The Battle Between Light And Dark | Randy Macan | TEDxVail

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man has always been afraid of the dark

man has always been afraid of the dark our evolution under the Sun drives our

our evolution under the Sun drives our

our evolution under the Sun drives our psyche and in fact in little as 48 hours

psyche and in fact in little as 48 hours

psyche and in fact in little as 48 hours and continual darkness and isolation

and continual darkness and isolation

and continual darkness and isolation you’ll start to hallucinate and go mad

you’ll start to hallucinate and go mad

you’ll start to hallucinate and go mad my passion brings me into the battle

my passion brings me into the battle

my passion brings me into the battle between light and dark regularly I’m a

between light and dark regularly I’m a

between light and dark regularly I’m a caver and I been doing it for many years

caver and I been doing it for many years

caver and I been doing it for many years feel very comfortable at home for me

feel very comfortable at home for me

feel very comfortable at home for me caving is I become one with the earth it

caving is I become one with the earth it

caving is I become one with the earth it I love the way a cave smells I love the

I love the way a cave smells I love the

I love the way a cave smells I love the way it feels I love the way it kind of

way it feels I love the way it kind of

way it feels I love the way it kind of hugs you when you start to wiggle

hugs you when you start to wiggle

hugs you when you start to wiggle through passages it just grounds me I

through passages it just grounds me I

through passages it just grounds me I feel just content and it’s in my

feel just content and it’s in my

feel just content and it’s in my sanctuary down there but not everyone

sanctuary down there but not everyone

sanctuary down there but not everyone likes to go caving evidently there is

likes to go caving evidently there is

likes to go caving evidently there is many many phobias associated with and

many many phobias associated with and

many many phobias associated with and there’s probably some that aren’t up

there’s probably some that aren’t up

there’s probably some that aren’t up there but I am not perfect either I have

there but I am not perfect either I have

there but I am not perfect either I have my own phobias fortunately they’re

my own phobias fortunately they’re

my own phobias fortunately they’re mostly not on this list although I have

mostly not on this list although I have

mostly not on this list although I have been cluster phobic a few times but part

been cluster phobic a few times but part

been cluster phobic a few times but part of the being comfortable in the cave is

of the being comfortable in the cave is

of the being comfortable in the cave is is bringing in the right gear and you

is bringing in the right gear and you

is bringing in the right gear and you know I bring in a bag and I have certain

know I bring in a bag and I have certain

know I bring in a bag and I have certain things in it that that will keep you

things in it that that will keep you

things in it that that will keep you comfortable water extra light is

comfortable water extra light is

comfortable water extra light is extremely important and piss bottles and

extremely important and piss bottles and

extremely important and piss bottles and food air cavers carry everything out of

food air cavers carry everything out of

food air cavers carry everything out of a cave so yes a urine bottle is

a cave so yes a urine bottle is

a cave so yes a urine bottle is important and one of the things that I

important and one of the things that I

important and one of the things that I like to do underground or one of the

like to do underground or one of the

like to do underground or one of the reasons is is because it’s a underground

reasons is is because it’s a underground

reasons is is because it’s a underground Gulf the obstacle course in the dark you

Gulf the obstacle course in the dark you

Gulf the obstacle course in the dark you have to wiggle you have to squirm you

have to wiggle you have to squirm you

have to wiggle you have to squirm you have to climb passages sometimes you’re

have to climb passages sometimes you’re

have to climb passages sometimes you’re way out of your comfort zone doing it

way out of your comfort zone doing it

way out of your comfort zone doing it but I just love though it just energizes

but I just love though it just energizes

but I just love though it just energizes me and and and I use muscles that I have

me and and and I use muscles that I have

me and and and I use muscles that I have never used before in making sense of the

