Exploring Virgin Cave in Ricks Springs Utah

[CCR Josh]

Have you pushed out all the leads back toward the entrance yet?

No we haven't- we still have 3 little side tunnels before Wayne's Waterfall that we have only poked our heads into. I believe this will be our next project as we do an official survey of the first 1300 ft.

[IowaCaveDiver]

what can you tell us about the actual dive site... from the pictures it looked almost like a state park or similar. Do you need permission or special access to dive there? Is it private property? It looks absolutly amazing... who originally decided to put on dive gear and get wet to see if there was anything worth checking out?

[Randy Thornton]

what can you tell us about the actual dive site... from the pictures it looked almost like a state park or similar. Do you need permission or special access to dive there? Is it private property? It looks absolutly amazing... who originally decided to put on dive gear and get wet to see if there was anything worth checking out?

The dive site is on National Forest property. There is a parking area with railings around the head pool. There is also a little monument with information about the spring. Of course with the exploration that is now going on, the monument will need to be updated!

Wendell Nope and Richard Lamb were the first two divers to poke their heads in the cave and are still actively involved in the exploration process. Tibby Petrescue was also involved in some of the earliest dives. A lot of effort was expended in the early dives just moving rocks to make the entrance accessable!

[FW]

The dive site is on National Forest property. There is a parking area with railings around the head pool. There is also a little monument with information about the spring. Of course with the exploration that is now going on, the monument will need to be updated!

Wendell Nope and Richard Lamb were the first two divers to poke their heads in the cave and are still actively involved in the exploration process. Tibby Petrescue was also involved in some of the earliest dives. A lot of effort was expended in the early dives just moving rocks to make the entrance accessable!

Did you have to get a permit, or is it only National Parks that require one?

[CCR Josh]

Did you have to get a permit, or is it only National Parks that require one?

National Forests are generally free to enter. We have been working closely with the USFS for this project. But, to answer your question, no, no permit is required.

[Randy Thornton]

Did you have to get a permit, or is it only National Parks that require one?

No permit needed, but we notified the National Forest Service of our intensions and had their blessing. They actually had a geologist come to the dive site several times to collect information from the team after the dives.

[jackass]

No, you do not need a permit.

However, I am wondering if there is a kosher way to landscape the entrance so that we don't have to clear rocks?

[IowaCaveDiver]

No, you do not need a permit.

However, I am wondering if there is a kosher way to landscape the entrance so that we don't have to clear rocks?

I'd just keep it natural... perhaps some limbs sharpened at one end could be used to hammer some posts sticking out around the enterance sticking not more than 12-18" above the existing ground level... you could build a natural looking "dam" so to speak to keep rocks from tumbling back in. If you built some bigger rocks around those posts you wouldn't even see them and the time invested would pay off in later dives.

[CCR Josh]

No, you do not need a permit.

However, I am wondering if there is a kosher way to landscape the entrance so that we don't have to clear rocks?

I am guessing this is a big NO, being as this cave is protected under the The Federal Cave Protection Act of 1988.

It would be nice though....

[jackass]

Can anyone sum up the 1988 Cave Act for me?