GO-Adventures

Do you love a challenge and pushing yourself to the limit? Are you alright with barely being able to soap your back afterwards cause your arms are so sore? (this adventure actually prompted me to start working out again).
If you answered yes to any of this, I think you’d love the caving adventures trip. You probably wouldn’t even be as sore as me if you’re in better shape as well. I had the delight of going on the caving adventures trip guided by Eriq and another guide (sorry that i forgot his name). We were able to explore inside the cave and I was able to do a lot more than I ever thought I could in a very safe, controlled, yet challenging environment.
I loved how Eriq was very good at telling us how to be safe and avoid accidents. It was a great balance of making you very aware of the risks you might face without being over dramatic to scare you but yet serious enough that you heeded his advice.
What I thought was the neatest thing about caving was that it combined many outdoor activities into one. Whether it was going down a 30−40ft drop by harness, figuring out how to climb different rocks, squeezing and crawling on your belly through tunnels, or wedging your body between objects to climb or descend.
I really enjoyed Eriq’s way of pushing us to do more even when you might have been hesitant. He was very good at bringing out the best in you but yet not so insistent that you felt pressured. By the end of the adventure I did much more than I thought I would and really felt a sense of accomplishment. Not to mention I got one hell of a work out.
Highly recommend, this is one of the more memorable experiences I’ve had in life.

There was no question about it. Keon D. and I were lost. We were holding up the entire caravan and there was nothing we could do about it. Thankfully, Keon had the brilliant idea of stopping a local West Virginian to offer advice on how to reach the cave with no ascertainable pinpoints. Unlike West Virginia’s answer to «Alabama Man» that we encountered earlier in a Jeep Liberty, this nice, talkative woman with the friendly dog was incredibly helpful. However, she also offered us this warning. «This isn’t a beginner’s cave. If you haven’t been caving before, this probably isn’t the right experience for you.» I tried to hide my smirk. After all, I had been given similar advice before I conquered Class V waves on a whitewater trip (technically, my second trip, but whatever). Ignoring the advice of a prescient stranger can be fatal advice indeed.
We (finally) met up with the group and headed inside the cave. Our tour guide (Eriq) let us know at the mouth of the cave that this was the end of the road for quitters. We then descended into darkness, climbed down some ladders, and entered into a maze of awesome climbing adventures (grappling up rocks and boulders), physical challenges (doing our best earthworm impression through the tight squeeze otherwise known as The Rebirth), and human spider impersonations. I am intentionally not going to fully describe all of the experiences because I think everyone on Unilocal should go experience it for themselves. Your experience will be unique from mine.
Somewhere between taking photographs with a mud penis and squeezing through the tightest of spaces on my hands and knees, I announced to the group that this experience should be essential training for consultants. There was quick laughter before I deadpanned that I was actually being serious. Why? Because the caving experience offered by GO-​Adventures is more than just strenuous exercise. It provides the mind with an opportunity to indulge in creative solutions to physical challenges with a plethora of combinations. In short, it is exactly the type of out-​of-​the-​box training that would be helpful to new consultants. Naturally, I doubt any consulting company in the DC area would actually offer such an opportunity.
Making the experience truly awesome was Eriq. He would offer the greatest amount of advice to ensure that no one got hurt but perfectly balanced that with forcing adventurers to figure out problems on their own when they were faced with brutal physical challenges. More than once, I found myself perilously laboring on the flattest of boulders attempting to stay above a pool of water. Eriq had already given me all the advice I needed; it was up to me to figure out how to navigate through the challenge. More often that not, I succeeded. Sometimes, I failed. I have an incredible amount of respect for Eriq precisely because he allowed me to fail while still ensuring that I would not get hurt. That is exactly the type of guide you want for a trip of this nature. It also brings about repeat business. Failure does not sit well with me.
One final note: the West Virginia woman was right. This is clearly not a beginner’s cave, and the burning sensation through my right arm and the roughly six foot drop from boulders into a pool of mud covered rocks is testament to the idea that you should probably be in at least average to good shape before attempting this particular cave. While everyone in our group fit that bill, I could definitely see people getting hurt if they didn’t train up for this experience. Still, from what I understand, there are a number of different paths that one can take through the caves, so maybe Eriq makes a judgment prior to heading to the caves as to what level of physical activity the group can endure. At least in my case, it was the right decision.
I’d strongly recommend this experience to anyone looking for a real challenge. This isn’t skydiving where all you do is make one incredible leap away from logic. This is more akin to a combination of hiking, mountain climbing and a full body workout. If you are up to a grueling challenge that will undoubtedly make you feel better about yourself as a person, you should go caving. GO-​Adventures is an awesome place to do it.

We went for caving in West Virginia under Eriq’s guidance last week. I highly recommend everyone to try it at least once as all of our team members absolutely love it and plan to do it again.
Eriq did a great job teaching us the basic caving skills and gave us a memorable experience of working together, challenging ourselves, and most importantly having a good time appreciating the nature and what we can enjoy even without all the electronic devices we all have these days.
Eriq had confidence on all of our capabilities as well as all of us had on his. He was all equipped and prepared for the worst scenario.

Eriq was an outstanding guide on our caving trip to Whiting’s Neck in WV. He helped me overcome some fear in dealing with the tight spaces we were in. I was totally comfortable by the end of our excursion. The caving trip was definitely challenging. This was something I had never done, and I was dog tired by the end of the day. For a rewarding experience, I highly recommend this trip. Thanks Eriq!

Eriq took a group of 6 of us caving in West Virginia. It is a life altering experience. I have some closterfobia and heights anxieties and Eriq did a great job guiding our group through the many mental and physical obstacles. By the end of the day I was crawling in and out of very tight spaces and climbing challenging walls. He is extremely patient and talks you through the tough areas. Great guide!
Eriq made sure we came prepared from the equipment that he provides, to the simple check list of items we needed to bring.
You have got to try it, it is an experience you will NEVER forgot.