the 20 Years Ago by Texas Caver St ~ Texas Caver The outcome of the Texas Speleologi c;

Vol. 32, No. 3; June, 1987 Association's Powell's Cave project was the subject of 1 feature article by Dallas-Fort Worth Grotto caver Pet. CONTENTS Lindsley in the June 1967 issue of the Texas Caver. Cavers from Abilene, Austin, San Antonio, s~ Feature Articles ...... 51 Angelo, Dallas and other Texas cities converged at t~ TSA News ...... 59 cave for the mapping project. The group led by Davi •. Regional News ...... 62 Merideth received the "Muddiest map book of the Pro Dispatches ...... 66 ject Award." Pete also authored some observations o: Trip Reports ...... 68 Powell's, a cave he had been notified of about five year FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Caver climbing ladder in previously by Blair Pittman of the DFW Grotto. Biso: Fern Cave, Texas. 1979 photo by James Jasek. bones near one passage indicate another entrance existt: INSIDE FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Jay R. Jorden's years ago, and recent legends and the Inscription Roor photo of caver on rope in Dead Man's Hole, near Mar­ indicate that the Big Sink entrance to the cave was on], ble Falls, Texas. BACK COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Climbing out of sinkhole at closed in recent times, Lindsley wrote. , Fern Cave, Texas, 1979. Beautiful photo by James Cave conservation was one theme of the Can· Jasek. issue, with chairman Jack C . Burch admonishing caven to avoid clumsiness in cave passages, which results 1 Co-Editors Jay Jorden Dale Pate 1518 Devon Circle P. 0. Box 1251 inadvertent destruction of formations. James Dallas, TX 75217 Austin, TX 78767 wrote that cavers should document the history of 214-398-9272 512-345-6536 214-220-2022 512-482-5578 caves they visit. The issue included grotto news from Abilene, Dallas Staff Managing Editor Rob Kolstad Art Ted Tutor A&I, San Antonio, Texas Tech and "Abilene G Grotto," ·as well as an article on food for the CAVE RESCUE Call Collect 512-686-0234 caver. George W . Gray was editor. The cover photo ' The Texas Caver is a bi-monthly publication of the Texas Speleologi­ "Lake of Tranquility," in Cave of the Lakes, cal Association (TSA), an internal organization of the National Speleo­ County, was by Gray. logi cal Society (NSS). It is published in February, April, June, August, October, and December. The Texas Caver openly invites all cavers to submit articles, news events, cartoons, cave maps, photographs (35 mm slide or any size black &: white or color print), caving techniques, and any other material for publication. TSA dues are $10/year which includes the Texas Caver. Subscrip­ tion rate is $6 per year for out of state subscribers. Purchase single and back issues for $2.00 each by mail, post paid; $1.00 each at con­ ventions. Send subscription and back issue requests to the Tezas Caver, U. T . Station, Box 8026, Austin, Texas 78713-8026. Please in cl ude old address in address change correspondence.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Tezas Caver, P . 0. Box 208, San Marcos, Texas 78667. DEADLINES: Articles, announcements, and material for publication must be submitted to the editor by the 12th of the month preceding public ation. EXCHANGES: The Texas Caver will exchange newsletters with other grottos at t he Editors' discretion. Contact one of the co-editors. COPYRIGHT 1987 T exas Speleological Association. Internal organiza­ tions of the National Speleological Society may reprint any item first appearing in the Texas Caver as long as proper credit is given and a copy of the newsletter containing the material is mailed to the co­ editors. Other organizations should contact the co-editors. the Texas Ca.ve.r June, Hl87 Pa.ge 51

were introduced. Single Rope Techniques During their 2'>i decades of development and field by Dave McClurg use, American SRT systems have developed an enviable safety record. These systems are simple to use and, Editor's Note: The following paper was presented by although American cavers frequently must fabricate at David McClurg of Carlsbad, N.M., former chairman of least part of their vertical rigs themselves (because com­ the Vertical Section, National Speleological Society, at mercial versions are not generally available) they are the Ninth International Congress of Speleology in Bar­ also relatively simple to assemble. Moreover, they are celona, Spain in late 