Comments on: Winter Underground by Thomas Atkins http://mysierramountaintimes.com/2009/12/winter-underground-by-thomas-atkins/ 180,000 hits a month, 8,000 new & unique visitors a month! Wed, 23 May 2012 04:55:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Dave http://mysierramountaintimes.com/2009/12/winter-underground-by-thomas-atkins/#comment-36442 Dave Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:40:28 +0000 http://mysierramountaintimes.com/2009/12/winter-underground-by-thomas-atkins/#comment-36442 Tom, your descriptions of the caves of the Mother Lode are fantastic. I do find it a little disturbing that you are publishing photos of cavers with no helmets. Caving can be a dangerous sport if you are not properly prepared, and a helmet is basic equipment that can save you from numerous rock-skull encounters while exploring. Please consider reposting this article showing cavers in proper caving gear. Tom, your descriptions of the caves of the Mother Lode are fantastic. I do find it a little disturbing that you are publishing photos of cavers with no helmets. Caving can be a dangerous sport if you are not properly prepared, and a helmet is basic equipment that can save you from numerous rock-skull encounters while exploring. Please consider reposting this article showing cavers in proper caving gear.

]]> By: Cathy http://mysierramountaintimes.com/2009/12/winter-underground-by-thomas-atkins/#comment-35755 Cathy Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:04:38 +0000 http://mysierramountaintimes.com/2009/12/winter-underground-by-thomas-atkins/#comment-35755 Yes, I agree with all the wonderful things you have to say about caves. We at the Mother Lode Grotto and also the nearby Stanislaus Grotto are dedicated to the preservation and conservation of these delicate eco-systems. Once they are destroyed, they are gone forever. I would encourage you to always wear gloves when inside any cave that has living speleothems. The oils from your hands could kill them. They will lose their shimmer and cease to grow. The formations you have raved about are as delicate and fragile as they are beautiful. Please take all precautions to protect them, and the unique animal and insect life found only inside caves. Please direct all interested parties who contact you about "spelunking" to the NSS website, above, where they can get in touch with their local grotto and learn how to cave safely (for themselves and for the caves). The last thing we need is for an inexperienced and ill-prepared person to get hurt or killed inside a cave. That cave will likely be gated, and acces restricted or denied to the rest of us. We'd love to share our love and knowledge of caves and caving with everyone, so please help us keep the caves beautiful, alive, and accessible. Thanks, and I hope to see you at a grotto meeting soon. Yes, I agree with all the wonderful things you have to say about caves. We at the Mother Lode Grotto and also the nearby Stanislaus Grotto are dedicated to the preservation and conservation of these delicate eco-systems. Once they are destroyed, they are gone forever. I would encourage you to always wear gloves when inside any cave that has living speleothems. The oils from your hands could kill them. They will lose their shimmer and cease to grow. The formations you have raved about are as delicate and fragile as they are beautiful. Please take all precautions to protect them, and the unique animal and insect life found only inside caves. Please direct all interested parties who contact you about “spelunking” to the NSS website, above, where they can get in touch with their local grotto and learn how to cave safely (for themselves and for the caves). The last thing we need is for an inexperienced and ill-prepared person to get hurt or killed inside a cave. That cave will likely be gated, and acces restricted or denied to the rest of us. We’d love to share our love and knowledge of caves and caving with everyone, so please help us keep the caves beautiful, alive, and accessible. Thanks, and I hope to see you at a grotto meeting soon.

]]> By: Ron Davis http://mysierramountaintimes.com/2009/12/winter-underground-by-thomas-atkins/#comment-35665 Ron Davis Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:24:30 +0000 http://mysierramountaintimes.com/2009/12/winter-underground-by-thomas-atkins/#comment-35665 Tom Your story has great photos and really describes the joy of caving. Did you know there is a local club that focuses on safely exploring these caves, and many more? The Mother Lode Grotto is a local chapter of the National Speleological Society. We ensure our members are trained to move safely through caves, with the knowledge to protect the caves and the explorer. Many of us began caving in the very show caves that you mentioned in your article. That is a great way to get started. Once you have enjoyed the sights in these local show caves and are ready for more, come by one of our monthly grotto meetings. Meeting location and time, along with some basic caving guidelines can be found online at http://www.motherlodegrotto.org. Unfortunately the Columbia Grotto is defunct and can't really help. Tom

Your story has great photos and really describes the joy of caving. Did you know there is a local club that focuses on safely exploring these caves, and many more? The Mother Lode Grotto is a local chapter of the National Speleological Society. We ensure our members are trained to move safely through caves, with the knowledge to protect the caves and the explorer. Many of us began caving in the very show caves that you mentioned in your article. That is a great way to get started. Once you have enjoyed the sights in these local show caves and are ready for more, come by one of our monthly grotto meetings. Meeting location and time, along with some basic caving guidelines can be found online at http://www.motherlodegrotto.org.
Unfortunately the Columbia Grotto is defunct and can’t really help.

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