The FLOWSTONE

Vol Vol 20 Issue 6 June 2013

Rescue in Ellison’s

A Monthly Newsletter of the Cullman Grotto of the National Speleological Society

June 2013 Cullman Grotto Flowstone

CULLMAN GROTTO FLOWSTONE

June 2013 Visit us online @ www.caves.org/grotto/cullman/ Volume 20, Issue 6 or www.cullmangrotto.com Inside this Issue

The Flowstone is published monthly by the Cullman Grotto of the National th Echo Chamber Speleological Society. Items submitted for publication must be received by the 20 of each month for inclusion in the following month’s issue. 2 TAG Calendar The Cullman Grotto will exchange by request with any publishing grotto. 3 Republication of items within The Flowstone is allowed provided credit is given to author and source. Rescue in Ellison’s Cave Membership to the Cullman Grotto is fifteen dollars ($15) per year for individual or 4 twenty dollars ($20) per year for family. Dues are payable at the first grotto meeting of each year (January) and includes subscription to The Flowstone. Subscription rate for Ellison’s Rescue, Memorial non-members is fifteen dollars ($15) per year. Day 2013 6

The Cullman Grotto meets on the first Monday of each month unless the first Monday Editor’s Note falls on a holiday or otherwise noted. In those cases the meeting will be held on the 12 Minutes second Monday. Meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. and are held at the old L&N train depot, Arnold St., Cullman, AL. All visitors and prospective members are welcome.

Official Grotto Address Newsletter Exchange Cullman Grotto The Flowstone c/o Harold Calvert Perry or Sharon Clayton 123 Co. Rd. 250 1628 Edmondson Rd Cullman, AL 35057 Hanceville, AL 35077 [email protected] [email protected]

2013 OFFICERS APPOINTMENTS Membership/ Chairman: Vice Chair: Advisor: Library Harold Calvert Perry Clayton Victor Bradford David Drake 123 Co. Rd 250 1628 Edmondson Rd. 8333 US Hwy 31 110 Co. Rd. 1386 Cullman, AL 35057 Hanceville, AL 35077 Hanceville, AL 35077 Falkville, AL 35622 (256) 287-9770 (256) 595-2548 by carrier pigeon only (256) 739-0811 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Secretary: Treasurer: Safety: Webmaster Sharon Clayton Tracy Calvert Scott Murphy Kuenn Drake Front Cover: Walker County Fire 1628 Edmondson Rd. 123 Co. Rd. 250 156 Mount Tabor Road 100 Co. Rd. 1386 and Rescue Staging Area – Ellison’s Hanceville, AL 35077 Cullman, AL 35057 Hartselle, AL 35640 Falkville, AL 35622 Cave Rescue (256)352-0235 (256)287-9770 (256) 531-3230 (256) 739-6915 . [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Photo by: Troy Fuqua

June 2013 Cullman Grotto Flowstone including giving him an in-cave massive new 1,500-acre, 3,800-home ECHO))))) CHAMBER blood transfusion, before, using a subdivision directly next to the cave number of techniques, hauling him to reserve. the surface from a depth of more than Caver Rescued from 800 feet. The summer home to an estimated 20 Georgia’s Ellison’s Cave million Mexican Free-tailed Bats, In critical condition, Kempf was then Bracken Cave is the largest known May 29, 2013 / Georgia immediately flown to by Life Force concentration of mammals. Located helicopter to Erlanger Medical in southern Comal County, Texas, 20 Center in Chattanooga where he is minutes outside the city of San recovering. Antonio, the cave and 697 undeveloped acres around it are “Dwight’s fall was a fluke but also owned by Bat Conservation turned out to be an example of how International. everything works the way it’s supposed to. Without them and the Their concern, aside from putting rescue/medical teams, Dwight would 10,000 people on land that lies within not have made it out alive.” -- Jill the sensitive Edwards Aquifer-

Kempf, Dwight Kempf’s wife. recharge zone, an area that is a Details continue to emerge about the critical foraging area for the bats, is rescue of a caver from inside Ellison’s cave in Georgia’s Walker that this development would put Georgia’s Ellison’s Cave earlier this County is known for it’s vertical people and bats in a situation where week. pitches, which include the two they would surely come into conflict.

deepest pits in the United States, the Caver Dwight Kempf, 54, was part 179 meter (586 foot) deep Fantastic Adult bats that love buildings will of an experienced group of four and 134 meter (440 foot) deep surely cause headaches for home- Pennsylvanian cavers who were Incredible. owners, while juvenile bats will no exploring the cave this past Sunday, doubt be attracted to insects May 26th, when he fell and seriously gathering around the lights of these injured himself. homes. In the end, someone or their

pet will surely come into contact After the initial fall of about 9 meters with a sick bat, contract rabies and (30 feet), he hit some rocks before raise problems for the bats, those continuing to fall another 9 to 12 Development Threatens threats to public safety. meters (30 to 40 feet). By the time he World’s Largest Population finally came to a stop he had broken of Bats It seems that Texas law leaves little his left femur and fractured the base May 17, 2013 / Texas legal recourse for the environmental of his skull. issues, and the only hopes to stop the

process from going ahead is to make While two of the cavers went down it a significant public and media to the unresponsive Kempf to issue. administer first aid to try to stop the bleeding from the obvious leg In an effort to do just that, Andrew wound, the third member of the Walker the Executive Director of Bat group began the two and a half hour Conservation International sent out a trip out of the cave to alert the plea to try to drum up support. authorities.

