Ever been to the caves?
 

Anyone ever been to any of the caves on the Island?

I know Horn Lake is a popular destination. I don't have any climbing experience whatsoever but I read that Horn Lake gets roughly 50,000 tourists each year.

Can anyone tell me what to expect and if its worth the adventure?

Thanks guys

It's pretty cool to do at least once.

You can do both the main and lower caves within an hour, you don't really need any climbing experience. Dress expecting to get wet and dirty. The caves are wettest in the early spring and fall and are about 8 degrees year round.

The riverbend cave is by guided tours only, the full deal tour takes like 5 hours, is $150 a person and you have to take a rappel course.

go out to sooke check out the old mine shaft, way cooler.

Saw it last year. Full of spiders; I wouldn't suggest it to anyone.

i think great 68 summed it up, kinda cool to see if you're in the area. I'm planning on doing the extreme rappel tour at some point (they have a bunch of different tours, the family tour, 3 hour cave adventure, 4 hour high adventure and 5 hour extreme rappel)

These tours are expensive, roughly up to $150 plus you are required to have repelling experience.

You got any idea what the average walk-through should have as equipment?

just for the cheap main caves? shoes with ankle support, flashlight and a sweater :p I think its like 3 bucks to rent a hardhat with a headlamp on it

$8 to rent the hardhat with lamp.

It's almost better to buy a headlamp from MEC for $40, and then you can keep it afterwards.

The hard hat isn't necessary, but I recommend it. It's easy to forget how close the rock is to your head when you're in some of the tighter spots.

Now, this sounds like an excellent destination for a REVscene cruise one day!

Except for the 20 minute gravel road from the highway to the cave site...

i did it many years ago, no guides, no helmets and just using crappy old flashlights. good times.

you can really only go so far without rock climbing gear.

That is one crappy road...it was super wash boarded when I was up last.