1986. multipurpose and have shown their value under a wide variety of different caving conditions. ABSTRACT Main SRT areas: Among the caving areas where American SRT techniques are widely used are the: This paper surveys the highly-developed SRT (sin­ • Deep pits of the southeastern United States, Mexico gle rope techniques) and equipment currently in use by and other parts of the U.S.; American cavers. Over the past 25 years, American SRT • Complex multi-pit cave systems of Mexico; and tec hniques have proven themselves safe, simple and ver­ • Smaller pits of other North American caves. satile. Thye have enabled American cavers to explore both the deep freefall pits (50 to 300+ m) as well as the Deep Pits of TAG Country and Mexico complex multi-pit cave systems of the United States and Mexico. Because of their versatility, these techniques TAG Country: In the three southeastern states of have also proven useful for smaller pits in conventional Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia is a vertical caver's caves . paradise known as TAG Country. Ascending systems covered in this paper include (1) the Mitchell Jumar System with chest box, (2) The Texas Jumar System (field-convertible with the Mitchell) and (3) the Gibbs ropewalker with both ascenders float­ ing . A descending system is described, consisting of a rappel rack (or figure eight descender for shorter drops) Wl th a sewn seat harness and a spelean shunt. Integral to American SRT techniques are static caving ropes with excellent abrasion resistance, high strength, low stretch, freedom from spin, and relatively low cost. All vertical s stems and equipment will be displayed and demon­ st ated.

25 Years of Development and Field Use O:V er the past 25 years, American cavers have developed a style of vertical caving (SRT) that has proven itself to b safe, simple and versatile. It has allowed them to P netrate many new or previously unexplored pits and cave systems in the U.S., Mexico and other countries. Most American SRT systems can be said to have ~eg un with a couple of carabiner brake bars for rappel­ ling and Prusik slings of 3/8 inch (9 mm) sisal rope for climbing out. The cable ladder was also widely used for s ort (10 or 20 m) climbs, and occasionally even for longer ones, too. Rope for many years was mainly the o~a standby, three-strand Goldline. It spun you around hbrribly and had to be knotted together for really deep pits. Later, the first kernmantle ropes came into use, and PeW Sprouse coils rope a4 the entrance or Dead Man"s H:>le near Marble Falls 'Thua!. eventually today's superb quality static caving ropes 11178 Photo by Ja,y R Jorden. Page 52 June, Hl87 the Texas Caw

Concentrated here are an estimated thousand or SRT SysteiiUI for Deep Pits more pits. As a rule, the best known of these are open­ Deacending. American systems for deep pits worl air freefall pits that bottom out at 45 to 60 m. But a equally as well in any pit ranging from 15 to 350m an( few, like these below, are among the wonderful excep­ more. The key to doing really deep pits is a sewn seal tions that prove the rule. harness (used by 87% [percentages from Jan. '86 surv e1 of NSS Vertical Section members]) to provide a secure Fantastic Pit, Ellison's Cave (Georgia) .. ... 155m comfortable resting position. A sewn seat harness is co~ Incredible Pit, Ellison's Cave ...... l34m sidered better since it is fail-safe should one sectior Surprise Pit, Fern Cave (Alabama) ...... l33m break. To this seat harness, a rappel rack (preferred b1 Mystery Falls Cave (Tennessee) ...... 96m 96%) is attached with a high-strength locking carabiner Mega Well (Alabama) ...... 94m A Spelean Shunt, made of a Gibbs ascender with a car& biner attached to provide release leverage, is used b1 Rigging. Many of the open-air pits are completely free many American cavers. However, its use is b.y no mea ru after a few meters of contact with the wall at the top. universal. Trees are abundant in this part of the country, so the llmm abrasion-resistant rope is often tied off a meter or Ascending. To ascend pits from as short as 15 11 two up on the trunk of a tree. If possible, a tree right at 20m to the very deepest, either a Gibbs ropewalker ~ the lip of the pit is chosen. Usually, the rope hangs free all the way to the bottom. A protective pad of denim The Gibbs ropewalker and material, often the leg of an old pair of blue jeans, is Mitchell Jumar are the tied at