The Editorial TEXAS CAVER With mixed emotions I am joining the ranks oE Vol.31,No.4: August 1986 many caving notables as an ex-editor of the Te~ ~ Caver. The Caver has had its ups and downs ove; the years but has managed to survive 31 years 6 CONTENTS continuous publication. in spite of itself. I wa Editorial. 74 proud to play my part in celebrating its 30t Feature Article. 76 anniversary. In 1955, The Caver played a big 78 part in bringing together cavers from all ove'j Caver Profile. Texas, and is doing that today. It continues to Cave Profile • 82 play an important role bringing "current ~ TSA News 84 information to over 300 households throughout Texa Grotto Reports 87 and the nation. Trip Reports 90 I leave the Caver in good hands, and wish J ~ and Dale much luck meeting their deadlines, wi f articles we can use and enjoy. I hope thi everyone keeps in mind that the only pay the edita Co-Editors Jay Jorden John Spence gets is thanks from his readers, so remember tht 1518 Devon Circle U.T. Station the next time you want to complain. If the Cav~ Dallas, TX 75217 Box 8026 is missing something, do your part to fix it. T~ Austin, TX 78713 Caver needs your help. 214-398-9272 512-251-5788 I would like to thank all of the contributor' who offered material, often with very short notic Dallas Staff Managing Editor Rob Kolstad but I would especially like to thank Bill Elliot' Clif Posey Word Processing Rodney and Patsy Leist for all the hours they hay" given up to make each issue possible. Austin Staff Word Processing Bill Elliot t Rodney Leist As for me, I'm going caving again and maybe ge' Patsy Leist to see some of these caves I've been reading a bout "

CAVE RESCUE Call Collect 512-686-0234

..... _. ...

The Texas Caver 16 a bi-monthly publication of the Teus Speleo­ logical Association (TSA), an internal organization of the National Speleological Society (NSS). It Is published In February, April, June, Augu~t, October, and December.

The Texas Caver openly invites all cavera to submit articles, (4 1/4" typewritten, singlespaced linea if possible), newa eveot. , Dear Editor: cartoons, cave maps, photographs (any aize black & white or color print). caving techniques, and any other cave related material for publication. Unless ment for 8 specific editor • .,lesae use the U.T. In reference to the trip report on pag, box above. the June 86 issue, what is reported is exac; Y t ' 71 o~. SU8SCRIPTION to The Texas Caver is included in the $10 dues to character of events I would expect to eIiCOu, ed the Texas Speleological Assoc . (only non-Texas resident. and a Third World Country. The only thing ' at l librarie s withIn the U.S. can subscribe without joining TSA. for $6 per year). Dues should be sent to T.S.A .• U. T. Station Box 8026. 'weirdness' is that the writer thin, tH AII~t'll. TCXUij 7871)-8026. Buck issues arc $1.00 each when purchaeed experience was 'weird' or 'strange'. at conventions. $2.00 e ach when ordered by maiL

ADDRESS CHANGES I'lease notify The Teus Caver of sddress changes Terry Raines toince the Pout Office will not forward bulk mail. Please include old address with the new address.

l'OSTKASTi':H: Send address changes to The Texas Caver. U.T. !:i uilion. Hox 8026. Aus t in t Texas 787 L)-8026.

DEADLINES: Articles. announcements. and material for publication Cover photo: Formations in County must he submitted to the editor by the 12th of the IDOnth preceding each iaaue. Line. (See feature article) EXCHANCES: The Texas Caver will e xchange news let tera wi th other Photo by Paul Fambro. groltos at lhe Edltoru" discretion. Contact one of the co-editor ••

COPYRICIIT 1986 Texas Speleologicsl Association. Internal organiza­ tlons of the Nutlonul Speleological Society may reprint any item Back Cover: Cave Ice in Count first appearing In The Texa. Caver as long as proper credit I. given and a copy of the newsletter containing the uteri.l 1. aalled Line. Photo by Paul Fambro. to the co-editors. Other organizatIons should contact the editor •.

Printed In the Republic of Tex.s ~) by the Speleo Pre •• , Austin.

Page 74 Tile Texas :ave): Drawing of Helmer 30 Years Ago drawing Helmer! By l-ielmer. The May '56 issue reported an Easter trip to by 9 members of the St. Mary's Grotto of San Antonio. The cavers filled a truck, trailer and car with enough gear to do some serious caving. They visited many caves in the Mante and Xilitla areas, many of which had never been visi ted before l~ organized cavers. The trip was rounded off by visiting caves near Jacala, to search for vampire bats. None were found. The first caver profiles were also in this issue. The Caver profiled Roy Pietsch, a physlcis t, who was the current president of the Texas Region, a life member of the N.S.S. and on Its B.O.G. He helped form the U.T. Grotto and se rved as its president. The issue also profiled Richard T. Scott and Joe C. Pearce. Scott, a clinical chemist, had served as president of both ~e V. T. and Balcones Grottos, was a director of the Texas Region and B.O.G. of the N.S.S. Pearce, a rehabilitation specialist served as the Balcones JOEL TOM MEADOR. 1943-1986 Grotto Secretary and wrote many caving articles for the Texas Caver. All were charter members of the Tom Heador, 43, died at 2:00 am on September 29, ~ kones Grotto and served as the Editorial Staff 1986, at his home in San Angelo. Services were held of the Texas Caver. at Evergreen Cemetery in Ballinger, his mother's The June Caver once again profiled three more hometown. cavers, Holmes Semken, Arthur Carroll and Bill He was born April 3, 1943, in San Angelo. He was a He lmer. Semken twice president of the U. T. S. S. was Schleicher County rancher who lived near Eldorado an avid rock and fossil collector. Carroll, known for many years. Tom was active in both the Texas u the hardest worker at U.T.S.S., served as Speleological Association and the Southwest Region expe dition chairman as well as other offices and of the National Speleological Society starting in ~as vice chair of the Texas Region. Bill Helmer, the early 1960's. He was a life member and Fellow of the Texas Caver staff artist, served as U.T.'s the NSS, with an NSS number of 5202. \'Ice president and was an early photographer and Tom did much of his early caving with the Abilene capper of Texas caves. Grotto. He was involved with surveying caves in Another article covered the fauna of central West Texas, such as Painted Caves in Val Verde Co., iexas caves focusing on salamanders, isopods, Cueva del Humo and Fallen Stalagmite Cave in Edwards lglowworms and whip scorpions. Caves of focus Co., as well as Vanishing River Cave in New Mexico, 'Included Ezell's, Dead Man's, Devil' s Sinkhold and and many others. Tom was a speleo-historian who dug Sally Cave. up old newspaper articles and writings from the 19th An article by R. T. Scott educated cavers about Century on Texas caves. One of his best articles was Ithe first aid of accident victims. He warns about "A brief history of the Devil's Sinkhole", which ooving unconscious victims of falls to avoid appeared in the October, 1965 Texas Caver, pp 70-72, further injury. He suggest a creative splint for and was reprinted in Texas Speleological Survey 2(5- broken limbs by using rolled canvas belted on to 6), pp 21-24. This contained colorful stories by I~obilize it, when boards cannot be found. cowboys about their first visits to the sinkhole. A wonderful poem was sent in as printed below: He married Pamela Scott on July 9, 1985, in San Angelo, and is survived by her and her children, Noel and Ashley; one sister, Sarah Kate Lipsett of San Angelo; an uncle, Epigmenio Sanchez of Eldorado; and other relatives. Never let it 6e said Tom was a big, shambling fellow who loved to drink a whole gallon of milk for breakfast. He invented a combination rappelling and climbing device in the 1960's, but it never caught on. He loved to talk to yCiUr Jred jfiame, about caves and will be missed by all who knew him. Reminiscences of Tom by cavers will be welcomed by r~at 6eauty was here ... the Texas Speleological Survey and the Texas Caver. William R. Elliott TSS Co-editor 12102 Grimsley Drive unti[ you, cam(;. Austin, Texas 78759

