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Jewel Cave

Jewel Cave. S p e c i a l I s s u e s. Historic Materials. Leave in situ Take photos Report to park. Formations and delicate areas. Slow and careful Use best practices No intentional breakage If in doubt, ask the park first. Manganese tracking. Be aware of tracking

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Jewel Cave

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  1. Jewel Cave S p e c i a l I s s u e s

  2. Historic Materials • Leave in situ • Take photos • Report to park

  3. Formations and delicate areas • Slow and careful • Use best practices • No intentional breakage • If in doubt, ask the park first

  4. Manganese tracking • Be aware of tracking • Stay on trail, footprints, stepping stones • Use established holds, don’t reach for ceiling

  5. Choose order of leads appropriately Work from clean… …to dirty

  6. Undisturbed Manganese is a Resource!

  7. Digging Policy Explorers have permission to make enlargement of constrictions in newly discovered passages provided that all eight of the following criteria are met: Jewel Cave National Monument

  8. The passage is near the “edge” of the cave • There is good reason to believe more passages exist beyond the constriction • No speleothems would be damaged • A concerted effort would be made to find a larger bypass • Any change to the air flow would be immediately mitigated • The work could be accomplished with no more than simple hand tools • The work could be accomplished on a single trip • All such modifications would be recorded in the trip report

  9. If all criteria are not met, passage enlargement cannot proceed without prior recommendation of the Cave Specialist and written approval by the Superintendent

  10. Drinking Water Sites • Don’t touch bottle to collector • Cubies left at Bar and Camp must be clean and unused

  11. Help Prevent Stale Water and Slime • Use 3 drops stabilized O2 in cubies left at Bar • Use capful of bleach in funnel of Camp water supply when leaving

  12. Flagged Trails • Marked with colored tapes • Tapes are numbered from entrance end of route • Sharp end (arrow) points toward entrance

  13. Flagged Trails • Maintain trails as needed • Teach new cavers the route – but don’t tailgate!

  14. Meaning of Standard Tapes White = Defines edge of trail Blueandwhitestripe = Delicate White withorange dots = Scenic spur from a main route Whitewithbluedots = Trail to water source White withred dots = Trail encounters drops that may require vertical gear

  15. Placing New Flagging In New Areas: Place Blue and White as needed • On Established Routes: • Propose changes to park – don’t just change it • Use proper colors

  16. Packs • Side Packs Only!! • Except: • On camp trips, between the elevator and camp • Certain work trips (e.g. rescue packs) On long days away from camp, everyone must wear a side pack

  17. Travel Speed & Efficiency: Tailor speed to the type of trip Survey trips – efficiency Rec/Orient trips – enjoyment! Set a pace comfortable for everyone Pay attention to your team members Bring the slowest person to the front Keep the person behind you within ear shot

  18. Travel Rest Areas: Use established rest areas (see map) Stop when someone needs to In places without established rest areas (main cave, etc.), establish your own ~1 hour apart and note in trip report Be conscious of impact (white flagging, eat over a bag)

  19. Travel Splitting Up: Rarely, and only if agreed upon by entire team Have designated meeting place (next rest stop or closer) Potential ramifications

  20. Closed Areas No travel through historic entrance in the winter (October 1 through May 31) All small caves within the Monument are administratively closed

  21. Wet Areas and Mud . . . Are resources to be protected!! Avoid walking through mud and wet areas unnecessarily; form well thought-out trails New Pools: If you find one, don’t walk through it or chimney over it. If the pool cannot be avoided, stop, report it, and we will investigate.

  22. Waste Disposal • Remove all human waste • Use bottles / bags on a designated trail whenever possible • Do not leave on the trail to pick up on the way out

  23. Changing Shoes • Change shoes before and after leaving the tour trail • Sit on the trail or stairs to change shoes (not on rocks!) • Hide shoes

  24. Handlines, Ropes, and Ladders • Locations and lengths listed in spreadsheet (available on ftp site) • Report condition • When possible, return rope / webbing to original location after use (Grand Funk, etc.)

  25. Questions?

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