Many of the Meramec Valley Grotto's members have a passion for surveying caves, which is making a map of the cave.  They will spend hours even days underground mapping.  They will lay on their bellies in the water and take compass shots or hold a measuring tape in a huge unknown passage.  Cave surveying/mapping includes all kinds of cavers in all kinds of caves.

Cave mapping can be a very elaborate or simple depending on the cave and cavers. In the end, the result is the same, and a cave map is produced.  If you are interested in cave mapping, please attend one of our joining/meetings or visit this site.