Page 75 AU8LJ s t 1986 Building Over Karst

By: John Gunter

In the fall of 1985 the Round Rock Independent School District purchased about 70 acres of land as a site for their third high school. The site is located on the north side of McNeil Road between the Austin White Lime facilities and the Rattan Creek subdivision. (See map) This site is located on the Edwards Formation which is well known for caves and sinkholes. The company I work for as a Geotechnical Engineer, Trinity Engineering Testing Corporation (TETCO), was hired to evaluate the site for the purpose of determining the type of foundation to use for the building. During the initial locations of the building, we found that Millipede Cave was located in the middle of the planned building area. After checking with Bill Russell, we found that two other known caves were in the immediate area. McNeil Bat Cave is located east of the school property and Weldon Rattlesnake Cave is located west of the school property. After many hours of walking the area, four other caves were found. Siamese Elm Cave is on the school property, while Trinity Cave, Agarita Cave and Bonsai Cave are all located north of the school property. Trinity Cave and Bonsai Cave are approximately 200 feet north of the school property and Agarita Cave is about another 500 feet north. None of the four recently found caves are large or particularly noteworthy except for Trinity Cave. The surface collapse which provides the entrance to Caramel popcorn in County Line. Photo by this cave is very recent, appearing to have Paul Fambro. collapsed only within the last year or two. Later, in March 1986, the time frame of this very recent collapse was confirmed by James Robinson, one of the landowners. When a structure is built on the Edward The upper portion of Member 4 of the Edwards Formation typically three foundation systems are Formation is usually found to contain a solution considered. Near surface footings can be used cavity zone about 20 feet in thickness. above the cavity zone and loaded very lightly. The cavity zone can be pressure injected with grout to fill the cavities and near surface footings used wi th a heavier load. The .thi rd option is to dril a pier to a depth below the cavity zone and utiliU very heavy loads. In the building area at th school si te 19 borings were drilled to obtain samples of the rock for testing and to determi ne the depth of any cavities encountered. The ini tis] borings hit several cavities and so several ot h e~ borings were reopened to find the bottom of t~ solution cavity zone as the preliminary analysi was that the cavities were too numerous and l arg to either support footage above those and t o fil] them with grout. The deeper borings were stopp ed at a depth of 50 feet where they were s till encountering cavities. At this depth, the cost of

Page 76 Tile Texas Caver placing a foundation system would be too expensive The caves were not found to be as large as to consider. though due primarily to the presence of lots of After analysis of the first 19 borings due to pulverulite ("solvent rock"). This lose powder did t~ number, size and depth of the cavities, two not offer any resistance to the shot hole rig thus recommenda tions were made. Firs t, was to find appearing to be a cavity. another site. If that was not feasible, a probe hole .had to be drilled beneath each planned footing From the standpoint of the building foundation, and recommendations made separately for each filling the cavities with grout was the only footing. TETCO had been drilling borings since the feasible colution. Small cavities near the surface (upper 15 feet) were filled with a very thi n grout early 1960's and we had never encountered so many injected to a presure of 30 psi. The larger cavities at a site before. For whatever reasons, cavities could not be filled with grout as they the idea of finding another site was not considered were too large; however, a very thick grout was as feasible and Phase II of the investigation was pumped under 50 psi pressure to build a column in begun. the cavities to provide support to the cave roof. II consisted of about 570 shot holes on Phase Three of these columns were made in County Line one at each footing location. The shot the site, Cave where I watched to make sure that pumping used to log in the location of hard holes were grout from the surface could form the columns. rock, soft rock and cavities. Of the 570 holes I believe that had the school district realized appro xima tely 70% of them encountered cavities. the extent of the caves early enough they would The cavi ties varried from 6 inches to 16 feet in have selected another site. If you know of a thi ckness. development with caves on the property the earlier With visions of long passages and endless you can let someone know, the better chance that rooms , I had six 24 inch shafts drilled at the caves can be avoided by the development and locations I thought most likely to contain saved. significant caves. Of the six locations, all encountered some sort of cave. Five of those were fairly small being mostly crawling passage. The sixt h location however encountered a cave we named Editors Note: John Gunter and all the cavers County Line. The cave was approximately 20 feet by familiar with this site would have liked to have 30 feet with ceiling heights of 4 feet to 10 feet. seen the caves saved but unfortunately, it is hard The cave was very highly decorated containing sever to predict what is underground without entrances. soda straws up to 18 inches in length. A small It may be that this problem can be overcome in the pool was found that had a layer of calcite ice on near future with developing technology. The It. This cave was visited by several people from entrance sink of Millipede Cave has been saved as a the VT Grotto. Unfortunately, connections were not courtyard for the school due to the natural beauty foun d between the caves. it offers.

David Dodge in the now destroyed County Line Cave. Photo by Paul Fambro. ______Page 77 Augus t 1986 --c- ••• • CAVER PROFILE

Warton was very heave so we wound up putting a rope Mike through the pipe and was able to even tually hoist Interviewed by John Spence the thing out of the well. Below that was just a black hole. We would drop rocks which would land How did you get started caving? in water about 20 to 25 feet down. lve really became intrigued by all this. I stated in 1960 in Odessa, Texas, when I was 10 years old. I was the kind of kid that liked to dig We planned a trip out there to climb down int( holes in the ground. I've talked to a lot of this hole wi th ropes to see where it went. It cavers with similar backgrounds. They have that in looked like I was the only one that was able to go, common, it's an unusual sort of thing. A lot of the day we were scheduled to do this. I reallj cavers dug holes in the ground as kids and put wanted to wait for the others but I just couldn't boards over them and made forts and mazes to play stand not knowing what was down there so I went in. ahead. On the way, I picked up these unused railroad spikes with the intention to make it a I had a friend that lived across the alley. We little easier to climb in and out of the shaft. I dug holes in our back yards down six or seven feet started pounding these things into the wall at and started tunneling towards each other until we different points. I wound up placing them pret~ met under the center of the alley. This took quite much all the way down the shaft to where we had a while to do but we eventually hollowed out a pulled the block. I was trying to place the lowest fort. one right next to the hole in the bottom. I was leaning over pounding one in and having a lot of One afternoon, a few months later, we had a big trouble when I managed to slip and fall into the rain. I was in the house watching the television hole which scared the living hell out of me at the and heard this big loud noise out in the alley. A time. It happened pretty quick, I remember falli~ garbage truck had come to pick up the trash. The and I hit water about four to five feet deep . I truck had gotten over the top of that room and it wasn't hurt, but I was really shaken and completely gave wa y . The cab sunk out of sight. I can soaked. I was able to get out of the water over remember this ~fe x ican beating on the back door, onto sort of a gravel bar and a large bolder. wanting to use the phone, I guess. Odessa had to After I have calmed down, and my eyes adjusted it dispatch a crew to pull this trash truck out of the was a very beautiful, impressive experience. The hole. I received severe punishment later when my rays of sunlight seemed to light up things enougl folks found out what had happened. to see that the room was approximately 20 to 2~ feet high and from the bottom of the well, bellinI This all happened prior to our discovery of the out to about 20 feet across at the bottom. I coule hand dug Faudry Well, just outside of town. Out of make out that there was a stream that came into thE shear boredom, a group of kinds and I would ride room from a small passage tha t was in the wall outside of town and start looking around for stuff which fed the pool and then went out anothel to do. This was back in June of 1960. We passage on the opposi te side. Wi thout a light discovered this 4 foot diameter hole in the ground however, there was not much I could do, so I just filled up to within about 10 or 12 feet of the waited in the dark. surface. We decided that we could start a project there and excavate this thing. We really didn't It was probably two or three hours before one of understand what it was, where it went, but it my friends showed up. Anyway, when he got there looked like something fund to do, so we went to the and hollered down into the well, I told him t o go extent of hauling out a bunch of tools, ropes and back to town and get a rope to get me out. He buckets over for the dig. In the process, we would showed up about an hour or so la ter wi th a rope come across quite a lot of old bottles and relics long enough for me to climb to the end of the from back during the time the well was filled. We well. cut out hand and foot holes to make our way up and down each time we worked on it. At about the 80' Later, I told my folks what had happened and my level the circular hold had intersected a more mother about had a heart attack. To hear her talk, solid formation of limestone, but the walls became I mus t have hi t my head cause I have never been the solid and it was more like a crevice where we found same since. That was my first real cave a concrete block with a metal pipe cemented into it experience. It seems to be where I really go t where it used to hold the windmill pipe . We used motivated to pursue caving and after that point I pry bars and sledge hammers to get it loose but it would go to the school lihraries and check out

