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ups, hot tub and a sauna.. And not to mention with an interest in and management USA and conservation should consider coming to April 15, 2019—2019 NSS Convention Session thousands of within an hour drive or less. Please refer to the Caver’s Paradise website for Bristol for the 2019 National Cave and Karst and Chair Leaders: All Abstracts Are Due To John Management Symposium. The Symposium is Hoffelt, Program Editor. All abstracts need to go directions. There is no registration fee but the campground does charge a $10.00 for the entire the week before the TAG Fall Cave-in, so this through the sessions/chair leader and forwarded presents an opportunity to combine two great to John at [email protected]. weekend and RV hookups are available for an additional $25.00. All of the proceeds from our events into one trip. The Wednesday field trip May 11-18, 2019—National event go back into the community! To will Natural State Park (VA), Commission (NCRC) Cave Rescue Operations follow or join the event on facebook, go to: https:// Cumberland Gap National Historic Park’s Gap and Management Seminar at Camp Rivervale in www.facebook.com/groups/SMGCaveFest/ Cave, and the Gray Site Museum. Pre- Mitchell, Indiana. Extensive classroom instruction conference field trips will be held October 5 - 7. October 7 - 11, 2019 -—National Cave and Karst and fieldwork in all phases of cave rescue For information, see www.sinkingcreekpottery. Management Symposium, Bristol, VA. Those including underground environment, vertical com. Abstract deadline is June 3, 2019 rescue, hauling systems, extrication techniques, medical management, communication systems and much more! For more information, please go to: www.ncrc.info. May 24-27, 2019—The Louisville is hosting their 49th Speleofest caving event at the Lone Star Preserve, Bonnieville, ; always on Memorial Day Weekend, always a great time. Close proximity to lots of caves, kayaking, Mammoth Cave National Park, and other local attractions for surface dwellers. There will be lots of caving, gear, vendors, banquet, bonfire, and fun for the kids.Follow us on Facebook for updates https://www.facebook.com/Speleofest http://speleofest.com/ June-17-21, 2019—2019 NSS Convention in Cookeville, . http://nss2019.subworks. com/ July-18-21, 2019—Karst-O-Rama, at Great Saltpetre Cave Preserve, Mt. Vernon, Kentucky. Hosted by the Greater Cincinnati Grotto. Cave trips on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There will be cave vendors, children’s activities, cave box for the flexible, climbing contest, and more. Howdy party on Friday night and a live band on Saturday night. Theme for the party is still TBD. December 28-31, 2019 Pre-registration discount will be available, once the website is updated. Please check back here for details to come. In the meantime, questions can be emailed to the Karst-O-Rama committee, LEAVE NO TRACE SYMPOSIUM at [email protected] HOSTED BY NSS HQ August 2-4, 2019—The 66th annual Indiana Cave Capers will be held at the Crawford County SUPPORT Join us at NSS HQ in Huntsville, Alabama! The Fairgrounds in Marengo, IN. Friday night is the Events such as this require Camp Party with music and Shallow Grotto support and participation event will bring together like-minded groups fellowship. Led cave trips by volunteers, food, of related organizations Saturday night banquet with keynote speaker and the community. Pledge and individuals to share their missions, ideas, your support with The photographer-explorer Chris Bell, and cave TVA Audubon Society, merchandise, opportunities, and vision for the vendor Inner Outfitters will all make the Birmingham Audubon this an event to not miss! See you there! For Society, Finch Conservation, future of Leave No Trace. Each day will be 8:00 info: cigcaves.com or Ron Adams 317-490-7727 One 1, CrossTek Construction, and B&W am to 5:00 pm and filled with presentations August 21-25, 2019—Registration is now open Signmasters. Multiple tiers from local universities, academia professors, for this years 5-Day class in Redmond of sponsorship available. OR. This is a small party assisted rescue class environmental organizations, adventure groups and teaches essential small party rescue skills. TEACH Register early as these classes fill up quickly. You are invited to participate and related companies. We hope you join us in in the symposium. The https://NCRC.regfox.com/2019-ncrc-spar- sessions can be secured by celebrating the Leave No Trace Lifestyle! redmond-oregon reserving a 1-hour segment. August 30 – September 2 2019—CaveFest. Specific presentation needs and attendance expectations Contact Event Chair, Fenn Spencer Sewanee Mountain Grotto is hosting their annual will be coordinated in auction and party in the heart of TAG over Labor September. [email protected] Day weekend. Auction, led cave trips, flight float trips, music, dancing, homebrew (available ALL weekend with the purchase of a $10 mug) and a potluck dinner. Please bring a side dish for the potluck if you wish to participate. SMG will provide the meat. Caver’s Paradise Campground amenities include: Bath house with hot showers, Front cover: volleyball court, dish washing station, RV hook Crystals in , by Georg Taffet, won a Merit Award in the 2018 Photo Salon. Back cover: Send items for the calendar to davebunnell@ comcast.net at least 4 weeks before desired month of Three Honorable Mention award photos from the 2018 Photo Salon that highlight the publication (e.g., by April 1 for the May issue). delicate nature of caves: left and bottom, Bob Biddix, aragonite upper right, Adam Haydock

2 NSS News, April 2019 POSTMASTERS OR MEMBERS: Send address changes to the National Speleological Society Office, contact information below. NSS News National Speleological Society Office 6001 Pulaski Pike NW, Huntsville, AL 35810 April 2019 Tel: (256) 852-1300 e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://caves.org/ Please contact the office for address changes or back issues. Volume 77 Number 4

NSS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Annual Conservation Issue President Features Editor for this issue: Val Hildreth-Werker Geary Schindel Bexar Grotto San Antonio, TX [email protected] Global Trajectory for Cave and Karst Conservation...... 3 (210).326.1576 cell Val Hildreth-Werker Operations VP Administrative VP Mark Skove Katherine L. Crispin, Ph.D. International Union of Call to Action: International Smoky Mountain Grotto TRA Grotto, GAG, Clinton, TN State College, Pennsylvania Year of Caves and Karst ...... 3 (865) 640-2323 (610) 504-0339 cell [email protected] [email protected] Dr. George Veni

Executive VP Secretary/Treasurer Caribbean Cave Recovery in Aftermath of 2017 Storms...... 7 Scott Engel Gaylene Speaect Angel D Vega Smoky Mountain Grotto Colorado Grotto Knoxville, TN Aurora, Colorado (225) 281-3914 (303) 880 3168 New Adds “Caving” to Recreational Use Statute...... 9 [email protected] [email protected] Steve Peerman NSS NEWS EDITOR Dave Bunnell, Ph.D. Bill Austin: One Father of ...... 10 Box 879 Tom Brucker Angels Camp, CA 95222 [email protected] A Perfect Collision of Forces: Charles B. Henson Cave Preserve... 11 Please include “NSS News” in your subject line when e-mailing material to help me sort it from the spam. Thanks! Lehmann Questions about submitting features and photos? Please see the style and submission guidelines:on the NSS web site: Conservation Education: Don’t Go It Alone...... 13 https://caves.org/pub/nssnews/style.shtml Dave Jackson ADVERTISING Complete advertising information, including rate cards, mechanical Cave Conservancy of Creates Fred Stone Memorial specs and deadlines is available online at https://caves.org/pub/nssnews/ads.shtml Endowment Fund...... 14 New advertisers should contact Matt Bowers, NSS Director of Business Development at 209-529-9000 or [email protected]. CCH members Payments for ads should be sent to the NSS office. New advertisers are expected to pay for ads prior to publication. Clarksville Cave Preserve Addition...... 15 DEPARTMENT EDITORS Thom Engel ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR UNDERGROUND ONLINE Lincoln Caverns: Committed to Conservation Outreach ...... 16 Gary Gibula Bill Grose [email protected] [email protected] Abbe Hamilton CONSERVATION NEWSLETTER REVIEW Crystal Onyx Cave Reopens in Cave City, Kentucky...... 17 Jim & Val Hildreth-Werker Ian Reuter PO Box 207 5560 Sierra Court Scott & Sara Sendtko Hillsboro, NM 88042-0207 Rapid City, SD 57702 (575) 895-5050 [email protected] Colorado Cavers Assist in Battle Against Expansion Project [email protected] CAVE CHRONICLES ...... 18 SPELEAN SPOTLIGHT Philip Rykwalder Richard Rhinehart Michael Ray Taylor [email protected] [email protected] Mammoth Cave Restoration Reaches 30-year Milestone...... 21

Deadline: Ads, articles, and announcements should be sent to the Gary Gibula editor by the 1st of the month, 1 month before the month of issue (e.g., material for the March issue needs to be in by Feb. 1). Inventorying Broken to Quantify Visitor Impacts... 22 The NSS News (ISSN 0027-7010) is published monthly with the Members Manual and American Caving Accidents published as Aria Mildice additional issues by the National Speleological Society, Inc, 6001 Pulaski Pike NW, Huntsville, AL 35810. Periodicals Postage Paid at Stalactajack/Speleoclamp...... 24 Huntsville, Al and additional mailing offices. Tel: (256)852-1300, e-mail: Janice Tucker [email protected], web: http://caves.org/ Regular membership with electronic copy of NSS News in the NSS is $40 per year. Members may elect to receive paper copy High Guads Restoration Project Update...... 25 of NSS NEWS for $10 per year. Please visit members.caves.org Jennifer Foote for descriptions of other membership categories. Non member Subscriptions to the NSS News are $36 per year. Individual copies Excavating the Richard Blenz House...... 26 are $3.00 each or 5 or more copies for $1.00 each. Contact the Huntsville office for membership applications, subscriptions, orders, Sam Frushour or for replacement of issues missing or damaged in the mail. Moving? Address changes can be made from your profile in the Account + Settings tab- Profile tab, for assistance call the office. Copyright ©2019 by the National Speleological Society Classified Ads...... 20 News and Notes...... 29 Society News...... 27 Underground Online...... 30 President’s Message...... 29 Salon Gallery...... 31

NSS News, April 2019 3 Global Trajectory for Cave and Karst Conservation Val Hildreth-Werker NSS 28963CL (CO,CM,FE) NSS News Conservation Editor

All Things Caving Encompass the country on the of educational George Veni. See International Year of Caves Conservation! In the US, that’s where cave lab activities. A land scam eventually and Karst, next page. we’ve been headed for long time, and it’s leads to a new Nature Preserve, thanks to Caving communities have come a long taken us decades to get here. Quite a jour- the wisdom and legacy of a caver. way in advancing conservation standards ney it is, and pieces of the in cave Touching on a plethora of conservation during the last twenty years. It’s all happen- resource protection are brilliantly recorded topics, these pages tell stories of growing ing because cavers around the world are in this Annual Conservation Issue of the seeds of cave conservation into extensive embracing cave and karst conservation NSSNews. land-monuments of protected karstscape. strategies and turning outreach into action This issue is full of great stories! Read Privately owned show caves are becom- that tells the story and makes a difference. about the steps to conservation success— ing impressive conservation and education It’s all about the wonderful stories of giant jumps and short scoots. All work outreach centers. Innovative techniques and caves and karst. Make your own wonderful together in advancing the cave and karst promising developments in cave restoration story, and tell it! That’s what makes the world conservation movement. and repair are building new stories. Plus, a of conservation grow ‘round! The 2019 Conservation Issue highlights couple of important announcements offer how individual cavers with vision can make long-reaching potential benefits for caves, Cave safe … Cave soft … Cave far-reaching impacts. The articles honor a cavers, and bats. clean! string of dedicated individuals whose wonder- The world of conservation is at a critical Val & Jim ful stories are becoming cave conservation point of rapid change. The global conserva- Val Hildreth-Werker & Jim C. Werker legacies. The first steps of Kentucky cave tion quest is on the verge of major leaps NSS Conservation Division Chiefs protection were promoted by the intense in international action for cave awareness [email protected] resolve of a an early NSS caver. Cave with an exciting announcement from the outreach grows exponentially, rolling across International Union of Speleology President,

International Union of Speleology Call to Action: International Year of Caves and Karst Dr. George Veni UIS President

Please Read This Summary! The International Year of Caves and Karst (IYCK) will be the most important event in the history of speleology. Through public and governmental outreach programs around the world, the degree of appreciation for the tremendous value of caves and karst to all of humanity and our environment and economies will be elevated greatly. The years following the IYCK will undoubtedly see increased funding for research, more effective regulations and better awareness to protect caves and karst, and more opportunities to explore new caves and karst areas. The International Union of Speleology and the NSS are committed to the IYCK, along with organizations in over 30 countries. But success really comes down to the involvement of you, the individual members, who make it all happen. Please read this article. Learn what is going on and think about what you can do to help. There are things large and small that everyone can do, and they all matter. Join us in this call to action for the caves we love.

This report is part of an annual (UNESCO). Their primary purpose is to protection of peoples and important areas, series from the International Union of educate the public and celebrate important and new business opportunities, depending Speleology (UIS) to the newsletters of its aspects of life, such as Indigenous Languages on the topic of the year. member countries. The purpose of these (2019) and Planet (2008). reports is to reach all cavers in the member As the name implies, International Years Why an International Year of Caves countries with important news from are a series of events that are held around and Karst? the Union. For more information about the world by international teams that include On 16 June 2015, Dr. Kyung Sik Woo, the UIS, visit www.uis-speleo-org, which partners from non-governmental organiza- then President of the International Union includes the UIS Bulletin with much more tions, government agencies, businesses, and of Speleology (UIS), made a declaration news and details. This report focuses on interested individuals. There is always at least proposing 2021 as the International Year what could be the most important speleo- one major event, plus many other activities of Caves and Karst (IYCK) to be recognized logical event ever! that are held throughout the year in multiple by the UN and UNESCO. This declaration countries. was supported strongly by a vote of UIS What is an International Year? One other typical thing about member countries. International Years are typically orga- International Years occurs when the year is The UIS, its member countries, organiza- nized under the auspices of the United Nations over. There is a great increase in apprecia- tional partners, and individual cave explorers, (UN) or the United Nations Education, tion for the year’s topic. This often appears scientists, managers, and educators have Science, and Cultural Organization as increases in funding, better regulations, done tremendous work over many decades