They’re looking for folks to come Once the cave rescue was initiated Mexican Free-Tail Bats Emerging From out and show support on Wednesday, around 6:30 pm, over 100 rescuers the Bracken Bat Cave Photo by Daniel May 22nd when they present their from across the region descended on Spiess/flickr concerns to San Antonio’s City the cave. Due to the difficulty of the Council during a public meeting at rescue and the skill level required, If a developer has his way, the bats City Hall. experts from Alabama and Tennessee of Bracken Cave, the world’s largest were brought in to assist. population of bats, will be flying Anyone who can’t make the meeting over a new subdivision. is urged to call, write and email the Over the next 22 hours the crews Mayor, City Council and Planning worked first to stabilize Kempf, San Antonio developer Brad Galo of Galo Properties has proposed a Commission to tell them that the

2 June 2013 Cullman Grotto Flowstone proposed subdivision is an year left to finish this re-build and demolishing the home a few days incompatible use that is sure to put get the NSS moved into our new later after it was deemed too people and bats into conflict. headquarters. dangerous to continue the search for the missing man. Sign the online petition Come join the fun and help the NSS. There is indoor and outdoor camping Seffner, a suburb of Tampa is part of For more information, email available. Contact me if you need an area dubbed “sinkhole alley”. In [email protected] or call 512 additional information. fact, the area accounts for two-thirds 367-9721 x19. of all the sinkhole-related insurance Maureen Handler NSS Headquarters claims in Florida, a state where Volunteer Coordinator 423-605-5569 sinkholes are already a common [email protected] occurrence.

NSS Headquarter Work Weekends By: Maureen Handler (Sewanee, Tennessee) [email protected] Two More Seffner Homes Fall Prey to Killer Sinkhole May 26, 2013 / Florida TAG Calendar

June 3 Grotto Meeting L&N Train Depot, Arnold St 7:30p . We have finally scheduled some of June 8 the NSS Headquarters work Grotto Trip weekends to begin the rebuild of the TBA facility. Almost all of the 'de- The House under Which the Sinkhole construction' work has been Opened Screengrab via USA Today June 13-16 completed. Thanks to the nearly 100 SERA Summer Cave Carnival volunteers who worked through the Nearly three months after Jeff Bush Cumberland Caverns, TN winter and spring to accomplish this! was killed when a sinkhole opened Hosted by Central Alabama Grotto up under his home, two neighboring Our first need is to build a new block homes have now been demolished. July 13-20 wall mechanical room. We will begin VBATS El Cap Trip this work on Friday June 21 and will The two homes, both condemned Yosemite National Park, CA work through Monday June 24. We shortly after the demolition of Bush REALLY need a couple of people home, were torn down this past July 20-28 who are experienced block layers Wednesday. Cullman Grotto Cavation (finished block work), as well as lots Canyoneering in Southern Utah of other people to help move blocks On Thursday February 28th, 2013 at to the masons, mix and carry mortar around 11:00pm, 36-year-old Bush August 5-9 and clean up the finished work. It was asleep in his bedroom when the NSS 2013 Convention will take 4 - 6 people to lift the ground opened up beneath his Shippensburg, PA concrete door lintels into the place on Seffner home and swallowed him the block wall. In addition, we still . have to finish stripping the flooring He was last heard calling for help as out of the future archive/library area. the members of his family rushed to his aid. Additional dates that have been scheduled so far are the weekends of Despite efforts to rescue him, or at July 6 and July 20. We have only 1 least recover his body, crews began

3 June 2013 Cullman Grotto Flowstone Rescue in Ellison's Cave By Troy Fuqua Thursday, May 30, 2013

This past Memorial Day weekend, I was leading 3 experienced Pennsylvania cavers through Ellison's cave. One of them was climbing down a short ledge and slipped into a 30' pit that was close to where you step off the ledge. 21 hours later, he was in a helicopter being flown to Erlanger hospital.

