Spelunking in Las Vegas

LowellPorter writes "There's an article here about some reporters who check out the sewers in Vegas after a known criminal escapes a police dragnet through them. They expect to find lots of people living in there, but only end up interviewing a couple of bums."

Comments

Odd choice in equipment...

[Thag]

Firstly, neither of them mentioned the most important thing: a backup flashlight.

MAG-lites are wonderfully durable, but their bulbs and batteries are still prone to damage in an abusive environment like a cave. I know: on my one caving trip in college, my primary mag-lite gave out halfway through. Fortunately I had a AA backup. Better yet would be an LED flashlight: they're incredibly tough.

Secondly, a kukri? Please. I own one, and it's mostly useless except as a heavy-duty machete. And it might get you arrested. And was he carrying it stuck through his belt without a sheath?

Important stuff for caving:

• Some kind of helmet. We used Army helmet liners, which were protection enough without being too heavy.
  
• Multiple light sources. The best would be an LED light on a headband, so you can use it hands-free. Bring extras in case you lose your primary, or your buddy does.
  
• Your buddy. At least they got this one right.
  
• Overalls, or plan to change clothes when you get out. Caves are filthy even when they're not a sewer. You're going to come out dirty from head to toe.
  
• Work gloves. Protect your hands.
  
• Tell someone where you're going, so if you run into problems they can send help eventually.
  
• Anywhere you might need rope for, you shouldn't be going.
  

Jon Acheson

Dark Days

[Salsaman]

For anyone who is interested in this kind of thing, I highly recommend the film Dark Days .

It's a documentary about people living in the Amtrak subways in New York, and is both fascinating and moving.