Why Make Caving Videos???
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- This video celebrates several milestones for this channel: 100 video uploads, 1,000 subscribers, and 100,000 views. I explain a little about what I'm trying to accomplish with the channel and plans for 2019. There is also a retrospective of the first 100 videos that includes caving tutorials, gear reviews, international caving expeditions, and domestic cave trips.
Caves are delicate and potentially dangerous places. For more information on wild caving, vertical caving techniques, and cave survey, visit the National Speleological Society website:
caves.org
To find a local grotto (caving club) visit:
caves.org/comm...
White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a disease that is devastating to bats. To learn more about what you can do to help, along with information on how to properly decontaminate caving gear, visit:
caves.org/WNS/...
Cave Videography Gear I Use:
Full-frame Low-Light Camera - amzn.to/2TkIUxT
In-Cave Fast Prime Lens (a7iii) - amzn.to/2TnkB27
General Purpose Zoom Lens (a7iii) - amzn.to/2Trc2Uf
Wide Angle Zoom Lens (a7iii) - amzn.to/2Duwuhl
Gimbal - amzn.to/2TKccpT
ND Filter - amzn.to/2PAvBuJ
Soft-Case for Caving (a7iii) - amzn.to/2QanKDA
Tripod - amzn.to/2PVGrvv
Camera Bag - amzn.to/2RZekYT
Helmet-Mounted Action Camera: amzn.to/2qTa0yT
Drone - amzn.to/2PRs7nU
APS-C Run and Gun Camera - amzn.to/2DKTMQU
In-Cave Prime Lens (a6500) - amzn.to/2DuyLZK
General Purpose Zoom Lens (a6500) - amzn.to/2Q5Mgpw
Wide Angle Zoom Lens (a6500) - amzn.to/2Tnl98b
Soft-Case for Caving (a6500) - amzn.to/2OPF6Be
Hard-Case for Wet Caving (a6500) - amzn.to/2DxFOki
Excellent!
Your videos are fantastic, keep up the great work! I love the balance of education, entertainment and the superb production that you put into your channel.
Thank you very much!
I dig your integrity sir. I'm far too big to be a caver but I am deeply interested in your sport and love seeing it portrayed in such a professional and passionate light. Thank you.
You should go on the Caving Podcast with Matt Pelsnor
Headed on my 9th cave trip tomorrow. As a new caver your videos are kinda the holy grail for me right now. Thanks Derek!
You're welcome. Glad to see the videos are of some use. I'm getting close to video #200 and might do another update at that time. I've been on a bit of a break from putting out caving videos, although I've been doing quite a bit of actual caving. I have quite a lot of video content waiting to be edited and hope to get back to roughly weekly uploads this winter.
Yes, the positives of your work far, far outweigh any alleged negatives. Keep up the good work. I'm still in the "trying to make connections" stage of being a caver. Every trip under just leaves me wanting to go caving more. I live in between the Mammoth Cave and Pulaski/Rockcastle karst regions, so I've got plenty of caves on the "to do" list!
Wow! So cool that your first cave was Salamander in Indiana, near me. I remember 50 years ago, when four Indiana University students drowned in it. So horrifying and sad. I tried photography in Salamander, but failed miserably. Thanks for all your truly excellent videos. Great that you have done so much underground and have shared so much of your experience.
Whoohooo. I was the 100th like! Great job Derek! Your editing skills and video work is amazing!
Exploring this channel brings back great memories of caving during college in Georgia. Thanks for sharing and the hard work of producing all of this. Humanity needs more windows into the beauty of the natural world above and below.
Congratulations! I look forward to the 200th video!
i stumble upon your youtube channel about 2 weeks ago, and it's been awesome to see the beauty of caves and the way you document the experience makes me feel i'm going on the journey. if you come to mexico any time soon hope you give a visit to nuevo leon and visit some of our many mountains and caves.