Dwight Kempf, Ed Kehs Jr, Jon Burns, Ed Kehs Sr, Dutch Sanders, and Roger Moore had been looking forward to visiting Ellison's cave. Some of these guys have been in the cave before. The prize for this cave is the free hanging 586' drop that takes forever to rappel and even longer to climb. They call this drop, Troy Fuqua, Ed Kehs, Jr, Jon Burns, Dwight Kempf – "Fantastic". It takes a modest Ready to enter Ellison's Stairstep. Sunday, 10:42am amount of vertical caving to get to this pit and most people are content must enter at each entrance with led Jon back through to Fantastic. to rappel down and climb back up. ropes, rappelling down, caving a We encountered high water at the This is not all that this cave has to little over 1 mile through the multi- stream junction just before reaching offer. On the other side of the level passage, eventually meeting as Fantastic. mountain is another free hanging pit, we "cross-over". Jon and I have 440' in depth called "Incredible". experienced together some of the On Friday, May 24, I traveled to the Water pours over the top of most difficult caves in TAG Blue Hole campground and made Incredible which makes the rappel (Tennessee/Alabama/Georgia). We camp. Waking on site, we would be and climb a wet experience. Deep have been in cold water up to our able to get an early start Saturday within the mountain is a multi-level ears, tight passages, deep morning. Jon arranged for Phillip passage that connects the two pits drops/climbs, and hiked to these Rykwalder, Emily Davis, and Elliot together. Much of this passage is a caves with surface temperatures Hellman to enter and rig Incredible long, vertically deep geological fault. below freezing to over 100°F. while Jon and I entered and rigged Having this experience with Jon, he Fantastic. Both groups caved The intrepid six contacted their asked me to help lead the cross-over through, crossed-over and left the fellow caving friend Tiny Manke trip. ropes hard-rigged. Along the way, who recommended local caver Jon there were a few pieces of flagging Mnich to lead the trip. Jon was We prepared for the trip on May 4 by tape that marked certain key features. impressed with their caving leading visiting cavers Joseph Kinder I had brought some pink tape and experience and was delighted to and Bart Bridge (Indiana) to the marked additional turns and provide an Ellison's through trip for bottom of Fantastic. Jon and I caved junctions just to be sure I didn't miss them. They have been to Ellison's through the lower fault passage to the them. We returned to camp and before, been in many other difficult bottom of Incredible. It had been prepared a hearty dinner, shared caves, down to the deep 1000+' caves raining heavily outside and we were stories about our trips and soon in Mexico, the 876' high bridge unable to enter the room as the turned in for the night. rappel in Fayetteville, WV, waterfall was fully active. The previously to or planning to climb stream was carrying a voluminous Sunday, May 26, two vehicles and rappel 2650' El Capitan in amount of water through the lower arrived with 6 fresh, excited PA Yosemite, not to mention ice passage and out the Blue Hole cavers. After a hearty breakfast and climbing. In order to fully visit resurgence. We turned around and I coffee, Jon took Ed Sr, Dutch, and Ellison's and see both pits, a group

4 June 2013 Cullman Grotto Flowstone Roger to the Blue Hole and began the My group had fun telling them what quiet of the cave returned. I called 1 mile hike up the hill. I got in the to expect. We said goodbye, see you out, "What just happened?" Jon and car with Dwight, Ed Jr, and Jon soon and pushed onward past W90 Ed started calling Burns and we drove around the Junction, past the White Room, West "Dwight? Dwight?" I went back to mountain to the Pocket Loop 76, The Carbide Dumps, and stopped them my heart in my throat. We trailhead. We had a 1.3 mile hike up at the Gnome Creamery. Dwight looked into the pit and saw nothing. the mountain to the Incredible made many photos of the Cottage We continued calling and listening Stairstep entrance. We found it just Cheese formation. I told them to hold and heard nothing. I suggested that where I had left it the previous their breath and bring their camera as the bottom of the pit was a slope and afternoon. We donned our gear and we popped down to Angel's Paradise. that he rolled or slid further down were soon rappelling down into the Dwight must've took two dozen under our feet out of our view. I massive sinkhole. The first drop was photos. I eventually got them back up knew we needed help and we needed a 50' rappelling/walkdown on a steep to the Creamery and we pressed on. it fast. The other group that went out slope to a re-belay that dropped more Dwight had been having trouble with Incredible knew we were in there and vertically 60' into a large room filled his right shoe. He had previously it would be 6 or 7 hours before they with washed in debris consisting of duck taped around the top to keep the came in looking for us. I suggested large timbers and tree limbs. We sole on. He said that when he left that Jon and Ed look for a way down climbed over this debris and down PA, he had grabbed the wrong shoes to Dwight, I would leave and go get the "stairstep" to the waterfall room. for the trip. Unable to get the duck help. Ed saw the fall and said it didn't 3 ropes hung here for those wanting tape to stick, they rigged a cord or look good, that we should expect to do the dome climbs. As we strap around his shoe. We made it to broken bones. Jon gave me his regrouped, I laid down in the water the North Pole formation and more iPhone to use when I got outside. I and belly crawled under the rock and photography occurred. We crossed gave them an emergency blanket I through the passage to the Second the massive Fault Room, stopped to had in my pack. Jon suggested that Step drop (83'). I went down, and the photograph the South Pole formation, he cave out with me. I told him I others soon followed. Onward and then pushed through the Popcorn knew the route and it was flagged, I through "The Misery", a short, Passage. WOULD get out and a rescue would stooping passage with a final duck- return - It would be several hours. It under into the passage leading to the Just past the Popcorn Passage, the would be best for Ed and Jon to stay top of Incredible, a 440' wet drop. I route follows over a breakdown pile together. After they came out of the checked the rigging, padded the lip, that has a 8-9' handline assisted cave the next morning, they told me and rigged an ascender to hold the climb-down. Some of the large rocks they were glad they had stayed rope weight while each person got on here are at rest on the slope and one together. rope. I made safety checks and of them in particular teeters if you helped Dwight put his jacket hood on press down on the right side. I sat I left and carefully caved out. When over his helmet. Everyone was soon here and explained to the group to there was a slick spot, I sat down and down and off rope, I quickly joined avoid touching that rock, to step over moved along on my butt. I got them. it, down to the ledge and grab the through the Gypsum room, Broken (11mm) rope that is bolted in here. Dome, and through the tight canyon I found the others behind the drop at Use the knots and the hand loops. climb-down to the stream. I nearly the cave registry canister. They Lower your left foot over the ledge cried thinking it would take a miracle signed in and removed their climbing inside the rope that loops back up to to get a patient through this tight gear. After a short break, drinks & the right. Your foot will stand in this canyon. The familiar stream junction snacks; we were soon on our way loop where you can step back and popped me up through the tight, across the bottom of the pit to the down with your right foot. You will bendy canyon up into the southern Devil's Trap door climb-up. We be standing on a gravel/scree slope extent of TAG Hall where All-In- made the climb up and over the that rolls down to the left into a nasty One rope has often hung down. I breakdown, through the holes, pit. Hold onto the hand line and walk carefully got over the slick rock piles through the cracks, 100' all the way towards it and duck under the and made it to the long rope hanging up to the upper borehole passage. shelf/ledge. I climbed down, Jon and down from the attic 586' above. I got The last climb had a small amount of Ed climbed down, and Dwight came my gear on, checked everything, took exposure where I had a piece of last. I had moved ahead scouting the the final drink of water and started webbing handline rigged here the day route with Jon and Ed not far behind climbing. I was doing fine until I got before. We moved along towards the me. I was about 70' ahead when I to the top when I finally realized that White Room and soon ran into Jon heard the most awful crash behind I was alone. I was very careful and the other 3 as we "crossed over". me. Nobody had yelled or shouted getting off rope here. I clipped into They were all wondering about the out. The sound of sliding gravel the safety lines and proceeded across Incredible climb and how wet it was. filled in behind the crash and the the attic to the 18' elevator/nuisance

