terrain September/October 2020
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oeing the line between science and sport, caving is a pastime best suited for curious and devoted explorers. While some cavers do it for the exercise and the chance to spend time outdoors, others may explore caves to study biology, cartography, or photography. "Like fingerprints, every cave is unique in some way," said Alex Litsch, vice president of the Missouri Cave & Karst Conservancy (MCKC). "Every cave has an ecosystem, some more diverse and delicate than others." No matter the reason for exploring, cavers have a responsibility to reduce the impact of their visit as best they can. This means following the golden role of caving: Take nothing but pictures, leave no trace of your visit, and kill nothing but time.
Surveying a cave in Washington County, Mo. ( DERIK HOLTMANN )
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