Your videos have been most informative about caving and been a go to guide for me. I live in Indiana it’s cool to see someone else’s journey in caving. Thanks for not being stingy and trying to keep the sport alive.
Woo a fellow Hoosier caver! You are putting out some great videos, keep it up.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences! Looking forward to many more.
I'm a fan. Keep the videos coming.
Thanks Scott. The feeling is mutual.
Love your videos! They are a treat for those of us who can no longer go ourselves. Be safe and have fun!
Good job.. Thanks for your time.. I hve skiped through quite few of your videos, what I realy like - in detail constructive descripions and only technical stuf without nonsence useless conversations about the "cats" or "wether", from very first second to the end. The title of the video very clearly describes what this video about thats why you know if you need to watch it or not and then you know that is just pure technical stuf with no "woman" talks. Keep going and greetings from Lithuania.
Cus they are awesome! Keep em coming, Bristol!
Really learned lots from your videos, thank you!
I'm am so shocked that the beginning of my caving experience was so similar to yours just 15 years earlier. I learned of caves through Jim Rebmans Caves of Rockcastle county and found Sloans from an article in Outdoor Magazine before finally bumping into some NSS cavers who got me involved. I understand the reluctance of people to publicize locations but I also know what a hard time I had in the 70s finding the NSS. I've always felt that we do a lousy job of outreach to young people who might become cavers. The BGG and MVG were my home and I'm sorry we never crossed paths.
Love your vids, thank you!
Thank you Derek, your awesome and totally right on. You go way beyond with all the extra you do to make it such a perfect video.
Hey Derek, just discovered your channel and thank you for sharing. I have never caved before, but I am fascinated by caves, and watching your videos makes me feel like I am there .... keep up the brilliant work!
Thanks!
I am very happy to have stumbled upon your UA-cam this month when looking into the Caverna del Oro. A friend was trying to convince me that it would be fine for me to go with no caving experience and little climbing experience!! Haha, we have since set our bar much lower and are going to practice climbing and go to a few easy local caves he has been to before. It's been a true gift to be able to see this magical world that lies underneath and I thank you greatly for that! Congratulations on 1000 and looking forward to seeing your growth even further! cheers!
I'm glad you found the channel. I would strongly recommend additional experience and to reach out to cavers who know that cave. Many of us, me included, consider that the most challenging and dangerous cave in Colorado. There is an open trip every August (usually the first or second weekend), and that would be a good way to be introduced to the cave by people familiar with the hazards, the gear needed, and the complex route-finding.
@@DerekBristol Thanks for replying Derek! There is no way I would go into any caves without an experienced person. I live in the Boulder area, so perhaps this spring I will reach out and get involved...
Congratulations Derek. Hope all is well, give my best to Marty and the morning crew.
Awesome job producing videos! Always enjoy. I met an old caver in North GA recently and told him about your videos. When I said your name he replied “Derek Bristol?.. Sounds familiar. I think I know that guy”.
It's a small community. Been caving in northern Georgia many times - probably do know that guy.
Derek Bristol His name is ET Davis. Leads a cave preserve management for the protected Fricks Cave in Walker County. Said he’s mapped caves in Mexico. Jolly old fella
You do a great job on the videos Derek. Don’t stop what your doing! I grew up in Carlsbad NM and was “raised” in the caves since I was 6. I am now 46 and I have learned a lot from your vids. You have even inspired me to start videoing in caves. We have compiled a bunch of footage on projects that we are currently working on. I have never understood why cavers want to keep caving a secret, but in the same breath, preach conservation. The best tool for conservation is education. Thanks for what you do!
I agree 100%. If people don't go underground to see the beauty and experience the adventure, then they won't care enough to want to see these places protected. Of course those visits need to be made with minimum impact, but trying to prevent others from going caving via secrecy is counterproductive to the long-term goals of most cave enthusiasts. We definitely should educate for conservation and safety as we share to avoid the mistakes of the past.