5 June 2013 Cullman Grotto Flowstone drop. Quickly across the bridge and up the 125' Warm-Up pit, I got off rope and ran up The Ecstasy passage. The most beautiful daylight appeared before me, I climbed up through the hole and dialed 911.

Walker County Rescue knew exactly what I was describing and within 10 minutes I heard emergency vehicles (sirens) down at the Blue Hole. Rescue commander Allen Padgett phoned me back wanting every detail. He was most uncomfortable to hear that the patient was that far into the cave, especially below the big drop. I was ready to turn around and head back into the cave but I was asked to meet the rescue operation down at the Blue Hole. I met them Dwight's companions reunited Monday, 9:02am. and gave them more helpful details while they put together and executed being called on to go down the Big willing to give it a go. We staged at what I was told is one of the most Drop (the 586’ deep Fantastic Pit), the Wal-Mart over on Sparkman at complex and successful rescue doing patient handling and then 10 PM. Most of us were there a little operations ever. getting back out. I called James early. We were waiting for Brad, DeForest and Brad Philips, and we and almost got run off by the cops. I I credit Ed Kehs, Jr and Jon Burns talked about it and pretty much figure the manager had seen me lying for saving Dwight's life. They were talked ourselves in to making the on the pavement, resting my back, able to get to him within 10 minutes attempt. I poured the rest of my beer and thought we were drunks in the after I left them, responded to his down the drain and started getting parking lot, and so called the cops. injuries, stop the bleeding, keep him stuff together. I initially didn’t know We explained the situation to the warm, and wait for the IRTF rescue what I was going to do with Rusty, as officer and he was satisfied, and then to arrive 6-7 hours later. no one else was home, but James Brad pulled in and we were ready to said I could leave him at his house caravan over. and Tony Amundson would check on them. James also offered to drive, so Even though I had had a small dinner I was grateful to pitch in with him. already, when we stopped in Brad had the idea of taking a tent and Scottsboro at the McDs, I ate again. sleeping bag, so I did too. If not I figured it would be the last warm Ellison’s Rescue, Memorial needed, it would just stay in the food I had for a day, and I was Day 2013 truck. So I got my stuff together and almost right. We got to the Blue By Mark Ostrander went to James’ house. It turns out I Hole staging area around 1:30 AM or had Tommy’s wallet, and when I so. We were stopped at the highway I had just gotten home from church called him to tell him where I would first, and then again at the and had my leftover steak be, he also got stuff together and Maintenance Shed. People were chimichanga from the previous day’s pitched in with James and me. supposed to park at the shed and then Byers Cave outing. That day’s effort be carried in. We talked the guy into had been placing a cave register in The HCRU crew that was scraped letting us put our cars at the primitive Kennamer Cave with Tommy together to respond was a thin one. It campground while Ed went on into Royston. I was most of the way was Ed Nichols in charge, Joan the Command Post to check on though my beer when the text Keever, Brad, me, Tommy, James, things. So we waited in the woods message alert on my phone went off. Brandi Williams and Patrick Moore. for Ed to return. When he did come I checked it, saw the words “callout” It was the second response for back, he told us that they had enough and “Ellison’s” and thought “Oh my Brandi, as she had gone to the Iron people in the cave at this time, and God. I don’t know if I can do this.” Hoop callout not long before, but it that they had put some people to bed It was a nightmare scenario - being was the first callout for Patrick. and wanted them back first thing in tired after three days of caving They were assured that there would the morning. already and then the possibility of be jobs for everyone, and they were

