Diving deep into Virginia Tech's caving community

For Jessica ’13 and Travis Coad, the outdoors is everything.  

Both grew up in Virginia and are well versed in the recreational opportunities the area has to offer. Caving, in particular, has defined much of their lives.

“As a little kid, my parents would take me to the Blue Ridge Mountains to go camping,” said Travis Coad. “Every time we went past a commercial cavern I was always asking them to go in. It just fascinated me.”

Jessica and Travis Coad are active members of the VPI Cave Club. Founded in 1942, the club is one of the oldest campus organizations. Through the organization, the Coads not only met each other, but built a strong community in Blacksburg that has persisted for more than a decade.   

Jessica Coad always knew she wanted to attend Virginia Tech, and it was the only university to which she applied. This influence came from her father, who earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees from the university. Her undergraduate career was heavily impacted by the VPI Cave Club. Jessica Coad learned about the organization from her first year roommates who had visited the club's booth at Gobblerfest.

The VPI Cave Club has over 500 members and teaches individuals to enjoy caving safely and responsibly. The club offers training and a three-tiered membership program for different levels of competency, allowing prospective participants to develop their skills before becoming full members.

“Once you’ve gotten all your requirements done, it lets the existing members know you’re willing to put in the time and effort to become a stronger and more eligible caver,” said Jessica Coad. “It also gives you the ability to feel confident leading a trip of novices underground safely.”

In 1943, the VPI Cave Club was recognized by the National Speleological Society (NSS), a membership organization dedicated to cave science, conservation, and exploration, as the first local student chapter, otherwise referred to as a “grotto." Jessica and Travis Coad are both members of the NSS.

Travis Coad works as a cave manager for the New River Cave System, in addition to his full-time job as an IT support technician with the Virginia Tech National Security Institute.  

As a cave manager, he focuses on conservation and preservation of caves, as well as ensuring visitors understand the proper safety measures before exploring. Travis Coad also has experience surveying caves across the state to promote a deeper understanding of a cave’s dimensions and features.

“Imagine being the first person on the moon. You’re putting your footprints there for the first time in all of history, which is something that draws people to cave surveying,” said Travis Coad. “You need to know, even if you live on top of the land, what’s below your feet.”

Jessica and Travis Coad say caving incidents are rare, only occurring every 10 or so years. In most cases, cavers self-rescue because of the safety techniques they learn. However, this doesn't eliminate misconceptions about cave exploration.

“One of the biggest misconceptions is that it’s like the movies. When you tell people you’re a caver, they’re like ‘Oh my gosh, have you seen 'The Descent?’” said Jessica Coad. “It’s way different — total Hollywood versus reality.”

Jessica Coad acknowledges that caving and other outdoor activities are potentially dangerous, but suggests they can be extremely fun if safety is a priority. She said it’s essential for anyone with an interest in caving or other outdoor pursuits to research the activity first and participate with people who know what they’re doing before proceeding independently.  

“When you don’t take safety into account, that’s when it all goes wrong,” she said. “It takes a small amount of effort to be safe about it and still have a good time.”