Roppelcaver wrote:No, project cavers don't own the cave, as you point out, but project cavers may act like they do... Years and years of investment in a project creates these feeling of ownership. That is just human nature. That is why cavers buy these entrances... I have seen where sport trips have messed up some fairly sensitive stuff (even after I advised that visitation to this spot should be limited severely in this case).
I understand feelings of ownership, and think it's a good idea to limit visitation to sensitive areas. We dug into a decorated passage in a VA cave earlier this year, and I worry all the time that someone might get in there and damage it, or push into the ongoing lead before we can get back. It's not my cave, but I don't want anyone else in there.
Thanks for clarifying your position on the acceptance of new help for your project. Y'all sound more open than I may be.