6 June 2013 Cullman Grotto Flowstone So everyone tried to get a little shuteye. I pitched my tent. Brad had a tent. Tommy bedded down in James truck. James was on the ground (I don’t know how that happened). Brandi and Patrick were in her minivan. Joan was in her truck, and Ed went back to the IC. It was a lousy night. I may have drowsed, but it sure felt like I was awake all night. We still didn’t know what to expect in the morning, and there was the thought of that Big Drop looming in my mind. In the wee hours of the night I was awakened by the sound of a helicopter trying to land. It was a Medivac chopper, bringing blood in from Erlanger for the patient.

Backing up, the accident happened Walker County Fire & Rescue Staging Area around 3 PM local time. It was a group of PA cavers, who wanted to at a climb-down near the Popcorn found a climb-down. But when they come down and do a “crossover” trip Passage. There is a hand line, with got to him, they saw the compound in Ellison’s. I had heard about the an etrier at the bottom where it’s femur fracture and the blood trip through the VBATS group and vertical for a bit. When Dwight tried everywhere. They tried applying an could have been on the trip, but stepping off the etrier, his foot might ACE bandage first, but that did not declined. The PA cavers got have gotten tangled in the loop and entirely stop the bleeding. One of connected to Jon Mnich, who is a he fell backward. I don’t remember them had webbing, and so a young Chattanooga caver who is this area from my trip, but Troy tourniquet was rigged, which did extremely familiar with the cave. I mentioned it was a talus slope of stop the bleeding. That single action had actually been guided by Jon as about 30’ and then a drop down into was the biggest thing that saved far as the North Pole in Ellison’s two a canyon. I think they saw him there Dwight’s life. That must have been years previous. Also guiding with on the talus slope, and then he was done within minutes of the accident, Jon was Troy Fuqua, from here in gone over the edge. It was at least a and they were left to sit and wait in Huntsville. Troy had been in 20’ fall down to the bottom of the the dark for probably six hours at Ellison’s several times with Jon and canyon. least before the possibility of anyone was familiar with the crossover getting back. Sitting in the dark with route. In fact, Jon and Troy did the Since a rescue was obviously in a moaning, maybe dying friend must crossover trip the day before with order, Troy immediately started to have been hell. another group of cavers, so that they exit the cave and the two cavers cast could make sure conditions were about for a way to check on or do The accident was in Walker County, good and that the route was marked. something about Dwight. Troy was GA, and so they were in charge. I On Sunday, everyone met up at the able to get through the route at the don’t know how all the units got campground and split up to the bottom, up the 586’ pitch, then the called up and converged, but different entrances. Jon’s group 120’ Warm-Up Pit and to the surface Hamilton County TN Rescue was went straight up from the Blue Hole in two hours, which to me seems called in very early. to the traditional entrance, and remarkable. I heard he may have had I believe that I heard that Andy Troy’s group got in the cars and to hike down a ways (maybe to the Zellner was the first caver to arrive drove up to the top of the mountain bottom) before he could dial 911. on the scene. I don’t know whether to get to the entrance for the But the call was made and rescuers he came solo or as a part of a unit. Incredible side. Troy was leading a were on their way within minutes of Andy Voss of Hamilton County group of three PA cavers consisting that. Rescue was the first medically- of Dwight Kempf, Ed Kehs, Jr., and trained caver to get there. The two Jon Burns. After going down Since the bottom part of the cave is a Andys might have been paired. The Incredible and climbing up to the “horizontal” section, the two PA initial responders had to do the full proper level, they moved through cavers did not have a rope. I don’t hike up the hill with their vertical various scenic areas like the North know how they got down to him, but gear and whatever first aid and and South Poles. Dwight was in trail they did. Perhaps they circled and rescue gear they thought was

7 June 2013 Cullman Grotto Flowstone appropriate. With the prospect of more people and gear needing to go up to the cave, Walker County immediately started clearing a semi- abandoned logging road up to the pit and then they started running Gators up to the pit. I think they started with 3 Gators. 2 were alive in the morning when we were shuttled up, and 1 was still alive in the afternoon when we came down. 4wd trucks could get down the logging road, but they couldn’t get up it, so they had to go up to the top on Rocky Ln and back down from the top. Without the Gators, a lot of would-be rescuers might have been so exhausted from the hike up that they wouldn’t have been in any shape to work the bottom of the cave and get back out. I know I was extremely grateful not to have to do that awful hike!

