Do cavers accept chipping ?

Ziggurat@sh.itjust.works to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 109 points –

I was browsing Tik Tok (yes I am ashamed) and saw a video of caver in pretty narrow passage. So that caver took another rock and started to chip in order to widen a little bit the passage, while complaining about not having a hammer with him.

I am a climber, not a caver, and that kind of behaviour would be a big nope in the climbing world (There is a few exceptions where it was done (usually after involving the federation and local community), and it's still pretty controversial)

So I am curious about caver opinion on that practice.

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There are stairs to the cave itself, but inside is a completely natural pathway. Nothing between you and the speleothems except a rope on the ground. Lights are an LED system worn on each individual's helmet. And about a bazillion glowworms down in the lower levels over a lake.

Mind if I ask where? I would love to see the glow worms some day. I have only seen videos, but it looks amazing.

West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.