4 NSS News, April 2019 George Veni George George Veni George

Plitvice Lakes National Park, , is one of 93 World Heritage UIS Past President Dr. Kyung Sik Woo in Yongcheon Cave, part of Sites that UIS has identified as based entirely or in part on caves Jeju Volcanic Island World Heritage Site, Republic of Korea. This and karst. UIS has also identified 64 similarly-established UNESCO cave has extensive displays of speleothems, which are rarely Global Geoparks. found in tubes. to improve the world’s understanding and changing our strategy to assure success and Day will be celebrated each year appreciation of caves and karst. However, are continuing ahead in three ways. on the selected day in perpetuity. despite all of our combined accomplish- Additionally, it will make it easier for ments, caves continue to be destroyed. Trash 1. International Year of Caves and the UN or UNESCO to recognize an is still dumped underground. Karst Karst for 2021. The UIS has decided International Year, if not in 2021, then are polluted. Many rare cave ecosystems are to conduct this important project on in another year—perhaps in 2025. now endangered. Precious archaeological its own together with its partners in and paleontological materials in caves are 2021, with or without UN or UNESCO 3. International Year of Caves and still commonly lost and looted. And sadly, recognition. Each UIS member country Karst for 2025. The UIS is talking many government officials, educators, and that voted to support the International to other countries about proposing even scientists and environmental managers Year agreed to organize events and 2025 or another year to the UN or do not understand caves and karst enough to programs in 2021 in their countries UNESCO as the International Year of prevent these tragedies, or even recognize with the resources they have available. Caves and Karst. We are looking for that they are tragedies. The UIS Bureau is asking everyone to our member countries and partners’ An IYCK is the next step to raise the begin to plan for that. If the UN or support too if this proposal is made and level of understanding and respect for caves UNESCO are not able to support us accepted. If you think your country may and karst as globally important physical, in 2021, nothing really changes for be willing to propose the International ecological, and cultural systems. A success- the member countries and our other Year, and if you are willing to contact ful IYCK will lead to new caves opened partners. We can still celebrate the your government for UIS to get their for exploration, and more funds and other Year and hold our activities. In fact, in support, please let me know! support for that exploration, as as for visiting with UN representatives a few research, management, and protection, at months ago, they told me that if we can Some of you may wonder how this levels we’ve never seen before. organize a successful International Year affects you, and hopefully how you can help. on our own, that would greatly increase When the UIS member countries voted on What is the Current Status? our ability to get UN or UNESCO the IYCK, it was with the understanding that Since Dr. Woo’s declaration, the UIS support in a future year (more on those countries voting to support the IYCK has gathered the support of most of its that below). So, in principle, nothing would also conduct IYCK activities. If you are member countries, as well as the support of changes for UIS and its partners. We interested in working on the IYCK, ask your four countries, nine international organiza- will hold the International Year and UIS delegates (listed on www.uis-speleo-org) tions and 21 national organizations in 13 conduct the same events and activities. on their status in organizing activities in your countries. I thank them for their joining this country. vital effort. 2. International Day. The UIS is If your country did not vote to support While it is clear we have broad support collaborating with the International the IYCK in 2015, check with the leaders of for the IYCK, it is also clear that we need Show Caves Association to get UN your national organizations. Some countries more time. The UIS has always known that or UNESCO recognition for an did not vote, others were not members three getting UN or UNESCO recognition would International Day. The exact name years ago, and maybe others that were not be difficult. It requires one of their member of the day is being determined but it ready to support the IYCK in 2015 may be countries to submit the proposal created by would support the same goals as the are ready now. If not, you can still organize UIS—outside organizations like UIS cannot IYCK, only recognized on one day activities with your local clubs and regional make proposals to UN or UNESCO. Also, that will likely be in early June.While organizations, our other partners, or with for an IYCK in 2021, the proposal must be international years are more difficult new partners you find. made and approved in 2019 and that does to achieve, plans to propose an As I write this report in the final days not seem likely. Therefore, UIS will continue International Day to UNESCO. The of 2018, the UIS IYCK Committee just to pursue support for 2021 but we are advantages are that the International met. We approved a structure to build the

NSS News, April 2019 5 UIS Countries Currently event for the IYCK, but any cave or karst Current Supporters of the Supporting the International Year conference can potentially be an official International Year of Caves and of Caves and Karst IYCK event too. This includes your annual Karst , , , , conferences, sessions at other confer- Supporting Countries: , , Costa Rica, Croatia, ences, and symposia. ’s annual • Belgium, Croatia, , and , France, , International Karstological School “Classical Slovenia Honduras, Hungary, , , , Karst” is already scheduled as an IYCK event. , Korea, Kyrgyzstan , , What about your annual workshops and International Organizational Lithuania, Mexico, , courses? You can also organize special events Partners: , , Slovenia, , of all types, demonstrating cave science and • Bat Conservation International Switzerland, The Netherlands, , caving techniques, public lectures, visits to • European Cave Protection Commission United Kingdom, . classrooms, showing cave videos, and giving • European Speleological Federation interviews about the IYCK to newspapers, • and Flora International IYCK website and other social media. We magazines, television, and other media. You • International Association of are nearly finished creating an IYCK logo, are limited only by your imagination. Hydrogeologists, Karst Commission and we are beginning to write materials and Remember, the main purpose of the • International Council for Science collect photos for the website, circulars, IYCK is to educate the public so make sure • International Show Caves Association and other materials. We expect to have the to invite the public, non-caver scientists, • International Union of Geological website ready sometime in 2019. land managers, politicians, and others who Societies We will announce it widely through the UIS normally do not attend cave and karst events • World Heritage Program of International Facebook page, messages to our delegates, but would benefit from attending. And do not Union for the Conservation of Nature commissions, and partners, and by messages just invite them—give them special attention they send. and support. Make it easy for them to attend, National Organizational Partners: and also to participate in fun and interesting • Belgium (Belgium Union of Speleology, A UIS Call to Action ways. The IYCK should educate, impress, Flemish Belgium Speleological The UIS is the International Union of and engage them! Federation, Walloon Commission Speleology. What does that mean? for the Study and Protection of International—everyone in the world! Promoting the Value of World Underground Sites) Union—working together, and for Heritage Caves and Karst. Do you work • Brazil (Brazilian Speleological Society, what? —Speleology. with or are you located near a UNESCO National Council of the Atlantic For the IYCK to succeed, I ask everyone World Heritage Site or Global Geopark Forest Biosphere Reserve) who enjoys and cares for caves to join the that was established at least in part because • Bulgaria (Bulgarian Federation of UIS in creating IYCK events for your town, of caves and karst? If so, let us know! We Speleology) region, and country. would love your help to tell those sites and • China (International Research Center The UIS will not make your participation parks about the IYCK. The UIS needs them on Karst) difficult or beyond your abilities. We recog- to participate. We will reach out to them • France (French Federation of nize you represent diverse cultures, skills, directly, but many times your personal Speleology, Geoparks Group of France) and resources. Therefore, as you read the connections may be better. • Germany (German Speleological following guidance, please remember that we Also, maybe you don’t know what to Federation) ask you to do what will be most successful do for the IYCK and they don’t know either, • Italy (Italian Speleological Society) for your culture, appropriate to your skills, but together you can find many things to do. • Japan (Speleological Society of Japan) and within the limits of your resources. No Maybe once a month throughout the year • Kyrgyzstan (Foundation for the single group can do everything, but together some people can enter the World Heritage Protection and Exploration of Caves) we will reach people across the world. Sites and Geoparks for free. Focus on the • Myanmar (Myanmar Cave The IYCK will have three major themes: special cave and karst features there with Documentation Project) education programs for adults and kids. • Slovenia (Karst Research Institute • Sharing Cave and Karst Knowledge: Create public participation projects. For ZRC SAZU, Slovenian Speleological International Scientific Conferences example, maybe some research would Association) and Public Exhibitions benefit from extra public help. The same • Ukraine (Institute of Geological • Promoting the Value of World Heritage may be true of management work from Sciences of the National Academy Caves and Karst repairing a trail to cleaning trash from a cave of Sciences of Ukraine, Ukrainian • Sharing Cave and Karst Knowledge: or repairing speleothems. Remind the public Speleological Association) Show Caves – Karst Tourism that these World Heritage and Geopark sites • USA (American Geosciences Institute, have such high recognition because they are National Cave and Karst Research Start thinking about the best way that special, and how caves and karst add to that Institute, National Caves Association, your organizations can participate. Here are specialness. National Speleological Society) some examples for each theme of what your organization might be able to do. Sharing Cave and Karst Knowledge: programs. It is estimated that about 150 Show Caves & Karst Tourism. The million tourists visit show caves each year. Sharing Cave and Karst Knowledge: International Show Caves Association Show caves and cave and karst parks have International Scientific Conferences and national organizations will the ability to reach the greatest numbers of The UIS’ 18th and Public Exhibitions. encourage their member show caves to do people. We encourage them to do all that International Congress of Speleology will some special things for the IYCK. Like with they can and for you, our members and other be held in Lyon, France, in 2021 (http:// the World Heritage sites and Geoparks, this partners, to assist them wherever possible. uis2021.speleos.fr/). It will be the major can include free entry and many special

6 NSS News, April 2019 As you think about activities for the IYCK, think about partners to assist you Caribbean Cave Recovery in Aftermath of 2017 Storms with programs, advertising, costs, and raising Angel D Vega, NSS 67993, funds to cover any costs. Partnership is also Puerto Rico Cave Conservation Committee important in getting more people involved, educated, and interested in caves and karst. If you have ideas and support for how the UIS can better promote and conduct the Living in a tropical Caribbean island gists worried if ongoing investigations were IYCK, we welcome partnering more closely helps you get acquainted with the idea of completely lost. with you. If your country or national or periodic natural changes that reshape your We all started heading out to check the international organization is not listed as surroundings. The warm tropical winds caves and reality struck. Secondary roads supporting the IYCK and wants to join us, bring cyclic periods of heavy rains, with were partially obstructed by trees or debris. please let me know. several peaks throughout the year that Dirt roads were completely blocked. Access We ask you to watch for the IYCK block low bridges, flood alluvial plains, or trails and markings were obscured by a thick website and social media, which will be the trigger . The warm tropical waters mantle of fallen trees, branches, and vines. primary locations for information on the help create and guide storms that use the After a few futile attempts, we all understood IYCK, and how to participate and show its Caribbean as their highway for six months that any cave entrance farther than 100 importance to the world. We will post news of the year, with the peak season of August meters from the road would need several at these locations and encourage you to and September bringing strong winds that clearing trips just to reach the dripline. Cave share your news and activities. average 75 miles-per-hour. conservation and exploration needed new We are also in a delicate period. With September 2017 brought the high- strategies that aligned with current reality— this message we are asking that you begin est form of these two natural phenomena after survival is achieved, the recovery phase thinking about what you can do to support together, with enough force to move anything must kick-in. Caribbean Cave Recovery the IYCK and begin some basic plans, but out of place: trees, houses, people, rocks, became re-discovery and re-habilitation of we ask you to not reach out to the public at , land, and even the sea. The phrase trails and paths to eventually re-enter and this time. Because our message will reach “to reshape the landscape” finally had a re-explore caves to assess their status. Cave across the world, our message and its appear- palpable definition for me. Now I understand conservation was no longer the work of a ance with the logo needs to be clear and the scene on the movie Twister, when they small party, it was ‘the calling’ that all cavers consistent. Once the website is posted, you said that category 5 would be like “the finger must answer. well have access to the logo and information of God”. to reach people in your communities and The storm aftermath gave our island ‘The Calling’ of All Cavers countries in a way where we send a unified massive amounts of debris, no Here is where real cavers stood above message to the world. water supplies, no electrical power, houses the mere mortals to take on the hard deci- destroyed, leafless trees, roads blocked, rivers sion: postpone all exploration and focus on In summary: out of their paths, no radio signal, and no access trails. The new caving trips included • Get involved! This is a once-in-a- cellphone coverage. Very soon after the machetes, , chainsaws, and flagging, lifetime chance to greatly improve event we realized that recovery will be a long with the mindset that just being close to understanding and appreciation of journey and the idea of returning to normal the entrance would be the best prize. Now, caves worldwide. life is a far-fetched utopia. attention turned to the experienced cavers • Begin thinking about activities you can For many cavers, this situation would who had walked the trails many times and do in your community, region, and be manageable because a day trip requires knew the bearings by heart. Newer cavers country to support the IYCK. extensive preparation for the assumption who had recorded walking trails using • Begin reaching out to potential part- that regular conveniences of modern life GPS contributed their data, and collabora- ners for assistance. They do not need are unavailable while underground. Our tion provided the means to walk the now to be from the caving community! caving experience gave us the advantage of obscured pathways. • Wait until the IYCK website is posted having most or all that we needed to survive for access to the logo and other infor- a few days ‘off the grid’, which gave the mation before reaching out to the outstanding men and women of the caving public. community the ability to concentrate efforts M. Rivera • Begin planning now! It will be 2021 on helping those less fortunate. faster than you think. • Please contact me ([email protected]) Within a Few Months Caver or other members of the UIS Bureau Concerns Turned To the Caves at any time if you need assistance or For a few months, the whole island was have questions. in ‘survival mode’— gathering food, finding potable water, and getting fuel for genera- With your help, together we will educate tors. But for cavers, after the first weeks the world through the International Year and of survival, minds and hearts turned to the International Day about our precious caves caves, caverns, and underground passages. and karst areas. Together, we can save the Spelunkers wondered if caves would still be world’s caves and karst for the future. accessible; explorers saw the opportunity that new cave openings would be uncovered or sumps would be unplugged; conserva- tionists got troubled with the uncertainty if previous efforts were lost; and speleolo- Cabachuelas rehabilitation

NSS News, April 2019 7 Y. Delgado Y. R. Moreno

SEPRI at Cueva Clara recovery SEUS at Cueva Mapancha cleaning

What follows are fine examples of volun- opening access trails and exploring passages walls. This new situation has expanded the tary work driven by the caving community. to assess impact in order to continue cave dangers of visiting a cave. Now you have the Robert Moreno gathered people and monitoring and investigation. potential perils of someone throwing around traveled more than twenty times to Rio Many unmentioned and anonymous a machete, stepping over obstacles with a Camuy Cave Park, to cut trees, clear the good cavers are still dedicating long hours on gas can, walking onto a covered , tramway, remove sludge from cave floors, the weekends or days off, pushing forward unexpected fall of rotten branches, or just fix lighting, and restore water supplies. this recovery phase. losing your way because you can’t see the Marie Montes called upon SEPRI* members As side notes, a community group had path ahead. to clean Cueva Clara and return it to the stalled on a long-term project to transform The cavers and caving groups mentioned magnificent show cave that Russell Gurnee Las Cabachuelas, a natural reserve with over here, most of which are incomplete, are just envisioned. Even so, the Park is still close 20 caves, as an eco-educational alternative. an example of how the Puerto Rican caving to the public today. Rossano and his crew After many hours of work to restore and community has responded the calling to re-opened access to restore tours in Angeles improve walking trails, they finally launched “Save the Caves.” All this is just a sneak peek Cave of the Rio Camuy Cave System—their this beauty to the public. of the near future. Previous caving organiza- prize was to find the return of the long lost The Bat Conservation Program tional walls have become obsolete because Lake Norman! Workers at Cueva Ventana (PCMPR*) has made ongoing efforts to access members are crossing lines to help whom- (window cave) dedicated many hours to rees- caves important for bats and document the ever schedules a cleanup effort, knowing tablish easy access to this tourist attraction. storm’s effect on habitat and population. that the study, exploration, and enjoyment All these initial crews worked long hours on The group lead by Yanire Martinez has not of caves can only happen when you can the recovery of several cave tours that offer published the results, but it is obvious that the access them. So, travelers and international varying levels of difficulty. flower and fruit bats have payed the greatest cavers who plan to visit Puerto Rico, file your Dedicated cavers like Manuel and toll. Most recently, Salvador Lugo, new to machete and oil your chainsaw if you want Tamara, assembled a small group to continue organized caving, has partnered with biology to enjoy the wonders of Caribbean caves. the work started by Pipo Marrero at Camino experts to start a project focused on finding Expect your host to ask you for help with La Ceiba, which provides vehicle access to again the caves of the Guanica Dry Forest, the trails and the cleanup efforts. Rio Encantado Cave System and many other in order to document their status. caves. For two months they dedicated many hours to cleaning more than a kilometer of Machetes and Chainsaws Full Acronyms and hyperlinks to caver road. After completing this great task, they Speed Ahead group pages: slowly started to re-open the trails to the One-and-a-half years after disaster SEPRI = Sociedad Espeleologica de different caves, work that is still underway. struck, most of the important caves have not Puerto Rico Miguel and FIEKP* cavers have made been entered and most of the cave systems FIEKP = Fundacion de Investigaciones many trips to reopen the dirt road that leads have not been explored to confirm Espeleologicas del Karso Puertorriqueño to Cayuco area, the main access to dozens passage. The island has entered a phase of (https://www.facebook.com/groups/fiekp/) of caves, and yet, many caves have not economic Long Term Recovery that may SEUS= Sociedad Espeleologica Unida being reached. This work is still developing, take 5 to 10 years. Revisiting the caves and del Sur but cave exploration in the area has finally cave systems may take that long as well. GTNV= Gruta Troglodita Norman resumed as the group strives to continue Forests of 2016 had a dense canopy Veve (https://www.facebook.com/profile. halted investigations. that shaded and prevented forest floors php?id=100012469324317) Cavers from SEUS* group have made from being overrun by shrubs and vines. PCMPR= Programa de Conservacion efforts to clear paths leading to caves in Forests of 2019 have trees with few or no de Murcielagos de Puerto Rico the southern part of the island, from Cerro top branches, so forest floors have many Cuevas to the Dry Forest. Jose Gomez and hours of sunlight that has promoted growth La Gruta (GTNV*) group have worked exten- of all sorts of vines and weeds that wind sively around Aguas Buenas Cave System, around and over fallen trees, creating green