The Warm-Up Pit and the Attic would already have been rigged with Command Duty Roster Jon and Troy’s ropes, but with so many people needed, more ropes rappelled down The Rope and was facilities. So I was able to get some were rigged. I know they rigged the lost to the surface and mid-cave breakfast and eat while we waited. Balcony, but I don’t know how many crews. And the wait wasn’t really that long. ropes they put down there. Probably Soon someone was asking for names, just the one, since two ropes in close Back to us. We got up at first light and I jumped on that and put mine contact would have twisted together and all piled into Brad’s truck and and James right on. In a little while, from the water action and become a headed over to IC. We found a Gator pulled up and we piled on. I danger. parking pretty close and found the was smart and got shotgun on the sign-in station right off. Some other way up. The poor schmucks in the When we got on scene in the middle cavers had gotten there a bit earlier back had to bounce it all the way up. of the night, I think Ed told us there than us and were being shuttled up It took about 20-30 minutes to grind were 60 people already in the cave. the hill to wait outside the entrance. up the hill, but it was great to be up They didn’t start moving the patient Sort of like being “on deck” at a there and still fresh. We checked in right away. They first had to baseball game. By that analogy, we with the entrance commander and stabilize him. I think there was a were “in the hole.” Our names were waited behind maybe 6 other traction splint for the femur break, taken and when enough of the cavers rescuers. At some point, a call came and Oregon Spine Splint for the back outside the entrance had been used in to send a crew in and down the and skull trauma. They packed him up we were to go up. I got my first Big Rope to rendezvous with the in a SKED, which is a flexible plastic look at “The Board”. It showed the patient evac team. Luckily there wrapper like something I used to use names and locations of all the rescue were some young guns on hand who as a kid to slide down hills in the personnel in the cave. I saw my were dying to go. I remember a winter. It is narrow and it does slide friend Alicia Nelson’s name in a foursome from Knoxville who had well. A full-up Ferno litter would group just ahead of us. Another such brand new gear that the not have fit through the tight spaces board had a diagram of the cave, and entrance command felt obligated to in between the accident scene and the where the patient was located on it. ask them if they really knew how to bottom of The Rope. I think they At this time, I think the patient was use it. took blood in with the initial team moving but still in the bottom section and then at some point, the blood that of the cave. Shortly after we got there, there was was brought in by helicopter was a request for food and water from in- taken down to them. Each time The Walker County Rescue Unit has cave. Someone carried bottled water something had to be taken to the a great support system. There was a in and we all pitched in to provide patient meant that another person converted school bus that had kitchen food. I gave them one of my Spams.

8 June 2013 Cullman Grotto Flowstone to go down, but they did.) A rope was attached to them, up and over a pulley at The Attic, and down to the patient. Matt then rappelled the pair of them down the rigged rope to the floor, and as they went down, the patient came up. The numbers don’t quite add up, and I don’t know how the patient got up the last bit, but he sure did. The patient might have come up to the Balcony and then been hauled up and across the Pit to the Attic, because the patient needed to be at the Attic level to be taken onward. Having been down to the Balcony in February, I knew that he wasn’t going to fit in a litter.

Progress was rapid at this point. It seemed like we were just getting ourselves settled in at the haul station when word came that they were lowering at the Elevator. We could start to hear them, and they soon got Command Project Board Dwight to the bottom of the Warm- Up Pit haul line. Our fearless leader Others pitched in with granola bars, assignments shifted and we didn’t at the haul line was an extremely Slim Jims, whatever we had. Later, need the gear. The haul was rigged competent woman named Rebecca more food was brought up by Gator. as a 3:1 Z-rig with the anchor to a Segrest. She was a definite NCRC I detached my Swaygo and stuffed a huge rock back on the far side of the type. I really liked her leadership big bag of biscuits in it. I carried it rig point. That left the near side free throughout. She was positive and in to the Warm-Up Pit, where it went for patient receiving. We had a long engaging, and knew what she was down the rope with the people taking period with nothing to do, and we doing. We had time to tension the the other food and water. After just sat around and chatted. I had haul line and do a practice haul saying hello to Alicia, who was time to go back out and pee, I think. cycle, and then it was “for real.” doing comms at that station, and talking with Buddy Lane’s daughter, When we moved in, the patient was They had the Ferno clipped in to the I went back out to the surface where still in the bottom of the cave, but haul line and Rebecca started us I had left all my gear. word came that he had reached the hauling. A sense of urgency had bottom of The Rope. I expected gripped everyone. Dr Wharton had When I had carried the biscuits in, hauling him up 586’ to take forever come in to the cave and was there there was a fair crew there at the top and completely burn out a crew of waiting to receive the patient and get of the Warm-Up Pit. I think they about ten. Not so! They rigged a his first look at him. We had heard were staged and waiting for orders, counterbalance system to let gravity him on the phone and knew that the and at some point they were moved do most of the work. I still don’t patient was “declining.” At first, I forward, probably to man the middle know exactly how it worked, but I was the one closest to the front and level and be patient evac for that part believe that Matt Blake rigged in on was supposed to mind the Gibbs of the cave between the top of the big the Balcony, with Elliot Stahl (an IN ascender that was the initial “grab” rope and the bottom of the Warm Up caver who happened to be in the device. We would pull the rope and Pit. That left us to move forward and area) tethered below him. I thought get maybe 10+ feet of pull on the be stationed at the haul system. Brad Matt said later that he went into the main line and then the Gibbs got too was picked to be one of the edge cave not intending to go below the close to the haul team and conflicted attendants, and someone else we Attic, but that they really needed him with the rock overheard and we didn’t know was on the other side. do go down when some others had would have to reset. Anchoring our James and I thought we were given reservations. I salute him for sucking haul team were Tommy and James. tasks that had us working at the top it up and doing what was needed. (I They did a super job. It was going so of the rope, so we initially put our suspect there were a lot of rescuers fast that I hardly felt like I was vertical gear on, but then that went in hoping they didn’t have keeping up. On the resets, I tried to