Page 78 The Texas Caver books. Any thing and everything I would find we got it back in, but while exiting the cave I re lating to caves. I would read about the French managed to pull it out again. After s < ' ~ ing it exp lora tions in the books they had wri t ten and have once more, I made it out. My pride was hurt as ~p t up caving activities ever since. much as anything else. It was a good thing it happened when it did cause it did a lot to bring When did you really get into caving? the safety thing back in focus. I needed something like that to get my attention. Too many people die I got into caving years before I knew about from neglect of safety rituals. organized caving up in the Carlsbad area. I went to caves out in West Texas and the Carlsbad area. Besides that self-rescue, have you ever been I went and spent a summer in Sequora, New Mexico involved in any others? and wo und up exploring a lot of mines. I moved to ~s ti n in 1964 and started caving around Austin and We rescued a guy in Hell's Below who had managed then a year or two later met Bill Russell and began to flip upside down on rope about 20 or 30 feet cav i ng with him. Cave X was the first Austin area above the floor. He was really overweight using a cave . There was a lot of work being done in Inner really inferior climbing system. We rigged another Sp ac e so I got heavily involved there. line, put him on a rack and cut his foot ascenders loose. What grotto were you affilated with? Out of all your caves and caving experiences, joined Balcones Grotto in the early 70's as a what would you say to be your most memorable regular member, became equipment chairman and was experience? ~esident 1 or 2 years. We also formed the Balcones Conserva tion Task Force which was That would be really hard to define without w~e rned with cleaning up Steam Cave by Inner sitting and thinking about it for several hours Spac e . There were eight of us at that time tha t because I've been fortunate to have a lot of really ~ re real dedicated. We did a lot of work and got good experiences and discover several virgin caves the cave in real good shape. Unfortunately we got, that have been significant for Texas. I would have no t histoplasmosis, but a form of that called to say that Wizard's Well has been the best Texas wccitiomycosis. It put everyone under for about experience for me. ~o we eks, which kind of dissolved the task force. After caving in such caves as Wizard's Well and So , you've gone full circle since then--you Mexico, how do you find caving in the Austin area? cleaned the cave this las t convention. Wi th all this local caving around Wes t Texas, how did you I'm still intrigued to go out and dig in get involved with caving in Mexico? sinkholes which might produce a new cave, realizing you can only expect so much due to the geology. The first real caving trip to Mexico was in '74 Virgin cave is always exciting though. ~ ith Dave McKenzie and at that time we were the econd group, I believe, ever to enter the system of Pur ification at the historical entrance. We didn't have wetsuits with us but came very close to di sc ove ring the connection or end of the wet ection. They call it the waterfall squeeze at the bottom of the his toric sec tion. One guy was sen t to check that and came back saying it didn't go but ac tu ally it did, but it was just too wet. Behind that waterfall squeeze it goes directly into the Rio Ve rde.

We went back to that area several times. We ~ecked 17 new pits in that area. Our best find ~as the Sontano de Pin uelos which was about 600 fee t deep. Since then I've made maybe 30 trips altoge ther in Mexico.

Have you ever been hurt caving?

The worst injury I ever got caving was in Mexico wi th a group of Canadians and Bri ts. I wound up racing this kid through the cave. I grabbed some ro tten rock and fell about 15 feet hitting two ledges and landed in a pool. I knew I was hurt i~ed iately after I stood up when my left hand hung doWn to my knees. I fel t a big hole in my shoulder and realized I'd dislocated it. After three tries Mike Warton in Mexico. ______Page 79 ]IUgus t 1986 Were you in on the discovery of Wizard's Well? wha t forma tions are drilled up. I've convinced the company to offer a service in dealing with caves as I was not technically on the discovery trip. developers might need recommendations as to what to Some other Odessa cavers were led to the entrance do with caves. by a ranch owner in that area. They informed me and I joined them for the second trip. The cave Do you ever feel like you are pressured to find wasn't really pushed before then. They had gone results in favor of the developer? down to the first main shaft which was the wizard's well and dropped some rocks in and saw that it was Well, yes and no. Tha t pressure might be felt deep. I don't believe that they had the gear, after developing a mutual friendship with a equipment or know how at that time to negotiate the developer. They, of course, want things to go in shaft. We had been in the process of forming the their favor all the time, but they are beginning to lOG Grotto in Odessa so that's kinda when the realize that things can't always be this way. Most exploration and survey all started at Wizard's of the caves we deal t wi th, so far, are those wi th Well, and it continued over probably 20 different such a nature that it didn't prevent them from trips to the cave. At one point the exploration continuing with their designs. There are factors got far ahead of the survey so we had to force that could bring things to a halt and I would make ourselves to pick the survey up before we could recommendations to that effect. continue on the exploration, but after that every trip was very exciting because we would come back Have you been able to save any caves? with a a hundred meters in the cave every trip with leads still going. I think Goat Cave property may well have been lost if not for struggling to see it preserved. How did you end back up in West Texas? Bill Russell had done some work · towards this goal and I worked wi th the owners and the city to see Backing up somewhat, I had moved to California the plans didn't get side tracked. I've made many and I was there for close to two years. l.fuile I valuable contacts among those concerned to make the was there, I became a member of the Mother Lode Goat Cave preserve come to a reality. The Caw Grotto and caved in the northern California caves. l1anagement Symposium, last July was designed to Then we moved back to Texas for a short period of bring together just such individuals in a position time and then went to Missouri for about a year and to preserve caves with those who have the expertise caved extensively there in the southern part of the and willingness to work and make it happen. State. From there I went to Mississippi and became a member of the Southern Mississippi Grotto in Jackson, caving mostly in Alabama. From You've just retired from the T.S.A. chair. What Mississippi, I wound up going back to West Texas other caving interests are you involved with? working for a family operation. So that's ahout the point where I started the lOG Grotto in Besides the T.S.A., I'm involved with the Goat Odessa. There were a lot of interested people Cave si tua tion, the Texas Parks and Wildlife and there who were in ne ed of some organization and the Texas Cave Management Assoc. locations, so I worked extensively in West Texas and the Guadalupes frequently. Mike Walsh expressed the need for such ~ organization as the T.C.M.A. It's a non-profit What were you doing in West Texas? organization designed to promote preservation and conservation and be able to accept caves for such I was working for the family's oil field drilling purposes, allowing for scientific and educational company. uses. Unless we can get involved environmentally and be effective, where we can, we will lose a10t Where did you go to school? of environQentally sensitive and biologically significant caves. This is why we're getting I went to Odessa College and from there to UTPB involved in alot of the speleopoliticing. and graduated as a petroleum geologist with a BA. Then I went to work for a smaller oil/gas What direction do you see the T. S.A. headin@ independent in LaGrange which brought me back to in? central Texas and Mexico caving. Like the population in general, I see the loose What is your current occupation and how much of knit partiers of the 60's and 70's becoming more it involves karst? serious about environmental concerns. People recognize the need to get involved to get something My current job is with DD&Y Geotechnical done, and I think we have a good chance to do a10t Engineers . I started out there running a soils of good but it won't happen overnight. It'll take laboratory, determined the quality and property of alot of dedicated work. soils, for the construction of highrises. My job now is to run the lab, do geotechnical drafting for You were responsible for the gate on Goat Cave. soils reports and hire all the contract drilling Could you tell us how you got involved in cave the company does. I also do field work, logging gating?

Page 80 Tile Texas Caver I answered a call for those interested in working I started collecting arrowheads as a kid and got on the N.S.S. Cave Gating Manual and volunteered to seriously involved with studying Indian cuJtures. ~lp on drafting and design work since I was in the I've done alot of art work, paintings and ~ntsvi lle area frequently at that time. I figured sculpture. I worked as an exhibition coordinator I could learn alot about gating in the process, and for the Texas Fine Arts Assoc. in Austin. I like it'S helped me design and build about six or seven to dance. It comes real natural where I'm from. cave ga tes since then. I've recently been getting back into weight lifting after some time off. I've found it to be a Have you been involved with other publications? personally satisfying achievement I do strictly for myself . I got the idea for a caving comic called Cave Trek after watching the old Star Trek series back in '75. It started out one page a month in the Mike, you seem to be a well-rounded individual. southern Hississippi Grotto Newsletter then was What do you see for your future and caving? picked up by the N. S. S. News who ran it for about a year. I'm thinking about bringing the series back if I ever get the time. Over the years I've kind of adopted a little saying that has always fallen true and it still What other interests do you have outside of does today. I even made up a plaque to this effect speleo logy? and it says, "Everything I did went down a hole."

