Pitch-heads are rigged with a wide assortment of anchors such as bolts, pitons, nuts, slings and occasionally naturally formed jug handles. Ropes cavers use are specially designed to withstand abrasion and most importantly, they are designed not to stretch. This is the factor that differentiates climbing ropes and caving ropes. If rappelling down a rope is exhilarating, then climbing back up must be described as being contemplative. Mechanical rope clamps fastened to seat and chest harnesses enable cavers to climb up their ropes in a leap frog motion.
Lighting is another important consideration.
Helmet mounted lights allow two free hands to negotiate difficult sections. Two extra reliable sources of light are essential to ensure that total darkness doesn't become an unwelcome part of the trip. Vancouver Island presently has three developed cave parks. At Home Lake Cave Provincial Park, visitors may choose either self guided tours through Main Caves or guided tours through Riverbend Cave. Little Huson Lake Caves Park and Upana Caves Park on the North Island are open to the public year-round.