I went through some tight passages in the pyramids and enjoyed that, so I think this will be fun, he said. His attitude quickly shifted upon viewing Buckner s deprecated state. Mirza said Buckner s is by far the worst-kept cave in the area and is known by many as a sacrificial cave. The owner of the property allows novices to enter the cave, no matter what their intentions might be. Buckner s is sacrificed to those who want to leave their mark on nature in the hopes that they will not destroy other caves.
Caves are one of the most fragile ecosystems in the world.
Something as simple as touching a rock outcropping can contribute to the breakdown of these natural wonders. Many felt the most disturbing stop on the three-hour trip was at a cave wall named Signature Rock. It was named that for the signatures left by early explorers of Buckner s in the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, thousands of cave visitors have added their own signatures to the list. Because paint sinks into the porous limestone walls, it is practically impossible to remove, so every few years the rock is simply painted over.