Making caving the hippest thing
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Çetin Cem Yılmaz
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 07, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - They dare to take on absolute darkness, enter through holes that would be any claustrophobic's worst nightmare, just to feel the experience of being the first ones to enter an unexplored cave. However, despite their bravery, the members of Boğaziçi University Speleological Society, or BÜMAK, are not in it for the glory.
Forget the same old quarterback-dates-the-cheerleader story. There are some sports clubs at universities that are simply offering more than being cool, grabbing the girl or showing off. The Caving Club at the Boğaziçi University is a perfect example of this.
Founded in 1973, Boğaziçi University Speleological Society, or BÜMAK, is one of the pioneers in caving, continuing a long tradition.
Taking Edouard Alfred Martel’s quote: "On the grounds of a planet whose every kilometer square has been mapped explorers have nothing left to explore. But the underground..." as their motto, today’s members of BÜMAK are still burning the flame, doing so for the sake of exploration.
"You don’t have spectators in a cave," Mehmet Göker told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, while telling how far caving was from some of the more ego-boosting activities. "When you go deep underground you rely on the person above. And then he relies on you, because he goes down with the knot you are tying. Everyone is part of a chain, that is why you need strong team spirit."
Yaman Özakın agrees with his fellow caver, saying it is impossible "to step up as an individual in a caving club." "Of course, strength means something," Yaman explained. "But what matters most is that they are strong together."
Every year, the club gets new members from university freshmen but somehow the average profile of a caver does not change.
"We don’t understand how it happens, but always people with similar mentalities gather in this club," said Mehmet Göker, "strangely enough the same situation is found in other clubs in Turkey or abroad."
"They are not ones to show off, are at peace with themselves and are aware of what they expect from life," listed one of the crew, before joking, "And antisocial."
That description actually tells a lot about cavers. They do not take themselves too seriously, at least not in the same seriousness they take their hobby. A cheerful mood dominates the talk, especially when they share their funny stories about how people react to them on their trips.
Village challenge
When BÜMAK visits a village for caving, at first they are challenged by the villagers on why they are there.
"People ask us why," said Yaman. "When we say we are searching for caves, they think that we are treasure hunters. We have to spend a lot of time saying that we are not."
The second challenge is a strong disbelief among the locals.
"They never believe in us, and speak like 'Nobody can get to that cave,'" said Yaman. It hardly changes after they are done. Aydın Menderes adds, "There were people like, 'You didn't get in that cave, it's probably some other cave, an easier one."
"We don't like to show off, we just go there like regular people," Mehmet explained. "But when the mountain clubs come to town, people say 'Wow, here they come' because they have flashy uniforms."
BÜMAK members do not lose sleep over these kinds of reactions, obviously due much to their aforementioned characters.
"The main difference from mountaineering or aviation clubs is that you can't take pictures in the absolute darkness," explained Yaman. "You live that experience only for yourself."
That attitude makes perfect sense when thinking of what draws them to the cold, dark and previously unexplored caves. "The icing on the cake is always going into undiscovered caves," told Yaman, "which is a feeling you cannot get in any other kind of sport. The feeling of being the first human being to have ever walked on that part of the earth."
Turkey, a haven for caving
Offering a lot of uncovered spots, Turkey is a rich country for caving, "a caving heaven" as they call it. However, the level of awareness does not match up with the quality the country's nature and geography offers. Especially the first cavers in 1970s, suffered a lot from villagers painting cave walls or taking what they found in the hope that it was treasure.
"Then protecting the caves became one of the top priorities," said Mehmet, adding the fact that the opening of caves to tourism was a threat as well.
Özgün Sarisoy admitted that his "heart breaks" when he sees a cave lit up for tourists, especially if he previously visited there when it was in darkness. "Most people have gone to small or touristy caves," said Özgün. "But that's hardly the same experience. You just go to a lightened hall."
At the start of each year, the club gains new members and this education is the essential part of their adaptation to BÜMAK.
"Firstly, there are theoretical lessons, both on how to protect the caves and how to protest one's self," said Özgün. Then they make their first visit, mostly to Dupnisa Cave. A relatively easy and horizontal cave, Dupnisa is preferred as it is close to Istanbul. The second trip is generally made to a more difficult and horizontal cave.
"Usually 70 or 80 people come on the first trip," Aydın said. "In the second trip, the number declines to 30 or 40." The number of people continuing to spelunk after graduation is on a similar decline. They hope that the newly founded association, BÜMAD, will inform people that caving is not a college-only activity.
Continuing to attend trips when not haunted by her regular job, Aslı Döker is an encouraging example.
