By: Bart Beck
As the world becomes ever more globalized, it seems as though it becomes increasingly smaller, as well. At one point, it was that people only had to go west in search of adventure and the unknown. Then, came the poles, followed by peaks, and now, many see space as the final frontier; but there are still places closer to home that have yet to be explored, for these places, we must look down instead of up.
These places include the ocean floor and, what I would like to talk about: caves. Nowadays, you just have to pull up Google maps to see that the world has already been mapped. Underneath those surface maps, below the dirt and rocks that they represent, is a mysterious world that’s just waiting to be uncovered, for reasons that span everything from recreation to science.
Here in Pennsylvania, we are fortunate enough to have conditions that allow the slow process of cave formation to occur. So, whether you are a scientist in search of lifeforms that may be indicators of how extraterrestrial life may exist, a geologist who loves the minerals and the many forms they come in, a geographer wanting to map someplace that’s never been seen before, or a thrill seeker looking for a new sense of dirty adventure, there are plenty of places here in Central Pennsylvania waiting to feel the presence of humans, possibly for the first time.
If this interests you, come join us on Wednesday, August 31st from 7-8pm for a Free University. I will be discussing caves, caving, and how you can get involved. There will also be light refreshments and friendly faces for everyone to enjoy.
