NICKSCAVE wrote:Wow, Ernie hit the nail on the head. vandals will always find a way to destroy things when they see fit. I remember a time when caving was about caving rather then bull$&*# access policies. Now it seems to be all about speleopolitics. once again, as Ernie said, all this does is keep out card carring, due paying cavers.
As Cheryl Jones would say "Not so fast Grasshopper". I (WE) haven't heard the cave access management plan yet.
Maybe the NSS has a good one. I hope so anyway. However, NICKSCAVE, I do agree, that once upon a time, caving
was about caving. I even remember when the NSS was about caving. Now it seems that the NSS has become another
conservation organization rather than a caving organization. Perhaps that has something to do with the lower membership
renewals. I know I consider whether to renew every time renewal time arrives. Especially when the rates go up. In the past,
I have renewed for up to three years at a time. This time however, I renewed for just one year. I don't want any money paid
in advance to be used to gate caves unless it is the absolute last possible way to protect a cave.
I contributed to buy Great X, but I'm not anxious to contribute to gating it. I also bought a brick to build the current
NSS headquarters in Huntsville. I certainly hope that if the headquarters are moved that my brick will be installed in
the new building. Or better yet, keep it where it is...for now anyway. Opps.
Back to Trout Cave. Lets hear more views and news before we go running off the cliff like lemmings.