This s egme nt of " Cave Treck" comics was inspired by \~arton' s true to life adventure s in Odessa , Texas (where you make your own cave).

'IUEiUS t 1986 ------______Page 31 Ireland's Cave Erika, William and I returned on March 1, 1986 to take pictures, to survey a side lead and to push Travis County, Texas exploration in the crawlway at the end of the main passage. After doing photography on the way in, Reported by: Dale Pate, Texas Speleological Survey William and I went through the belly crawls and surveyed 60 feet in a muddy side lead that headed Before entering Ireland-s Cave, located in the west. Unfortunately, it ended. When we had southern part of Travis County, our small group finished surveying, William crawled to the end of first hiked south looking for other entrances or exploration in the main passage and pushed ahead. sinkholes. Not finding anything of interest, we It immediately opened up, but the bad air wa s returned to the cave's small entrance . Once there, taking its toll. William turned around in a walking we divided the survey gear and entered. Our survey passage. William's return trip seemed to 'take team consisted of William Russell, sketcher; Erika forever as he stopped often to catch his breathe. Heinen, lead tape; and myself, instruments. On a We soon arrived at the place where we had left previous trip, (November, 1985) William, Mark Erika, only to find that she had exited the cave. Shumate, and Nancy Weaver had surveyed 500 feet. Ireland's Cave is a bad air cave with no circulation. Most of the year the cave is THE FUTURE intolerable and even deadly. Our trip of January, 25, 1986 found the cave's C02 level to be quite low, but increased with our penetration into the Ireland's Cave is located in southern Travis cave. Our objectives on this trip were to survey County where growth and new subdivisions are a way the rest of the known cave and to push the cave's of life. The fact that this is a bad air cave and main passage, if possible. Since the original more dangerous to be in could mean that this exploration parties, there have been few, if any, particular cave might not be saved. Fortunately other trips by organized cavers to the cave. for the cave, but not necessarily the surrounding The entrance to Ireland's Cave is 2 feet by 3 area, its entrance is located in the median of what feet and opens into a wide, low ceiling passage is known as the Outer Loop around Austin. In time, which drains a small arroyo. The passage contains this will become a major freeway. Subdivisions and quite a bit of wood debris in the entrance area. businesses will undoubtedly grow all around this To the south, this passage continues in a area. The cave could be saved because of its meandering fashion as a hands and knees crawlway unique location. It's location will also help keep with occasional stretches of passage you can stand neighborhood kids from entering the cave. Though up in. Several pools are also encountered along fairly small, the cave is unique and deserves to be the way. After 500 feet, we arrived at the tie-in saved, and if possible left to itself. station with the previous survey. Here we noticed the bad air as our breathing rate increased by a small amount. We began the survey by taking a shot down a side lead to the left; then turned and headed down the main passage. Shortly, the ceiling lowered and the passage became a divided belly Special Map Insert crawl, joining again 30 feet further along. After 100 feet, the passage once again opened up ,and was now 5 to 6 feet high and close to 10 feet wide. In the middle of the passage was another pool, this one was 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep. Shortly, thereafter, the ceiling lowered once again The maps found in the center of and after a treacherous crawl, exploration was this issue can be removed for stopped at another crawlway heading downward. At display. The exploration and this point the cave is 40.1 feet deep. The bad air survey of Wizard's Well can be was much worse so we turned back leaving the crawlway for another day. The trip back to the read about in the October 1984 entrance seemed to take forever. Everyone would issue of the Texas Caver. crawl forward a short ways and then stop to take a breather. No ill effects were noticed from the trip and we recovered soon after coming out into the cool, fresh air.

Page 5 2 Tile Texas Caver Limestone,Lime, CaO + Acetylene & Carbide Lime is important commercially, being used in mortar, cement, whitewash, tanning, fertilizers, The Windy City Speleonews Dick Flegel fungicides, sugar refining, iron and steel smelting, medicines, bleaches, water purification, and, would you believe, making carbide. When calcium oxide and In Mike Dyas' review of local newsletters in the o 0 carbon are heated to 5,400 F (3,000 C), they January NSS News, an item from the Mid-Mississippi combine to form calcium carbide: Valley Grotto's Underground is mentioned. In that article, spent carbide is said to be the same as the CaO + 3C - CaC + CO subs tance sold commercially to ro t stumps, and it is 2 also claimed to be virtually the same thing as lye. As we know, of course, water and carbide combine This article is a response to that. in your lamp to give acetylene: Spent carbide is calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH), lisa known as water-slaked lime. Unfortunately, t~e illV author has confused this with quick lime, :alcium oxide or CaO. The latter is what is sold to Besides welding and lighting, acetylene is important rot 8 tumps. Also, lye is sodium hydroxide, NaOH. in the preparation of the vinyl plastics polyvinyl Ihlle spent carbide and lye are both hydroxides, chloride and vinyl acetate, acrylon fiber, lodium hydroxide is many times more active. Lye is chloroethylene solvents, and neoprene rubber. po isonous because of its affinity for water; when it [There is also a polyacetylene fiber, which has Is dissolved in water, enough heat is generated to interesting electrical properties but no commercial ooil the water, which would cause burns if it were use.--Speleonews,ed.] Gasoline can be synthesized taken internally. Also, it is able to react with from acetylene. la ts and oils in the body, causing cell destruction What happens to spent carbide that is dumped on and chemical burns. Calcium hydroxide would have to the ground or into a stream? It combines with ~ taken in large quantities over an extended period carbon dioxide in the air or carbonic acid in the of time before serious problems would result. water and forms calcium carbona te--i t ends up as ~(OH)2 is quite insoluble (0.185 g per 100 g of powdered limestone: water) compared to NaOH (42 g per 100 g of water). A saturated solution of spent carbide is known as Ca(OH)2 + CO - CaC0 + H 0 Ilmewater. It is so innocuous that it used to be 2 3 2 added to baby formula because it made the cassein Ca(OH)2 H C0 - CaC0 28 0 + 2 3 3 + 2 OO ~ digestible. It also used to be prescribed for calcium deficiency--you were to drink it Please note that I am NOT condoning indiscriminate straight--bu t this was discontinued because the dumping of spent carbide in any cave, in the solubility was so low that may gallons per day would landowner's pasture, or anywhere else. The only have been needed for any effect. purpose of this article is to eliminate the ~lcium hydroxide, as inactive as it is, will misinformation and hysteria surrounding the af fect the extremely fragile ecosystems within the subject. If someone else cleans his lamp at a cave cave. It will react with any carbonic acid present, entrance and someone else cleans his lamp at a cave preCipitating any dissolved limestone and changing entrance and then the farmer's cow becomes sick, the the cave water from slightly acidic to slightly caver is a perfect scapegoat. And, of course, it is baSic, which will promote the growth of different unsightly. bacteria and so on. However, according to what (Actually, farmers need to add lime to some soils Ilmited research has been done, the spent carbide themselves, and some farmers might even welcome some Itself is neutralized within one or two weeks, with supplied by cavers, if they had the situation the underground environment returning to normal. explained to them.) It would be interesting to note the relationship Spent carbide, or calcium hydroxide, is greatly ~ tween lime, limestone, carbide, and acetylene. overrated as a poison. The main objection to it is The reason limestone is called that is that it is aesthetic. The best place to dump it is still the· the raw material for lime. In a process known since garbage can. If it is spread thinly on the surface, ilbl1cal times, when it is hea ted to 1, 6500 F weather and erosion will rapidly destroy any 0 (900 C) , it decomposes and carbon dioxide gas is traces. But use discretion; don't dump it in the driven off, leaving lime: landowner's front yard.

Augus t 1986 ______Page 83 Caver Poll where you stand. The TSA report from question 3 an the carbide story from question 17 are in thi Submitted by: Mike Walsh issue. The Caverns Protection Act change fro question 14 was in the December 1984 issue of th The following are the results of a poll conducted Texas Caver. The Texas Cave Management Associatio at the Texas Oldtimers. It is presented largely information from question 23 was in the June 198 without comment to allow cavers a chance to see how issue. The TSA voted to have a conservation meetin 80 cavers responded. The comments on the poll in January with our business meeting. See questio ranged from "Great, this brings out all of the major 5. The meeting will be held on the Southwest Te~ issues," to "This is dumb." If you find any issue University campus, San Marcos. Once again, thank interesting, write the Texas Caver and let us know for taking part in the poll.