8 NSS News, April 2019 Adds “Caving” to Recreational Use Statute Steve Peerman, NSS 16158

One aspect of protecting caves is The full Senate passed the bill overwhelm- injury or damage to or caused by such protecting cave owners. Many private ingly, and the House did as well. However, person or group; or landowners are reluctant to allow cavers to Governor Susana Martinez vetoed the bill, (4) assume any greater responsibility, duty enter caves on their property because of the arguing that “other recreational activities” of care or liability to such person or group liability of doing so. Landowners are afraid language in the existing statute covered than if permission had not been granted someone will get hurt, or worse and they will caving. and the person or group were trespassers. end up with a lawsuit. As has been said many times over B. This section shall not limit the liability The proper management and monitor- the last few years, elections have conse- of any landowner, lessee or person in control ing of caves on private lands depends upon quences, and a new Governor was elected of lands that may otherwise exist by law for actually being able to visit those caves, so in New Mexico in November’s election. In injuries to any person granted permission to relieving the landowner of liability is a big November, 2018, Senator Soules contacted hunt, fish, trap, camp, hike, sightsee, oper- step towards making access easier for cavers. me and asked if I’d like to have the bill rein- ate aircraft, explore caves or use the land A similar problem exists for other troduced in this year’s legislative session. for recreation in exchange for a consider- recreational activities, primarily hunting and I quickly said yes! Once again the bill ation, other than a consideration paid to the fishing. Every state in the union has some received a “Do Pass” recommendation from landowner by the state, the federal govern- sort of recreational use statute (sometimes the Senate Conservation Committee, with ment or any other governmental agency. called “Sportsman’s Laws), that provides supporting testimony from Scott Christenson C. For the purposes of this section, liability relief for landowners who allow and John and Gretchen Lyles. (In addition to “cave” means a natural, geologically persons to hunt or fish on their property. being last year’s Lew Bicking Award winner, formed void or cavity beneath the Many of these statutes also name other John is a cave owner and could speak directly surface of the earth, but does not recreational activities in their statutes. (For a to the issue of liability!) mean a mine, tunnel, aqueduct or other list of all the states recreational use statutes, The bill easily passed both the Senate manmade excavation.” see http://www.climbingmanagement.org/ and the House, and on February 4, 2019, In New Mexico we are celebrating the climbing-information-and-management- it was signed by Governor Michelle Lujan- passage of this bill. I would challenge cavers plans/recreational-use-statutes.) Several Grisham. It will become law on June 14, in those states where caving is not mentioned states specifically include cave exploring 2019. directly in their recreational use statutes to (i.e., “caving” or “spelunking”) as part of Here is the text of the bill, with the contact their legislators to see if they can get their statutes, including Alabama, , changes provided by the bill in boldface: “caving” added! , Colorado, Iowa, Indiana, Maine, AN ACT RELATING TO LANDOWNER Minnesota, , Nevada, Pennsylvania, LIABILITY; LIMITING LIABILITY OF Texas, Wisconsin and Vermont. New Mexico LANDOWNERS PERMITTING PERSONS Support Cave Conservation Donate to the Save-the-Caves Fund! can now be added to that list! TO EXPLORE CAVES ON PRIVATE Caves, cavers, and the NSS appreci- The road to getting caving included PROPERTY. ate your financial support! in New Mexico’s statute began in October, BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE Our Saves-the-Caves Fund supports 2016. At a meeting of the board of directors OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: NSS Conservation Grants. of the Fort Stanton Cave Study Project, the SECTION 1. Section 17-4-7 NMSA Contributions are tax deductible, of issue of continuing the exploration of Fort 1978 (being Laws 1967,Chapter 6, Section course! Stanton Cave beyond the public land bound- 1, as amended) is amended to read: • Please specify Save the Caves — aries was being discussed. Board member “17-4-7. LIABILITY OF LANDOWNER find fourth item in list after you click John Moses brought up the idea of getting PERMITTING PERSONS TO HUNT, FISH on blue link caving included in New Mexico’s recreational OR USE LANDS FOR RECREATION--DUTY • Donate through our online app use statute. Up to that point, I wasn’t even OF CARE--EXCEPTIONS.-- https://caves.org/nssapps/donate. aware that there were such statutes, but A. Any owner, lessee or person in shtml the board of directors agreed that getting control of lands who, without charge or • To specify Save the Caves, find caving into the statute would make continu- other consideration, other than a consid- fourth item in list after you click on ing exploration of Fort Stanton Cave under eration paid to the landowner by the state, blue link private property much easier. the federal government or any other govern- • Donate via a PDF that can be Shortly after, I contacted my state mental agency, grants permission to any completed online and mailed or Senator, Mr. William Soules, and asked him person or group to use the owner’s,lessee’s emailed in. https://caves.org/ about sponsoring a bill to add “caving” to or land controller’s lands for the purpose of donate/Donate.pdf the recreational use statute. He agreed to hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, hiking, • Use the comment area provided sponsor the bill. We hashed out some simple sightseeing, the operation of aircraft, cave in links above to include a note language with his legislative assistant, and he exploring or any other recreational use – a good place to list your gift presented the bill to the state’s Conservation does not thereby: as a special tribute to a friend or Committee at the January, 2017 legislative (1) extend any assurance that the premises loved one with your Save-the-Caves session. Several cavers offered supporting are safe for such purpose; Donation in Honor or in Memory of testimony, including myself, George Veni, (2) assume any duty of care to keep such someone. Pete Lindsley, and Ron Lipinski. The bill lands safe for entry or use; received a “Do Pass” recommendation. (3) assume responsibility or liability for any

NSS News, April 2019 9 Bill Austin: One Father of Cave Conservation Tom Brucker NSS 24892 (RL,LB,FE)

The origin of cave conservation has Crystal Cave was now considered pit promised this would be a trip to remem- many roots. William ‘Bill’ Austin was among one of many major US caverns. Although ber. The way onward was blocked by a the first to promote the idea of cave conser- publicity from the NSS expedition brought towering sandstone breakdown slope leading vation. His experiences in the early 1950s increased visitation to Crystal, Mammoth up a tremendous dome. Loose rocks shifted helped move us to the contemporary logic Cave continued to receive the lion’s share as the two managed to climb the slide to that protecting underground wilderness of tourist dollars. reach an with yet another passage. assures undisturbed environments for cave Over several months, Austin and caving Almost immediately sandstone break- science and provides ‘wild cave’ experiences. partner, John (Jack) Lehrberger, surveyed down blocked this tube, but howling wind To conserve areas of the Flint Ridge Cave some interesting passages in a nearby cave. in a keyhole beckoned and soon yielded System where he at that time controlled These survey lines stretched the length of a breakthrough. The passage grew larger. access, Austin formulated rules that still Flint Ridge, but lay only half-a-mile west of Sand covered the floor. coated the stand today as the foundation pillars of cave Crystal. Now longer than Crystal Cave, the walls. Their careful footprints were the first conservation. new maps gave Austin and Lehrberger new on the floor of this beautiful elliptical tube. This is the story of a man who influenced insights and aided further exploration. During the next few hours, Lehrberger the cavers of his time and enlightened today’s Austin also invited—or more accurately and Austin discovered three more miles of modern cavers. Austin was a no-nonsense chose—a small group from the COG (Central walking passage. A narrow trail had to be serious caver and a Kentucky cave owner Grotto) to continue exploration beyond made through gypsum formations. Massive who enforced rules for developing the values the boundaries of the C3 expedition under gypsum crunched below their boots. In of cave conservation. In a sense, he estab- the watchful eye of former Crystal Cave several places, formations more fantastic lished an early in-cave spelean laboratory of manager and COG member James ‘Pop’ than any known in this area only added conservation. Austin’s intense personality Dyer. to their sense of awe. The experience was and his devotion to the preservation of his Lehrberger spent many days exploring a humbling. Reaching a final breakdown, cave discoveries caused his jaw muscle to small cave he felt might connect to the end of the pair left their initials and the date. On pulsate when he talked of delicate forma- Austin’s mapped passages. Over many solo the long trip back they followed their own tions and fragile passages. His principles trips, he discovered a of lower-level footsteps, and stayed on the narrow strip carry forward a certain motivation that we dusty and lots of elusive air, but of disturbed floor surrounded by nature’s all recognize today from our own caving the cave stubbornly failed to link with the pristine beauty. experiences. targeted longer Flint Ridge cave. One rainy day, Lehrberger heard a seasonal The Secret Gets Out —Impact NSS C-3 Expedition, Central Ohio just a few feet beyond the small cave’s first Spreads Grotto pit, and decided to follow the water’s path. As with any clandestine cave discovery, Austin had achieved certain goals by the Through a series of small pits filled with the secret soon spread. Austin kept the COG summer of 1954. As manager of Kentucky’s water spray, Lehrberger chimneyed down to cavers ‘in the dark’ even as they announced Floyd Collins’ Crystal Cave, Austin and his a flat-floored . He squeezed through a their own breakthrough to the Overlook in employer sponsored a massive week-long body-sized tube which dropped into a much Crystal Cave. Lehrberger however, shared NSS C3 expedition to map areas beyond larger canyon. From here, the way to go the discovery with his Louisville caving Floyd’s Lost Passage. Too young an orga- was straight down and would require rope. buddies. nization to have famous cavers, the NSS The Louisville group entered the secret nevertheless represented the passionate elite New Discovery cave for a poorly documented 48-hour trip of those times. They primarily searched for On September 11 in 1954, Lehrberger that discovered even more new passages. cave and passage discoveries, saving the took Austin and a rope to the small cave in Narrow trails became broader, and an disciplines of science for a footnote. order to safely explore the new, lower levels. underground camp was littered with trash At the rope’s end, a walking tube beckoned. and carbide dumps. After proceeding 500 feet, Austin read his Austin and Lehrberger hastily surveyed compass, and the pair realized that this new much of the new discovery. One passage passage led away from the target on their passed close to the latest COG discovery, map. Another 500 feet of crouching led Eyeless Fish Trail, and Austin realized he had to a muddy area with child-sized footprints, choices to make. bare, and very old. The footprints were clear Austin needed to initiate new rules for John Delong, CRF John Delong, and well-defined because there was no other the cave. trampling in this otherwise virgin passage. Cavers from Louisville left their marks. They decided to erect two large rocks Delicate sediments had already been tram- and scribe a carbide soot warning: “Avoid pled. Carbide and dumps were footprints.” Five minutes later the pair everywhere. Austin could not control how One of only two signatures after the 4.5 mile reached a major T- junction. Another hour the Louisville cavers behaved underground, discovery trip. Terminal breakdown beyond of thrilling caving produced discoveries that and preventing further human impact to this was opened within months to bypass the seemed more fantastic than possible. new discovery became a necessary condition fragile area now known as Bennington Grotto, which even today remains off limits. Tom A large hall, featuring an onyx wall, for access. He knew this was an opportunity Brucker and Elizabeth Winkler. cave pearls, and concealing a three-second to share the underground wonders, but it

10 NSS News, April 2019 could only be shared with cavers who would follow the rules. To date, COG cavers had A Perfect Collision of Forces: been easily controlled. The others, it became clear, were not. Charles B. Henson Cave Preserve Amber Lehmann Obey the Rules Board Director/Southeastern Cave Conservancy Austin had to create rules. How Austin with Contributions by the Chattanooga Times Free Press (Mark Pace) manipulated the two caving groups is another story. When Austin shared the new discoveries in the fall of 1956 with the COG cavers he mandated strict rules: Stay Acquiring and Conserving the a few homes, some cabins, and the ruins on trails. Stay off formations. Travel only in Charles B. Henson Cave Preserve of an unfinished community center. The areas where work is being done. Minimize What started as a dream of protect- beautiful, undeveloped land contains several carbide writing. Keep out of specified forma- ing one of the highest concentration of large scenic ponds, rolling hills, countryside, tion areas. The most important rule of all caves in the southeast became a reality for pasture, and caves, with picturesque Lookout was to insist all new caver recruits follow the Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. (SCCi) Mountain in the background. rules. Unsupervised cave explorers were no at the end of 2018. Thanks to a generous longer welcome. anonymous donation of over 2,300 acres, Part 2 – Grassroots Conservation For young cavers like me (my first trip along with the facilitation of the Georgia- Efforts here was in 1963), these rules made perfect Alabama Land Trust, Inc. (GALT), the Early on, cavers worried about the effect sense. But in 1956, conservation rules were SCCi now owns and protects the entire hundreds of new septic systems might have a ‘tough sell’ to old timers. No one yet called area now known as the Charles B. Henson on water in the area caves. Residents on the these practices ‘cave conservation.’ Caves Cave Preserve at Johnson’s Crook, in Dade brow of Lookout Mountain were concerned existed to be explored and enjoyed, and County, Georgia. about what hundreds of new homes would many were heavily exploited. A recent Chattanooga Times Free do to their view. This was an opportunity to save and Press article called the acquisition circum- The greatest threat from potential protect a large cave for the sake of sharing stances “a perfect collision of forces…that development of the Crook would have been in its discovery. It is through emotional learn- paved the way for one of the biggest private from water pollution. Officials estimated that ing experiences that cavers understand the conservation projects in the region.” septic tanks for the number of homes that necessity of practicing cave conservation. Johnson’s Crook was formed as a result were planned for the area would introduce Signs and gates and even secrecy cannot of tectonic activity and the effects 300,000 gallons of sewage daily into the preserve a cave. of wind, waves, and rain. It contains dozens Crook’s ground water. of caves, pits, , , cliffs, If the Preserve at Rising Fawn had The Lesson rare plants, and an recharge zone. been fully developed, it also could have Education is important, but the best kind meant the loss of an extensive tract of a of cave conservation is individual mentoring Part 1 – A Real Estate Development mixed mesophytic forest (more on that later by ethical and experienced cavers. Some Scam in this article) that contains several rare cavers have reinforced this ethical and In 2004, developers subdivided 2,000 and threatened species. Other possibilities emotional wisdom by taking new cavers on acres at Johnson’s Crook and, in 2007, include cave entrances being bulldozed shut, cave cleanup trips. Investing time and effort began offering lots in an area they named aquifer recharge zones being destroyed, to restore a cave is a conservation lesson that ‘The Preserve at Rising Fawn.’ The cabin archaeological and historical artifacts being will never be forgotten. Prevention, however, resort was to feature an equestrian center, threatened. Equally devastating would have beats clean up every time. swimming pool, fine dining, trails, and a been the potential loss of the scenic vistas luxury spa. What happened next befuddled that draw tourists from Tennessee, Alabama, locals as well as concerned cavers and and Georgia to this stretch of the Lookout conservationists from around the region. Mountain Scenic Parkway. It was reported that developers had Enter Charles ‘Chuck’ Henson, a erected some gates, a barn, ‘No Trespassing’ well-known TAG caver (Dogwood City signs, and very little else. The area had no Grotto), conservationist, and early advo- roads, electricity, or water, but out-of-town buyers were snapping up the lots and for

Under Earth Images jaw-dropping sums. From 2008 to 2010, hundreds of buyers, mostly from out of the area, paid $175,000 to $250,000 for a couple wooded lots that normally would sell for around $7,000 to $8,500. Following the housing market crash of 2008-2009, the Federal Bureau of Investigation eventually determined that sales Old Granddad is one of the signature calcite were misrepresented in order to inflate land formations accessed via the Austin Entrance to Mammoth Cave. values and then obtain bank loans for new mortgages. The two developers involved in the scheme went to prison, and most of the 300 lots sold currently are vacant. What remains is a grand entrance gate, Chuck Henson