never used before in making sense of the

never used before in making sense of the underground we all go down and help

underground we all go down and help

underground we all go down and help survey it and by surveying cave you get

survey it and by surveying cave you get

survey it and by surveying cave you get to know where

to know where

to know where passages are you get to know how long

passages are you get to know how long

passages are you get to know how long the cave is where certain features are

the cave is where certain features are

the cave is where certain features are in the cave and and occasionally to name

in the cave and and occasionally to name

in the cave and and occasionally to name some passages and they can get put on

some passages and they can get put on

some passages and they can get put on the map well I’m one of the projects I

the map well I’m one of the projects I

the map well I’m one of the projects I work on is Wind Cave National Park I’m a

work on is Wind Cave National Park I’m a

work on is Wind Cave National Park I’m a volunteer up there I’ve been doing it

volunteer up there I’ve been doing it

volunteer up there I’ve been doing it for twenty years with them we I go in

for twenty years with them we I go in

for twenty years with them we I go in with a team of three other people and we

with a team of three other people and we

with a team of three other people and we basically map or affine passage explore

basically map or affine passage explore

basically map or affine passage explore it map it and inventory inventory is

it map it and inventory inventory is

it map it and inventory inventory is it’s basically marking any features

it’s basically marking any features

it’s basically marking any features there any formations what level is the

there any formations what level is the

there any formations what level is the Kon is there other minerals in there any

Kon is there other minerals in there any

Kon is there other minerals in there any animals we saw but we bring all that

animals we saw but we bring all that

animals we saw but we bring all that data out and the Park Service uh adds it

data out and the Park Service uh adds it

data out and the Park Service uh adds it to their master archive line plot file

to their master archive line plot file

to their master archive line plot file this line plot is the most recent it has

this line plot is the most recent it has

this line plot is the most recent it has over a hundred and forty seven it’s

over a hundred and forty seven it’s

over a hundred and forty seven it’s close to one hundred forty eight miles

close to one hundred forty eight miles

close to one hundred forty eight miles long the what they do with this then is

long the what they do with this then is

long the what they do with this then is they we can overlay it and get more

they we can overlay it and get more

they we can overlay it and get more information out of it this is showing

information out of it this is showing

information out of it this is showing basically where passage trends are with

basically where passage trends are with

basically where passage trends are with in relation to the surface are they

in relation to the surface are they

in relation to the surface are they going to go are they not going to go

going to go are they not going to go

going to go are they not going to go where’s the aquifer contact is it under

where’s the aquifer contact is it under

where’s the aquifer contact is it under owed maybe they would like to do another

owed maybe they would like to do another

owed maybe they would like to do another entrance one of these days and then they

entrance one of these days and then they

entrance one of these days and then they they will use that data to make a final

they will use that data to make a final

they will use that data to make a final map and this one shows basically the

map and this one shows basically the

map and this one shows basically the passage names of passages the level of

passage names of passages the level of

passage names of passages the level of the cave that is and this map here is

the cave that is and this map here is

the cave that is and this map here is twenty five miles ago it was a hundred

twenty five miles ago it was a hundred

twenty five miles ago it was a hundred and twenty two miles in so anyway it’s a

and twenty two miles in so anyway it’s a

and twenty two miles in so anyway it’s a little outdated but we’re waiting for a

little outdated but we’re waiting for a

little outdated but we’re waiting for a new one it just takes time not

new one it just takes time not

new one it just takes time not everything those struggles in the dark

everything those struggles in the dark

everything those struggles in the dark there is certain critters that live in

there is certain critters that live in

there is certain critters that live in there they these were collected by David

there they these were collected by David

there they these were collected by David Steinman he’s a cave biologist with the

Steinman he’s a cave biologist with the

Steinman he’s a cave biologist with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science he’s

