to get a body into, I've been known to pull out my digital camera to take pictures of the contents. Try explaining THOSE photos.

I'm going to be buying myself a trekking pole or two here soon. They're quickly moving up to the top of my 'geocaching must-have' list!

-=-

michelle

20.7k · November 19, 2003

I use the most convenient stick. I also tend to carry a flashlight to allow myself to see into these dark places.

November 19, 2003

I keep a pair of heavy work gloves from Big Lots (deep discount/closeout store) in my fanny pack, and I'll often poke around with a stick first. The telescoping inspection mirror sounds like a great idea, I'll pick one up next time I'm out.

Jim

9.4k · November 19, 2003

I am a little more careful about reaching into the dark hideys since I sliced my thumb open on some unknown (thankfully not, say, a rabid fanged creature) ...

like this?

November 20, 2003

I usually poke with a stick. Last weekend, I decided to slide my digital camera into an opening in a tree and "look" first (see below). It worked well. I also discovered that I had the wrong tree!

Edited November 20, 2003 by TeacherMatt

1.7k · November 20, 2003

I poke with my staff, and I carry flashlights.

2.3k · November 20, 2003

I have a kelvar glove made for fileting fish (if you slip, you can't cut yourself.)

November 20, 2003

I generally prefer to use a flamethrower, which flushes out any vermin from the hole. Ammo box caches are unaffected by this, but the tupperware ones don't seem to hold up too well when I do this. I don't know why.

Edited November 20, 2003 by USAFA05

November 20, 2003

This here is exactly what bratty siblings are for. You just bring one along, and when they aren't looking you shove their arm in the hole. Or play the "i betcha you won't stick your hand in there will ya" game. LOL!!

1.1k · November 20, 2003

like this?

EXACTLY.

I'm still smarting from the attack!

(Maybe I should be looking for a Kevlar glove, eh?

-=-

michelle

November 20, 2003

"Hoooooney, I think I found it but I can't reach it, my arm is too big."

I don't know what she uses.

November 20, 2003

Thanks for all the great ideas. I like the extendable dental-type mirror idea. I wonder if there are any available with a light attached. That would be very handy. If not, I could probably attach a little flashlight to one. I will definitelly keep gloves and a walking stick handy, too. I've come across rabbits, coyotes, snakes, and lots of huge spiders when I've been out and about, but so far, haven't touched any of them.

However, when I was a farm girl, I once touched a rat when I was reaching into a dark nest box.

November 20, 2003

Two words: BIG firecracker!

November 20, 2003

I recently learned the "don't stick your hand into dark places" lesson. Stuck my hand in to get the cache, pulled out the cache, and a nice black widow on my hand.

Appears I am not alone, as a review of the cache posting has a similar instance at the same cache 11 days later by someone else. AHhhhhhhhh, I HATE spiders.

Will always wear gloves in the future.

1.1k · November 20, 2003

Flashlight and a trekking pole have worked great so far. When it doubt, poke it with a stick.

November 20, 2003

I use to just pour some gas in and light it on fire, kill anything inside. but waiting for the fire died took to long so now I just shoot off a few rounds in the whole to kill or scare away any critters.

November 20, 2003

I have the fear of greeting a snake in some of those dark holes and in rock walls.

So I carry along a set of heavy duty gardening gloves, my walking stick and a full size maglite. All of which are excellent at checking out a hole without risking your hands

Edited November 20, 2003 by mtnmunch

November 20, 2003

I also use my hiking pole. One time I came across a snake in a hole and while it wasn't poisonous, it reminded me that critters like dark holes.

November 20, 2003

I find a bike pump works well. I've also done the digital camera trick to inspect a rabbithole. Now what I really need is a stick with a camera mounting screw on the end..

2k · November 21, 2003

I never really considered what might possibly exist in these dark places until last year when my wandering fingers encountered a living creature with what felt like a scaly exterior. I immediately withdrew my hand. Luckily whatever I encountered did not leave me with a souvenir. Happily the cache was not in that hole. I now use my walking stick to do my poking around.

November 21, 2003

I find a bike pump works well. I've also done the digital camera trick to inspect a rabbithole. Now what I really need is a stick with a camera mounting screw on the end..

Like this at Cabela's?

3.9k · November 21, 2003

I put a piece of meat on the end of a stick and if the the stick comes back out and there's no meat. I log a DNF and move on.

November 21, 2003

After scooting into an awkward semi-upsidedown position to look inside a upright hollowed tree, I saw something looking back

Not that I don't already carry enough crap in my backback, but I added a inexpensive (me cheap!) women's compact type mirror that when closed protects itself. It also comes in handy to shine sunlight into dark spots without having to pull out the flashlight, or check out your makeup fellas.

