Post by L Roebuck on Sept 16, 2005 10:40:34 GMT -5
Cave Exploring Safety
August 19, 2005
The recent death of four people in a Utah cave raises questions about the safety of cave exploration, especially when it’s done unsupervised.
Some people in Southeast Idaho are taking a risk in some of our caves.
One cave is located on private property, but the public come and go all the time. The only problem is that there are no safety regulations.
Scott Earl, local caver, said, “The land owner doesn’t prevent people from going in. He could if he wanted to, but he doesn’t”
There are more than 240 caves on public land in Eastern Idaho. In most cases, the Bureau of Land Management uses volunteers to monitor visitors. But in this particular cave where kids often hang out, there are no rules in place.
Mike and his friend are frequent visitors to the 17-mile cave. The cave is located off of a dirt road, just outside of town on Highway 20. Once inside the opening, the cave is estimated to be a mile deep with jagged rocks and chambers at every turn.
Unlike the deep caves found in other areas, caves in Southeast Idaho have a more horizontal layout but that doesn’t mean they’re not dangerous.
Wearing a bump cap isn’t the only safety tip. Anyone exploring a cave should bring three sources of light. Ideally one attached to your helmet to keep your hands free. Protective clothing should be worn and you should always tell someone where you’re going and when you’re coming back.
The BLM does their part to monitor caves around Eastern Idaho, but there are cases like this where the land is privately owned so they say it’s important for the public to be smart and follow all safety guidelines. For more information, visit www.caves.org.
www.localnews8.com/home/1783712.html
August 19, 2005
The recent death of four people in a Utah cave raises questions about the safety of cave exploration, especially when it’s done unsupervised.
Some people in Southeast Idaho are taking a risk in some of our caves.
One cave is located on private property, but the public come and go all the time. The only problem is that there are no safety regulations.
Scott Earl, local caver, said, “The land owner doesn’t prevent people from going in. He could if he wanted to, but he doesn’t”
There are more than 240 caves on public land in Eastern Idaho. In most cases, the Bureau of Land Management uses volunteers to monitor visitors. But in this particular cave where kids often hang out, there are no rules in place.
Mike and his friend are frequent visitors to the 17-mile cave. The cave is located off of a dirt road, just outside of town on Highway 20. Once inside the opening, the cave is estimated to be a mile deep with jagged rocks and chambers at every turn.
Unlike the deep caves found in other areas, caves in Southeast Idaho have a more horizontal layout but that doesn’t mean they’re not dangerous.
Wearing a bump cap isn’t the only safety tip. Anyone exploring a cave should bring three sources of light. Ideally one attached to your helmet to keep your hands free. Protective clothing should be worn and you should always tell someone where you’re going and when you’re coming back.
The BLM does their part to monitor caves around Eastern Idaho, but there are cases like this where the land is privately owned so they say it’s important for the public to be smart and follow all safety guidelines. For more information, visit www.caves.org.
www.localnews8.com/home/1783712.html