Cave Conservation Starts With You and Me

Chris D

Ninety-five percent or more of damage to caves is caused by cavers. With the exception of a few caves, the general public has no idea where most caves are and are too afraid of the dark and critters to enter a cave if they found it. There are those caves that attract partiers or uneducated novices but most caves are visited only by people who call themselves cavers. We are the culprits. Just a little at a time, but still we are responsible for how a cave looks and the health of the cave environment.

O.K., so we are not going to give up caving, but if we take responsibility to minimize our impacts much of the degradation of the cave environment can be eliminated and much of the concern over other aspects of cave conservation would vanish. What is the answer? Putting gates on caves and handing out keys by permit is not one. Some of the most trashed caves I have seen have gates. Sure some need gates to protect the cave from vandals or to safeguard wildlife but my feeling is that caves should remain wild and as they were found whenever possible. We have to look at ourselves first and decide why we cave and how our activities affect the cave environment.

Most cavers go underground for the sense of discovery. I do not know anyone who actually enjoys being cold, wet and bruised.  I have been lucky enough to have discovered or been involved with early explorations in many new caves. Some sick death mud holes, some awesome show stoppers. In all cases that sense of discovery is thrilling and the drive to see what is down the passage is intoxicating. Even if I am the 10,000th cave to see a particular room or formation the feeling is still there. I have learned, though, that there is a great responsibility acquired when I open up a new cave to the inevitable damage caused by my mere presence there. The same is true for any cave and for all of us.

The main reason for cave secrecy here in Arizona is the desire to keep the traffic down (not to insult anyone). I often tell people, "I can not tell you where it is but I would be happy to take you there." That is because I know that by going with a person familiar with the cave, the impact will be much less. I think this mentoring or informal guiding is a great way to educate people about the particulars of a certain cave and the techniques of minimal impact caving. (Not rocket science, but more fun to learn while getting muddy.) It is probably the least restrictive and most effective way to reduce the gradual degradation of caves. I would like to see this Grotto start such a program and I will volunteer to lead some trips to caves that I guarantee you have not seen or heard of.

I hope no one is insulted by all of this because I know if you are a member of the Grotto, you DO care about caves and would never intentionally cause harm. I just think this is all worth saying again to keep up the awareness. We all know or should know the basics of minimum impact caving.

• Try not to break or soil formations.
• Choose a single path for all members of the party to follow in and out.
• Choose that path wisely.
• Keep the group small (3-4.)
• Spot for each other as you go through delicate areas to avoid bumping hard to see formations.
• Do not leave trash or anything else behind.
• Be sensitive to bats or other wildlife in the cave.
• Remember, you can always come back later.

Every cave deserves this treatment but obviously some areas and some caves are more sensitive than others. Many Arizona caves are dry or nearly dry so any disturbance of mud or dust is permanent. I have mapped a cave that has signatures in the mud floor from the 1940's. Had we not been looking carefully when we entered this room we would have certainly destroyed them. You may think that this is just graffiti but anything over 50 years old is protected by the Antiquities Act and should be preserved. We were later able to find one of these people and he told a neat story about how he and his college buddies happened upon the cave which at that time was really in the middle of nowhere. An interesting piece of cave history was saved.

Many Grand Canyon caves have very dusty floors. This dust has accumulated over tens of thousands of years and contains pollen which may be studied to learn more about past climate. Some caves there contain bones and other remains from animals that are now extinct. Complete skeletons of a species of mountain goat have been found lying as if the animal died only 20 years ago instead of 10,000. Also split twig figurines dating as far back as 4000 years ago have been found in the same condition they were left. It is obvious that any mark we make on these caves will still be there long after we are gone.

As another example, I have seen some very experienced and generally careful cavers groveling up a muddy slope only to drop into a white room. They proceeded through the room covering anything they touched with mud. (There were about 8 of them.) What else could they do? They wanted to continue but had not mastered levitation yet.

First, they could have come back again with a change of clothes and shoes and left the muddy stuff there.Second, they could have sent one of the party ahead in his (or her) BVD's and socks to check to see if it was worth coming back or have everyone strip and continue. I know they did not intend to muddy up the place but that desire to discover drives one on further and drowns out the little voice of self discipline. It happens to me every time. There are 30 foot diameter virgin blowing leads that cavers have not taken because the damage caused would be too great. That is self discipline! Think about what you are doing with every step and weigh the options.

I hate to sound like I am preaching but some caves are so beautiful and fragile that I get very passionate about taking care of them. They are our treasures. Like small children or puppies they are defenseless. The Forest Service may own the land but the cave belongs to the caver's inside it. If you do not feel this way now- you will... when you find your first Booty.

Remember and think about the old saying:    

Take nothing but pictures.  Leave nothing but (carefully placed) footprints.

Cave with care. cjd

© NAG. 1999. Absolutely no rights of distribution by sale or other transfer of ownership or by rental, lease or lending, preparation of derivative works, or reproduction, in whole or in part, is granted. No text, graphics or photos may be downloaded and used on another Internet site, without express permission of NAG. To obtain permission or further information, send your request to  wecave2@sedona.net NAG reserves the rights to actively protect against infringement.