Thought after visit of Yorkshire Dales

   In this period we discovered the magic of the east and even got into Macedonia. The Mountains were similarly beautiful as in the west; however, we did not have a problem spending the nights. Friendly villagers offered us the night at their homes as well as petrol, food and alcohol were very cheap. Then the expedition into the area of the Arctic Ural in Russia followed. We were fascinated by untouched nature, extensive areas without civilization, and unlimited possibilities of discovering nature’s beauties. We undertook several expeditions into this part of the world, and we were always enthusiastic. We found a lot of friends there. We were inspired by many matters, and we understood that friendship and our own feelings are the most important for speleology, not the hunger for sensations. However, while we had many expeditions, all was okay. In the case of any injury or disease we would have very serious problems. Imagination of living in hard conditions of Russian, Mongolian, or Chinese wildness evoked our admiration to local inhabitants that must win through many difficulties to support their families.
   Unexpectedly, we met Dave Gallivan, a speleologist from Yorkshire. He was an older man that looked very much like P. Hipman by his figure, age as well as his humour. He passed with elegance through the Small Stanišovská Cave and a part of the Zápoľná Cave. Then we were invited to England. At first, we rejected the journey because of many duties we had to accomplish. The later desire for adventure won, and we travelled to Yorkshire. Expedition members were P. Vaněk, J. Szunyog, S. Votoupal, P. Staník, and P. Holúbek. We depended on a big VW transporter and the good english of J. Szunyog. (Details from the journey can be found on http://www.sibir.sk/m.php?t=1&m=11&id=40055.) The worst orientation was in Brussels. Without GPS, a foreigner has a great problem. As the European Capital, it should have marked transit in surrounding states, not just in it´s provincial cities. In spite of the short stay in Yorkshire, I would like to round up our knowledge in following items:

1) Caves are interesting, fluvial with an active flow and without sediments. In comparison to our caves, they have unique, inimitable atmosphere. I recommend the caves to everyone who is interested in speleology.
2) Thousands of active speleologists work here be more specific. They associate in clubs with the stations directly in the karst. It is similar to speleology in the Moravia Karst. Speleologists are very efficient, and they have a high-quality diving base.
3) The rescue service operates on an amateur basis but on the high professional level. Terrain cars are prepared to help anytime and rescuers can prepare an action already before entrance into underground, this is to the archive of cave maps and documents. This archive is a part of the rescue station. Rescue actions are very numerous here. Speleologists even issue the magazine dealing with actions realized during the year.
4) The national park is understood as the cultural landscape, and there are protected not only living and no-living nature but also architecture, local farmers and character of the country.
5) The caves are accessible to everybody who wants to visit them.
6) The discovery of new caves depends on agreement of speleologists and land owners. It does not bring special problems.
7) English tourists are not sullen, they walk through the nature very quickly, and sometimes a part of them even runs. It is their custom to say hello to everybody.
8) The majority of tourist pathways are made through private lands. The national park pays land owners for utilizing these pathways for tourists. Climbing terrains are utilized in the similar way as well.
9) The big hotels are missing. There are only old and historical buildings here. It can be said that a considerable part of visitors from the national park is accommodated in the camps or homes of local inhabitants.

   Of course, from a 3-week long visit, I cannot make complete conclusions. I am maybe incorrect in some of my opinions but I think that a Yorkshire model of the man’s coexistence with nature is very inspiring and simpatico. It evokes a hope that after development of our society the foothills of the Tatras, Fatras, or other mountain ranges will look like those in the English Yorkshire, and among people there will be minimally the same atmosphere. After years I brought to mind a historic sentence of Mr. Hipman´s*: “It is a true we are not Germans but from the Kozie Chrbty Mts. they can be almost seen the Alps Mts. And where are the Kaukaz Mts.?”
   In conclusion I would like to thank Dave Gallivan for his willingness to spend the time with us as well as for an accommodation. I would also like to thank; Kevin and Slug for a nice time in the caves and Mrs. Darinka Eyre for her advice and help in translation.

   * P. Hipman (1940-1999) – a Czech speleologist working in Slovakia, a discoverer of the deepest Slovak cave Starý hrad (495 m).

   Literature:
   HIPMAN, P., 1997: Horehronský enfant terrible. Spravodaj SSS, 28, 1, Liptovský Mikuláš, 63-65.

   For www.sibir.sk written by Peter Holúbek on June 2, 2008