Note: The percent of respondents who answered in each of five categories is tabulated as follows: ++ = strong support, + .. in favor, 0 = neutral, - "' against, -- = stongly against. ++ + o

1. For the past year and a half, the TSA has been working with the Texas 39 43 13 2 3 Parks and Wildlife Dept. to inventory the caves and develop cave management policy. How do you feel about this involvement?

2. The TP&W has purchased Gorman Falls Cave and the Devil's Sinkhole. Both 20 45 27 5 of these caves have been closed to cavers for many years. It seems that they will be open to cavers in the future. How do you feel about their ownershipby the TP&W?

3. The TSA-TP&W liaison committee is moving into the cave management aspect 27 47 18 4 4 of our efforts. Please read the TSA report and give us an indication of howyouview thisgeneral approach.

4. It is important that the TSA have a conservation chairman who is 21 46 19 10 4 interested and willing to put a great deal of time into conservation efforts. Should the TSA establish a conservation committee and give it financial support?

5. It has been suggested that the TSA could have a cave management-cave 32 52 7 5 4 conservation meeting the weekend of our January business meeting. We could use the conference to work on our problems, how to save caves from the bulldozer, how to get stronger laws, etc. Are you in favor of a conference?

6. Over the past few years, a system on cave access has developed where you 24 29 36 9 contact the caver "in charge". In Texas, ten to twenty caves come under this system. In general, how do you feel about this system?

7. How do you feel about TSA cave ownership or management of caves? 24 30 26 11 9 8. As land developers are forced to save caves, management problems will 22 53 16 5 4 arise. When governmental agencies are unwilling to accept caves, cavers or cave organizations may have to step in to own or manage. Do you feel this is an acceptable activity? 9. It has been suggested that the collection of cave life by TSA members 28 45 15 8 4 violates the NSS "Take nothing but pictures" policy. Do you feel that responsible collecting and reporting is acceptable?

The Texas Cavel Page 5 4 ------...... 10. It has been suggested that any visitation to bat caves while bats are 24 34 23 13 6 present is harmful. Are you in favor of a TSA investigation into this matter?

I!. If it is found that visitation is harmful, would you support a TSA­ 42 35 13 5 5 requested caver moratorium on bat cave visitation during certain times of the year?

12. Cave gates have always been controversial. In general, how do you feel 52 33 11 2 2 about gating in urban areas to prevent the caves from being filled in or destroyed by those who do not respect their values?

13. It has been argued that cavers must maintain total secrecy about caves. A 8 20 24 34 14 high profile leads to more cave destruction and more public visitation. Would you support a policy of secrecy and non-cooperation with the press, governmental agencies, etc.?

14. Cavers will be working to change the 1977 Caverns Protection Act next 27 48 15 8 2 year. Please read the Act and the proposed changes. Should the TSA get involved in a change of the law?

15 . Recently, three "Save a Cave" hotline numbers have been set up. You can 37 48 13 o 3 report destruction of caves, cave life, formations, etc. Cavers will then attempt to improve the situation. How do you feel about this effort?

16. I t has been suggested that the Texas Caver devotes too much coverage to 5 14 45 27 9 cave conservation and cave management issues and not enough to "caving activities." Should the editors cut back on the coverage?

17. Th e subject of leaving used carbide in caves and in cave water should be 1 6 8 26 59 discussed. Please read the story on carbide before answering the question: How do you feel about leaving carbide in caves?

1 ~. The actions of some cavers seem to show total disregard for cave 27 55 11 5 2 co nservation. Often, this is merely their lack of common sense and not a resu lt of lack of knowledge. Disregarding this, do you feel that TSA should increase conservation education efforts among our membership?

19 . The use of explosives in cave exploration remains a major issue in many 25 41 14 12 8 part s of the country. How do you feel about the responsible, well­ thought-out use of explosives in cave exploration?

20. How do you feel about what has been called "recreational blasting?" This 4 4 11 36 45 includes such things as using caves to teach blasting (not while engaged i n exploration) and creating caves.

11. How do you feel about attracting new cavers to the TSA or to your grotto? 21 51 17 o 3

12 . As of May 11, 1986, all newly acquired properties in Austin have to have 34 49 10 2 5 e nvironmental assessments to determine protection and preservation meas ures for any and all karst features deemed as significantly relating to subsurface groundwater sources before development on the surface can be approved. How do you feel about the TSA working to extend this to all of the cities in Central Texas that are affected?

23 . The Texas Cave Management Association was created in April to help deal 16 51 22 7 4 with Texas cave management and conservation problems. Education as to the va lue of caves is their main effort. Please read the brochure before answering. Do you feel there is a place for this type of organization in Texas caVing?

14 . \~e have been requested to see how TSA members feel about the Trout Rock 5 28 37 20 10 Cave, West Virginia, issue. Please do not answer if you do not have enough information on the issue. How do you feel about the recent NSS Boa rd of Directors decision to close the cave?

