Cave difficulty categories - categories assigned to caves depending on the difficulty of passing them.
Content
Types of Caves
Caves are divided into 3 types: horizontal, vertical and combined :
- Horizontal caves do not require special skills and special equipment to overcome.
- Vertical caves mainly consist of steep and inclined passages and require special training.
- Combined caves include vertical and horizontal sections.
Difficulty categories
Caves for the passage of which require special training and equipment (in addition to a helmet and a light source) are divided into 9 categories of difficulty: 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B. The main criterion for determining the category of difficulty of the cave is the number of obstacles, their complexity and the time required to overcome them.
- Category 1 - caves, for the passage of which requires a minimum amount of auxiliary equipment. The depth of the wells is not more than 40 meters. Wells are usually dry and easy to walk through. In horizontal caves there should be obstacles: narrowness, sections of easy climbing or flooded areas. Travel time - 2-8 hours. The total depth is 20-100 meters.
- 2A category - wells can be flooded, but without strong drains. Horizontal caves can have open siphons. Travel time 3-8 hours. The total depth is 40-180 meters.
- Category 2B - similar to category 2A, but the number of obstacles is greater. Travel time is 6-16 hours. The total depth of 150-300 meters.
- 3A category - wells can be heavily flooded. In horizontal caves there can be small siphons requiring the use of autonomous breathing apparatus. Travel time - 12-48 hours. The total depth is 180-360 meters.
- Category 3B - similar to category 3A, but the number of obstacles is greater. Travel time is 2-5 days. The total depth of 320 - 550 meters.
- 4A category - caves of vertical and mixed type, for their passage it is necessary to install an intermediate feeding and resting point on the route or underground camp. There may be areas of difficult climbing, including with the use of assault ladders, poles, etc. Travel time is 4-8 days. The total depth of 420 - 550 meters.
- 4B category - similar to category 4A, but the number of obstacles is greater. Travel time is 7-14 days.
- 5A category - a lot of various obstacles. For passing requires the installation of underground camps. Travel time 12-18 days. The total depth is 800-1200 meters.
- 5B category - the installation of several underground camps is necessary. Travel time is over 18 days. The total depth is over 1100 meters.
Cadastre of caves
Since 2016, work is underway to compile a cadastre of caves in the Russian Federation . It is planned to complete the work by 2018. .