the top lip to guard against rope abrasion. overwhelming choice of Because the rope is rigged high on the tree, it is usually relatively easy to get off the rope when completing the American vertical cavers. ascent. the Mitchell Jumar system are the overwhelming choiCI Safety Jumar. If the lip is difficult, many cavers {95%) of American vertical cavers. Although quit1 routinely carry an extra ascender, a Safety Jumar, with different in configuration, both actually operate veij a short three or four step etrier attached. This is useful similarly. Your body remains nearly upright, close to tbr not only for negotiating lips and overhangs, but for rope. You literally walk up the rope. The seat barn~ crossing knots on the main line and as a general safety provides the rest position required by all but the stron!· aid. est cavers, in reasonable safety and comfort. The Safety Jumar is similar, at least in concept, to The choice between Gibbs Ropewalker and Mitche ~ the cow tail used by European cavers. In use, it is often Jumar systems is largely personal. The ropewalker u left attached to the sat sling and stuffed in a pocket or more popular now {57% to 34% for the Mitchell.) Bul inside a shirt so as to be handy for emergencies. 11% of Vertical Section members surveyed have bot ~ Many of the popular TAG country caves are reason­ systems. Gibbs for long drops, Mitchell for multi-dro~ ably accessible: within 3 or 4 km of a road. Carrying or where water hazards, climbing, or other technic ~ vertical gear and 60 to 90m of llmm rope, although problems exist. Jumars are easier to put on the line. You accompanied by some expected grumbling, is not too can in fact do it with one hand. Gibbs always requir~ difficult and is accepted as part of the game. two hands. But you have to move Jumars up the rope, Mexican Pita. A good number of the deep pits in whereas Gibbs travel along with you without attention. Mexico are similar to the open air pits in TAG Country Rigging. Rigging deep Mexican pits often follom - but much deeper. For example, the free fall depths TAG Country practice, except that good trees in tb1 from the usual rigging points of three of the best known right position in the entrance are sometimes harder I~ are: find. Bolts are used when necessary, but natural anchon are preferred here as this is the standard practice hr El Sotano ...... 410m most American SRT cavers. This means large securr Sotano de las Golondrinas ...... 334m breakdown blocks, stalagmites, columns, flakes and tbr Hoy a de las Guagas ...... 202m like. The hike to Mexican pits is generally much longer Shorter Drops. For shorter pits up to 15 or 20m, and more difficult than to TAG Country caves. Because particularly if in contact with the wall, the lighter· of the hot, humid weather, winter or spring become the weight figure 8 descender often replaces the rappel rae! seasons of choice for a visit when feasible. In the early for descending. For coming back up, the Texas Sit/Stan ~ and mid 1960s, when Mexican pit caving was in its System, or less frequently Prusik knots, replaces tbr infancy, local Indian bearers and burros were often hired ropewalker or Mitchell. Note that the Mitchell is esp~ to carry equipment. Today, many back country trails cially versatile, since it can be easily converted to thr have been made into roads. Some deep pits, such as Texas configuration. A Sit/Stand system excels for shorl Golondrinas, can now be reached with a four-wheel drive against-the-wall drops or where you need to keep awar vehicle instead of the death march formerly required. from the rope - as when forced to climb in a waterfall. the Texas Cav~r June, 1Q87 Page 53

Multi-Pit Systems multiple pitches in these complex systems tends to fol­ !{_e xic an SyBtemB. Besides being known for its deep free­ low, at least in principle, the American preference for natural anchors. But the harsh realities of deep river f~ l pits, Mexico has now become justly famous for its world-class cave systems. At least two (Sistema Huautla caving call for setting bolts and an occasional piton and Nita Nanta) have now passed the lOOOm depth whenever a natural anchor is not readily at hand. mark. Most are characterized by a series of drops, as Carrying the extra weight of llmm rope (compared many as 30 or 40, each requiring a separate rope. Many to smaller diameter ropes) in the multiple lengths needed of these drops are relatively short (5 to 