.\l: ~1.lS t 1986 ------__ Page 85 of the Kendall County (Boerne area) report are available to current TSA members for $10 (postpaid), T.5.A.-Texas Write to me at 12102 Grimsley Drive, Austin, n 78759. Parks & Wildlife Report The report is 143 pp long and contains informati~ on 182 caves and pits as well as 60 sinks and othel by: Mike Walsh karst features. A fold-out three color map of the county with cave locations is included, along witt This report is to give a few of the basic points 65 pp of cave maps. There are so many leads ir which we will seek to make TP&W cave management Kendall County that I included two lists of leads, policy. First, we feel that they should neither arranged as first and second priorities. There are encourage nor discourage caving. There may be a few brief descriptions of most of the caves, along witt exceptions to this such as the Gorman Falls Cave or length and depth information and other notes, Enchanted Rock Cave. They have an obligation to Articles by Scott Harden, James Reddell, and mysell protect the caves and cave life from those who do discuss hydrology, biology, and geology. not value this resource. Since it is the public's The field guide is a new approach to publishin! park system, most of the caves should be open for information on Texas speleology, and most of it visitation by those people who are prepared for comes out of a computer database that I am buildin! visitation. on Texas caves. Many of the maps are crude, but we Most of the caves should be open for visitation to felt it would be better to publish something that anyone who can find them on their own. Signs can be could be used for further field work and then follo~ posted concerning conservation rules. The second up someday with a polished report on the county. It group of caves are those which are more hazardous or looks like George Veni will be studying the hydro· contain features which may be damaged or destroyed geology of the Lower Glen Rose caves in this area without some level of control. To gain entry into for his Ph.D. dissertation, so we hope to see reo these, it would be necessary to visit the office. newed interest in this area soon. Cavers wanting to The office would have a sheet on each cave and would explore and map in Kendall County should coordinate inform the visitor of any hazards and check to see their activities with our TSS representative io if the group has proper equipment and leadership Boerne, Ki. Ka10y (work phone 512-824-9481). (adult supervision). It would be necessary to tell James Reddell is hard at work on his micro puttiq the office when you leave the cave. the final editing touches to George Veni's The Cave. The third group of caves would be those which have of Bexar County, which will be published by the more hazards, require more equipment or knowledge, Texas Memorial Museum as its first Monographs ia or contain special features. To gain entry to these Speleo10gy. Dick Smith and I are helping and we hope it would be necessary to write Austin for a permit. it will be out by the end of 1986. An announcement The permit would be mailed to the trip leader would will be published in the Texas Caver. would present it to the park office. Once this is Work continues on building a computer database ~ done, the cavers would be informed of hazards and Texas caves. Keith Heuss recently gave me the origi' their equipment checked. The hazard rating on each nal 1968 TSS computer database on IBM cards. This cave as well as the equipment required on each would had been used by Keith for several years to ma~ be written by the TSA and the TP&W. The permits lists for the TSS files. I was able to recapture t~ could remain on file at the park so a trip leader data via the Cyber mainframe at DT/Austin and put U would not have to get a permit each time. in my microcomputer in a program called dBASE II These are some of the basic points we would like (the Cyber is where the DT Grotto, TSS, and AMeS to get into policy. Once of the goals is to make it process a lot of their map data using a program easy for cavers to get into the caves but more called ELLIPSE). The database contains about 1600 difficult for those who are not prepared. Several cave names with information on the county, owner, states such as Missouri have systems like this and map, and significance. I am currently adding length it seems to work well. Due partly to money and depth information, where we have it, and in the problems, it is not possible or even advisable to future even more data could be added, but it's a gate every cave. Some of the caves will have to be slow process. We have a total of about 2000 caves ~ gated. Once again, remember this report is just a the TSS files. start. If you want to help make policy contact the Meanwhile, Bill Russell and Katie Arens have be eo TSA-TP&W Liaison Committee. entering information on Travis County caves into the DEC mainframe computer at DT. This has built up to about 200 caves, sinks, shelters, and cave sp rings. T .5.5. News Bill's distribution maps and information have beeD COMPUTER SPELEOLOGY helpful to the City of Austin in protecting caves and sinks. Before too long this will be downloaded by William R. Elliott over a phone line to a MacIntosh microcomputer for ed it ing a fina 1 report. It w ill also be incorporated In December 1985 the Te x as Speleological Survey into the main TSS database. 1 published A Fieldguide to the Caves of Kendall Several cavers who own computers have recent y County. Because of a lack of funds, we xeroxed only indicated an interest in helping TSS compile in~r 40 copies and they were soon sold out. A second mation. Mike Moore is already updating William S ~D printing was done just before the Old Timers Reunion County using an expanded data format we devised 0 in September and I have 20 copies remaining. Copies dBASE III. Joe Sumbera is writing up data forms ~r Page 86 ------______The Texas Caver hys County. Butch Fralia will be updating counties have indexed 140 maps in the TSS rolled map files in North and Northwest Texas. I have developed an (which are mostly copies), and I guess the TSS files even more versatile format in dBASE III Plus, which have about 500 maps total, some of which are dupli­ I intend to adopt as a standard for all TSS files. cates. I've gone through most of the TSS pUblica­ Those who wish to ass ist TSS in this wi 11 need to tions and other major works on Texas caves, so at use a "data structure" (format) compatible with ours this time I have a total of 757 maps in my computer. and cleared with us, preferably in some version of I estimate I'll have 1300 map records when I've dBASE. finished checking the TSS files and publications. For two years I've been keeping the TSA membership After that I hope to go through all the grotto list on my computer. This is used for mailing the newsletters that have been published in the state, Texas Caver, giving updates' to the TSA Sec.­ if we can complete our collection of them. Later, ~u~nd making the annual mailout to all I may try to obtain information on maps in the hxas cavers to announce the Old Timers' Reunion. private collections of about two dozen caver This has gotten to be a big job with nearly 1000 draftsmen that I know of. If they will cooperate, addresses, so I'm giving it up soon. Andy Grubbs, we'll then have a means of finding out which caves the new Sec.-Treas., will take this over. have been mapped, when they were mapped, who drafted Mike Warton contributed maps of Fern Blaff Cave them, where they were published, or who has them. (Toungate's Bat Cave), Banging Branch Cave, and This will help TSS pull together information for Little Lake Cave (Toungate's Drop) from Williamson cavers wanting to work in a certain area. Right now, County and John Brooks contributed the Palace Cave I can have the computer make a report on the maps of map from Kinney County. Our thanks go to both of a certain county, or maps by the year surveyed, or them. We are sometimes discouraged at the few maps by draftsman, or all the versions of a particular being contributed to the TSS files. To see what map, and so on. This will be the next best thing ~o we've actually got I decided to start building a actually having all the maps in our files. But, we d computer database on Texas cave maps. So far I have still like to have your cave maps! The TSS is your gone through all of the Texas Caver (since 1955), archives of Texas cave information. Please help us which had 282 maps of all types. James Reddell and I make it work for you.

GROTTO REPORTS

Bexar Caving Austinites and bottomed that fine cave as well. On the weekend of May 10-11 Allan Cobb, Rick by Allan Cobb, Joe Ivy, and George Veni Corbell, Joe Ivy, Linda Palit, and Scott Rote traveled west to visit B.T. Miers Cave. Friday On the weekend of April 18-20, 1986, Montgo.ery dawned as a dismal, rainy day that almost called for ~p8U. Cave was the first vertical cave for several the cancellation of the trip due to the high flood ~w Bexar cavers: Jim Beall, Rick Corbell, Jerry potential of the cave. However, after consulting the McCrimmon. Experienced cavers accompanying the latest weather forecast and color radar the decision neophytes included Allan Cobb, Guano the Wonderdog, was made to head west. Much to our despair it rained Flint Henderson, Joe Ivy, Linda Palit, and Scott almost all the way. Luckily the rain stopped around ~te. Gonzo free climbs amused Scott Rote while Del Rio and we proceeded to find the cave. Saturday mUltiple drop shuttling kept Joe and Allan busy. morning we awoke to more heavy rain. The rain ~~o requested that some of the tight spots in the stopped and blue sky came out so we headed into the climb be opened a little so he wouldn't be banged cave. Upon reaching the bottom of the cave, several around so much. of us headed off to the new section. After much April 25 saw Allan Cobb, Joe Ivy, and Linda Palit crawling we arrived at the new room. Rick Corbell journey to West Texas once again to participate in crawled down a side lead and was calling back to the the Langtry , Project with many Austin cavers. On others when he was overheard by Joe Ivy, who was in Friday the threesome bottomed E.erald Sink a dome room near the bottom of the last climb-down. unaccompanied and encountered Mr. Joe Noshoulders at The two of them realized that they were separated by the sump -- unusual ' place to find a snake. Mr. a body-sized tube about a foot long that was blocked ~8houlders was very congenial to his unexpected by a rock. The two of them worked for a few minutes gUests, hoping for a ride out of the cave. Saturday and made it passable. Now it is only about 30 m to found the Bexar Grotto reps, and Mark Minton and the new room and most of that is walking. When we Joh n Spence bottoming Langtry Lead, then splitting exited the cave we were blessed with a pretty nice up to check grim leads. Surfacing from the deep West Texas sunset. brought surprise and momentary dismay to the June 1 witnessed Bexar Grotto members Jim Beall, ~rrible Trio, because great gouts of cold, wet Rick Corbe 11, Andy Dobrot, Joe Ivy, Allen stuff were falling from the sky. On Sunday Allan, Montemayor, Linda Palit, and Scott Rote undertaking Joe, and Linda trekked to Fischer's Fissure with two an excursion to Wurzbach "Onbat" Cave to simply play ______Page 87 Augus t 1986 around and get underground without the possibility trip to do a lead climb in the Grande Finale. Joe, of getting flushed by a maniacal thundershower. The Kurt, and George were to push a side passage near trip was brief, lasting about four hours, and the the end of the Boneyard Passage, but lighting Bexar cavers exited the cave to regroup at Taco problems, etc., early in the trip forced an Cabana for a late lunch. unplanned retreat by Joe and Kurt. George was June 8 afforded the chance for Carolyn Biegert, instead joined by Chuck Cluck of Fort Worth. They Allan Cobb, Guano the Wonder Dog, Joe Ivy, Marvin surveyed 300 ft of small winding mud tube, when th~ Ivy, Allen Montemayor, and Scott Rote to make a had to quit due to more lighting problems. Pushing long-awaited trip to Boeh.'s Cave in Medina County. ahead a short ways, the passage was found to connect The trip was long-awaited because Boehm's is a to the HS survey on the far side of its up-to-now recharge cave with VERY serious flood potential barrier sump. Downstream in the new section sumped, should a thunderstorm happen along. The weather as expected, and upstream was pushed 150 ft, to low looked sort of OK, so the group went for the Gonz air. A return trip is planned during low water and almost bottomed the cave. Carolyn had horrifying levels (as it stands, it takes five hours travel to visions of flushing toilets, so the company headed get to that area of the cave). topside only to find a respectable storm brewing. On August 16th, Carolyn Biegert, Allan Cobb, Flint Within thirty minutes the storm had begun dropping Henderson, Joe Ivy, George Veni, and Randy Waters, gallon bucketsful of water along with cats and dogs. from the Bexar Grotto, assisted Joe Sumbera's We thanked Carolyn for her clairvoyance and headed spe leologic resource study of the Honey Creek for town. Preserve, next to Guadalupe River State Park. Friday the 13th was the date of departure for Several new sinks, fissures and pits were located. Allan Cobb, Joe Ivy, Scott Rote, and Blair Stone on The biggest discovery was a 20 by 12 by 12 ft deep their way to Candela, Coahuila, Mexico, to push a pit that Randy found. He and Allan dug into a lead in Gruta de Consuelo. Certain cavers from passage at the base of the pit and found over 100 ft Austin were SUPPOSED to go also, but their names of passage, including a room twice the size of the won't be mentioned since they didn't show up and entrance pit, making this the second largest cave on we're not talking to them anymore, so NYAH! Anyway, Preserve property. the trip was fine until the foursome reached the Randy Waters led an August 7th dig trip to North entrance to the cave and quickly discovered the San Antonio. He was accompanied by Allan Cobb, Bob concentration of atmospheric ammonia was so high, it Cowell, and Kurt Menking. Several Austin Chalk sinks precluded even entering the first room of the cave, were partially excavated looking for the one that is much less pushing the lead in the back. Evidently, a known, filled cave. A couple of sinks fissured the bat colony that was present at the last visit out, but a couple 8till deserve another look. had perhaps quadrupled its size (BIG bat colony) and Blair Stone led several of her co-workers on a the resulting population was large enough to taint trip through Robber Baron Cave on August 20. The the air throughout the ave. The vaguely upset bunch proverbial good time was again had by all. headed down the mountain and spent the rest of the Unfortunately, vandals had broken through the gate day swimming and lounging about camp. by using a cutting torch and new spray-paint July 27 was the date of a return trip to Boeh.'s graffiti were found. Randy Waters is looking into Cave. Attending were Joe Ivy, Linda Palit, Bosco and replacing the gate with a new cut-proof version. Helen Peters of New Zealand, and Scott Rote. Bosco and Helen had never been caving and found it very enjoyable. The cave was almost bottomed, but bad air P.B.S.S. made dropping the final series of pits impractical. On August 3, Rick Corbell, Joe Ivy, and George PEI!.MIAN RASIN SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY Veni traveled to Schwarz Cave near Boerne to by Bill Bentley complete the survey and to assess the extent of the cave. Many rumors had been heard as to the length of After three months of inactivity the PBSS visit~ the cave. New passage was found and surveyed before the Terlingua Sinkhole in October 1985, after being George's Petzl ceiling-burner started wimping out. flooded out of a float trip in Big Bend National All three exited the cave for lunch, when it was Park. November saw PBSS members visiting Hicks Cave, decided that George would remain on the surface and New Mexico and later that month Tony Grieco led some Rick and Joe would bop to the back to get an idea of geologists from his workplace to Endless Cave, NM. how much effort it would require to fully survey the Bill Bentley and Suzy Noldan attended a Southwestern cave. Three hours later, the two cavers returned to Regional Winter Technical meeting in Las Cruces, NM, the surface dripping wet from two low-air spaces of in December 1985 for early planning of the '86 NSS the one-inch variety. Joe and Rick had seen approxi­ Convention as well as the PBSS to lead pre- and mately 1200 ft of passage, including salamandering post-convention trips. Later that month PBSS passage and 30 ft high canyon passage. A return trip personnel visited A.azing Maze Cave in West Texas is planned to push a couple of leads and to survey the cave. and Suzy Noldan joined some Wyoming and Florida cavers to visit Grota del Pal.ito at Bustamante, NL, August 9th was another Honey Creek Cave weekend. Mexico. The PBSS rolled in the New Year with a cold Grotto members in attendance included Joe Ivy, Chuck trip to Langtry Lead, Val Verde Co., Texas. Kennedy, Kurt Menking, and George Veni. This was February 1986 -- PBSS was joined by Pat Copeland Chuck's first trip to the cave and he found it and Pixie Clark of Brownwood and members of the thoroughly delightful! He joined an Austin team in a Mesilla Valley Grotto to visit Hell's Below Cave,

