What to Bring

Please do NOT bring Guns or weapons, alcohol, non-prescription drugs, expensive electronics, fixed-blade knives, fireworks, and fancy jewelry.

Day-Hiking:

  • Sunblock
  • Hiking footwear (hiking boots, sneakers, or running shoes)
  • Lunch or snack food, water bottle (plastic, not glass)
  • Swim suit, small towel (may depend on the specific location)
  • River shoes (old sneakers, aqua shoes, or sandals with a heel strap)
  • Small backpack
  • * Bug repellant
  • *Camera
  • *Trekking poles
  • ** Something for rain (poncho, rain jacket)
  • ** Something for warmth (fleece, sweatshirt, light jacket)
  • Medical Form/Participant Agreement

* Optional   **Weather Depending

Rock Climbing:

  • Hiking footwear (hiking boots, sneakers, or running shoes)
  • Lunch or snacks, 2 water bottles (plastic, not glass)
  • Small backpack
  • * Bug repellent
  • * Camera
  • Sunblock
  • * Personal climbing gear (harness, climbing shoes) if you own any
  • ** Something for rain (poncho, rain jacket)
  • ** Something for warmth (fleece, sweatshirt, light jacket)
  • Dry T-shirt for the trip home
  • Medical Form/Participant Agreement
  • WILD GUYde will supply climbing ropes, harnesses, helmets, and climbing shoes

* Optional   **Weather Depending

Paddling:

  • Swimsuit or shorts and t-shirt, small towel
  • Lunch or snacks, and 2 water bottles (plastic, not glass)
  • Hat with all-around brim
  • Sunblock
  • River shoes (old sneakers, aqua shoes, or sandals with a heel strap)
  • * Camera
  • * Sunglasses with a holder strap
  • Small backpack
  • ** Something for rain (poncho, rain jacket)
  • ** Something for warmth (fleece, sweatshirt, light jacket)
  • *DRYbag or float bag (waterproof)
  • Medical Form/Participant Agreement
  • WILD GUYde will supply Personal Flotation Devices (life vests), canoes, paddles, gear buckets or drybags, and safety equipment

* Optional   **Weather Depending

or Wild Caving:

Caves in VA and WV are a pretty constant 52º year-round

  • Boots (hiking style, work boots, or military) or old sneakers that can get muddy
  • An outer clothing layer that can be muddied, and then removed when we exit the cave (blue jeans, work pants or old sweat pants, and a long sleeve shirt layer or old hoodie). Coveralls are great if you have them, but do not bring a disposable paint-suit. It is best then to have other clothes underneath the outer layer (like shorts or tights), so when we exit the cave, the muddy stuff can simply be “peeled off” without any modesty issues. Don’t expect privacy; there is often no where to change at the cave.
  • 1 large plastic trash bag (kitchen or yard size) for muddy clothing afterwards.
  • Headlamp, or several new AAA batteries (Walmart has some decent inexpensive headlamps.)
  • A small flashlight
  • Change of footwear for home travel (sandals, sneakers)
  • Whistle on a lanyard
  • *Camera with flash, preferably in a Ziploc® (or bring a disposable camera).
  • *Some folks like knee pads and gloves (optional).
  • Medical Form/Participant Agreement
  • Wild GUYde will supply caving helmets, cave packs, and safety equipment

* Optional