9 June 2013 Cullman Grotto Flowstone move the Gibbs forward back into bit and we did another lap pass needed hauling up. I climbed up the battery, but had a hard time sliding forward. I remember someone little slippery slope ahead of James the dang thing on the line. I never diving underneath and doing a great but then heard him fall behind me. use them and they are finicky, so I turtle to get him over a gap between With the edge of the pit not too far floundered. There was another caver rocks. I was close enough to the top away, I was worried, but he nearby that took over that after a few that I grabbed back on as we got responded after a few seconds. He cycles and I went back to straight clear and climbed out of the entrance thought he was okay, but showed me haul. It was grueling. I was soon sink and up the trail. I was dying but his elbow and it was gashed pretty panting with the effort. Then the kept going. No one could drop out good. I thought he needed stitches. litter was at the lip. Brad and the on the steep trail. We could see the Tommy had a look at it too and attendant on the other side got 4x4 up ahead that was to carry him thought it needed medical attention, Dwight up and over a sticking point down the hill. Finally the slope so with the patient up and nothing to and then he landed up top. leveled off and we slid him into the do for a while, James went out to back bed of the truck. Done! have it looked at. At that point, everybody dropped everything and we all switched to With that, I could breathe, and try not At this point, Marty Abercrombie evac. We all lined up to do a lap to throw up. I slowly plodded down and Trip Lightfeld got to come in and pass and get him down to the stream the trail back to the entrance station, man the haul station with us and be level. I remember thinking, as he where we had waited earlier. I got a there to carry gear out. I think that slid across my knees, that this would water and sat down and maybe had there was a long period where there be a really bad time for his weight to something to nibble on and rested. were just rescuers coming up the two break my knee. Then we moved The patient was going down the hill, lines at the Pit, but none of them forward in a swarm: carrying, but I was fully aware that there was needed help. When they would crest handing off, moving forward – still a lot of cavers and a ton of gear the lip, we tried to remember to give getting in and out of action. I kept that were down below that needed to them a little cheer. We truly thought taking turns, trying to do my part. I come up and out. As tired as that that they were the heroes and was burning out from the pace, little spurt made me, there were deserved it. I don’t know how long it stumbling a lot on the slippery rocks people that had been doing that for took before we got the first gear to in the stream. Eventually we sighted hours. haul. Then the stuff from the de-rig daylight ahead. We knew there were at the Attic came forward. There people ahead on the surface but we So I got up and James and I trudged was a long, heavy rope – wet from had to get him through the narrow, slowly back down and in to the hanging in the cave for two days. muddy drip zone. Some of us shot Warm Up Pit again. We were told There was a load of Pelican cases – forward to get in the narrow, steep that there might be cavers who probably containing medical gear. There was a wad of shorter ropes and comm wire. Then another long coil. Then there was the SKED, packed full of crap that we had no clue of. The big coil and SKED were off to the side, and we were down to just a few people needing to come up. I figured that if I just took the big coil out to the surface, I would have made a decent contribution, and I could be done. Marty Abercrombie, Trip and I got the SKED and the rope down to the stream. I shouldered the coil while Marty and Trip man-handled the SKED. That SKED was heavy and awkward, and I doubted that they could get it out by themselves. There was a steep cascade that slowed them up briefly, and I asked Marty if I could pass. I just kept shuffling one foot in front of the other, walking wherever the floor was smoothest. And then there was daylight ahead, ER Returning from Rescue and I crawled up the steep muddy bit

