Mechanical means to open a cave

[Scubaru]

What if you know the cave doesn't extend much more, but you're reversing previous purposeful cave-in? Ie, Morrison. And then of course, you'll have more "but why" responses, but the question stands nonetheless.

[Walter Pickel]

Concerns me a lot less than something like this

Saw that exact thing in Wayne's World a few years ago.

[Walter Pickel]

Discussions have been kind of dead here lately,so lets ask the question based on a couple of threads that have appeared here lately. Do you think it is acceptable to use a mechanical means (eg chiseling, hammering, picking etc) to remove limestone to enlarge a passage enough to allow movement past the fixed restriction?

Serves that old adage of "There must be exploration before conservation".

[oya]

Cave exploration brought to you by Acme.

[Kelly Jessop]

Serves that old adage of "There must be exploration before conservation".

I don't have a problem with mechanical opening of an area if it makes sense. Hell I was part of removing the large boulder that was blocking Challenge sink. There have been some instances where opening a small restrictive area has opened up a lot of passage, and that was worthwhile. I have a problem with someone opening up a passage to make it more convenient for say back mounting, when side mount and no mount techniques were appropriate and just needed to be mastered- yes this has happened.

[tbone1004]

^ and that's why I clarified that in my response. Not pointing fingers at anyone, but I know this has happened before so wanted to leave that one fairly clear

[toby43]

What is also interesting is that the person complaining is from the UK, where both dry and wet caves have been "enlarged" to get in for decades.

When I consider artificially widening a passage, I think of that nice Mr Trump.

[patpicos]

When I consider artificially widening a passage, I think of that nice Mr Trump.

What do you mean? he's gonna build a wall in front of it

[SlowDiver]

Not entirely what Kelly is referring to but I"m definitely in favor of having the caves that were dynamited close by some local governments back in the late sixties and early seventies be mechanical reopened.

[FW]

What do you mean? he's gonna build a wall in front of it

No political comments, even by foreign nationals