20m). However, has led some American cavers to recommend careful use tlie higher sections of these complex systems sometimes of the newer, lOmm abrasion-resistant SRT ropes will have deeper pits like the 75 to 90 m pits of the Nita instead. So far, the newer ropes haven't had enough fi eld Sa/ Nita Zan section of Sistema Nita Nanta, as just one use for a proper evaluation. But the hope is there that of the numerous examples. the lOmm rope will work out. River GaveB. Many of these systems have active TrendB. All vertical cavers, and Americans are no river passages, and even in the dry season, require full exception, dream of lighter ropes and equipment . As }Vetsuits for the many swims and waterfall drops. indicated, we have hopes for the lOmm abrasion resis­ Sumidero Santa Elena, for example, has more swims (52) tant ropes. than roped drops (30.) As for the other equipment, specific improvements For these caves, many cavers prefer the Mitchell will surely be made, at least incrementally. However, it Ju mar system because it's easier to put on and take off should not be forgotten that most new designs in the the line. Also, it can be converted to the Texas Sit/Stand U.S. are the work of individual cavers. The size of the for short drops, particularly, waterfall drops. Getting on American caving market is relatively small. For example, a rope, especially when standing or swimming in a pool the number of cavers in the U.S. is smaller than in Great of fast moving water, is much easier with Jumars than Britain, even though the (general) population of the U.S . with Gibbs, where the bottom ascender is on your foot is some five times greater. Manufacturers of caving down under the water. equipment need other markets like sports, mountaineer­ Rigging. Rigging all the ropes needed for the ing, rescue or fire departments to survive. Page 54 June, 1987 the Texas Canr

And what about rebelays for our ropes? With thei1 Comments on French excellent abrasion resistance, our ropes don't seem ~ Rebelaying Techniques need rebelays. Remember the old saying, if it ain't by David R. McClurg

I have read with interest the two articles by Roger Mortimer in the Devil's Advocate about the vertical tech­ niques used in France. I have some comments on the Mitchell Jumar System. The rebelay article that appeared in Vol. 19, No. 6, June chest box keeps caver close to line so 1986. she literally walks up the rope. First, let me apologize for my ignorance of Roger's Both main line and top Jumar sling go through separate channels in box. background and his degree of familiarity with American Safety loops on boots keep Jumar vertical techniques. At the 9th International Congress of slings securely attached. Sling from top Jumar to seat harness provides Speleology in Barcelona, I'm presenting a paper on resting position. Sling from bottom American techniques and have treated the subject at Jumar to seat harness keeps some length in my new book, Adventure of Caving. On ascender close to hand. Often a third ascender (omitted here for the chance that Roger is unfamiliar with our techniques, clarity) is attached to main line near let me briefly summarize a bit of that discussion here. box. !Supplied by McClurg.j 25 Years of Proven Safety. During the past 25 years, American vertical techniques have become highly developed and have proven themselves safe, simple and versatile. They have enabled us to explore both the deep free-fall pits {50 to 350m) and the complex multi-pit cave systems of the United States, Mexico and elsewhere. Integral to the growth of our vertical techniques has been the development of static American caving ropes. These are ropes of superb quality with several important characteristics: • Excellent abrasion resistance. • High strength. • Low stretch. broke, don't fix it. Our ropes and our techniques worK • Freedom from spin. for our pits, so we'll continue to use them here. Their • Relatively low cost. ropes and their techniques work for their pits, so by the Don't mistake me. I'm not saying American ropes same token, I am sure they'll continue to use them there. are made of iron. But with proper padding, they don't I'm not going to say one is better than the other, just abrade and they don't break in normal cave use. The that each meets the needs of the cavers and the condi·: enviable safety record of American vertical cavers is the tions where they're used. ; most eloquent proof of this and of