cap n chris
Well-known member
Access is generally organised (to secure sites) via Access Control Bodies, whose primary concern is conservation of the cave, then secondarily, facilitating visits for interested parties. IPs may include led groups and some ACBs deny access to these, citing the primary reason above (separate debate).
However, we now live in more modern times, where access is generally being argued as needful for any/all members of the public (e.g. CRoW), many of whom will include Cavers, and handsful of Responsible Cavers. RCs have been previously defined by BCA (pers. comm. BCA Secretary, Damian Weare) as including BCA Award Holders. RCs probably also can be argued to be those with a proven conservation pedigree. Cavers, as a group, have been debated elsewhere (on this forum) to be a self-selected, self-defined body, namely anyone who calls themselves a caver is a caver. You don't even need a helmet to be a caver. It is interesting to note that many RCs are denied access by ACBs (another separate debate).
Here's a video of some cavers in Cheddar Gorge:
https://youtu.be/ZqTSSwIuQdc?t=2m10s
Obviously they're "proper cavers" because they have vertical skills (apart from rigging, which isn't their forte), in the same category as the fine chaps who descended and exited Bar Pot and got to GG's main chamber where they could scratch their names on the wall.
However, we now live in more modern times, where access is generally being argued as needful for any/all members of the public (e.g. CRoW), many of whom will include Cavers, and handsful of Responsible Cavers. RCs have been previously defined by BCA (pers. comm. BCA Secretary, Damian Weare) as including BCA Award Holders. RCs probably also can be argued to be those with a proven conservation pedigree. Cavers, as a group, have been debated elsewhere (on this forum) to be a self-selected, self-defined body, namely anyone who calls themselves a caver is a caver. You don't even need a helmet to be a caver. It is interesting to note that many RCs are denied access by ACBs (another separate debate).
Here's a video of some cavers in Cheddar Gorge:
https://youtu.be/ZqTSSwIuQdc?t=2m10s
Obviously they're "proper cavers" because they have vertical skills (apart from rigging, which isn't their forte), in the same category as the fine chaps who descended and exited Bar Pot and got to GG's main chamber where they could scratch their names on the wall.