Post by L Roebuck on May 9, 2006 12:04:06 GMT -5
Nutty Putty Cave will require permits and be closed with a gate
By Garrett Martin - 9 May 2006
The narrow entrance to the Nutty Putty Cave is scheduled to be secured with an iron gate before the end of May 2006.
The action is a result of a movement that began in 1994. Since then, the state School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration has been struggling to strike a balance between public safety and public access at the popular spelunking destination.
Last month the administration granted the Timpanogos Grotto, a local chapter of the National Speleological Society, the right to manage access to the Nutty Putty Cave and nearby caves to improve the overall safety. After careful consideration by the Timpanogos Grotto and SITLA, that balance was found in the form of a locked gate and a newly required permit to open it.
Dave Hebertson, spokesman for SITLA, said the choice was either to close the cave completely or manage access through a permit system. Either way, something had to be done.
"Our main concern is about the safety of the people going out there," he said.
Hebertson said several entities offered to manage admittance to the cave, including the Boy Scouts of America and Brigham Young University, but in April 2006 the Timpanogos Grotto was assigned the duty.
"Timpanogos Grotto really stepped up to the plate and seemed to be the most willing and capable to get the job done," he said.
The change to the open-door policy was motivated by a 2004 Labor Day weekend rescue involving two amateur cavers and the Utah County Search and Rescue team. After the narrow escape, the Utah County Sheriff's Office called SITLA, requesting that something be done to restrict access to novice spelunkers. In 2005, four students were killed in a Y Mountain caving accident, creating additional urgency to make a change.
Following the Y Mountain tragedy, SITLA turned to the Timpanogos Grotto and together set in motion the plan to gate the entrance to the cave and require permits for would-be explorers. After Memorial Day, those interested in exploring the Nutty Putty Cave will need to obtain a permit from the Timpanogos Grotto.
Some disagree with the decision to restrict entry to the cave. Ryan Swan, a recent BYU graduate, spent many weekends over the past four years exploring the maze of tunnels, something he said never would have happened if he had been forced to get a permit first.
"I've heard that thousands of people visit that cave every year," Swan said. "And out of those thousands, only two or three have ever had problems or needed to be rescued. I just don't think it's worth it to punish the vast majority for a few unprepared idiots."
Jon Jasper, chair of the Timpanogos Grotto, said responsible individuals should support the decision to regulate access to the cave.
"I think it'll be a great solution to the recent problems at the Nutty Putty Cave," he said.
Everyone who desires will still be able to visit the cave as long as they agree to abide by the access requirements and obtain the proper permit.
© 2003 Brigham Young University. All rights reserved.
BYUNewsNet
By Garrett Martin - 9 May 2006
The narrow entrance to the Nutty Putty Cave is scheduled to be secured with an iron gate before the end of May 2006.
The action is a result of a movement that began in 1994. Since then, the state School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration has been struggling to strike a balance between public safety and public access at the popular spelunking destination.
Last month the administration granted the Timpanogos Grotto, a local chapter of the National Speleological Society, the right to manage access to the Nutty Putty Cave and nearby caves to improve the overall safety. After careful consideration by the Timpanogos Grotto and SITLA, that balance was found in the form of a locked gate and a newly required permit to open it.
Dave Hebertson, spokesman for SITLA, said the choice was either to close the cave completely or manage access through a permit system. Either way, something had to be done.
"Our main concern is about the safety of the people going out there," he said.
Hebertson said several entities offered to manage admittance to the cave, including the Boy Scouts of America and Brigham Young University, but in April 2006 the Timpanogos Grotto was assigned the duty.
"Timpanogos Grotto really stepped up to the plate and seemed to be the most willing and capable to get the job done," he said.
The change to the open-door policy was motivated by a 2004 Labor Day weekend rescue involving two amateur cavers and the Utah County Search and Rescue team. After the narrow escape, the Utah County Sheriff's Office called SITLA, requesting that something be done to restrict access to novice spelunkers. In 2005, four students were killed in a Y Mountain caving accident, creating additional urgency to make a change.
Following the Y Mountain tragedy, SITLA turned to the Timpanogos Grotto and together set in motion the plan to gate the entrance to the cave and require permits for would-be explorers. After Memorial Day, those interested in exploring the Nutty Putty Cave will need to obtain a permit from the Timpanogos Grotto.
Some disagree with the decision to restrict entry to the cave. Ryan Swan, a recent BYU graduate, spent many weekends over the past four years exploring the maze of tunnels, something he said never would have happened if he had been forced to get a permit first.
"I've heard that thousands of people visit that cave every year," Swan said. "And out of those thousands, only two or three have ever had problems or needed to be rescued. I just don't think it's worth it to punish the vast majority for a few unprepared idiots."
Jon Jasper, chair of the Timpanogos Grotto, said responsible individuals should support the decision to regulate access to the cave.
"I think it'll be a great solution to the recent problems at the Nutty Putty Cave," he said.
Everyone who desires will still be able to visit the cave as long as they agree to abide by the access requirements and obtain the proper permit.
© 2003 Brigham Young University. All rights reserved.
BYUNewsNet