Love your videos!
Keep up the great content on caving.
Love your videos and although this is 4 year old info at this point I do hope you keep making new ones.
Derek Bristol, your videos are the absolute best!!!!!! I love watching them and wouldn't change a thing. If you ever need to crash a trip in TAG just let me know.
Thanks!
Keep up the awesome videos. I am jealous of all your Lechuguilla trips, I am heading to that area my self in April, unfortunately not into that cave!
Fantastic, informative, professional looking videos. Really enjoying them. The surveying videos are the best I’ve seen and I’ll be putting the knowledge gained into good use this week in a newly discovered mine in the UK. Thank you
Thanks! Glad you're finding them useful.
Thanks for this awesome video
Well said and well done.
Thanks Debbie. I considered including some additional background on how I got into project caving and learned to survey through mentors in the Miami Valley Grotto, but I'm not sure people are all that interested in my personal history. Joe Morgan and Mark Turner, in particular, showed me how to read instruments, how to sketch, and how to draft maps. I owe them a huge debt.
@@DerekBristol Mark taught me my surveyings skills and Joe stretched my wings. For having the reputation of being a party grotto, there were some serious kick-ass cavers in the group. I personally like background stories about cavers, it was one of the cool things about being SpeleoSoap - I got to meet all kinds of cavers with all kinds of stories! Keep up your good work :-)
Your videos have helped and inspired me tremendously, and the quality and content is 10 outa 10! Keep up the excellent work!
Thanks Nick. You're the "next generation" I'm struggling to keep up with.
I'm glad your not letting a few critics change the way you make your videos. How are you supposed to get new people into caving if you don't share a little information? Keep up the good work!!!
Thanks Steve!
you clearly make awesome videos, all of your instructional stuff is just spot on(well atleast for stuff i am familiar with), your lighting reviews and other stuff that caver may use is quite cool.....well, i hope to make my self watch your cave survey(making cave maps) some time in near future......only criticisam i would have is that music tends to get anoying, not like sometimes but quite often....but thats no reason for not watching stuff you make.
Thanks for the videos, It is always great to see really nice footage from other caving areas. It is so difficult to light for good video I usually don't bother and stick to photography but your work inspires me to give video a try.
Camera gear and lighting have come a long way in recent years to improve video quality. Ironically I'm starting to get back into cave photography.
did you continue with chemistry? do you work in that now? what allows you to have so much time to travel?
Yes... professionally I work for a manufacturing company doing product development using my chemistry degrees. I try to use my vacations, holidays and weekends efficiently to get underground as much as possible. I'm extremely fortunate to have so many excellent opportunities and a supportive family.
@@DerekBristol I am going for chemical engineering. Do you think it's a good degree that will allow me a schedule flexibility similar to yours?
@@AthamAldecua You can't go wrong with any field of engineering. Time off and flexibility will depend heavily on the exact career path and your employer. I've known a number of caver/engineers who work and save, then take a break from employment to travel and explore, then go back to work. One of the advantages of engineering is that you will be in high demand and you can always find work.
@@DerekBristol thanks for the reply, man!
What kind of weird criticism is it to say "your videos may encourage non-cavers to become cavers"? Oh no, the horror! Elitist gatekeeper opinion.
Agreed! The argument is that I shouldn't show caves or caving technique because more people will want to go caving and that will ruin caves. Very elitist attitude - "it's okay for me to cave, but not for anyone else".
Yes, the positives of your work far, far outweigh any alleged negatives. Keep up the good work. I'm still in the "trying to make connections" stage of being a caver. Every trip under just leaves me wanting to go caving more. I live in between the Mammoth Cave and Pulaski/Rockcastle karst regions, so I've got plenty of caves on the "to do" list!
Great place to be for caving. I did many, many trips in Sloans Valley Cave near Somerset to hone my skills. I'll also be at Mammoth Cave for a survey trip in 2 weeks.