Timpanogos Cave tours end early due to budget cuts


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PROVO, Utah (AP) — Officials at Timpanogos Cave National Monument said cave tours will end a week earlier than usual because of federal budget cuts.

Superintendent Jim Ireland said cave tours usually have continued into early October, but the cave and visitor center was forced to close for the season on Sunday.

The Daily Herald reported the cave also opened 10 days late as part of a budget-cutting move.

Officials said they hope to return to a longer tour season next summer, but final plans can't be made until they receive the 2014 fiscal year budget.

The cave tour, which showcases incredible formations that are thousands of years old, sold out several times during the summer, but revenue from cave tickets doesn't cover all the operating costs at the monument.

"We stopped all hiring early in the year; we cut out all training and travel that wasn't mandatory; we cut our supply budget, but like a lot of parks most of our budget is in our staff," Ireland said.

By shortening the season, the cave was able to maintain staffing levels to accommodate visitors during busy summer months.

Becky Sampson is one of hundreds of people who hike the cave trail each week for exercise and to enjoy the beauty of the canyon.

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"I love being in nature; it always restores my soul and so I come up here to meditate, to exercise and just be healthy," Sampson said.

Officials said they'll take advantage of good weather to repair the monument's electrical line and rock-fall fence.

The repairs will close the cave trail to hikers at the Quarter Way gate, about a third-mile above the trailhead.

The trail may reopen so people can enjoy the fall colors.

"If we are able to open the trail for hikers we will, we just won't have cave tours themselves," Ireland said.

Cave officials said they are optimistic they will be able to reopen the entire trail during October on a limited basis depending on maintenance work and weather.

Ruth Morrey volunteers at Timpanogos cave. Her seasonal job ended Sunday.

"I was a little nostalgic yesterday after I took off my badges yesterday and turned them in and went home on the last day," Morrey said.

Chris Roten, another volunteer at the cave, helped Morrey spruce up the area around the flagpole.

"You meet lots of great people. It's a Timpanogos cave family we have going on up here," Roten said.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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Sam Penrod and Associated Press

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