Denver Museum of Nature and Science he’s

Denver Museum of Nature and Science he’s been doing it for quite a while now and

been doing it for quite a while now and

been doing it for quite a while now and he’s already identified over a hundred

he’s already identified over a hundred

he’s already identified over a hundred species most of them are totally unique

species most of them are totally unique

species most of them are totally unique to the cave they’re in there always

to the cave they’re in there always

to the cave they’re in there always slight difference he’s either pincers

slight difference he’s either pincers

slight difference he’s either pincers are longer legs are longer they’re

are longer legs are longer they’re

are longer legs are longer they’re in the middle though those are from

in the middle though those are from

in the middle though those are from Steamboat Springs there’s a sulfur cave

Steamboat Springs there’s a sulfur cave

Steamboat Springs there’s a sulfur cave there and it’s a very important cave

there and it’s a very important cave

there and it’s a very important cave they found out that this lives in a is

they found out that this lives in a is

they found out that this lives in a is in a very toxic environment the hydrogen

in a very toxic environment the hydrogen

in a very toxic environment the hydrogen sulfide gas is in there and it would

sulfide gas is in there and it would

sulfide gas is in there and it would basically we’d not be able to breathe

basically we’d not be able to breathe

basically we’d not be able to breathe but these worms live in that and they

but these worms live in that and they

but these worms live in that and they thrive in it there they’re using that

thrive in it there they’re using that

thrive in it there they’re using that for for study and for medicine and

for for study and for medicine and

for for study and for medicine and anyway it’s just a great discovery and

anyway it’s just a great discovery and

anyway it’s just a great discovery and then there’s a common bat or the common

then there’s a common bat or the common

then there’s a common bat or the common critters the bats are the most critical

critters the bats are the most critical

critters the bats are the most critical they’re going through they’re dying off

they’re going through they’re dying off

they’re going through they’re dying off in that northeast due to white nose

in that northeast due to white nose

in that northeast due to white nose syndrome and it’s a fungus that’s

syndrome and it’s a fungus that’s

syndrome and it’s a fungus that’s affects them wakes them up during

affects them wakes them up during

affects them wakes them up during hibernation and sadly enough there could

hibernation and sadly enough there could

hibernation and sadly enough there could be some vets with it right now and

be some vets with it right now and

be some vets with it right now and they’re they’re not probably not doing

they’re they’re not probably not doing

they’re they’re not probably not doing very well they they could be dying in

very well they they could be dying in

very well they they could be dying in the entrance and that’s just breaks my

the entrance and that’s just breaks my

the entrance and that’s just breaks my heart that this also breaks my heart

heart that this also breaks my heart

heart that this also breaks my heart seeing people disrespect caves just

seeing people disrespect caves just

seeing people disrespect caves just protecting nature disrespecting the

protecting nature disrespecting the

protecting nature disrespecting the planet and things are forever down there

planet and things are forever down there

planet and things are forever down there in a cave that moves so slowly down

in a cave that moves so slowly down

in a cave that moves so slowly down there

there

there it’s things don’t wash off and and of

it’s things don’t wash off and and of

it’s things don’t wash off and and of course we’ve trashed the entire planet

course we’ve trashed the entire planet

course we’ve trashed the entire planet there’s virtually no place left on the

there’s virtually no place left on the

there’s virtually no place left on the surface that we haven’t impacted whether

surface that we haven’t impacted whether

surface that we haven’t impacted whether it’s wedding balloons being let go or

it’s wedding balloons being let go or

it’s wedding balloons being let go or cans being tossed in the ocean is just

cans being tossed in the ocean is just

cans being tossed in the ocean is just horrible

horrible

horrible but there are some some virgin caves

but there are some some virgin caves

but there are some some virgin caves that are still out there

that are still out there

that are still out there they haven’t been discovered yet but

they haven’t been discovered yet but

they haven’t been discovered yet but they’re still there we haven’t tapped it

they’re still there we haven’t tapped it

they’re still there we haven’t tapped it well we have the technology to tap into

well we have the technology to tap into

well we have the technology to tap into some of them now and it’s becoming more

some of them now and it’s becoming more

some of them now and it’s becoming more and more easier to do but I I’m torn

and more easier to do but I I’m torn

and more easier to do but I I’m torn between you know it basically even

between you know it basically even

between you know it basically even talking about caves you know but I want

talking about caves you know but I want

talking about caves you know but I want more notice and I want people to

more notice and I want people to

more notice and I want people to understand and educate people on how

understand and educate people on how

understand and educate people on how delicate these environments are we once