Page 88 ------______The Texas Caver HM. They also searched for Storybook Cave and Little employee, went into Grassy Cove ,south of Austin to Beauty Cave, NM, but didn't find anything but the check hydrocarbon levels. (A pipeline had been infamous Guadalupe Cold. ruptured not too far away in May.) After awhile March 1986 -- PBSS welcomed in the new Lubbock Mr. Carson decided he had better get out because he Area Grotto to the Southwest Region. Bill Greenlee was started to see little people running around in joined forces with the Mesilla Valley Grotto cavers the cave. He also wasn't getting any response from for a m.arathon trip to Virgin Cave, NM. Later that William. (William was too engrossed in the rocks month PBSS cavers battled the infamous Guadalupe around him.) Mr. Carson called the Fire Dept. who .inds in a fun trip to Three Fingers Cave, NM. PBSS got there an hour later, just as William got out. led members of the Bexar Grotto to Aaazing Haze Cave He doesn't remember several hours in the cave. for a 189 m survey. Several Austin cavers went out to a ranch in April 1986 -- PBSS lost in the twilight Hedina County, in the Edwards Limestone, where they zone ..• d idn 't go caving. investigated a stocktank drain and found one little May 1986 -- PBSS and members of the Lubbock Area nothing and one little something. They visited Grotto had the Third Annual Bat Cave Blowont and Rattlesnake Cave on a neighboring property. Skipper 110ast, with visits to Bat Cave and Bill Elliot, Mike Wharton, and Dr. Tuttle checked Kontgoaery Cave, Terrell Co., Texas. Terry Bolger of out three caves near Round Rock--two of them had ~bbock joined the PBSS on a trip to Virgin Cave, bat stains. DDY Geotechnical might even do some NI!, where a forgotten key almost cost a trip. Bill managing. Bentley joined with Colorado cavers at Dave Logan McN~tt showed slides of Belize and Any Allured's dig project at Lechngailla Cave, NM. They Grubbs showed some of California. missed the big discovery by one day. Meanwhile, Terry B. and Bill G. did some after-hours and off­ 30 July 1986 trail exploration with the CRF in Carlsbad Caverns. June 1986 -- Tony Grieco, Bill Bentley, Pat Sarah Gayle, Bob Burney, Al~xandro Muniz, and ~~land, and Pixie Clark joined 26 some odd cavers Katherine HcClure visited Midnight Cave and went from various parts of the US for a weeklong swimming at Bob Oakley's. "Restoration Field Camp" at Carlsbad Caverns, MM. Terry Raines went with Rex, Rooney (?), and a PBSS folks led the pre-convention trip in the Guads caver from A&M to the Devil's Sinkhole to count to Hidden Cave, Cottonwood Cave, Black Cave, and bats. He visited Grapetown Tunnel near Bell'. Below Cave, HM. Many cavers from allover the Fredricksburg which is a railway tunnel with bats US commended Bill Greenlee and crew for an enjoyable in it. time. Bill B. and Bill G. attended the Convention in Tularosa, NM, and had a fun five days. 20 August 1986 July 1986 -- Bill G. and Terry B. went to Mexico to look for a cave or caves but found nothing and Bill Elliot brought an article about the got 8 tuck in the mud. hydrocarbon trip (!) to the meeting. August 1986 -- PBSSers were hosted to San Saba Peter Sprouse brought a rescue litter that he Co., TX, cave country by Pat Copeland and Pixie made and donated one to UTG. Clark. The group visited Travis Cave, Bighline Cave, i.oundtree Cave, and Joe'. Cave. All were wet, muddy, 10 September 1986 spidery, and had some snakes but a good time was had by all, swimming in the San Saba River and Lake Barb Vinson and Erick Heinen demonstrated Brownwood. rappel ling and caving for the beginner's meeting. The PBSS is planning to visit Deep Cave, NM, and Terry Raines put together an informative slide mo re Guad caves later in the year. A dig project is show of what caving's all about. hoped to be started in Montgoaery Cave. A survey proj ect is planned to be continued in Aaazing Maze 17 September 1986 Cave. Terry Hill has a lead on a "new discovery" in Terrell County, TX, which will be checked in Hore than 10 cavers and newcomers participated in September. There is also talk of re-opening eoaanche a trip to Airman's. It was very successful and Springs Cave, under Ft. Stockton, TX, later this generated a lot of interest. fall. I have moved and here is my new address: 1 October 1986 Bill Bentley 4534 Sinclair #2-102 John Clark went with Bexar Grotto to Genesis Midland, TX 79707 phone 915-697-3079 Cave. Sarah GAyle visited several caves in TAG, along with Harion Smith from TN, including Ellison's Cave U. T.Grotto in Georgia. Over 20 people participated in the vertical session on Barton Creek. The weather was great and 16 July 1986 enthusiasm high. Dale Pate and Peter Sprouse showed slides that Yi l1iam Russell and Craig Carson, an Austin city illustrated Texan and Hexican caves and regions.