10 June 2013 Cullman Grotto Flowstone and was out. A little further up the path and I could heave that puppy into the bed of a waiting pickup truck. The last thing I had to do was get my backpack from the entrance control station where I had left it, and then I carried a couple of rig bags back up to the truck and could relax. I was shocked that Marty and Trip were getting the SKED to the surface so soon, but they were. They did a yeoman’s job dragging that puppy up the stream. I had done enough at that point that I wouldn’t be embarrassed if anyone was keeping score. But of course, no one was, except me of my own performance. We all can be hardest on ourselves at times. But I was happy. We had heard that Volunteer Cavers Returning from Rescue Dwight made it to the Medivac chopper still breathing, and that was done” getting the callout going. Wendy’s but Brandi and Joan waved a success. Tommy was outside with They had wanted to come back in the and kept on going back to Huntsville. me at that point, and we waited for a cave and help, but the IC folks Eating perked us up a little and then Gator to come up the trail. At some wouldn’t let them. it was back to town. Rusty was so point, we were joined by the other happy to see me and hop up in his woman on the haul team, Shannon I was able to get something to drink own car! I think it was about 10 PM Whitmer, and then when we started and a couple of biscuits before we when I got back home. I let Rusty to hear the Gator coming in the left, because I was hungry. I also into the back yard to pee, and then I distance, Alicia showed up. Shannon stuffed my shirt front with bags of flopped out on the bed and went to rode shotgun, and me, Alicia, Cheetos, creating a “Cheeto belly” sleep. Tommy and Dianne Guthrie piled that Brandi found amusing later into the bed of the Gator with our when I actually pulled one out. We It was a tremendous effort and I was gear. The last time I had to pack so were tired and strange things were truly humbled to be a part of it. All much stuff into a vehicle was coming amusing. Ed gave us a last talking-to the exhausted, but cheerful cavers down from Golondrinas with 5 about driving home and then we coming up the final drop to us made people and team gear in the back of were off to the campground and quite an impression. Some of them Tammy Otten’s pickup. I had to round up our stuff and head home. probably didn’t want to go down the borrow Shannon’s helmet to keep my Big Rope either but happened to get head from hitting some sharp thing James led off on the drive over to there when they were needed to go sticking out, and it was Trenton. We were supposed to have down, and so they went. I’d like to uncomfortable as heck, but we were stopped for food there, but somehow think that I would have gone down if giddy with exhaustion and knowing we made it through town without asked, but I never had to cross that that we were done. finding the right place to eat, and bridge. I was happy that our role then because we’re guys, we couldn’t didn’t ask that we do it. I was glad Going down was a bit faster that turn around and back in to town to that we were able to contribute as a climbing up. We gained a backpack try again. I wasn’t too fussed, Unit and do something concrete. It from someone we passed on the way, because I had had a couple of biscuit was incredibly satisfying to have and we picked up a hiker who and all those Cheetos! We went out helped, but I hope we don’t have to crowded into the front somehow. the west side of Trenton and up onto do it again any time soon. And then we were back at IC at the Sand Mountain there, and then took bottom. I wished someone had taken hwy 71 down to hwy 40 and in to a picture of us before we disengaged Scottsboro. James was glad that we ourselves from the Gator. I signed had gotten the 2 lane mtn road out of out. I saw Jon and Troy sitting the way while it was still daylight. I nearby. I felt for them. They were was riding shotgun and was supposed wearing fresh clothes and looking to be keeping James awake, but I kinda longingly at everyone. I shook kept nodding off. Brad and us 3 in their hands and told Troy “well James’ car turned in to eat at the

11 June 2013 Cullman Grotto Flowstone

Editor’s Note: The Flowstone editors begged pitifully for content.

As of Sunday afternoon (June 2nd), The Webmaster said he would have Mr. Kempf was recovering at the latest Flowstones up on the site Erlanger Medical Center in soon. Chattanooga, TN. He was out from under sedation and ventilation. He is The Librarian brought more old stuff, receiving physical therapy for his some classic pictures and fine broken leg and shows good signs of literature. recovery from the head injury.

Although still “fuzzy” from the pain The Safety Advisor brought up a medications, he was able to recent death at a rope swing near recognize his wife and daughters and Gemini Bridges in Utah. knew their names. Announcements: To show support for Mr. Kempf & his rescuers, the family asks that you SERA: June 13-16 send donations to your local cave VBATS El Cap Trip: July 13-20 rescue team or the National Cave Cavation: July 20-28 Rescue Commission “Cave Rescue Training Fund” by going to Kuenn brought up permits for https://secure.caves.org/nssapps/dona Cavation. We missed the lottery for te.shtml or calling (256) 852-1300. Subway, but we can still hope for a For more information, visit last minute permit. www.caves.org Old Business:

Harold did NOT say we have shirts & hats (but we do) Talked about the Library Summer Reading Program presentation and getting flyers made for Grotto advertising. Minutes of the Meeting of the Cullman Grotto of the May Grotto Trips: National Speleological Stephen’s Gap or Varnadoe: Sat., Society May 11th.

May 6, 2013 Trip Reports:

The regular monthly meeting of Mark Ostrander gave reports of Cullman Grotto of National recent trips he had made to Poplar Speleological Society was called to Hollow Cave and Fern Cave. order on Monday, May 6, 2013, at Tollin & Jacob Toler gave a report 7:40 p.m. by Harold Calvert, on their first visit to Neversink. chairman. Fifteen people were Sharon Clayton gave a report on the present. trip to Weaver’s Point.

The minutes of the regular monthly Program: meeting were read. A motion was made by David Drake to accept the Slideshow of pictures from Stephen’s minutes as read. Harold Calvert Gap. seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 The Treasurer’s report was given. pm.

12