November 21, 2003

the trek poles will tell you if there is a snake or some kind of critter in the hole. however it will not tell you about spiders or scorpions or other nasty little critters. Wearing gloves is always a good idea.

1.1k · November 21, 2003

Maybe its just me, but the little crawlies don't bother me. Its the big one with teeth or fangs I worry about.

November 21, 2003

I like to bring along a tank of chlorine gas. I attach a hose, snake it in, and open the valve. Not only does it kill any nasty critters, it completely sterilizes the insides of the tree, log, rock, etc. - leaving a nice, life-free zone for future visitors to enjoy. Sure, it's toxic, but jeez, you sure are picky.

November 21, 2003

...Now what I really need is a stick with a camera mounting screw on the end..

A lot of hiking poles have tops that remove to reveal a mounting screw.

November 21, 2003

I picked up a nice one at REI. Sherlock. If someone had told me I'd pay 50 bucks for a walking stick, I'd have called them insane.

Now that I have it, I wouldn't go on the trail without it.

3.8k · November 22, 2003

This here is exactly what bratty siblings are for. You just bring one along, and when they aren't looking you shove their arm in the hole. Or play the "i betcha you won't stick your hand in there will ya" game. LOL!!

One of our caching buddies brings along his son, who's not bratty, but is quite brave to go in places we wouldn't think of endangering ourselves in. We call him our C.R.U.--Cache Retrieval Unit. He made that up himself.

3.8k · November 22, 2003

...Now what I really need is a stick with a camera mounting screw on the end..

A lot of hiking poles have tops that remove to reveal a mounting screw.

Which can also be used to mount your GPS on it. One less thing to carry.

November 23, 2003

You could get one of these:

http://www.jensentools.com/product/group.asp?parent_id=68370

Patrick

November 23, 2003

You don't need a light mounted on the mirror, simply shine the light from your eyes at the mirror and the light'll reflect into the hole!

Now what I really need is a stick with a camera mounting screw on the end.

Another option: monopods were the original instrument for such a purpose...

Personally, I'd use my hand and fingers over an expensive hiking stick, I heal!

{wink},

Randy

November 23, 2003

Maybe its just me, but the little crawlies don't bother me. Its the big one with teeth or fangs I worry about.

I'd rather reach into a hole and have a badger rip it off than have a centipede or spyder crawl on me.

November 23, 2003

i always kick the log or stump and poke it with a stick too.

November 23, 2003

I carry a wlking stick, a mini mag light, an inspection mirror and a long pair of medical forceps. Poke first, then look with the mirror and flashlight. If you see somthing, go after it with the forcepts. This way, you scare off the bigger critters with the walking stick before you get your face near the hole. You then can inspect using the mirror and flashlight from what should be a safe position. The forcepts are stainless steel and so far there is nothing I have met that can damage me while biting on them. I pass on caches located in places large enough to be bear dens.

4.8k · November 23, 2003

You could get one of these:
http://www.jensentools.com/product/group.asp?parent_id=68370

Patrick

Great idea, but kinda expenive. Guess I could supplement my income by doing colonoscopies in my spare time

November 23, 2003

I'd rather reach into a hole and have a badger rip it off than have a centipede or spyder crawl on me.

Ditto! I'll fight the meanest tiger, but keep that dang nasty spider away from me.

November 25, 2003

I send my husband in first.

1.3k · November 25, 2003

I've tied an earth magnet onto the end of a spool of thread. Originally I was going to use it to go "fishing" for an altoids canister that I thought was a little out of reach, but I'm beginning to think it might be useful for other things as well...

2.7k · November 29, 2003

Ah, I just got for it and hope for the best.

Pretty much what I do. but yeah, wearing thick leather gloves might be a good idea. Sometimes I'll poke a stick in a hole first. Or shine a light in there.

December 21, 2003

An inspection mirror is a good tool. I recently saw a cache post with a picture of a rattlesnake wrapped around the cache. This was in a rockpile where you had to reach inside to grab it. A couple weeks later another cacher posted the same occurance at the site.

December 22, 2003

A flamethrower is a great investment! I've also used my very wee digital camera with the flash on to investigate holes that sticks and flashlights don't work very well in.

9.4k · December 23, 2003

A flamethrower is a great investment! I've also used my very wee digital camera with the flash on to investigate holes that sticks and flashlights don't work very well in.

You can make a cheap flamethrower with a lighter and aerosol can of hairspray

Reaching into a dark hole

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