______...... ____ ...... --Page 89 Augus t 1986 TRIP REPORTS

Hildalgo Zongolica

Date: January 1986 Date: May 1986 Destination: Hidalgo Destination: Zongolica

Personnel: David Locklear, Alejandro Villagomez, Personnel: David Locklear, Steve & Lorl Steve and Lori Rob ertson, Jose Luis Sobaranes, Robertson, Jose Luis Sobaranes, Jorge Ramirez, Jorge Ramirez, Jose Luis Varela Miguel Cruz and Juan Carols Reported by: David Locklear Reported by: David Locklear

There is a beautiful river in Mexico called the Over the past couple of years some cavers ha~ Tolantongo. It is in a dry scenic valley in the been doing some work in Veracruz, Mexico near the state of Hildogo, northwest of the town of town of Zongolica. Among those cavers were Steve . This river emerges from a cave which is and Lori Robertson from Corpus Christi. I met an awesome spectacle called "Grutas de Steve through the Aggie Grotto and he invited me ~ Tolantongo." This cave is near a small town go exploring with him in the "Sierra de Zongolica~ call led which has a typical Mexican mountains. market, and the food, as usual, is delicious and One purpose of this trip was to explore and map inexpensive. One Sunday in January of 1986, a virgin river cave, and another was to collect Alegrandro Villagomez led Steve and Lori Robertson, biological specimens from other caves in the area. Jose Luis Sobaranes, Jorge Ramirez, Jose Luis Our first stop was near Matehaula, S.L. P., Varela and myself into this river cave which has an where we camped on a hill at a TV antenna. The unusually warm water temperature. stations operator was friendly and the site seemed The cave was photographed by Steve and was rela ti vely safe. We drove on the next day to safety rigged by Alejandro for us and a possible to stay at a caver friend's apartment. push on the following weekend. The current in this They were not home so a quick trip to the zoo to cave is pretty strong, fortunately, it was not very see the panda bears was made. Later, we met up deep when we were there. There are several with our friends, Jose Luis Soberanes and his wife, waterfalls that coce out of the ceiling and Rebecca, and we spent the night. The next morning vertical work must be done. I recommend a Petzl we left for cave country. Our friends decided to head lamp with a piezo-electric lighter. There are hell wi th work and decided to join us. One last some pretty difficult climbs on smooth, wet s top was made near the ci ty limits to pick up Jorge limestone, so future trip leaders should be good Ramirez and the six of us were on our way. r ock climhers. Af ter several hours in the cave, we We reached Zongolica and paid a visit to a came out and ate dinner. Afterwards, our l1exican friend, Miguel Cruz. His mother insisted we stuff friends had to leave for the real world back in our bellies before venturing off into the jung~ Mexico City. and I will never regre tit because she was some We set up came and the next mroning headed cook. Miguel and his friend Juan Carlos decided to north. We stopped near Limon to photograph join us; however, Juan could not fi t so he took the "Nacimento del Rio Huichihuayan," in the state of bus to the neares t village "~omolapa," and hikes to San Luis Potosi. This case has a nice camping spot camp. The rest of us got to Comalapa and realized around it, but we still had plenty of daylight so the truck was too loaded to make it down the muddy we headed for Cuidad Valles. We stayed at the road to camp so for two hours we hiked, CONDE SA HOTEL, which is a popular caver spot. Both occasionally pushing the truck. . the restaurant, DON JUAN'S and the hotel are We camped at a secluded beach about half a m recommended. There is a caver's log book in the upstream from where the Rio Moyoatl sinks into the r estaurant so we logged our trip in it. Later, we "Boqueron." We did not visit this cave; however, happened upon a Clint Eastwood western flick, so we its roaring rapids could be heard and part of its watched it. I was surprised to see the Mexicans huge entrance could be seen from the road. The really enjoying the movie and rooting for Clint. group waded through ankle-deep guano in "The The next morning, we made a scenic drive towards Nacimento Del Rio Altotoco" but decided the ca ~ Matamoros and after the usual border stop, we wasn't worth the effort; however, several arrived at McDonalds were I ended my weeklong biological specimens were collected. Steve and craving for McNuggets and McShakes. Steve, Lori, Lori also collected fish near the twilight zone ~ and I arrived in Corpus around midnight and after "Cueva de El Tunnel." saying our goodbyes, I headed for Aggie land. On the trail to explore nacimento del Rio TontO Tile Texas Caver Page 90 ------(the resurgence of "Sumidero Boqueron"), we cave become very muddy with exposure traverses and happ ened upon two Nahua Indians clearing some brush steep climbs becoming hazardous. Three sump pools around a previously unknown pit. The said it was at the bottom produced numerous Isopods and were virgi n and very deep. Well, we just scratched our pushed as far as one breath of air allowed without chin s and said humm and went on to the proposed gain. We exited the cave in the midafternoon heat exp l oration. The nacimento was explored by a party as human mudballs, darting across the landscape of six in two rafts and was surveyed and racing for bath water before the mud dried. pho t ographed. This turned out to be a very Friday evening we drove to Sutton and Edwards rewa ~ ding virgin cave. County, pitched camp along the highway and spent The third day the virgin pit was explored. mot of Saturday ridge walking for caves. Saturday T h i~ deep pit turned out to be free climbable with evening we drove to Crockett County and camped at plen ,. y of natural light. The floor was about six 0-9 Well. Saturday night and Sunday morning we . tel s below the surface with a passage leading off were joined by West Texas Cavers Dale Childers, in to the darkness and two more pit entrances above Bobby Davis, Steve Seaton, Kenneth Dillard and in .he ceiling. The passage led to some walking Kenneth Massingill. Tommy Estes, property leasor pass 'ge with some places knee deep in water and from Mertzon, Texas also arrived Sunday morning. the r was some crawling necessary. There was a 3 The 0-9 Well gate was worked on and repainted as ete drop that might require a handline and a 6 well as the 0-9 Well Historic sign. This was . te pit that took a 20 meter rope for the followed by a pleasurable trip through the tie- ff. And finally the passage led to a balcony downstream section of the cave. Two very live in large room with a 50 meter rappell down to a rattlesnakes were found and disposed of at the term 'lal lake which is most likely connected to the bottom of the entrance drop. nad cnto mentioned earlier. A 100 meter rope was Sunday evening, we relocated Abyss Sinkhole, nee e sary for this pi tch. This cave was surveyed approximately 20 miles to the west, but were caught frO ID the top of the pit to the entrance. Some by a severe thunderstorm and did not enter the virg l1 crawlways remain and the cave was not cave. We departed for Austin arriving at 2:30 a.m. phot graphed. Monday morning. f ter four days in the jungle, we decided to hea d back to Zongolica where we enjoyed more fine cook ng and even watched "Rambo " in English at the Cruz ~ house on a color tv. West Texas Caving late : Thursday, August 7th - Monday August 11th kst j a tion: Edwards, Sutton & Schleicher Counties

1ers( nel : Frank Maloney, Joe Sandoval, Glenn hnieder , Mike Warton lepO l ed by: Mike Warton

departed Austin Thursday night at 9 p.m. and lrri\ d in Sonora, Texas at 1: 30 a.m. We crashed H L roadside park just north of town. Friday lo rni .g we drove to Eldorado, Texas and had a c u 1t ~ al west Texas wacker breakfast. After a few Cont r c ts and phone calls we located the owner of Whi t t n Cave (Cave Y). The owner was not able to ace om any us to the cave, however, an hour's search by t· pographic map produced its location. The cave prev i 'usly documented by Tom Meador, Bill Russell, James Redell and other and apparently had not been en ter lo d since around 1965. The purpose of our trip qs co see the cave for our first time and conduct a bi ol ogical collec tion . Underneath a small metal manhold cover is a 50' mtrance shaft requiring rope. Clad in wet suits, We rapelled in. I began collecting specimens at the bottom of the shaft which proved to be rich in (aura . The next four hours were spent roaming and Collecting in and around 2000 feet of the known Formations in County Line Cave. Photo by passa ges. The middle and lower sections of the Paul Fambro.

______Page 91 Augus t 1986 BULK RAl U.S. Postag The TEXAS CAVER PAID Austin, Te) Permit No.1