Woohoo, congrats Andrew.... :)

[aainslie]

No, I didn't know for sure, but I don't know any American women that would do a dive like that, anymore.

Wow! Them's fighting words!

[Cindy]

Women don't get egged into things like you men as a rule. The ones that are exploring now and will continue to explore have their own projects. We can rejoyce in the accompishments of others without envy. Each of us has our own skill and accomplishments from the cavern diver to the long distance push divers. It's not making maps or exploration that "eggs" people into doing dives they are not ready for. It's the lack of knowing their limits and the desire to test them.
A friend of mine told me one time that exploration was the rape of a cave. That the first explorer does the most damage by his or her discovery and release of the information. For a long time that's why people didn't talk about what they found. In an odd way they protected the caves they explored. Now exploration is common knowledge. We cave divers tend to gossip and enjoy the thrill of passing that type of information on.
For the most part the caves that are found and explored continue to be "secret" until the cave is completly mapped, access is assured and the cave is properly lined. A lot of people feel it's the good old boy system. I believe it's the right thing to do.
With a cave like Ginnie Springs I am with Andrew, he didn't start all this, he may have been a little imprudent on who he shared information with. He is right though that most people don't have the equipment or the motivation to push the boundries of Ginnie Springs. Bravo to the explorers who are challanging this cave! I will tell you from experience that the end of the line glory is very fleeting, someone is always willing to push that cave a little bit farther. Connections however last forever. Cindy

[aainslie]

Nicely said Cindy. I'm not sure who you're referring to on the imprudence, but I might even agree with you there!

[guru caver]

Nicely said Cindy. I'm not sure who you're referring to on the imprudence, but I might even agree with you there!

Agreeing on the internet is NOT allowed !!

If anyone wants to use this as a signature...feel free

[Bill Rotella]

Women don't get egged into things like you men as a rule. The ones that are exploring now and will continue to explore have their own projects. We can rejoyce in the accompishments of others without envy. Each of us has our own skill and accomplishments from the cavern diver to the long distance push divers. It's not making maps or exploration that "eggs" people into doing dives they are not ready for. It's the lack of knowing their limits and the desire to test them.
A friend of mine told me one time that exploration was the rape of a cave. That the first explorer does the most damage by his or her discovery and release of the information. For a long time that's why people didn't talk about what they found. In an odd way they protected the caves they explored. Now exploration is common knowledge. We cave divers tend to gossip and enjoy the thrill of passing that type of information on.
For the most part the caves that are found and explored continue to be "secret" until the cave is completly mapped, access is assured and the cave is properly lined. A lot of people feel it's the good old boy system. I believe it's the right thing to do.
With a cave like Ginnie Springs I am with Andrew, he didn't start all this, he may have been a little imprudent on who he shared information with. He is right though that most people don't have the equipment or the motivation to push the boundries of Ginnie Springs. Bravo to the explorers who are challanging this cave! I will tell you from experience that the end of the line glory is very fleeting, someone is always willing to push that cave a little bit farther. Connections however last forever. Cindy

Cindy....................well said and very eloquently I must say! You are a class act, a great diver, and have done allot for cave diving, so thank you.

[Jay]

I thought the report would be in the latest Journal?

[Squirrel Girl]

I think Cindy is right about the attitude of women, in general of course. I do find a map to be a good goal, though.

I'm not torqued at Forrest for his comment. The fact is there aren't so many women cave divers in the world. The ones who push really hard stuff is small. I can think of a few that might. Cindy? Maybe? Jill H? What about Rose?

[LiteHedded]

I thought the report would be in the latest Journal?

i think the next one

[aainslie]

Yep, deadline had passed for the last one when I got back.