NSS News, April 2019 11 cate of protecting the land at Johnson’s Part 4 – Conservation Efforts on a came about through SCCi’s forward thinking Crook. Being himself a builder, Chuck Larger Scale and strategic purchases by conservationists predicted the scheme to pre-sell lots with no The failure of the ambitious and envi- to protect the caves. infrastructure would fail (and he was right). ronmentally insensitive housing development “The partnership with the Georgia- Worried about Johnson’s Crook, Lost provided a chance for GALT to begin large- Alabama Land Trust has made it possible Canyon, and many other caves in the scale conservation measures. Although the for this natural resource to be protected region, Chuck quietly started buying land group’s interest in the Crook pre-dated the and enjoyed forever by recreational cavers, that became available. He bought the lot planned development, it was not until 2012 hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts,” said SCCi containing Lost Canyon Cave and donated that GALT began land acquisitions with a Executive Director Ray Knott. “SCCi wants to it to SCCi. Chuck’s concern for the Crook final goal of creating a cave preserve to bene- the preserve to be an asset to Dade County inspired other conservation-minded people fit the public. Thanks to land acquisition and and the North Georgia community.” including the Georgia-Alabama Land Trust, donations of conservation easements, there “Conserving this amount of land comes which eventually purchased the remaining is now a permanent conservation easement with a lot of responsibility and cost,” he said. cave acreage. on the land in the current Henson Preserve. “Stewardship, trails, and basic recreation In case you’re wondering, a conserva- structures can be costly. We will need the Part 3 - The Importance of tion easement is a voluntary agreement input and support of many partners to make Johnson’s Crook between parties that permanently protects this preserve a North Georgia destination.” Johnson’s Crook had been on the radar land from development, surface , and SCCi now plans to work with commu- of conservationists and developers for many other practices that would significantly cause nity partners to develop a master plan for years. In 1992, the Georgia Department harm to the area. The land owner either sells the preserve. With the donation, land owned of Natural Resources (GaDNR) proposed or voluntarily donates the easement, which and protected by SCCi has increased to more acquiring the Crook’s most significant is a legally binding agreement in perpetuity than 4,475 acres. natural areas, but the effort failed due to the while the land remains in private hands and With the SCCi board’s decision to landowner only wanting to sell the tract in whether the property is sold or passed on increase capacity, hire staff, and create better one piece. to heirs. support systems, the group is positioned to Having one of the highest concentra- Conservation easements protect land accept and manage a donation of land of this tions of caves in the area, Johnson’s Crook for future generations while allowing owners size and value. It is a testament to how far is one of the top three karst landscapes to retain many private property rights and to SCCi has progressed in the past few years. in the state, according to the Georgia live on and use their land. At the same time, Moving forward, SCCi will continue to Speleological Survey (the other two are Fox certain tax benefits also may be realized. An conserve and protect not only the Henson and Pigeon ). Over 30 caves and easement selectively targets only those rights Preserve but 30 others and more than 170 pits have been documented in the Crook, necessary to protect specific conservation caves it currently owns or manages. SCCi will including Johnson’s Crook Cave, which is at values, such as water quality or migration continue to seek significant caves for acquisi- the bottom of a deep sinkhole and extends routes, and is individually tailored to meet a tion while providing world-class stewardship for over 7,000 feet. Also located on the landowner’s needs. to protect caves and karst landscapes forever. Preserve is Eagle Cave, which is near the In the simplest of terms, conservation base of the escarpment and approximately easements are a permanent and viable way 3,000-feet-long, and Lost Canyon Cave, one of protecting land. of Georgia’s deepest, at 352-feet. Johnson’s Crook is covered by an Part 5 – Georgia-Alabama Land Appalachian mixed mesophytic (not particu- Trust and SCCi’s Partnership larly dry nor wet) forest, a relic of the ancient During the early fall of 2015, GALT forest that once covered much of the temper- granted SCCi stewardship of 1,300 cave- ate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. rich acres in the Crook. At that time, while Examples now only survive in the southeast SCCi only owned a few parcels and managed Alan Cressler region of North America and in eastern and some of the land, the majority of the property central China where they provide a refuge for belonged to a private owner. SCCi’s main a wide range of plants, animals and insects. obligation during this time was to maintain In total, the Appalachian mixed mesophytic the property it owned and managed. forest eco-region represents one of the most SCCi named this property the Charles biologically diverse temperate zones of the B. Henson Cave Preserve at Johnson’s world. Crook, in honor of the late Chuck Henson. Located in the Lookout Mountain ridge, It was a major milestone in the conservation the Crook landscape is a deep horseshoe- of the land and for Chuck’s legacy. shaped cove with high bluffs. Underlain by During this period and over the course bedrock, many of the slopes have of three years, SCCi was working with GALT been popular among cavers for their varied to acquire the land as permanent owners. In challenges and remarkable beauty. Unlike the mid-December of 2018, the long-awaited rest of Lookout Mountain’s western slope, dream of owning the cave-rich property its steep walls face not only west, but also came to a reality. north and south. This unique aspect allows SCCi received a call with the news that for the growth of rare flora and proliferation the owner of most of the land holdings of of fauna. Johnson’s Crook wanted to donate it before the end of the year. It was an implausible Part of the 130-foot-tall waterfall in Johnson’s goal—a perfect collision of forces—that Crook Cave

12 NSS News, April 2019 Conservation Education: Don’t Go It Alone Dave Jackson

to a four-day program in 2017, and then a six-day program in 2018. As the program length has grown, so has the educational value. We teach high

school Advanced Placement (AP) biology and Miles Groth AP chemistry students about cave biota using several in-class labs that are aligned with educational standards and coupled tightly with the conservation lessons that CaveSim teaches. We do physics lessons on the CaveSim SRT tower that are so compelling that other classes come outside to partici- pate, despite not being scheduled with us. Even sometimes-jaded high school students have so much fun with CaveSim that they A girl falls in love with caving for the first time become eager to learn both conservation and An elementary school student is thrilled to in CaveSim. Photo courtesy Chelsea Self, in-depth science lessons from the CaveSim learn the physics of pulleys on the CaveSim Glenwood Springs Post Independent. 12 foot vertical caving A-frame. labs. This past year, Matt Covington was extremely generous in sharing a day of his Have you ever been caving alone? I time to present to the high school students has expanded like ripples in a pond. In suppose that a few of you might have, but about his experiences in cave exploration February of this year, we will be doing nearly we all know it isn’t advisable. I, for one, have and university-level speleology. twice as many days of CaveSim programs in never been caving alone (unless you count Deitra’s small initial step of asking for a Austin as we did a year ago. that hour or so during a small-party rescue CaveSim program has also led to CaveSim And like ripples in a pond, the stories of a fellow caver, but that’s another story programs in Oklahoma City, more than of conservation education in Oklahoma and for another day). The point is this: most of three hours away, and these programs have Texas intersect. The Texas cavers introduced us know that the key to successful caving taught hundreds of non-cavers about the me to Mary Hicks, who helped first with the is collaboration with fellow cavers. It turns importance of caves and conservation. 2018 Oklahoma programs, and will soon out that the key to successful conservation Like Deitra, caver Cait McCann also help with Texas events. As a result, even education is also collaboration. took a small step that has grown into an more conservation education is enabled than Collaboration is the only reason that I incredible conservation education effort. either project could achieve on its own. After had the opportunity to teach well over 5000 Cait went out on a limb and asked to have all, it takes amazing people to help me do people about cave conservation in 2018. It’s CaveSim at the Austin Cave Festival, a one- two solid weeks of CaveSim programs. only because of incredible partnerships that day public program put on each year by the CaveSim was able to travel to five states for City of Austin. Because I believe strongly in I’m excited to see who I’ll get to work 57 days of educational programs in one year. being responsible with fuel by making the with in 2019. After all, it’s really the friend- And the list of people who helped make this most of long trips, we worked together to ships that I’ve developed through CaveSim possible is far longer than the number of days organize not one, but seven consecutive days that make it so much fun. Teaching thou- of programs that we did with CaveSim last of programs in Austin, including programs sands of people about cave conservation year. That’s why I sent over 220 Christmas at five schools. In this way, Cait, Jessica is incredibly rewarding, and if you’d like to cards in December -- because I have a lot Gordon, and many other Texas cavers collaborate with me to make more CaveSim to be thankful for. Of course, if I re-thanked banded together to help me inspire over programs happen, just send me a message everyone, you’d fall asleep quickly, which 1000 non-cavers to become advocates for ([email protected]). Cave softly! isn’t my goal. Instead, I’ll share just two cave conservation. Cait and Jessica’s effort compelling (and related) stories of the power we all have to take a small action to affect big change. At the 2015 Convention, caver Deitra Biely took a small step that has had a big positive impact on conservation education Kids enthralled by a speleology lesson given ever since. Deitra asked if I would bring by the author at a 2018 CaveSim from Colorado to teach her 3rd CaveSim program. Kathy grade students in Grove, Oklahoma. I think Keeler is seen in the she may have been a little bit surprised when background (in blue hat). I agreed. Deitra then did the hard work of Photo courtesy Chelsea Self, Glenwood Springs writing grants to fund the program, and Post Independent. several cavers from around the US helped me teach 200 students during a two-day program in Grove in 2016. The program was so successful that Deitra expanded it

NSS News, April 2019 13 Cave Conservancy of Hawaii Creates Fred Stone Memorial Endowment Fund text by CCH members, with photos by Peter and Ann Bosted

The Cave Conservancy of Hawaii was founded in 2002. It is dedicated to the stewardship of volcanic caves and their contents for posterity (or at least until the next lava flow comes along!). Perhaps the biggest threat to caves in Hawaii is devel- opment. Even though it’s prohibited by the Hawaii Cave Protection Act, developers generally fill in entrances with rocks, debris, and even stacks of crushed cars. Entrances are often completely filled when used as trash dump sites. In other cases, sewage systems either drain directly into caves, or leak through cracks. In one particularly obnoxious case, nasty stuff from a hospital was found washed into the cave. To preserve caves for scientific study, aesthetic enjoyment, preservation of cultural resources, and education for generations to come, the CCH has been gradually acquir- ing properties with cave entrances through Delicate gypsum crust hanging from a ceiling This roadside entrance to a on the purchase or land-owner agreements. The in the Kanohina System Big Island has been filled with thousands of properties are managed 100% by dedicated pounds of trash, including refrigerators, tires, volunteers who do all the work. Management microbial communities thriving in our cave and bicycles. of the properties includes the required environments. As the number of properties administrative work, restrictions on any grow, so do the bills. Many of the properties The Cave Conservancy of Hawaii kind of development, cave access, promo- have obligatory Road Maintenance Fees, and (CCH) has created the Fred Stone Memorial tion of serious research, cleaning up dump all have property taxes. Endowment Fund in order to assure protec- sites, and removing invasive plants and trees As a non-profit conservation owner, the tion for their properties by providing funds from the surface so that the native trees can CCH pays the minimum property tax, which to cover ongoing costs of ownership for the thrive. was unexpectedly raised from $100/year to foreseeable future. The Board of the CCH Roots of these trees are the key ingredi- $200/year per property recently. To make has taken this step as a best means to provide ent in a thriving ecosystem of more than 50 sure that the CCH will be able to pay these care for these lands in perpetuity. The fund different cave-adapted invertebrates. They ever-increasing bills over the long term, the has an initial goal of $75,000. also play a big role in the extremophile Fred Stone Memorial CCH Endowment

Cave-adapted plant-hopper on a tree root in the Kanohia System. An active research program has recently identified several new species of cave-adapted invertebrates in Hawaii caves. Large passage in the Kanohina System, where most of the CCH properties are located

14 NSS News, April 2019 Fund has recently been created, hosted by size, the generated income from the fund is the Endowment Fund). Please inquire about the National Speleological Foundation. The expected to pay the annual bills for genera- setting up a donation in your will or recur- fund is named to honor the memory and tions to come, weathering the ups and downs ring credit card donations. Visit our web site service of pioneering cave biologist, conser- of the economy and the ability of the CCH to (http://www.hawaiicaves.org/) or contact vationist, and educator Fred Stone. Among raise funds on an annual basis. In the future Mike “at” speleobooks.com (phone 518 253 his many accomplishments, Fred gave the it will grow to help with property purchases. 6781). The Cave Conservancy of Hawai’i NSS its first cave: the McFail’s Cave Nature If you would like to support this endeavor, is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. It Preserve located in Schoharie County, New please send a check to the Cave Conservancy is registered in the state of Hawai›i as a non- York. of Hawaii, PO Box 7083, Ocean View, HI profit corporation and is a conservancy of Once the fund has grown to a sufficient 96737 (indicate that your donation is for the National Speleological Society.

Clarksville Cave Preserve Addition Thom Engel, NCC Vice-President

On 9 December 2018 the Northeastern with special recognition to the NSS and through the woods to the Gregory entrance, Cave Conservancy, Inc. (NCC) closed on NSF, whose contributions pushed the effort eliminating the need to walk along a busy an additional 2.44 acres of land for the over the top. Also a special thanks to NCC state highway to access this cave entrance. Clarksville Cave Preserve. This addition Member Mike Bourgeois, a licensed land This access trail will become part of the protects the land overlying the rest of the surveyor and local caver, who donated his planned karst education trail on the preserve. Gregory part of Clarksville Cave (See map). services to survey properties for local plan- In addition to the caves, the preserve has It also makes our preserve, which consisted ning approvals. some nice exposed surface karst features of two separate parcels, into a single contigu- Connecting the two parcels will now including well developed clints and grikes ous preserve. allow the NCC to construct a hiking trail (kluftkarren) along its western side, an area Clarksville Cave, which has been known extending from near our preserve kiosk that few visitors currently see. since about 1810, is one of the best known wild caves in the Northeast. The preserve receives about 3500 visitors a year—twenty percent of visitors only walk the surface. The NCC purchased the Ward parcel (11.27 acres) in 2004, which secured the Ward entrance to the cave, much of the upland karst in the vicinity of the cave, and a smaller cave known locally as the Ladder Dig. A month later the Albany County legislature voted to give the original 0.46-acre Gregory parcel to the NCC, creating a two-piece preserve. In February 2018 I was contacted by the owner of the land between the NCC’s two parcels. He was considering subdividing the land and wanted to know if the NCC would be interested in the rear section of this property. Based on the zoning in this part of Clarksville, the entire property could have been subdivided into three residential building lots. The NCC saw this as an oppor- tunity to connect our two parcels and also to prevent the construction of houses above or near the cave. The NCC board moved quickly on negotiations by Chuck Porter, Acquisitions Chairman, and Bob Simmons, NCC President, and with the landowner settled on a final price. This initiated a period of intense fund- raising. Forty people and groups contributed more than $19,000. The groups included the Northeastern Regional Organization, and regional , and also included the NSS through an NSS Cave Acquisition Grant as well as the National Speleological Foundation through a Vehslage Grant. We extend a big thank you to all contributors

NSS News, April 2019 15 Lincoln Caverns: Show Cave Committed to Conservation Outreach Abbe Hamilton

