Grotto Equipment

The Grotto has a limited amount of equipment, including caving helmets (with headlamps) and some vertical gear, available to members and their guests which can be used on JRG cave trips, private trips and group trips.

Caving Helmets

The JRG has 15 caving helmet/headlamp combos available for use.

* The Grotto charges a maintenance fee of $3 per helmet/headlamp per day of use.

* The member borrowing the helmets is responsible for returning the gear in a clean and serviceable condition.

Note:  The Headlamps require 3 AA batteries.  Make sure that guests who will be using them each have at least 6 fresh AA batteries (or more depending on length of trip), for primary and backup power!

Contact the JRG President, Mike Frazier, if you wish to arrange use of the helmets.  You can email Mike Frazier.

Vertical Gear

The JRG has several lengths of caving rope (from 50 ft. to 1000 ft.) which can be used on vertical cave trips.

There is no fee charged for the use of Grotto caving ropes, however, their use is generally limited to JRG-sponsored cave trips and other rules apply.

Contact the JRG President, Mike Frazier, if you wish to arrange use of the caving rope.  You can email Mike Frazier.

The Grotto does not maintain or otherwise lend other vertical caving gear, including climbing systems, as this gear is highly specialized and customized to the individual user.  Gear is sometimes made available by members to individuals aspiring to become vertical cavers at vertical training sessions, for the purpose of "test-driving" different climbing systems.  In general, though, each participant on a vertical cave trip will need to have their own vertical caving gear!