delicate these environments are we once

delicate these environments are we once we start going down the path of opening

we start going down the path of opening

we start going down the path of opening all these up we all will lose them you

all these up we all will lose them you

all these up we all will lose them you know and I mean by going through the

know and I mean by going through the

know and I mean by going through the cave just me going through

cave just me going through

cave just me going through and as careful as I am I will still

and as careful as I am I will still

and as careful as I am I will still impact the cave I’m going to leave skin

impact the cave I’m going to leave skin

impact the cave I’m going to leave skin cells I can drop an eyelash

cells I can drop an eyelash

cells I can drop an eyelash inadvertently an occasional spit bubble

inadvertently an occasional spit bubble

inadvertently an occasional spit bubble or something when I’m talking but I try

or something when I’m talking but I try

or something when I’m talking but I try not to do it but it it happens and that

not to do it but it it happens and that

not to do it but it it happens and that so the more people that do go caving

so the more people that do go caving

so the more people that do go caving into an environment like this the more

into an environment like this the more

into an environment like this the more impacts there are and there’s more

impacts there are and there’s more

impacts there are and there’s more cleanup involved so I come to the you

cleanup involved so I come to the you

cleanup involved so I come to the you know whether or not to to encourage

know whether or not to to encourage

know whether or not to to encourage everyone to go caving I know most of you

everyone to go caving I know most of you

everyone to go caving I know most of you probably don’t want to go because those

probably don’t want to go because those

probably don’t want to go because those are the phobias and understandable but

are the phobias and understandable but

are the phobias and understandable but but we can all participate by just

but we can all participate by just

but we can all participate by just learning a little bit more about caves

learning a little bit more about caves

learning a little bit more about caves and then educating people your kids your

and then educating people your kids your

and then educating people your kids your friends anybody else that may be going

friends anybody else that may be going

friends anybody else that may be going caving to just respect these places and

caving to just respect these places and

caving to just respect these places and and not turn them into that vandalize

and not turn them into that vandalize

and not turn them into that vandalize party cave picture so I’m torn between

party cave picture so I’m torn between

party cave picture so I’m torn between for me anyway because I know that I

for me anyway because I know that I

for me anyway because I know that I impact caves of opening up these virgin

impact caves of opening up these virgin

impact caves of opening up these virgin caves and going in I have seen virgin

caves and going in I have seen virgin

caves and going in I have seen virgin cave many much many miles of it in it

cave many much many miles of it in it

cave many much many miles of it in it I’ve seen the impacts associated with

I’ve seen the impacts associated with

I’ve seen the impacts associated with that so I’m it’s like go caving Randy

that so I’m it’s like go caving Randy

that so I’m it’s like go caving Randy follow your passion know preserve them

follow your passion know preserve them

follow your passion know preserve them forever

forever

forever and I wish I had an easy answer there

and I wish I had an easy answer there

and I wish I had an easy answer there aren’t enough caves out there enough of

aren’t enough caves out there enough of

aren’t enough caves out there enough of them have already been impacted to the

them have already been impacted to the

them have already been impacted to the point of you know they are what they are

point of you know they are what they are

point of you know they are what they are so I will still continue to go those and

so I will still continue to go those and

so I will still continue to go those and to go to those and follow my passion and

to go to those and follow my passion and

to go to those and follow my passion and squirm and and and feel it and and love

squirm and and and feel it and and love

squirm and and and feel it and and love it

it

it and some of the other ones we just need

and some of the other ones we just need

and some of the other ones we just need to respect them from afar we there’s

to respect them from afar we there’s

to respect them from afar we there’s people that what can go in occasionally

people that what can go in occasionally

people that what can go in occasionally to these their gated or they’re closed

to these their gated or they’re closed

to these their gated or they’re closed for whatever reason anyway anyway so if

for whatever reason anyway anyway so if

for whatever reason anyway anyway so if you’d like to know more please educate

you’d like to know more please educate

you’d like to know more please educate yourself there’s plenty of books out

yourself there’s plenty of books out

yourself there’s plenty of books out there there’s lots of documentaries and

there there’s lots of documentaries and

there there’s lots of documentaries and anyway love your mother and especially

anyway love your mother and especially

anyway love your mother and especially what’s underneath thank you

what’s underneath thank you

what’s underneath thank you [Applause]

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