Ann Dunlavy owns about a hundred acres the features of the cave remain unchanged, for the noncommercial caving community. of karst. She has hosted Mid-Appalachian staff interpretation of their development She receives calls from customers who Region weekend events on her property, and evolves with new scientific discoveries. The seek a rugged, “getting dirty” underground has allowed local cavers to dig leads in her focus during Lincoln Cavern tours is less experience. They won’t find that on a tour two caves. She alerts grottos to fresh graffiti about why Lincoln Caverns is so great, of Lincoln Caverns and Whisper Rocks, but in popular local caves, and is a card-carrying and more about featuring processes that she encourages them to reach out to their member of the NSS, as were her father and are happening everywhere underground. local grotto. It’s hard to imagine a better grandfather. Many features of the cave were pointed person for such a position of influence: her Ann regularly hosts events where out as examples of universal geologic and business is actively protecting the area’s wild participants gather cave data the way geolo- hydrologic processes. This strikes me as a caves for those who are trained to visit them gists do, from measuring temperature, CO2, more honest depiction of the cave, as is the responsibly. (Indeed, an ex-Lincoln guide humidity, and drip rates, to conducting acid choice to avoid multi-colored, carnival-like once hesitated to give me directions to a local tests to identify rock types. Who are the lighting. She is out to show that a cave, sans cave preserve owned by the Mid-Atlantic participants? They are school groups and sensationalism, is an incredible place. Karst Conservancy until I related my own birthday party guests—learning, contribut- Staff are also quick to recommend the caving resume.) ing, and having fun! Ann is a show cave two commercial caves located within an Through my interview with Ann operator. She manages Lincoln Caverns hour’s drive of Lincoln: Woodward Cave and my exploration of the National Cave and Whisper Rocks, both near Huntingdon, and Penn’s Cave. The point isn’t that one Association, I came to understand that she Pennsylvania. is better than another—it’s that they’re so is representative of the new approach to Does this surprise you? If so, it might different. The enthusiasm is contagious. show caves. Visitors and cave guides alike be that you, like me, were unaware of the I suspect that this attitude is shared by have grown savvier in the decades following tremendous potential for a commercial cave the other members of the National Cave the heyday of gimmicky roadside attractions. operator to contribute to the greater caving Association (Lincoln is a member). The It’s heartening that there are more managers community. Ann revolutionized my concept NCA’s manifest touts their cooperative spirit like her. I wasn’t sure what to expect when of commercial caves, and their importance and educational bent. To me, this is a relief, I made Lincoln Caverns my first show cave and relevance to speleology. because I want more people like Ann staffing visit, but the cave operation exceeded my My previous impressions of show caves our country’s public cave assets. imagination in every way. As a caver and a were goofy at best, and negative at worst: Ann’s enthusiasm for caving softly is resident, I’m thrilled to have Ann Dunlavy in tours based on “imagination” (“This one reflected in the attitude of her well-trained my neighborhood. looks like the Empire State Building!”). staff. To Ann, it is the show cave ’s “True” stories about Indian princesses. responsibility to promote responsible caving Exaggerated or irrelevant superlatives: “This practices. She related a disappointing stop is the longest/deepest/heaviest in on a road trip with her Girl Scout troop, the tri-state area.” Stories of cave operators when they took a “wild tour” at a commercial filling in empty spaces with formations stolen cave. Her girls were excited to be wearing from other places, fabricating artifacts and the helmets, headlamps, and coveralls they’d Bunnell Dave phosphorescence. Patently false geological brought – until they saw the rest of the tour narratives. I often feel that I have to assure group sporting little more than handheld acquaintances that I’m interested in caves flashlights. A missed opportunity to promote for reasons beyond the gimmicky, kitschy good technique, she said. treatment they can receive in commercial Dunlavy recognizes the irreplaceability establishments. of her cave and karst assets more than At Lincoln Caverns, I learned about the anyone. To customers, she emphasizes that other kind of operator, one that bucks every caves are nonrenewable natural resources. stereotype I’d heard about commercial cave To protect the two caves, her staff will visit management. student groups prior to a tour to prepare Dunlavy isn’t kidding when she describes children for their responsibilities while inside her business as a “caves and karst educa- the near-pristine environment. tional facility.” Even the annual “Ghosts In her eyes, cavers need commercial and Goblins” haunted cave tours manage to caves. Caving is a notoriously secretive slip in some educational content. She care- activity, and her role, as she sees it, is to fully studies the latest advances in karst and attract the general public with a beacon. groundwater science, and in biospeleological “Some people may never go underground knowledge of creatures that call the cave other than their experience here,” she says. home. It doesn’t hurt that Will White, one She seizes this opportunity to educate about of the global authorities in cave science, was groundwater, rare species habitat, exemplary This area of pristine formations was a Lincoln guide in the 1950s and regularly geological processes, and, good cave conser- dug open by cavers at Whisper Rocks drops in for staff trainings. vation ethics. in cooperation with their manager, Ann Ann is quick to mention that although Dunlavy also functions as a gatekeeper Dunlavy.

16 NSS News, April 2019 Crystal Onyx Cave Reopens in Cave City, Kentucky Scott & Sara Sendtko

New steel steps Scott & Sara Sendtko Scott & Sara Scott & Sara Sendtko Scott & Sara

Traditionally, show caves artificially hide their light fixtures. The new Crystal Onyx cave lights remain exposed to get maxi- mum illumination per bulb. Fewer fixtures are needed with less mechanical impact on the cave. Wires are strategically hidden for aesthetics. Due to the cave’s unique, long, winding, and sometimes narrow trails, as well as its Crystal Onyx Cave, an established plethora of speleothems, tour size is targeted show cave in Cave City, KY, just completed at 12 people. Previous guides said they could an eight-year conservation—based reha- have over 30 people on tours. This may bilitation. Initial efforts began outside the Image of Goliath formation from the be costing us revenue but it greatly reduces showcave’s website, credited to Matt cave. The asphalt parking lot over the cave potential formation damage and pilfering McClintock. Note person on viewing platform was removed and replaced with crushed from the cave. It also provides for a better limestone. New land grooming and erosion user experience. ground for weed control. control practices were implemented. We have a “no tour” policy if there’s any Please Google Crystal Onyx Cave to Inside, the cement-based paths were snow or ice on the ground. Any salt or other read some of the many positive reviews jack hammered out and replaced with 50+ de-icing agents used on the parking lot and on these and other preservation efforts tons of fresh pea size limestone. These proj- steps would eventually run off into one of the in our show cave. Our Web site https:// ects allowed for more natural water flow into many sinkholes and caves on our property. crystalonyxcaveky.com/ also has detailed and throughout the cave. All creosote-treated Additionally, we don’t use chemicals above information. wood steps were replaced with concrete and steel steps. Unsafe rusty metal and wooden railings were replaced with fabricated steel ones. The “pit”, the lowest and wettest part of the cave, was used as a disposal area during past excavations and explorations. We found creosote-treated lumber, cinder blocks, tarps, broken , bulbs, and other debris buried th under 100+ tons of mud and rock. For Jewel Cave 200 Mile proper cleanup and development, we hauled it all out, one 5-gallon bucket at a time. Celebration Reunion Once the pit was cleared and cleanup & accomplished, the cave’s (and possibly June 28 30 2019 Kentucky’s) tallest formation “Goliath” was , once again accessible for tours. JOIN JEWEL CAVE, PARKS & FORESTS ASSOCIATION AND THE PAHA SAPA GROTTO IN CELEBRATING The old lighting system was removed. ALL OF THE DISCOVERIES AT JEWEL CAVE! A WEEKEND FULL OF EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE, NETWORK, AND LEARN Consisting of approximately three hundred ABOUT THE EXPLORATION OF JEWEL CAVE AND ADVANCES IN 100-watt bulbs and aluminum fixtures, the CAVE EXPLORATION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. old system produced 450,000 lumens and  SPEAKERS  ACTIVITIES used 30,000 watts. New PVC fixtures,  EXHIBITORS  FOOD LED bulbs, and better placement resulted in decreasing output to approximately 150,000 SEE FULL EVENT SCHEDULE AND REGISTER ONLINE AT: lumens and usage to about 1800 watts, https://blackhillsparks.org/shop/registration/ which all adds up to a much improved show jewel-cave-200-mile-celebration-reunion/ cave lighting system.

NSS News, April 2019 17 Colorado Cavers Assist in Battle Against Quarry Expansion Project Richard Rhinehart, NSS15822F

Colorado’s commercial Glenwood the mountain, using 25-foot benches to step iner later remarked was the most incomplete Caverns and the residents of Glenwood their way down the steep slope. Operations he had ever seen. An updated plan is Springs are increasingly concerned with are planned for 24 hours a day, 7 days a anticipated to be filed in the spring of 2019. a deep-pocketed proposal to expand the week, 365 days of the year. They anticipate Among its many deficiencies was a complete Mid-Continent Quarry northwest of the cave hiring up to 46 additional employees during lack of information regarding caves, karst and Iron Mountain. their peak operations. features and underground drainage. Located on Bureau of Land Management Quarried rocks will be crushed and land approximately one-half mile from the transported down the mountain on a mecha- Opposition to the Expansion popular cave that hosted the 2011 National nized pipe conveyor to a mill location below. Since the expansion plan was Speleological Society Convention Howdy From there, large haul trucks will be used to announced, local Glenwood Springs busi- Party, the Leadville Limestone quarry began move the rock from the mill site to a loading nesses and residents have joined together in operations in 1982, providing limestone for station on the Union Pacific Railroad line in almost universal opposition. The Glenwood coal mining near Redstone. Glenwood Springs. This route will see from Springs Citizen’s Alliance is the most visible With the closing of most of the coal 400 to 500 round trips daily at a maximum of the opposition groups. A Colorado non- mines south of Carbondale, the quarry road speed of 10 to 15 miles per hour. These profit organization, the Alliance has been ceased operations by 1992. Limited quarry- trucks will cross busy US Highways 6 & 50 key in alerting residents and visitors of ing began again in 2009 by CalX Minerals. across from the Glenwood Caverns tram- the intended expansion and the potential In October 2016, Rocky Mountain Resource way loading station and pass over Interstate damage this could create for the popular visi- Holdings, with offices in Los Angeles and in Highway 70 and the Colorado on city tor destination. Glenwood Springs has two Denver, purchased the quarry. By permit, up streets. The proposed Union Pacific loading commercial hot spring facilities, the Yampah to 20 truckloads of limestone are currently station is adjacent to a regional shopping Spa Vapor Cave, and the Glenwood Caverns allowed each day, for a total of 50,000 to complex featuring Target and other popular Adventure Park, which attracts nearly 75,000 tons of limestone products per year. stores. From there, Union Pacific trains will 200,000 visitors annually to the former Fairy Five employees work at the quarry, covering haul the limestone approximately 170 miles Cave and the surrounding thrill rides. 38 acres on six unpatented placer claims. through the Moffat Tunnel beneath the Colorado cavers through direction by Continental Divide to downtown Denver. the Society’s Colorado have Production Increases Proposed Here, an unloading station is planned in the also been active in this last year. Member Announcing the quarry expansion plans city train yards in downtown near Coors Field grottos and cavers throughout the state have in March 2018, Rocky Mountain submitted ballpark. Rock will be used as aggregate in composed impassioned letters of opposition a Plan of Operations Modification to the concrete for road and building construction to the expansion. These letters, mostly in Bureau’s governing Colorado River or transported to other states by rail. The printed format, have been submitted to the office in Silt on November 21. This revised Denver region’s exceptional growth in popu- public record at the Bureau’s Silt office. plan requested an expansion to approxi- lation in the last decade has created an acute Cavers have also begun field work in the mately 320 acres of the 440 acres on their shortage of high-quality concrete since many region, particularly along the east rim of claims. area , including two in the Colorado Oasis Creek, to identify and document cave The proposal called for approximately 5 Springs area, have shuttered operations. and karst features. million tons of the Leadville Limestone and Despite consultation with the Bureau Two small caves are currently known in the underlying Dyer to be annually prior to the filing of the plan, the Silt office the immediate vicinity. Less than 200 feet to quarried from the mountain. The life of the rejected the proposal on December 20 and the west of the proposed western boundary quarry is set at 20 years. returned it to RMR. The Bureau provided a of the quarry is Fountainhead Cave, discov- To accomplish this task, Rocky Mountain list of 73 items that were not covered in the ered in the mid-1980s by Pat Kambesis proposes quarrying from the top-down on plan, which an experienced mineral exam- and Larry Fish. To the south, closer to the Richard Rhinehart Richard Richard Rhinehart Richard

Looking south into the Roaring Fork Valley from the proposed Mid- The eastern rim of Oasis Creek north of Glenwood Springs has high Continent Quarry expansion site. On Iron Mountain in the center of Leadville Limestone cliffs that are in need of additional exploration the image is the access road to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park; for potential caves. in the distance is Glenwood Springs.

18 NSS News, April 2019 Kenneth Headrick Richard Rhinehart Richard

Ken Headrick in the entrance passage to Cave of the Clouds, a 19th John McLean begins the short rappel into Surprise Pit, a short, century commercial cave in Glenwood Canyon historic cave along the eastern rim of Oasis Creek. city, is Surprise Pit, a pit-entranced cave is about 3,000 feet from the proposed east- lobbying firm in the country. It saw record known since the late 19th century. Each of ern boundary of the quarry. Although this revenue in 2015 of $172.2 million, with these caves have about 100 feet of passage. once beautiful cave was extensively vandal- a net of $58.4 million. The firm helped Many additional leads are noted on adjacent ized in the 120 years since tours ended, a secure funding for the construction of Denver cliffs; these require ropework to visit and recent discovery of a pristine room noted International Airport, along with Denver’s document. Cavers intend to fully examine extensive “natural” breakage of speleothems. Pepsi Center and Mile High Stadium. these features in the spring of 2019, as well It is possible this breakage is owing to the While the firm has been closely linked with as examine Leadville Limestone cliffs and extensive blasting at a nearby quarry for a the Democratic Party nationally including outcroppings within the quarry plan. 30-year period from the early 1950s. assistance in bringing the 2008 Democratic National Convention to the city, they also Glenwood Caverns The Right Connections lobbied successfully for the Republican Party The owner and developer of Glenwood Rocky Mountain is a privately-owned, and President Donald Trump’s 2017 Tax Caverns, Society member Steve Beckley, national holding company with subsidiary Cuts and Jobs Act, changing the federal finds the proposed quarry expansion to be companies that acquire and develop natural tax code. particularly troubling. In addition to impact- resources. They currently operate oil and This connection with the Republican ing the lower tramway base and parking gas reserves, industrial minerals, chemicals, Party and the Trump administration is with heavy and continuous truck traffic, agribusiness and energy infrastructure. The significant. The current Acting Secretary of Beckley notes his visitor attractions on the company chairman is Chad Brownstein of the Department of Interior is Rifle, Colorado mountain, including a roller coaster, a giant Denver, a Colorado native who has a degree canyon swing and an alpine coaster, depend from Colorado State University. on a pleasant and relaxing mountain atmo- The company is represented legally by sphere. Trucks descending and ascending Denver law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber the Transfer Trail in the adjacent valley, Schreck, of which Brownstein’s father is increased dust and smoke, and blasting one of the founding partners. The law firm operations at the quarry will all be nega- hired Michael Stratton to represent Rocky tively received by visitors. In March 2019, Mountain’s interests; Stratton is very well- daily visitors to the park are anticipated to connected politically both in Colorado and Kenneth Headrick grow as the new Glenwood Gondola opens, nationally. Stratton has worked for members increasing tramway capacity from 18 cabins of the Democratic Party throughout his long to 44 cabins. career. In the last four decades, Stratton has There is also concern about the impact represented numerous prominent politi- potential blasting at the quarry may have cians, including President Bill Clinton and upon the cave and delicate speleothems. In Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Governor October 1961, Peter Prebble, Bob Wilber Roy Romer, Senator Gary Hart, Governor and Bob O’Connell purchased the 80-acre Michael Dukakis, Senator Mark Udall, parcel containing the cave, in part to protect Governor and Senator Bob Kerrey, Senator it from potential quarrying encroachment Christopher Dodd, Senator Floyd Haskell, from nearby quarry operations. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown, Denver Mayors Federico Peña and Wellington Webb, Cave of the Clouds and Governor Bill Richardson. Another nearby former commercial Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, cave, the Cave of the Clouds, was purchased founded in Denver in 1968 by three The Christmas Tree in King’s Row is one of by NSS members Mike and Donna Frazier in University of Colorado Law graduates, has Glenwood Caverns’ most spectacular large . This view is looking back toward January 2018. This Glenwood Canyon cave 11 offices nationally and is the second-largest the commercial trail.

