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As near as I can remember, I read this book in 7th or 8th grade, so figure it would be written toward 10-15 year olds. I'm looking for a book where 2-4 (can't remember exactly) kids decide to explore an old cave/mine system. This isn't a fall-in-the-well rescue story. They get trapped and have to proceed forward to escape, but they were at least partially prepared because I remember them using the terms "belaying" and so on as they explore further. They overcome a number of obstacles and work their way through the cave to ultimately escape.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. My son is fascinated with caving and I thought it might be an interesting read for him.

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    That immediately reminds me of The Cave by Richard Church. But if that's right, there are no SF or F elements to it.
    – Clara Díaz Sanchez
    Commented Dec 4 at 20:49
  • Not The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, I suppose? With Tom and Becky getting lost in the cave? :)
    – Andres F.
    Commented Dec 5 at 14:01
  • I guess my definition of "Fantasy" is a little to broad, sorry. When I grew up, that was the section of the library this book was in. But yes, I think The Cave (aka Five Boys in a Cave) seems to be it. Thanks.
    – Chad Robinson
    Commented Dec 5 at 18:13

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This sounds very much like the 1950 children's adventure story The Cave by Richard Church (retitled as Five Boys in a Cave for the American edition.)

The lead character is John Walters, who has been sent to spend the summer holidays with his uncle and aunt. He discovers the entrance to a complex of caves, and persuades his friends - the Tomahawk Club - to go on an expedition to explore them. The five boys include John's sensible next-door neighbor George Reynolds, an overweight boy named "Meaty" Sanders, Harold Soames, and the bossy self-appointed leader Alan Hobbs.

When they first enter the cave two boys descend a cliff by rope, which indeed involved a lot of "belaying". In a squabble the rope becomes detached, and the two groups of children have to first rejoin each other, and then find a way out. The cover blurb simply summarises the story as:

John Walters and his friends explore the tantalizing mysteries of a previously undiscovered cave and in so doing learn a lot about themselves.

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That is similar to the plot of Danny Dunn and the Fossil Cave.

Three children and two adults explore a cave. They get trapped when a natural bridge over a ravine collapses stranding them on the other side. After further exploration they discover an alternative exit.

I don't recall that they said "belay" or not.

Even if it isn't the one you recall, it would be a good read for your son.

It does in fact have some SF elements in it. The professor has invented a see-through-walls device which they use in their exploration.

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