the quality and safety Are Rebelays Safe'? On the question of safety, how· of our ropes and techniques in general. ever, I do have some opinions. I've heard the claim that Padding the Lip. To protect ropes from abrasion, we rebelays are somehow safer than other methods. Roger regularly pad the top of a pit where the rope bends over indicates (without actually saying how) that rebelay: the lip. We will also pad all other places where there is a increase the caver's margin of safety. sharp edge or other rope cutting surface (like lava.) But Actually, it can easily be argued that the opposite is! we do not routinely pad every spot where the rope true. For one thing, the procedure for getting around touches the surface, unless that surface is sharp or rebelays is complicated. It calls for a sequence of step! abrasive. The fact is, by following these rigging princi­ very much like crossing a knot or changing over between ' ples, our ropes don't suffer undue abrasion. So despite rappel and prusik. It also takes extra energy to make the number of scrapes and abrasion forces that Roger these mid-rope maneuvers, energy which often can be in I sees ropes subjected to, our ropes don't suffer. Roger short supply by the end of a cave trip. Admittedly, states, "If a rope can't rub, it can't fray." While this is European cavers seem very adept at crossing rebelays undoubtedly true, it's also true that our ropes don't fray and have excellent gear for this purpose. even though they do rub against smooth rock surfaces. However, the point is that every time you have w Does this mean that European ropes do fray? I take your descender or ascender off the line and reattach guess they must. In any event, French cavers have come it, there's the chance for error. And it's the kind of error up with this elaborate system of rebelays to protect their that could be very unforgiving. The kind that could l ropes and have devised some really ingenious (but poten­ make you come off the line or turn upside down. tially dangerous) techniques to pass around this complex It brings to mind the old quality control maxim nggmg. that the simpler a thing is the more reliable it is going W the Texas Caver June, 1987 Page 55 be. More parts, more complexity, less reliability. That's the way I view the procedure for passing these rebelays. More About Rebelays Every time you have to do it, there's one more chance to by Roger Mortimer make a mistake and get yourself into trouble. Onward and downward. Dave McClurg rightfully Rope Weight Versus Bolt Weight. AB to the weight notes that a rebelay requires some maneuvers to pass it. advantage claimed for the smaller diameter ropes now I hope to show that this is not as bothersome and deemed safe if rebelayed to eliminate abrasion, let's put dangerous as Dave would imply. A period of training that in perspective. How much do bolts and bolt kits and habituation is necessary but the techniques soon weigh compared to the extra weight of 10 or 11 mm PMI become second-nature. or Blue Water versus 9 mm European rope? A European caver using rebelays includes two teth­ ers in his vertical gear. My dictionary equates the French Rappel Rack Descender. Rappel Rack, attached to word "Ionge" with tether; there may be a better transla­ sewn seat harness with lock­ tion. A short tether is used for passing rebelays. A longer ing carabiner, offers excel­ lent heat dissipation on long tether is used to clip into hand lines and to attach to a drops. Rack can be rigged hand level ascender (see Devil's Advocate, Vol. 18, p. 94.) with four to six bars, Both are made of a carabiner and dynamic rope attached depending on length of drop weight of caver, and amoun to the harness. of friction required. Right The short tether is there to attach yourself to the hand cradles rack and moves bars to control speed rebelay. On descent, you attach your tether to the cara­ Equally useful for short and biner of the rebelay then continue down so all your long drops because of vari­ weight is transferred to the tether. The newly able fr iction control. . Spelean shunt adds margin unweighted descender can now be easily unclipped and of safety for long refastened to the rope below the rebelay. The only moderately tricky part is to take your weight off the tether so you can unclip it and reweight your descender. This can be easily done by using the loose rope from above as a step or by chimneying when possible. Once