NSS News, April 2019 19 In their limited public comments, Potential Groundwater Impacts Rocky Mountain’s representatives claim If it can be determined that quarrying the expanded quarry will not be visible from may negatively impact groundwater flow the city. Although this is mostly true for the in the area, an environmental study could current quarry nestled in the valley at the foot effectively block the expansion plan. Given of the White River , the proposed that much of the surface in the proposed expansion and downcutting to the current expansion is exposed Leadville Limestone, operation will leave a massive scar notice- it is likely that most drainage along the

Richard Rhinehart Richard able throughout West Glenwood and down descending southern limb of the White River the Roaring Fork valley toward Aspen. For Plateau will be impacted or altered by the a city that lives on tourism, heavy quarry quarry removing the soluble rock. In addition, The historic Transfer Trail is a four-- operations are not particularly compatible. this descending water, be it through fractures drive road from the saddle with Iron Mountain and faults in the strata or in undiscovered and the central White River Plateau to the Limestone, Claims, and cave and solutional passageways, may be north. This road is proposed for major one of the sources of water emerging from improvement if the Mid-Continent Quarry Profitability expansion is approved by the Bureau of Land The General Mining Act of 1872 the hot springs. Management. governs mining, prospecting and quarry- Colorado cavers will play an important ing operations within the United States. role in identifying cave and karst features in native David Bernhardt, who worked for Developed specifically to codify local codes the expansion region and documenting their and was a shareholder in Brownstein Hyatt developed by miners and prospectors who importance to the environment. Caves such Farber Schreck for eight years through July participated in the gold rushes of California, as Fountainhead and Surprise may be home 2017. Nominated by the President, he joined Nevada and Colorado during the preceding to rare species of cave-adapted animals. Interior on August 1, 2017. quarter century, the Act sets a price at 19th Bats appear to seasonally use the caves as century rates for placing and maintaining overnight roosts. Studies are needed. Glenwood Springs Sustained by active claims. It also serves as the governing Once the Plan is formally accepted by Tourism law to developing mines and quarries on the Bureau, cavers, residents, and businesses Rocky Mountain estimates the expanded federal lands. must respond formally during the 30-day quarry will contribute $22.5 million annually The Act specifically allows for free public comment period. If only a few people to Garfield County and Glenwood Springs access of the miners to work the public oppose the expansion, the federal govern- through employee wages, taxes and use fees. land, regardless of any alternative use or ment, nationally encouraged by the current As impressive as this may seem, it is a tiny potential use of the land. This right depends administration to approve all mining and fraction of the total income from tourism in on the claim holder’s ability to demonstrate development proposals, will likely approve. Glenwood Springs. that the ore can be profitably marketed. In This may happen anyway, but vigorous and The city’s 2018 budget indicates that consideration of Rocky Mountain’s request impassioned disapproval during the formal the dominant industry in Glenwood Springs to the BLM to expand their quarry, they comment period establishes to future court is tourism. Unlike other nearby cities such as will need to demonstrate that the limestone proceedings a widespread opposition to the Aspen or New Castle that were founded on within the claims can be profitably extracted plans of a single private company to turn a mining or ranching and farming, Glenwood and marketed. The BLM, however, may profit through the exploitation of pristine was created specifically for serving the visi- request that environmental impact studies be public lands. tor and recreation industry. The arrival of undertaken to determine the impact of the the Rio Grande Railroad in October 1887 proposed quarry on the local environment. provided for a large increase in visitors who came to the city specifically to relax, visit the hot springs and caves, and to seek pleasure through fishing, hunting, camping and other recreational activities. SPELEOBOOKS.COM 518 295 7978. Cave and In 2012, tourism brought $95 million and research by offering grants to assist bat gifts, books, clothing and jewelry. Prompt projects aligned with these goals. To receive in direct spending by visitors to the city. personal service since 1973. a grant request application please email us at Considering that each dollar brought into the West Cave Books [email protected]. community adds value, state tourism experts www.WVASS.org Applications reviewed quarterly. 12 project the full benefit of tourism in 2017 FLASHBULBS for sale. For prices and info email New WV Cave Books: Bulletin 20 Caves & was $175.7 million. This is eight times the [email protected] 4 Karst of the Culverson Creek Basin, WV by value of the expanded quarry operations. If your Grotto or Region is looking for new caves to Lucas, Balfour, and Dasher. 336 pages, 364 caves, 208 photos, 80 maps. Color copy on In addition, tourism created 1,800 jobs in explore in the Virginia area, RASS can offer your group a place to camp in Bath County, VA. There USB drive. $35 postpaid;.Bulletin 21 Caves Garfield County in 2016, with the majority are more than 100 caves within an hour drive. and Karst of Mercer & Summers Counties, being in the Glenwood Springs area. This is We support cave conservation and education. WV by Schaer and Dasher. 186 pages, 226 exponentially greater than the 45 to 50 total Contact Jason Hart at JHARTCAVESVA@gmail. caves, 131 photos, 62 maps. $25 postpaid. com 3 WVASS, PO Box 200, Barrackville, WV 26559 jobs anticipated for the expanded quarry. [email protected] 12 For Rocky Mountain, the financial The Richmond Area Speleological Society (RASS) supports cave conservation, education benefits of the expansion are substantial. If they see only 100 million tons of limestone AD RATES: Now based on the number of lines your ad takes up. It is a flat rate of $3 per line. As a guide, a to be extracted during the life of the quarry line holds 43-45 characters + spaces at our font and size. 10% discount for runs of 3 months or more.Payment operations, this translates to an overall retail must precede publication, but copy should be e-mailed to the editor ([email protected]), to reserve space. Copy should be received one month prior to publication date (e.g., by May 1 for a June issue). Make checks value of $6.5 to $14.3 billion at current rates payable to the National Speleological Society and send to: Att: NSS News Advertising, 6001 Pulaski Pike NW, of $65 to $143 per ton. Huntsville, AL35810.

20 NSS News, April 2019 Mammoth Cave Restoration Reaches 30-year Milestone Story and photos by Gary Gibula

the Resto caver volunteers. Removing the in-cave boat ramp and getting the creosote- infused wood out of the water, in my opinion, saved the population of blind cave fish and blind crayfish.” The Mammoth Cave Restoration events occur at regular intervals, four times a year, and are free-of-charge. Saturday-Sunday work days are held on the first weekends of March, May, and November. The August week-long camp requires a nominal fee that Resto cavers help move historic logs that covers three meals a day. Volunteers stay at were used as water pipes during Civil War a private on-site campground with hot show- era saltpeter mining near the Rotunda Room. ers and sleep in a heated and air-conditioned One of the most enduring examples bunkhouse or in their tents. of cave conservation may be found at the Caver transports a piece of old wood on world’s longest cave. For the past 30 years, an unused walkway near the Echo River – Volunteer Value of Cavers photographer unknown). officials at Mammoth Cave National Park, in “Mammoth Cave National Park is southwestern Kentucky, have welcomed the extremely grateful for the efforts of cavers specialized help cavers are able to provide. who donate their time in the ongoing conser- a pre-convention field camp in 1989. The With more than 408 miles of passages, vation of Mammoth Cave, other caves within idea caught on and quickly expanded to the the cave and its surrounding 82.6 square the park, and our above-ground resources,” four per year format. miles of land were designated a National Park said Barclay C. Trimble, Mammoth Cave Hunsaker said: “We’re always looking in 1941. ‘Restoration’ caver volunteers have National Park Superintendent. “The work for like-minded cavers who want to share assisted with in-cave and above-ground tasks you perform is a wonderful example of their passion for caving and conservation. there since 1989. how volunteerism is an essential factor in If you’re interested, please contact me at For example, installation of a new LED preserving the natural and cultural treasures restoremammoth.com.” lighting system to stop the growth of green of the National Park Service and, more Now in his second year as Mammoth moss on illuminated rock at Mammoth Cave specifically, Mammoth Cave National Park, Cave Superintendent, Barclay Trimble has left behind thousands of feet of old wire. which is a World Heritage Site and a core warmly welcomed Resto cavers. Trimble In an ongoing effort, Resto cavers have component of the Mammoth Cave Area helped with work tasks like shoveling gravel methodically gone through the passages Biosphere Reserve.” from a streambed to improve the flow of to find unused electric cable that might be During the week-long Restoration Field Mammoth Spring. located in an off-trail crevasse, behind rocks, Camp last August, cavers cut and removed “Without our volunteers and their will- or buried in the ground along a tour route. 600-feet of wire, transported 3,200-pounds ingness to help, Mammoth Cave National The wire is then cut, coiled, and transported of gravel, hauled 80 sacks of waterlogged Park would not appear as it does today,” he out of the cave. wood, removed eight deteriorated wood said. “I cherish my time working alongside staircases, and vacuumed 34 bags of lint from our Resto volunteers, and the camaraderie Resto Camps Four Times Per Year tourist trails. Participants contributed 714 and conversations I’ve had about preserving “I would say our biggest impact was man-hours of work for the week which, at a and protecting something we all treasure is the completion of the Echo River Project,” prevailing wage of $24.69 per hour, saved truly inspiring. All your hard work certainly said Bill Copeland, Ozark Highlands Grotto the park $17,628.66. sets a great example to others about cave member and former Resto Camp Director. Current Resto Camp Director Brian and karst conservation overall. “It most likely would have never been Hunsaker said estimated grand totals of accomplished without the manpower of all material removed from Mammoth Cave over the past 30 years include 13.3 miles of wire, 3.43 tons of gravel, 2 tons of concrete, 1,100 board-feet of creosote wood, and 150 pounds of lint. In addition, Resto cavers have pulled out old light fixtures, removed lead- sleeved anchors from walls, and completed numerous other above and below-ground tasks. He said the total dollar value of Resto caver volunteerism is close to $1 million. “It takes a special person to volunteer his time for cave restoration,” Hunsaker said. “For us, it is an honor and privilege to contribute our efforts in perhaps the most historic cave in the U.S.” Mammoth Cave National Park Superintendent Caver David Irving organized the first Resto caver and former camp director Bill Barclay Trimble helped cavers dredge gravel Copeland uses a drill to remove lead anchors to improve the water flow of Mammoth Spring. official Mammoth Cave restoration effort as from a stone wall in Mammoth Cave.

NSS News, April 2019 21 Inventorying Broken Speleothems as a Way to Quantify Visitor Impacts Aria Mildice, GIP Intern, Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park recently others from touching or breaking formations. with several microbiologists, we decided to completed a project to count the broken In the winter months, when the park wasn’t use either a Sharpie™ or nail polish. Both speleothems throughout the visitor routes as busy, visitors would still take the ranger- are frequently used for survey stations, have in the cave. Two Geoscientists in the Parks guided tour into the cave. proven to give the type of lasting power we (GIP) interns, Aria Mildice and Jake Tholen desired, and the volatile organic compounds were tasked with continuing carrying capac- Counts Initiated in the Mid-70s in these products tend to quickly volatilize ity studies throughout the cave. Part of By 1975, just three years later, a and create less negative impact on cave envi- determining Carlsbad Cavern’s carrying supervisory Interpretive Ranger, Hiram ronments than other marking options. We capacity is establishing a baseline for the level Parent, started noticing more and more decided on nail polish since it has a variety of impact already seen in the cave. In addi- broken formations throughout the cave, and of colors available for future inventories, and tion to counting the broken speleothems, we completed the first known broken speleo- this year we went with a bright, neon lime also completed color-coded impact mapping them inventory. Parent conducted another green. This color is readily visible in direct for the visitor routes, and have continued the inventory in 1977, and made counts in the light, but blends in remarkably well in the CO2, temperature, and humidity monitoring Main Corridor, Scenic Rooms, and the Big lighting conditions throughout much of the started in the summer of 2018. Room. As of 2019, we were unable to find cave. It also fluoresces under true blacklight The park had conducted broken speleo- any record of his report or his memo to for easy re-detection. them inventories in the past, but the last one the environmental committee. During the We were much more thorough with was conducted more than 25 years ago, in summer of 1983, the Cave Resources Office our counts than previous years. In the 1993. Unfortunately, in that time period, hired two interns to conduct counts in the past, some areas of the cave were very many of the previous records had been lost. Big Room, and later that year they conducted thoroughly counted, even marking crust The park had one report from 1983, counts counts for the rest of the cave. Breaks were and small popcorn breaks, while others for all of the breaks up to 1993, and a few recounted again in 1985, 1986, 1987, only marked the notable breaks, or in some anecdotal comments from local cavers and 1988, and 1993. Through these years they years, just the and soda straws For previous managers. We essentially had to used various methods and colors to mark the 2019 inventory, we counted all breaks, start from scratch and determine the best and distinguish the broken speleothems. Of and we specified in the report which areas way to count thousands of broken formations the six counts done during the 1980s and were excluded from the count. Some of in just a few months. We came up with a plan 1990s, we found only one remaining inven- those excluded areas are places with heavy to organize counting projects tory report. We used that one report from infrastructure, places blasted with dynamite with park volunteers. 1983 as our baseline for this year’s count. for trail construction, and various other cave project areas. Our primary goal was to create Ranger Present vs Peer Pressure Questions, Inventory Process, and a baseline assessment of vandalism, not a As of 1993, reports noted 36,000 Lime Green Nail Polish baseline count of everything ever done that’s broken formations throughout the cave. This year, we decided we needed to impacted the cave or its formations. Unlike most other show caves, much of complete a full report, so future count Our original volunteer weekend was Carlsbad is self-guided, meaning visitors projects will have a baseline to recreate and canceled due to a looming potential govern- are able to walk on the paved and lighted complete another identical inventory. One ment shutdown; luckily we had a back-up areas on their own without a Ranger escort of our first issues, after the lack of available date. The NSS Southwest Spring Regional or guided tour. But, this wasn’t always the literature, was actually finding the broken was the February 23 weekend, and we had case. Before 1972, tours in Carlsbad Cavern speleothems. While some are very obvious, 19 volunteers come help count broken were ranger-guided. Visitors would join a like a broken drapery or stalactite, others formations. Teams of two or three were tour and then be escorted through the cave proved to be more of a challenge. How do given nail polish, a clip board, a record by park rangers. we count broken crust? Should there be any sheet, and were sent throughout the cave. National Parks, as well as Carlsbad distinction for very large breaks? How should We counted breaks within 10 feet of either Caverns National Park, became very popular we mark the broken formations? What’s side of the paved trail. Once teams finished during the 1970s. Parks saw peak visita- the best way to break down and organize one sub-section they were assigned another. tion as families traveled across the US to our data? We were able to finish the Big Room with see America’s natural and cultural wonders We decided to create a form to simplify the help of all of these dedicated SWR caver protected by the National Park Service. and standardize the data collected. We volunteers! The parks experienced challenges due to retained the same sub-sections, we found in After hours with park employees volun- their popularity. In Carlsbad Cavern, the the previous inventories, organized by cave teering their time, we also counted the ranger-guided tours started to become too location. Plus, we broke down our count data Scenic Rooms and the King’s Palace Tour large, and in at least one case a tour was by type of speleothem. This will hopefully route. With local volunteers in the weeks upwards of 2,000 visitors! Cave managers give a clear picture to future counters and preceding our big weekend, we counted the at the time recognized the impracticality of future cave managers. Main Corridor. All of our counts in the Big such massive tours, and ended the ranger- We were not able to easily see the Room and Main Corridor were done during guided tours in the summer months when it previous marks from the older surveys. The regular visitor hours and within sight of the was prohibitively busy. Part of their thought- china-marker and pencil used in the 70s and visitors. It was a great opportunity to speak process included the hope that peer pressure 80s had worn off, and in some cases had with visitors about the damage that has been among many visitors in the cave would deter been consumed by microbes. After speaking done to the cave, and nearly every visitor we

22 NSS News, April 2019 Volunteer Training and Volunteer Value The total time spent on this project

Aria Mildice in-cave counting formations was 204.2 man hours. This does not count time to Tholen Jake travel to the location, or time spent on data management. We created an orientation PowerPoint, and the time taken to orient volunteers was also not counted. The orien- tation PowerPoint covered how to identify and mark broken formations as well as how to count and record those data. There were constant discussions with Jake Tholen marks broken popcorn pieces. team members over what should count as a break. In some cases it was difficult or even spoke with understood the issue at hand and impossible to tell if it was a break, or just how commended our work. the formation looks, or distinguish natural versus human-caused impacts. Some of the Statistics particularly difficult areas included massive Example of marked broken popcorn Just over 11,000 new broken forma- gypsum, any kind of crust, areas with lots tions have been found since 1993. This of moonmilk, or areas that had very high basis to see a more detailed picture of the number comes to on average of about impact. The “very high impact areas” were impacts that visitation has on this cave. Other 430 broken formations per year. The total typically counted for breaks, although did types of assessments are needed to move for the entire cave is now 47,407 broken not result in high counts, because in many forward. Photomonitoring, trail counters, speleothems. While these numbers seem cases, the original formations were totally recording contacts with visitors not follow- very high, previous reports saw upwards of gone. These areas were also captured in our ing the rules, and noise monitoring will be 2,000 breaks per year. Most of the breaks concurrent impact mapping project. needed. we found appear to be accidental breaks, For cave managers who wish to many were not scenic formations, and were Recommendations re-create this type of broken speleothem in areas of high traffic close to the paved While this count was a major effort, it inventory, we would highly recommend trail. While there is no way to determine if is only the beginning of our work studying determining a marking method that will a break was an accident or vandalism, we the cave’s carrying capacity. This count work for your cave, conducting counts in hope that a decrease in breaks indicates a should act as a new baseline for the cave. sight of visitors, and breaking down the work decrease in vandalism. Many changes have been made to the cave, based on cave-section and type of forma- This inventory showed that the most including different visitor routes, a lack of tion break. Creating standards of breaks numerous breaks between 1993 and 2019 ranger-guided tours in some areas and an and data collection proved to be vitally were popcorn, which totaled 7,274 breaks. increase of ranger-guided tours in others, important for conducting this inventory, and The least numerous breaks were shelfstone, the installation of stainless steel hand railings, could be altered for other caves and their rimstone, and . The shelfstone and many other projects. environments. and rimstone areas had not been counted There has also been a change in atti- Hopefully, future inventories continue in previous inventories, but the count is tudes regarding cave conservation since the to show decreasing numbers of breaks as likely low, both due to the lack of prolifera- 1970s when these counts began. There has visitors increasingly realize the significance tion of these types of formations, as well as even been a change in the general public’s of human impacts on these special places their usual sturdiness. Most of the flowstone views on preservation and conservation and as visitors and cavers continue to help “breaks” we encountered were scratches or throughout the US. Interpreters and Rangers the National Park conserve cave resources etching into the flowstone, as opposed to have made these topics regular discussion for future generations who visit Carlsbad broken chunks, and suggested that some points at Carlsbad Cavern and other NPS Cavern. types of formations may be more resistant sites. to breakage, but not necessarily resistant to Future broken speleothem inventories impact. will need to be conducted on a more regular Cathryn A Hoyt Cathryn A Hoyt

Laurel McKenzie and Chris Petruccelli mark and count broken speleothems. Colin Walfield looks for broken formations in the King’s Palace.