"Sometimes I get off work at 9 p.m., but then I go home to draw maps, make weekend plans or write articles for the club's magazine," said Aslı. "I want BÜMAD to show people life can be better, or working can only be worth enduring that way. What the body can give to one is limited, but a person should do everything possible while one can."
Founded in 1973, Boğaziçi University Speleological Society, or BÜMAK, is one of the pioneers in caving, continuing a long tradition.
Taking Edouard Alfred Martel’s quote: "On the grounds of a planet whose every kilometer square has been mapped explorers have nothing left to explore. But the underground..." as their motto, today’s members of BÜMAK are still burning the flame, doing so for the sake of exploration.
"You don’t have spectators in a cave," Mehmet Göker told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, while telling how far caving was from some of the more ego-boosting activities. "When you go deep underground you rely on the person above. And then he relies on you, because he goes down with the knot you are tying. Everyone is part of a chain, that is why you need strong team spirit."
Yaman Özakın agrees with his fellow caver, saying it is impossible "to step up as an individual in a caving club." "Of course, strength means something," Yaman explained. "But what matters most is that they are strong together."
Every year, the club gets new members from university freshmen but somehow the average profile of a caver does not change.
"We don’t understand how it happens, but always people with similar mentalities gather in this club," said Mehmet Göker, "strangely enough the same situation is found in other clubs in Turkey or abroad."
"They are not ones to show off, are at peace with themselves and are aware of what they expect from life," listed one of the crew, before joking, "And antisocial."
That description actually tells a lot about cavers. They do not take themselves too seriously, at least not in the same seriousness they take their hobby. A cheerful mood dominates the talk, especially when they share their funny stories about how people react to them on their trips.
Village challenge
When BÜMAK visits a village for caving, at first they are challenged by the villagers on why they are there.
"People ask us why," said Yaman. "When we say we are searching for caves, they think that we are treasure hunters. We have to spend a lot of time saying that we are not."
The second challenge is a strong disbelief among the locals.
"They never believe in us, and speak like 'Nobody can get to that cave,'" said Yaman. It hardly changes after they are done. Aydın Menderes adds, "There were people like, 'You didn't get in that cave, it's probably some other cave, an easier one."
"We don't like to show off, we just go there like regular people," Mehmet explained. "But when the mountain clubs come to town, people say 'Wow, here they come' because they have flashy uniforms."
BÜMAK members do not lose sleep over these kinds of reactions, obviously due much to their aforementioned characters.
"The main difference from mountaineering or aviation clubs is that you can't take pictures in the absolute darkness," explained Yaman. "You live that experience only for yourself."
That attitude makes perfect sense when thinking of what draws them to the cold, dark and previously unexplored caves. "The icing on the cake is always going into undiscovered caves," told Yaman, "which is a feeling you cannot get in any other kind of sport. The feeling of being the first human being to have ever walked on that part of the earth."
Turkey, a haven for caving
Offering a lot of uncovered spots, Turkey is a rich country for caving, "a caving heaven" as they call it. However, the level of awareness does not match up with the quality the country's nature and geography offers. Especially the first cavers in 1970s, suffered a lot from villagers painting cave walls or taking what they found in the hope that it was treasure.
"Then protecting the caves became one of the top priorities," said Mehmet, adding the fact that the opening of caves to tourism was a threat as well.
Özgün Sarisoy admitted that his "heart breaks" when he sees a cave lit up for tourists, especially if he previously visited there when it was in darkness. "Most people have gone to small or touristy caves," said Özgün. "But that's hardly the same experience. You just go to a lightened hall."
At the start of each year, the club gains new members and this education is the essential part of their adaptation to BÜMAK.
"Firstly, there are theoretical lessons, both on how to protect the caves and how to protest one's self," said Özgün. Then they make their first visit, mostly to Dupnisa Cave. A relatively easy and horizontal cave, Dupnisa is preferred as it is close to Istanbul. The second trip is generally made to a more difficult and horizontal cave.
"Usually 70 or 80 people come on the first trip," Aydın said. "In the second trip, the number declines to 30 or 40." The number of people continuing to spelunk after graduation is on a similar decline. They hope that the newly founded association, BÜMAD, will inform people that caving is not a college-only activity.
Continuing to attend trips when not haunted by her regular job, Aslı Döker is an encouraging example.
"Sometimes I get off work at 9 p.m., but then I go home to draw maps, make weekend plans or write articles for the club's magazine," said Aslı. "I want BÜMAD to show people life can be better, or working can only be worth enduring that way. What the body can give to one is limited, but a person should do everything possible while one can."