past the rebelay, you signal to the person above that the rope is free and continue. A similar process is used on the way up. AB you reach the rebelay, you clip into it. Safely secured there, you undo your topmost ascender and attach it to the rope above. Advance this ascender to put your weight on the upper rope, then change over your lower ascender(s). ABcenders within easy reach of the hands will be the easiest to transfer; those nearer the feet may be less so. Above ground practice will show how adaptible each particular system is. Safely on the upper rope, you undo the tether, tell the person below that the rope is free, We're talking only a pound or two per hundred feet and continue climbing. of rope. Sure, cavers on a push trip into a river system In neither process do you need to decrease the would like to carry as little weight as possible for the 12 number of contacts you have with the rope. Geology to 15 drops and swims they may run into before return­ allowing, a well placed rebelay takes little time and little ing to base camp that day. But I'll bet the bolts, bolt energy to pass. driver, and piton hammer will weigh about as much as An added advantage of rebelays is that it allows the extra weight of the 10 or 11 mm American caving more people to climb or descend at once. Since each sec­ rope. And a further safety advantage of abrasion resis­ tion of rope is independently anchored, one person can tant ropes is not having to expend the energy of setting safely use each section. A pitch with three rebelays could all those bolts, not to mention the time it takes (10 to 20 take up to four people. Theoretically, a party could then mi nutes each), which also contributes to fatigue. exit four times faster, while at the same time staying What's The AnswerP Clearly, there are two sides to closer together. In an alpine setting, this is a lot better the story. AB I said, European ropes and methods work than leaving the rest of the party shivering at the bot­ well in their pits and don't seem to kill anybody. Ours tom of a pit while you climb all the way out alone. Perhaps it is six of one and a half-dozen of the work well for our pits and we don't lose people either. other. But I think we should all be informed about many Sounds like it's six of one and half-dozen of the other. different rigging possibilities. Hopefully, the context of What do you think? each cave and not each continent will guide us in our Editor's note: reprinted from the Devil's Advocate, rigging decisions. Diablo Grotto Newsletter, Vol. 19, No.7, pp. 47-48. Editor's Note: reprinted from the Devil's Advocate, Vol. 19, No.7, August 1986, p . 49. Page 56 June, 1987 the Texas Cat1

line is kept at the top, to be hung over the slope. Then, American Caving Accidents as one ascends and reaches the breakover below th1 slope, one switches to the excess - the secon? rope - an ~ Editor's Note: The following was excerpted from uses both to get the rest of the way up. This, of courst, American Caving Accidents in the NSS News, Vol. 43, is not even SRT, but is quite obviously Double Ropt No. 11, November 1985, pp. 355-356, following a discus­ Technique. The end result of this is that an ascende1 sion of single rope techniques by Americans edited by system has been evolved that works well with the restri c· Steve Knutson and Mikle and Lynne Sims. tions of their cumbersome, but necessary, rigging. This ~ The Europeans (and because of British colonial the Frog, which uses the upper Jumar attached to th1 influence, the Australians, Canadians, and New Zea­ feet and a lower Jumar fixed between a chest and seat landers as well) went a different route. In Europe, very harness (though it apparently is often just attached to long drops came to be done, and in some circles are _still the seat harness.) This works well in passing the "ro being done, entirely on cable ladders. As the Amencan belays" and "deviations" and suffers no problem a\ technique developed, however, the advantages of SRT overhung canopies because of the second rope riggeJ became obvious, and European cavers began to convert. there. The availability of suitable rope was a problem; rock So, the Frog is fine for European SRT (DRT?) but climbing ropes were expensive and not very abrasion is, to me, inferior for American SRT. resistant. American ropes had to be imported and The expense of rope is a big factor. In New Zealand, apparently were either expensive or