NSS News, April 2019 23 Stalactajack/Speleoclamp text: Janice Tucker; photos (this page): Cynthia LaCoe

Broken stalactite to be repaired in a NM cave

Mike Mansur, a northern New Mexico The completed repair caver, has developed some new supports to facilitate formations repair. The stalactajack in place medication cups for measurements, dust Mike has a unique set of skills that make masks, and so on. His pack weighed a ton! him ideal for working on restoration projects. Forest, asked Mike if he thought he could We visited Hidden, but the broken He has been a caver since 1968, initially repair a in . Jennifer stalagmite had five sections and was on a in Vermont and then New Mexico. He has Foote mentioned another stalagmite in Black mud base. Mike could not determine how been active in rigging, exploration, mapping, with a failed repair. Mike read the book, Cave to support the formation to repair it. So, we impacting mapping, and inventory collection Conservation and Restoration, edited by headed to Black. Initially, we could not FIND in Lechugilla and many other Guadalupe Val Hildreth-Werker and Jim Werker (NSS the cave. We wandered for a couple hours caves. Mansur is a competitive Olympic Style 2006), met with Jim and Val (his long-time in hot, sweaty misery. Fortunately, because Weight lifter, a mechanical technician, and, caving buddies) for start-up tips, bought the of his weight lifting abilities, Mike hauled since retiring, a wood worker. Those talents $800 worth of tools and epoxy, and began that heavy pack around like it was nothing. are combined with a warm personality and repairing formations. Once we found the cave and the formation, a deep love of caves and cavers. I assisted him on his first stalagmite Mike pleasantly explained each step of the Early in 2018, Aaron Stockton, now repair in Black. He had read (and nearly formation repair to his two assistants, and District Ranger of the Lincoln National memorized) the instructions for forma- we successfully completed the repair. tion repair. He had every possible Since that trip, Mike has repaired neatly compartmentalized in his pack: battery-powered drill, drill bits, pins, epoxy,

After glue has been applied to attach the broken piece of stalactite, the stalactajack The speleoclamp used to hold together a is deployed to hold it in place until it dries. stalagmite repair-in-progress. Mike Mansur on rope in Virgin Cave

24 NSS News, April 2019 several other formations, but was challenged accompanying photos. Since these devices with how to support them while the epoxy are constructed of PVC, they are almost hardened. He developed two supports, the infinitely adjustable in size. “Mansur Stalactajack” and the “Mansur If you are interested in contacting Mike Speleoclamp,” for just that purpose. In for directions on how to build a Mansur September of 2018 he invented and fabri- Speleoclamp or Stalactajack, contact him cated an adjustable support jack out of at [email protected] PVC, wood, washers, nuts, and all thread. The clamp he built from PVC, all thread, washers, nuts, and pipe insulation. Both of these devices have been successfully used Right: Mike Mansur provided this closeup in speleothem repair, as documented in the image of his speleoclamp device.

High Guads Restoration Project (HGRP) High Guads Restoration Project Update is a National Speleological Society (NSS) Jennifer Foote Conservation Task Force (CTF) that occurs on the Guadalupe Ranger District of the Lincoln National Forest in Southeastern New Mexico. Dave Jagnow founded the Project and ran it in 1999-2000. Susan Herpin ran it 2000-2002 and I started to help run the Project in 2002, taking it over in 2005. We have worked with a revolving mix of USFS cave specialists including Ransom Turner, Aaron Stockton, Deanna Younger, Jason Walz, and now Aaron Stockton is back as the District Ranger. Over the past twenty years, volunteers have donated nearly $800,000 dollars of volunteer value and we’ve taught restoration and conservation skills to hundreds of people. The primary goal of the project is to provide restoration work in caves, but also to train trip leaders for the most sensitive caves and to teach conservation skills. Some of our activities include: removing mud from flow- stone, speleothem repair, trail delineation, trail repair, trail stabilization, monitoring for visible impact, re-establishing cave locations, rescue pre-planning, and trip-leader training. We’ve also helped with scientific studies such as: cave survey, pool studies, assisting with swallow banding, and monitoring caves for bat use including documenting cave tempera- tures and humidity. In 2018 we had five trips with 21 indi- vidual participants volunteering 399 hours and over $24,000 in Volunteer Value. We worked in ten caves under the project: we cleaned flowstone, worked on maintain- ing cave trails, surveyed small caves, and repaired formations. After a few years with reduced trips and lots of cancellations, in 2019 we are hoping for a return to regularly scheduled trips. Tentative future dates for 2019 include: April 27-28, July 27-28, September 28-29 and October 26-27. If you are interested in helping work on the project, contact high- [email protected]. To find out more about the project, check out our web page at www.hgrp.org or Formations deep in Cave of the Madonna, one of the more challenging High Guads caves. like us on facebook https://www.facebook. Photo by Jamie Moon. com/High.Guads.Restoration.Project.

NSS News, April 2019 25 Excavating the Richard Blenz House Sam Frushour

When Richard ‘Dick’ Blenz died, in He must have had one from every event he But much still remains to be done. July of last year, he already had bequeathed attended for the last 40 years! By now, many Following countless volunteer hours, the the NSS his property that contains Buckner of those shirts have been sold at events to house now is starting to resemble a home Cave as well as his modest house. A lifelong raise money for the Richard Blenz Nature renovation project instead of an excavation bachelor, Dick’s housekeeping habits were Conservancy and to help pay for needed project. We are at the point where we need legendary by their absence. The following upgrades to the house. funding if the house is to be made livable for is a true recounting of the mission to clean Another interesting adventure involved a caretaker, usable as a cave library facility, the house and prepare it for use by the NSS excavating six large closets, each jam-packed or to be available as an education, training, membership. with books, linens, tools, clothes, paintings, or meeting location for cavers. Dick was in and out of the hospital furniture, vintage WWII items, surveying Specifically, flooring must be installed during the last two months of his life. Each equipment, vacuum cleaners, and antique where rotting carpet was removed, the time, in order to be released, he had to . Dick was a master of finding storage HVAC system needs replacement, extensive convince the doctors that he could safely space where none existed. electrical upgrades are needed, the navigate his cluttered home. Caver friends We sorted piles of items for the NSS must be waterproofed, and the two fireplaces already had begun the task of clearing archives, piles for various grottoes, and need work. As we work, we continue to find pathways through stacks of magazines, piles for The Robertson Association (parent more work to be done. paperwork and other items in the house. organization of Old Timers Reunion, to I’d like to remind everyone of how much We offered Dick further assistance each time which Dick was a major benefactor). As of Dick contributed to the caving community he returned home, but the help was gently this writing, in addition to numerous trips to and also helped individual cavers over his refused. More than once, he told me that Goodwill, more than 100 bags of trash have long career as a caver, a cave owner, and he would rather visit with friends, discuss been disposed of, more than 100 bags of a benefactor to the NSS, OTR, and other books, or simply enjoy the company rather recycling items have been taken away, and causes. Please consider donating to the than clean. “You can clean this place when five truckloads of metal salvage have been RBNC for the maintenance of the Richard I’m dead,” he would laugh. I imagine he’s hauled away. Blenz Nature Preserve. Donations can be probably laughing at us still. On September 8, 2018, 23 cavers mailed to Sam Frushour, RBNC Treasurer, Following Dick’s passing, we soon made a huge difference as they contributed 513 West Dixie Street, Bloomington, IN realized the massive amount of cleaning to a workday in conjunction with the 60th 47403. Thank you to all of the volunteers and sorting that was needed in the ever- anniversary of the Bloomington Grotto (BIG). who have labored in this house and on this deepening rabbit hole. Hundreds of books and magazines were project. You know who you are. Dick was an electronics whiz who sorted and boxed. The hole in the kitchen For additional volunteer opportuni- had the curious mind of a true explorer, a floor was repaired. Electrical systems were ties, please check the BIG Facebook page combination of qualities that inspired him mapped in preparation of upgrades. The or contact me ([email protected]) to build fascinating machines and devices was power-washed. Trees threatening or Sam Frushour ([email protected]). that it seemed ordinary mortals should not the roof of the house were taken down. A We’d appreciate your help, and so possess. With the help of estate executor basement recording studio was dismantled. would Dick Blenz! Greg Hepfer, any gizmos that appeared Mildewed and crumbling ceiling tiles were dangerous were disconnected. This portion pulled down. of the work was exciting, as I often overheard I can report that two fully-loaded trail- exclamations such as “What do you think this ers were needed to donate Dick’s collection is?” and “Don’t plug that in, we don’t know of books to the Monroe County Public what it does!” Library. Some of his military memorabilia Gary Gibula Meanwhile, I rolled up my sleeves and was donated to the Monroe County History started on the kitchen. Although very small, Museum. A large quantity of items related it was packed with a lifetime’s collection of to OTR was transported to the 2018 event. dishes --all of them seemingly dirty. It took Two large shipments of records, maps, me two hours just to clean the sink and clear files, and rare cave books were delivered a spot on the counter where I could put to NSS Headquarters in Huntsville. What dishes after I washed them. Bag after bag furniture and household goods that were was filled with trash, recycling items, and not purchased by cavers making a dona- expired mouse-nibbled food. Eight months tion to the RBNC were auctioned on-line later, the kitchen project still is ongoing but or donated to a local charity that assists progress has been made. displaced persons. Over the following weeks, volunteers Files of meticulously maintained records sorted tools, got rid of clutter, and removed have been catalogued. Electronic compo- some of the Frankenstein-ed creations that nents numbering in the many thousands The late Dick Blenz Dick had assembled. I spent a fair amount have been collected and are in the process of time cleaning out Dick’s bedroom closet of being sorted. Walls and ceilings have been Thanks to Gary Gibula for his and preparing Goodwill donations. I also patched and painted, woodwork scrubbed editing work on this and other laundered hundreds of caver event t-shirts. and polished, storm windows installed. articles in this issue.

26 NSS News, April 2019 NSS Conservation Announcements Group and Grotto Cave/Karst tutional member, or a subunit of any of the Submit Abstracts for Conservation Conservation Awards above. An Internal Organization IO, Group, Tuesday at 2019 NSS Convention in Now accepting nominations for Grottos or Grotto to be nominated for these awards Cookeville, Tennessee June 17– 21, 2019 and Groups in recognition of conservation should be in good standing with the NSS. Calling for presentations, PowerPoints, activities. For more info, see the NSS Conservation workshops, or panel discussions for NSS The NSS Conservation Division offers Web pages http://caves.org/conservation/ Conservation & Management Tuesday Talks. two annual awards recognizing conserva- conservationawards.shtml Please send Val Hildreth-Werker a quick tion efforts of Groups and Grottos. Winners For consideration for either of the email of your intent to present: werks@ will be announced at Convention, receive two 2019 awards, please send a letter of cunacueva.com a certificate, and have their names posted application or nomination summarizing the We invite abstract submissions for any on a permanent plaque displayed at NSS Grotto or Group contributions to cave or Cave or Karst Conservation talks addressing Headquarters. karst conservation, along with supporting stewardship, outreach, cave management, Candidates for the Group conservation documentation and letters of support. or restoration. Send abstracts by April 15, award may be any of the following: an NSS Please send nominations to the 2019 to [email protected] Conservation Task Force, NSS commission, Conservation Committee Awards Chair, Limit abstracts to 250 words or less. committee, subcommittee of a committee, Kathy Lavoie by April 15, 2019. lavoiekh@ Include title of your presentation and the division, conservancy, expedition, project, plattsburgh.edu authors’ names, professional affiliations, region, section, survey, affinity group, insti- mailing addresses, and e-mail addresses. For later publication in the Journal of Cave NSS Convention 2019-Led Cave Trips during and Karst Studies, abstracts must draw a conclusion or explain the upshot of your Convention Week study or project in a concluding sentence. Equipment will be available for PowerPoint presentations. The 2019 NSS Convention team is found on the web page. happy to provide caving opportunities show- With over 10,000 caves in the state 2019 Cave Conservancy casing the karst of the Upper Cumberland of Tennessee you may find yourself having Roundtable at NSS Convention region of Tennessee. With literally thousands trouble sorting through all the choices and The Twenty-second Annual Cave of caves within an hour drive there are caves planning your caving. Our team is here to Conservancy Roundtable is scheduled at suited for everyone. There will be a variety of help. We have chosen a wide variety of the 2019 NSS Convention on 21 June led trips offered on a daily basis. These trips area caves and made them available for 2019, Friday starting at 1:00 PM. The will encompass all skill levels and showcase self-led trips. At the Cave Info Booth, you theme is “Working to inspire future conser- some of the finest caves that Tennessee has will find cave descriptions, maps, driving, vancy leaders to acquire the knowledge and to offer. The four longest caves in the state and parking directions to these caves. Also skills needed to serve and to meet future will be available to experience. Everything the booth will be staffed every morning and challenges; to motivate cavers and environ- from a Rumbling Falls through trip, currently evening with knowledgeable local cavers to mentalists to participate in the conservancy’s the longest through trip in TAG, to daily recommend caves suited to your skill levels work; to build infrastructures of support in horizontal trips of differing difficulty, such and requests. A list of area closed caves will relevant communities.” as the current longest cave in the state, 40 also be posted at the booth and we ask that mile long Blue Spring Cave. Sign up sheets every caver stop by and check that list before NSS Conservation Web Pages will be located at the Cave Info Booth at going out caving. and Cave Conservation Facebook the campground, and sign up for trips will We are very excited to share the world Group be made available from Saturday June 15 class caving of the Upper Cumberland with All things caving encompass conserva- through the end of the convention. If you everyone this June. Whether you plan on tion! Stewardship choices always kick in would like to experience a nice tourist trip a commercial tour of along the way. All of caving is about mini- to beat the heat, head over to McMinnville a or exploring the hydrology of Cookeville in mum-impact choices and acts of protecting! short drive away to see the 2nd longest cave Capshaw Cave, you are certain to find what The NSS Conservation Pages are online in the state Cumberland Caverns. you are looking for. If you have any ques- at caves.org/conservation/ The trips being offered and descriptions tions or requests regarding caving during the Check out the Cave Conservation can be found on the convention website here: convention feel free to contact the Cave Trip Facebook Group for cavers across the http://nss2019.subworks.com/cave_trips. Coordinators at [email protected]. speleo spectrum! It’s a broad, quick, all-in- html. We are adding new caves on a regular For those coming from non-white nose one, spot on Facebook to serve the global basis so be sure to keep an eye on that page positive states, we will have loner helmets caving and cave-interest communities! for the latest additions. Also found on the and lights for horizontal caving. We will also Join us, add members, repost, and share website are a variety of pre and post conven- have a white-nose decontamination station the site. https://www.facebook.com/ tion caving opportunities. Some of these are setup in the campground to decontaminate groups/257740784385806/ individual trips to caves such as the SCCi Run gear. to the Mill preserve, while others are camps Zeke McKee NSS 67250 offering a variety of activities. The sign up Jeff Patton NSS 25949 requirements for these camps and trips as 2019 Convention Cave Trip well as comprehensive write ups are also Coordinators

