The Southwest desert continues to impress and re-define my expectations of what could be hidden within the surface.
The baron desert lands, some of which are unforgiving, display beauty and significance when we continue to discover the unground past.
These geologically significant caves give clues to the ancient past time that cant be seen from the surface.
Cave exploration is essential to not only understand geologic past time, but to inspire continuing exploration for current and future cavers.
Creating challenges and obstacles will erode the ambitions
of many people that would have otherwise been a significant asset to science, archeology, and general cove conservation/preservation.
The secrecy and silence is and will be present but a working relationship among cavers and organizations will need to develop in order for the trust and transparency to re-build.
Skydrop cave is a significant cave that was first discovered by cave explorer and friend, David Harris.
He found this cave and invited a few of his most trusted and skilled friends to survey and explore Skydrop.
Knowing how many other caves fall onto the deaf ears of organizations and become altered by heavy steel bars in the pursuit of "protection", David had
kept this cave in silence, until now.
This "Natural Gate" of secrecy protected this cave from any damage that could have been caused by people as well as damage and mistrust from political debate.
We have seen it on numerous occasions. Cave protection enactments have ruined relationships, friendships, caused dis trust,
led people to breach agreements, and all but collapsed confidence in cave protection. To be fair, cave management is all coming from a good place. A place where we all want to protect the caves and what is inside of these caves.
What is not working is the approach taken and the execution of proceedings that move to protect a cave. This has not been working here in the southwest.
There is also a debate on who should be authorized to enter a cave. Furthermore, the history that miners would grind out cave passages for resources, the lack of cave rescue personal, and the scent of elitism absolutely exists.
Now organization keep caves quiet, hold onto keys, "Lose" keys to caves, and restrict access to caves. I get that there are intelligent graduated non cavers that need to make decisions with the least amount of resource implementation, but that can be leveraged by willing caving organizations and cavers who have a unique perspective on caves.
So cavers want access to caves, organizations want
access to caves, scientists want access to caves, the cartographers and photographers debate on what is a more important means of documentation, and we all position ourselves to be right and provide evidence to our position.
The truth is we are all right and wrong at the same time.
We all have a right to understand and explore our lands and we all have a obligation to protect our lands.
Within Skydrop cave, there are a couple places where every step can apply damage. Not having the right technique to move through a cave can apply damage.
On this particular trip, I hand picked cavers that are aspiring to get deeper into project caving and get more in depth within the world of caving. They are now becoming more involved in project caving and I am proud of their accomplishments. I also want to give Jason Ballensky, Cory and Brendon Kowallis a lot of credit for keeping this cave ( and other caves in confidence) as well as for the cartography and exploration they endeavored when the cave was first discovered.
Some have reached out to other organizations and to other cavers without support. Everyone on this team exceeded my expectations and did incredibly well and now they are rewarded with opportunity. A more in depth explanation will become public soon.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can get more into caving and the world of project caving, reach out to me directly.
This is not the only cave that cavers hold in confidence. Could we all come to an agreement to turn the page and start a better relationship in cave conservation and preservation or are we cavers going to continue to hold our most significant caves in secrecy, I know I am, for now.
Dedicated to the late Kevin D. Hansen.
