Dark Wilderness Defining the Elusive Patricia E Seiser

Dark Wilderness Defining the Elusive Patricia E. Seiser NSS 28650 FE National Cave & Karst Research Institute

1962 ORRRC Report Wilderness Hearings n Caves were considered important potential wilderness resources. n “It is apparent that special study is needed to develop suitable definitions for these recreation resources, which can be applied in survey and management efforts. ”

The Wilderness Act of 1964 n A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is visitor who does not areas remain. where An area of A wilderness, in acontrast with those wilderness is further defined to mean in this Act an area of man and hisland own works dominate the and undeveloped Federal retaining its primeval character influence, without permanent habitation, landscape, is herebyimprovements recognized orashuman an area which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural whereand thewhich earth its community of life conditions (1) and generally appears to have beenare affected primarily by the forces nature, with the imprint of man's untrammeled by ofman, where man himself is a work substantially unnoticeable; (2) has outstanding opportunities for visitor does not remain. type of recreation; (3) has at solitude or awho primitive and unconfined least five thousand acres of land or is of sufficient size as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (4) may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value.

What is Cave Wilderness?

Existing Cave Wilderness Definitions Author Year Definition Watson & Smith 1971 Underground wilderness consists of cave systems that generally appear to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man’s work substantially unnoticeable. Millar 1994 Cave wilderness is a function of the difficulty of ingress/egress, travel within the cave and/or the feeling of remoteness from the surface. [Cave] Wilderness Areas from which is an Man areacan that can derive provide the Underground wilderness is that portion of a cave or karst area, lying below the wilderness people with experience wilderness exists experience. in portion the remote The Underground is consists that of cave of a. Act regarding Stitt & Bishop 1972 surface of wilderness the earth, which meets the requirements of the Wilderness Cave wilderness is a function of the difficulty value and impact on the observer. areasor primary ofpurpose cavern systems, of wilderness whereisthe recreational impact systems cave karst that area, generally lying appear below to have surface been of of ingress/egress, travel within the cave Areas from which Man can derive the wilderness experience exists in the remote Man’s and cultural activities with isecological largely unnoticeable. values important Any affected the earth, primarily which by meets the requirements nature, with ofunnoticeable. areas of cavern systems, whereforces the impact ofof Man’s activities is largely Gamble and/or 1981 the feeling of remoteness from the Any cave or portion thereof, which has not been markedly disturbed by tourism or cave Wilderness but or secondary. portion Wilderness which has experience not been the imprint of thereof, Act man’s regarding work substantially value and activities, therefore includes substantial tracts of wilderness. surface. other exploitive markedly consists disturbed feelings of freedom, tourism orbeauty, other unnoticeable. impact on of the observer. by [Cave] Wilderness is an area that can provide people with wilderness experience. The exploitive empathy with activities, wildof wilderness nature, therefore and remoteness includes primary purpose is recreational and cultural with ecological values Wood 1983 important but secondary. Wilderness experience consists of feelings of freedom, substantial from the ordinary tracts works wilderness. ofand man. beauty, empathy of with wild nature, remoteness from the ordinary works of man.

What is Cave Wilderness? n n None of these definitions have gained wide acceptance. Difficulties lie in two areas. n Lack of a clearly defined intent for a cave wilderness designation, n Predication of the definition of cave wilderness on the 1964 Wilderness Act definition of wilderness. Among cavers does not have a clear meaning.

Defining Cave Wilderness Criteria Intent n Visionary Impact n Experiential Values n Scientific Values n Educational Component n Resource Protection n Access Issues n

Defining Cave Wilderness Criteria To protect and anatural wilderness Intent Preservation n Access restrictions ofguarantee the cave’s should occur state, for the its experience. original protection of theand cave resources. of. However, resource §Is theresources, designation forrecognition caves (resource §Designation must provide protection of the n Visionary Impact §Designation must go beyond the need to fragility. special designation should not knowledge result for in study protection) or for people (recreation, cave’s scientific values and resources, protect caves based on today’s and Elements of a cave wilderness experience § Generating public awareness of the significance n Experiential Values permanent closure of the cave. knowledge)? Or perhaps both? values §now Protection activities that would degradeof the andalone. in from the future, including preservation of caves. nneeds Sense oftoaddress isolation, as future; defined by solitude resource (including surface asbeing well as subsurface It to the preservation § Important define what is protected and future discovery opportunities. § Specially designated caves can serve as n Scientific Values n Other caves open to the public for recreational activities). and remoteness of cave resources for (with futureorgenerations’ needs from whom/what. educational resources without requiring purposes. Have the ability to provide § The knowledge gained from scientific and values. Preservation for the future protects § Provide protection for the human dimension n Educational Component physical visitation). n. Sense of self-sufficiency §the Cave should established alternative ways to visit anot cave via theand use of potential of future discoveries. aspect ofwilderness a cave – protection ofbe physical investigations can be used for educational and social sciences’ values, aesthetic values, primarily for recreational purposes. and videographic imagery n Resource Protection Itother isphotographic important that people experience caves in a purposes. wilderness values and other values. way that preserves them. n Access Issues n

Defining a Concept n n The definition of a concept results in the creation of a mental image, the concept “symbolizes ideas and meanings, and expresses an abstraction” (Watson, 1979). In defining the concept of cave wilderness, it is necessary to consider not only the physical conditions of the cave, but also two other components of wilderness – the feelings evoked when visiting the site and the stewardship goals and objectives.