NSS News, April 2019 27 Victor A. Schmidt Conservation throughout the year, subject to availability of National survey of cavers Award funds and number of applications received. The annual Victor A. Schmidt about bats to begin in May Conservation Award recognizes one NSS NSS Conservation Memberships Cavers are more likely than most people member who, over time, has demonstrated Gift the caves and yourself … or gift to come into contact with bats. Organizations outstanding dedication to the conservation the caves and honor a friend or relative working to conserve bats want to know of caves. Nominations for candidates are with an NSS Gift Membership! Any type more about cavers’ views and experiences solicited by the NSS Awards Committee. of Membership can be gifted. Find all NSS related to bats because it will help them to The recipient will be approved by the Board Member categories at http://caves.org/ decide the best ways to protect bats and cave of Governors upon recommendation of the info/membertypes.shtml environments. Awards Committee. Regular Gift Membership – 18 years and Next month, organized cavers will have The recipient must have been a member over; full membership privileges, including an an opportunity to participate in a survey in good standing of the Society for at least electronic subscription to the NSSNEWs for about their perceptions of bats, white-nose two years immediately prior to his/her name a total of $35.00 syndrome (WNS), and caving behaviors being submitted as a candidate. The Awards Conservation Regular – combines a that may impact bats. This survey is being Committee shall give preference to candi- Regular NSS membership with electronic conducted by the Center for Conservation dates who have not received the Outstanding NSSNEWs, plus a donation to cave conserva- Social Sciences at Cornell University. Study Service Award or Honorary Membership. tion, to total $135.00 results will inform the ways that wildlife To nominate a caver for a the Victor A. Conservation Life – goes to endowed managers communicate with organized Schmidt Conservation Award, please send funds for Life Membership in the NSS ($900) cavers and how they try to protect bats and complete resume and nomination letters plus a $1,000 donation to cave conservation, cave environments from WNS. describing the caver’s contributions to cave/ totaling $1900.00 It is part of a multi-year collaborative karst conservation over many years. Send effort by an interdisciplinary team of social nominations by November 15 each year to: Conservation Task Forces: Making and natural scientists, wildlife managers, Ellie Watson [email protected] a Difference and outreach professionals in several insti- NSS Conservation Task Forces (CTFs) tutions, including Cornell University, the Save-the-Caves Conservation make a difference in karst areas around the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the New Grant United States. Since passing of the Federal York State Department of Environmental The Conservation Committee is autho- Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988, Conservation. rized to award up to $5,000 annually many CTFs are recognized by local federal from our NSS Save-the-Caves Fund to agencies as primary representatives of the Your email invitation to participate make grants of up to $1000 to Internal caving community on conservation issues is coming soon. Organizations, Grottos, Conservation Task in their areas. NSS members of CTFs are The National Speleological Society Forces, Conservancies, or to individual NSS helping to manage caves on behalf of public (NSS) is working with Cornell University to members for specific projects that involve and private landowners. invite you to participate in this survey. You cave or karst conservation, restoration, A CTF is a great way to gather like- will soon be receiving an email directly from cleanup, or outreach. minded people and make good things NSS with your invitation. Participation is The Conservation Committee is respon- happen in cave and karst conservation. voluntary, and your contact information sible for establishing the application, review, Some CTFs have a specific project that may has not been released. Your invitation will and award process. Recipients of these take a year or two to complete. Other CTFs include a hyperlink to a website where you grants shall submit written reports to the lead ongoing projects that continue for many can join the study and provide an email Society as stipulated by the Chairman of the years. A CTF may tackle a significant cave address, so that the study team can send Conservation Committee. To be considered vandalism problem, or it may work alongside you a link to the web-based survey instru- for a grant award, applications must include landowners and civic leaders to clean up a ment. The survey should take less than 15 adequate description of one or more of the source. Due to the minutes to complete. Your identity will be following: ongoing efforts of CTFs, caves are mapped kept confidential and the information you • scientific investigation of cave or karst and inventoried; management plans are provide will never be associated with your conservation problems; written and implemented; restoration and name. Your email address will only be used • speleological research that will directly cleanups are accomplished: cave habitats for the web-based survey. It will never be contribute to cave or karst conservation; are restored. Any cave/karst conservation, released for any other purpose. • remediation of ecological problems in management, outreach, restoration, or This project is endorsed by the NSS— cave, karst, or pseudokarst areas; protection concern fits. we encourage you to participate! • hands-on, in-cave efforts to restore Join an existing CTF: http://caves. If you would like more information cave passages to a former ecological org/conservation/CTFS.shtml about the caver survey or other components state; Establish a New CTF: Create an NSS of this study, contact: William (Bill) Siemer, • equipment and supplies for conserva- Conservation Task Force to focus on local, Cornell Center for Conservation Social tion or restoration projects that include regional, national, or international cave and Sciences, email: [email protected]; tel: (607) hands-on participation from cavers; karst conservation issues. If your work would 255-2828. • or public outreach to inform and raise benefit from CTF designation, contact the awareness of cave and karst values. NSS Conservation Division, Val Hildreth- Conservation Grants are awarded Werker [email protected]

28 NSS News, April 2019 Fellow Cavers, Grotto where he plays a prominent role. training, caving, session presentation, etc.), I’m very pleased to announce two gener- Ken has also been very active for many, your current status as a student, and how ous gifts to the NSS. many years as a participant and trainer in receiving the award will benefit you and the technical search and rescue in the western mission of the NSS. This must all fit in no Donation by Mr. Kenneth Laidlaw United States. There will be more informa- more than three paragraphs, or less than Mr. Kenneth Laidlaw (NSS 5664RL tion coming soon on how to apply for the 250 words. Most Texas Cavers know Ernie FE) is making a very generous donation NCRC Scholarship. and his long-term commitment to caving in to the NSS to fund scholarships to attend Texas and Mexico. regional and national National Cave Rescue Donation by Mr. Ernie Garza Deadline to apply is April 15, 2019. Commission training events. Scholarships In addition, long time Texas caver Ernie A decision will be announced by April 30. will be awarded based on financial need, Garza (NSS 13484RE CM-FE) has provided letters of support, likelihood that training four scholarships for students at any level National Survey of Cavers About would benefit caving or cavers in general, (and NSS members) to help them attend the Bats and need for trained personnel in certain NSS Convention in Cookeville. The scholar- Folks, a national survey of cavers about areas, regions, or discipline. Thank you, ships are in the amount of $500 each and bats will begin in May. If you are contacted Ken, for your generous donation and legacy may be used for registration, travel, food, etc. as part of this survey, the researchers would to continued education in this important To apply for the Ernie Garza scholar- appreciate your participation. Please note area. FYI, Ken is a long time NSS member ship, send an e-mail to President@caves. that this study is endorsed by the NSS. See in California. To read about some of Ken’s org and discuss your financial need, general the article elsewhere in the news. early exploits, I would encourage you to background in caving, your interest in attend- Thanks, read the Chronicles of the Old Reading ing during the convention (lectures, vertical Geary M. Schindel, P.G.

Australian Cave Animal of NSS Conservation Network The NSS Conservation Network is an the Year email resource expressly developed (at the Australian Cave Animal of the Year was request of Val and Jim) to quickly disseminate launched in January 2019 and seeks to raise important and often ‘short-fused’ conserva- the profile of cave animals and draw atten- tion-related updates to IOs and interested tion to caves being important animal habitat. individuals. Send info bursts to werks@ The inaugural Australian Cave Animal cunacueva.com and [email protected] of the year is the Tasmanian cave spider Notices are sent out on an ‘as needed’ Hickmania troglodytes. basis, with often with months between send- The program is inspired by the German The Tasmanian cave spider, photo by G.K. outs to IO Conservation Chairs (or overall Cave Animal of the Year program, which was Smith. Chair if the IO doesn’t have a Conservation launched in 2008 and is now in its 12th year. Chair), and to any individual caver who See: https://hoehlentier.de/en/ asks to be on the Conservation Network The Italian Speleological Federation also addressee list. launched a Cave Animal of the Year program NSS Internal Organizations! Please this recent January. Please see: https:// keep me informed of new personnel or animalidigrotta.speleo.it/ Bulgaria and email addresses. Switzerland are organising their programs Send me a note if you want to keep a at present. The time-to-shine for animals of finger on the pulse of important conserva- the underground has arrived! tion issues that affect us all. Steve Smith, For more details, please visit our website: Coordinator – NSS Conservation Network www.caveanimaloftheyear.org.au and like us [email protected] on Facebook. (Thanks to NSS members who encouraged me with this project when David and I were at the NSS convention in Montana last year.) Cathie Plowman Australian Speleological Federation

Right: Poster image announcing the program

NSS News, April 2019 29 Who doesn’t love dogs? And who books, twelve cavers, in four teams, surveyed presumption it was of a more recent vintage. doesn’t love a story with a happy ending? 3580 feet in 9.5 hours. (Feb. 10, http://bit. But cavers from Britannica This one has both. Tony Brocklebank shared ly/2tI4e4H ) recognized a large number of markings that a story of a cave rescue in Cwm Fechan some colloquially call “witch marks.” These (.) It seems a dog had become trapped Dave Howell of the Birmingham Grotto apotropaic marks—protective marks or hex and local cavers pulled out all stops to rescue shared some happy news. The Southeastern signs to ward off evil spirits—date to the the wayward pet. Tony tells the story far Cave Conservancy has announced a major medieval period of ’s history. The better than I could; so in his own words… new acquisition of more than 2,300 acres carvings are found quite literally, almost “The dog was located some metres into a known as Johnson’s Crook, Georgia. This everywhere in the cave; on walls, the ceil- small cave complex near the path. This has tract contains more than 30 caves, and has ings, inside holes, and elsewhere. The several entrances, but all filled in with earth long been recognized as an area of particular carvings include “ ‘diagonal lines, boxes and and rocks, or too tight for a person to access. environmental sensitivity. The main portion ’ believed to be ‘devices for capturing Team members started to dig to the dog, of the property reportedly came from an or trapping evil. There are also VV marks initially from two directions, but eventually anonymous donor, with additional acreage that are believed to represent Mary, ‘Virgin concentrating efforts on the lower entrance from the Georgia-Alabama Land Trust, of Virgins,’ as well as PM, for ‘Pace Maria.’ to the cave. This involved working in a small, Inc. (Feb. 2019, The Birmingham Grotto ” Scientists are saying this could be the tight muddy passage, removing a lot of mud Newsletter) largest collection of apotropaic marks in and solid rock to gradually excavate a way the United Kingdom. (Feb. 25, http://bit. through. After almost three days of effort Every little bit counts in a survey, they ly/2GQK3Kn ) from many members of the team, the dog say. For Randy Macan, Shawn Lamley, was successfully freed [!] A happy hound, Emma Paul and Janis Mankovs the last 953 If you’re still not convinced about just and a brilliant effort by all.” Epic! (Feb. 5, feet of a 10.5 hour survey in the Half Mile what amazing creatures bats are, a new http://bit.ly/2NyktKC ) Hall area of Wind Cave (CO) certainly study published in the journal Nature holds true. Those 953 feet mean that Wind Microbiology details how scientists from the In the journal Subterranean Biology, Cave now has a total length of 150 miles Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, have entomologist Alberto Sendra and local caver of surveyed passage! (Feb. 12, http://bit. identified molecular and genetic mechanisms Craig Wagnell describe a new species of trolo- ly/2TiDPJf ) that allow bats to remain healthy while bitic dipluran from Vancouver (.) The simultaneously hosting deadly viruses such new species has been named Haplocampa Jerry Atkinson of the Texas Cavers as Ebola, Nipah, and SARS. “Bats’ natural wagnelli in honor of Craig Wagnell and his shared some interesting news from Congress. ability to dampen inflammation caused by research. Even more remarkable than the A bill was brought to the floor of the US stress and infection may be a key mechanism discovery of H. wagnelli is the location: a House of Representatives by Representative underlying their long lifespans and unique group of caves covered beneath a thick ice Darren Soto of on 1/11/2019. viral status,” said team member sheet. This bears implications that these It proposes to have the USGS establish a Dr. Matae Ahn. In other words, bats have arthropods could very well pre-date the Last program to map zones that are at greater a higher tolerance for these diseases rather Glacial Maximum period some 26,500 years risk of sinkhole formation in the US. The than simply having an ability to fight off the ago. It’s worth noting that H. wagnelli is one program would: (1) study the short-term and diseases. (Feb. 26, http://bit.ly/2Xx2KaX ) of the most northerly cave-adapted dipluran long-term mechanisms that cause sinkholes, species. (Feb. 5, http://bit.ly/2GRQbC2 ) including extreme storm events, prolonged Last but far from least, I’d like to take droughts causing shifts in water management a small bit of editorial privilege and give a Ecotourism isn’t just a western thing. practices, aquifer depletion, and other major shout-out and a hearty “congratulations” Saudi Arabia has identified five caves where changes in water use; and (2) develop maps to fellow Virginia caver Wil Orndorff of it plans to develop ecotourism destinations that depict zones that are at greater risk of the Virginia Department of Conservation in the coming year. The Saudi Geological sinkhole formation. As of February 5th, the and Recreation. The Karst Waters Institute Survey is remaining very tight-lipped about bill was sent to the Subcommittee on Energy has announced that Wil is the Karst Award the cave locations and names for now, and Mineral Resources of the Committee on recipient for 2019. Wil is a humble man but however, in order to both protect the caves Natural Resources for review. To monitor his contributions to karst hydrology, his work and resident biota as well as to better prepare the progress of the bill, go to: http://bit. with the VA DCR Office of Environmental the local villages to welcome an estimated ly/2Hbhtmj Review, and his contributions as a director 100 visitors per day. Stay tuned! (Feb. 6, of the Virginia Speleological Survey cannot http://bit.ly/2EfUUcY ) Creswell Crags, a cave system north be understated. A formal presentation of the of London, has a large amount of petro- award is slated for March 30 in Blacksburg, Father and son team Dave and Nick glyphs and similar styled carvings, as well as VA. A brief CV of Wil’s accomplishments can Socky had to abort a planned push of the more traditional letters, words and names, be found at: http://bit.ly/2H9kMuu in McClung’s Cave (WV) due to and other forms of graffiti. This isn’t surpris- poor visibility and colder than normal water ing considering that Creswell Crags has been Want to see your grotto’s exploits in the temperatures. They had hoped to gain a occupied for the last 50000 years or so. NSS News? Send me an e-mail at: caver- better estimate of the distance between the Prehistoric visitors and others left carvings of [email protected] with your grotto’s McClung’s sump and the Sweetwater sump birds and reindeer and geometric designs in web site, Facebook page, blog, or a link to in Maxwelton Cave (WV.) It was far from the caves. Some of that carved graffiti, until sign up for your listserv and I’ll do my best to a wasted trip, however. In one for the record recently, has been largely ignored on the get your newsworthy items in the NSS News!

30 NSS News, April 2019 Georg Taffet won a Merit Award in the 2018 Photo Salon for Entrance of Falkensteiner Höhle.

Laurent Miroult won a Merit Award in the 2018 Photo Salon for Ressel, France. Taken in conjunction with Rob Neto. APRIL 2019