Lava tube! Laaavaaa tuuuuuuuube

[gement]

Washington State has one of the best publicly accessible lava tubes, Ape Cave.

I'm going! Along with J and corivax, who is kind enough to drive

Comments

[thewronghands]

Yes! I have excellent ones and I am interested in people I like not dying. Do you prefer headlamp, handheld, or both? How much battery time do you need?

[gement]

Huzzah! I hoped that you in particular would respond to this one.

I'd like to use both, and we'd like to try the upper cave (estimated at 2.5 hours) and are all in crap shape. Is four hours of battery life a thing?

I also wasn't sure whether the two light sources is to have on at all times or so you have a backup. And they rent lanterns, which opens up whole new questions about what different kinds of lights one might use in a cave and to what effect; any thoughts on that?

Finally, no food in caves. I get and respect why that is necessary. How do you as a person whose body has pretty tight operating requirements, deal with "no food during this long and athletic activity" regulations?

[thewronghands]

Do you need to outfit your whole party, or just you? I can definitely outfit just you, I may not be able to do everyone. I have one good handheld, one giant handheld a la Maglite, and one good headlamp. (I used to have a second good headlamp but I killed it GoRucking.) When are you going

[gement]

Excellent. I am going on Sunday the 17th, so we have a good week to work things out.

I'm scrounging another headlamp from arjache, so with yours we will have at least two.

As I consider the flashlight situation in my house insufficient, I'd like to buy a few handhelds on principle. (And possibly even a lantern? It seems like it might be handy in a power outage.) If you have recommendations, please do have opinions at me.

Caving is self-guided and the tube is wide enough for traffic both directions, so I can turn back if necessary. It sounds like you do pack food, just well sealed at the bottom of your gear so you can eat as soon as you get out? Or just as soon as you get back to your car? I should be fine by any rational standard, I just have food security baggage and like to know my options.

[randomdreams]

I shudder to suggest this, but Harbor Freight sells acceptable flashlights for $2, if you swap the batteries.

[thewronghands]

SHUN THE UNBELIEVER! [giggling]

[randomdreams]

Of all the times to save money by buying cheap crap of known poor reliability, buying survival equipment that you know you're going to use is probably not one.

[thewronghands]

Are you still around Cap Hill a reasonable amount? I'd suggest swinging by here maybe Wednesday or so, I should have found all findable batteries by then

[gement]

Long battery life and standard batteries sound like the top of my list. Red mode and a couple brightness settings sound like excellent features to have as well, if they are available in lower-end varieties.

I'd probably like to buy a head lamp and three handhelds for my household.

I'd like to spend no more than $30 per light source if possible. Except for this rare excursion, I don't leave Seattle much, so parks, back yards, and power outages.

Thanks for the sample menu; that's really helpful!

Pickup logistics: While I was planning on curtailing it this week, I usually have a standing Thursday evening social round on the hill. Will you be around Thursday evening? If so, that tips me over into "go anyway, just go home early."

Otherwise, I work downtown business hours and would be happy to buy you a beverage of choice and try to meet you halfway to work out a drop-off.

[thewronghands]

Sorry for the lag there... unexpectedly difficult dentist stuff ate me. Okay, for your price point, I'd try something like this handheld (doesn't get you red mode, does get you standard batteries and a couple brightness settings), and something like this headlamp. I'm ordering one of those latter myself, to replace the destroyed one.

I will be around Thursday, but I may go to martial arts that night, so I'd be leaving fiveish if so. What time is your engagement?

[gement]

Thanks for the recs!

I usually leave work at 5 but could leave early if necessary to catch you? Or catch you on the flipside? Not sure what time you get home. My other engagement is at Pho Cyclo on Broadway; I'm not sure where you are but I'd be happy to buy you a food or beverage if it makes a rendezvous more appealing.

[thewronghands]

I work from home, so I'll be here for the majority of the day. Mayhem and I were talking about maybe doing a furniture ordering run over lunch tomorrow, though, so if we do that I might be able to swing downtown on my way there or back and do the handoff. Where downtown are you?

[gement]

REDACTED and I have no strictly scheduled hours. Text REDACTED.

This phone number will self destruct in one edit.

[gement]

Ping! Any recommendations? Even with 2 day shipping, I would either need to online order or plan in-person shopping Real Soon Now.

And can we rendezvous to pick up the loaners on the hill Thursday night?