About Us, Editorial Standards & Contact
Learn how CavingClub.org compiles public trail, peak, and cave data, review our primary agency sources and correction procedures, or send a message directly to our team.
Editorial Policy & Source Audit Last Reviewed: November 14, 2026
About CavingClub.org & Our Editorial Standards
CavingClub.org is an independent outdoor planning reference and calculator suite compiled by the CavingClub Editorial Team. We do not invent fictitious individual author personas, medical titles, or unsupported professional guiding credentials, and we are not affiliated with the National Park Service (NPS), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), or any government agency. Instead, every profile and calculator on this site is built on transparent, verifiable public data and published scientific formulas.
1. Factual Sources & Citations
All destination profiles, permit rules, and calculators cite their primary public sources directly on the page:
- Public Land Agencies: National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and Recreation.gov fee, lottery, and closure bulletins.
- Topography & Cartography: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) elevation datums, Shenandoah NPS trail difficulty ratings, Swiss Alpine Club (SAC T1–T6), and Yosemite Decimal System (YDS) route grades.
- Speleology & Biosafety: National Speleological Society (NSS) safety protocols and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) White-Nose Syndrome decontamination standards.
- Published Formulas: Naismith (1892), Langmuir (1984), Minetti et al. (2002), Pandolf et al. (1977), Santee et al. (2001), Bohne & Abendroth-Smith (2007), and Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) / CDC altitude and hydration guidelines.
2. Meaningful Source Review Dates
Dates displayed on CavingClub.org reflect specific, meaningful editorial events rather than automated daily timestamps:
- Published Date: The date an educational guide or resource was originally published.
- Source Review Date (Last Checked): The exact date (e.g.,
2026-11-14) our editorial team last cross-checked a trail, mountain, cave, or national park profile against official NPS/USFS condition pages, fee schedules, and permit calendars. - Advisory Effective Date: The agency issuance or effective date of a specific closure or infrastructure notice (such as Grand Canyon's October 27, 2026 inner-canyon closure update or Acadia's May–August peregrine falcon nesting schedule).
3. Correction & Update Procedure
Wilderness conditions, bridge statuses, cave tour schedules, and permit quotas change frequently. When readers or agency staff report an error or update:
- Submit Evidence: Use the form below (select Trail Data Correction or Cave Biosafety) or email
cavingcluborg@gmail.comwith the page URL and official agency link or USGS quad reference. - Source Verification: We cross-check the report against primary NPS, USFS, USGS, or commercial cavern documentation within 24–48 hours.
- Transparent Update: Confirmed corrections are applied across the destination page, related FAQs, and prefilled calculator links, and the page's Source Review Date is updated.
Email Us Directly
All messages submitted through this portal or sent directly to our inbox are received by our editorial team.
We are a volunteer-supported platform of outdoor enthusiasts, backpackers, and cave conservation advocates. We read every email and typically reply within 24 to 48 hours. Your contact details are handled in strict accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Encountered a recent trail reroute, bridge washout, or updated White-Nose Syndrome bat closure? Include GPS tracks, USGS quad notes, or photos to help keep the wilderness community safe.
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