Cave Wilderness Definition Rational n n Recognizes the essential relationship between the cave, its resources, and the user. Recognizes that humans have a past, present, and future history with caves. Recognizes that scientific endeavor can be intertwined with a wilderness experience. An important component of this definition is the incorporation of the ideas of exploration and discovery.

Proposed Cave Wilderness Definition Preamble n It is recognized that caves are valuable, non-renewable resources; that wilderness caves and other significant wild caves exist and are protected to preserve. In their recreational of values, as wellofasexploration scientific, educational, and recognition the spirit and cultural values, for the cave perpetual use, enjoyment, and benefit ofto all people. discovery, wilderness shall be open It is also It recognized that some that caves and caveare passages, in addition to is recognized valuable, those who desire to meet the cave on its These same caves exhibit high degrees of and recreational and educational values, are repositories of scientific non-renewable resources; that wilderness In order to protect these resources, cultural resources of recognized extraordinary value, known and unknown. These own to explore, discover, and report, wildness and naturalness (the physical It is terms, also that some caves and other significant wild caves exist wilderness qualities, and opportunities for same caves exhibit high degreesinof addition wildness and naturalness (the physical thereby contributing to the world’s reality of wilderness) and the intangible cave passages, to recreational reality of and wilderness) and theresearch, intangibleto essence of wilderness (solitude, are protected preserve their discovery and it is proposed that knowledge of speleological and other essence of values, (solitude, selfand educational values, are repositories of self-sufficiency and sense ofwilderness remoteness) such that scientific, visitation to theses recreational as well as the designation of cave wilderness be caves evokes a wilderness experience. In hope order to protect resources, sciences. It issense the of that these such sufficiency and remoteness) such scientific and cultural resources of educational, and cultural values, for the established. wilderness qualities, and opportunities for discovery and research, it is knowledge will be used for education, that visitation to theses caves evokes a extraordinary value, known and unknown. proposedperpetual that the designation of cave wilderness be established. In use, enjoyment, and benefit of all resource protection and stewardship, and wilderness experience. recognition of the spirit of exploration and discovery, cave wilderness shall people. be open other to thoseadditional who desire tobeneficial meet the cavepurposes on its own terms, to explore, for all discover, ofand report, thereby contributing to the world’s knowledge of humankind. speleological and other sciences. It is the hope that such knowledge will be used for education, resource protection and stewardship, and other additional beneficial purposes for all of humankind.

Cave Wilderness Defined Proposed Definition n Those cave and cave passages exhibiting exceptional scientific and cultural resources, and wilderness qualities. These sites display a high degree of wildness, in which the physical structure and ecological systems are largely unimpacted by humans and in which there is a sense of remoteness from the ordinary activities and works of humans.

Cave Wilderness Defined Proposed Definition n It is further defined to mean those caves & cave passages in which stewardship shall protect the cave resources, its 1) seeks limit the discoveries; impact of and human wilderness values, toand future 1) seeks to visitation, including discovery and 4) impact recognizes theexploration, historic connection of limit the of human visitation, including exploration, other scientific research activities; 2) seeks humans and caves, that evidence ofseeks to It is and further defined to such mean those caves and discovery other scientific research activities; 2)to protect the sense solitude, remoteness and historic human visitation and usage that does which stewardship shall protectcave thepassages sense ofinof solitude, remoteness and self-sufficiency asother well other characteristics not detract from theas cave’s or protect resources, itswildness wilderness sufficiency as the well cave as characteristics of a wilderness experience; 3)discovery allows wilderness experience is acceptable; and for 5) values, futurefor discoveries; and experience; 3)and allows exploration, and other exploration, discovery other toscientific surface activities shall beand managed protect scientific research activities; 4) recognizes the historic research activities; and the cave resources andcaves, wilderness connection of humans suchqualities. that evidence of historic human visitation and usage that does not detract from the cave’s wildness or wilderness experience is acceptable; and 5) surface activities shall be managed to protect the cave resources and wilderness qualities.

We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. Through the unknown, unremembered gate When the last of earth left to discover is that which was the beginning. T. S. Eliot