scarce, or both. for example, 150 feet of 11 mm rope might cost $300, so Thus the Europeans began to use 8 and 9 mm it is easy to see why a caver there might embrace a sy> ropes that were not very strong and not very abrasion tern like the European, which offers maximum protection resistant but were available and cheaper than larger to the rope. sizes. To avoid problems with the characteristics of these The book by Neil Montgomery on SRT suffers from ropes, they evolved techniques different from ours. IT a the fact that the American and European systems a11 discussed as if they are one, and the result is confusin! Texas Sit/Stand System. and potentially dangerous. Upper Jumar goes to seat hr Personally, I see the American SRT as superio1 harness; lower goes to one i / or both feet, depending on .~ except for the size and bulk of the rope we use. Th1 type of sling used. Position Europeans can carry more length for the same weight of caver away from line is good for waterfall ascents and bulk. I feel we could streamline our SRT by going to but cuts efficiency, because smaller rope sizes, yet still retain a reasonable saf~t) you have to raise yourself back up and into the line margin. Both PMI and Bluewater offer a 10 mm sm during ea.ch cycle. Best for which I have used and like very much. Even 9 mrn 1; short drops a.nd waterfall usable in the American SRT if proper care is used in des­ pitches. cent and ascent. American caving rope is very good andl don't think we've really "hung it out" yet.

On Rebelays by Vern Smith

I don't recall exactly where I first read about th1 European technique of rebelays, but at that time I remember my thoughts were: at least they're gettin! away from those damn ladders and that they were neces­ sary to compensate for abrasion-prone European ropes and also the user's limited understanding of state of the art SRT (Single Rope Techniques). Now, some year. later, I find the rebelay style of rig~ing graci~g the pa~~ of the (Diablo Grotto's) apple pie productiOn, Dev1/ 1 Advocate. In the June 1986 issue, Roger Mortimer present~ drop is not entirely free, they will, at points of potential the basic philosophies of rebelaying a standing rope. fu abrasion, re-anchor the rope so that it is again free. the July 1986 issue, Dave McClurg was compelle~ ~c These are called "re-belays" and on a long drop, there comment and makes some extremely good points. It IS ID may be several. Roger's reply to Dave's comments (in the same issue, Moreover, if the top of the drop is not free, but for page 49) that Roger advocates a disregard fo~ one of_the instance, curves away as with a flowstone slope that the most basic and serious safety rules of vertical cavmg, rope will lay against, they will rig so that excess main and he does so while expounding on the advantages ol the Texas Caver June, 1987 Page 57

the rebelay ... "An added advantage of rebelays is that it Gibbs Ropewalker. Flexible bungey cord routed through pulley allows more people to climb or descend at once," ... on chest harness floats both feet and dnbelievable! Roger will have to explain to me what the knee ascenders for maximum efficiency. Chest box keeps caver ' "advantage" is of having the top person on the pitch upright and close to line enbaling Jmock down a loose 47-pound rock on the other three him to walk up the rope with minimum effort. Top Gibbs (fre­ p,eople on his rebelayed rope. The only "advantage" I see quently a Spelean Shunt) connecte Is ROCK 3, CAVERS 0. I would much rather shiver a to seat harness provides third poin bit at the bottom of a drop (safely out of the fall-zone, I on line and a secure resting position Rope-walker is system chosen most might add) than to end up unconscious or seriously often by American SRT cavers for injured, hanging on a rope with several others from I?Y very long drops. group who were also injured by the same rock during 1~s fall, deep within a cave. Not a very pleasant prospect, 1s it? All this is not meant to say that there is no place in SRT for the rebelay. I may have used one rebelay some­ where, sometime, but only because I felt that it was dic­ tated by the configuration of the drop, certainly not Cor the reasons which Roger presents. Please continue to carry on the extremely high safety standards that the Di ablo Grotto has prided itself on for so many years .... Editor's Note: Reprinted from the Diablo Grotto's De vil's Advocate, Vol. 19, No. 8, August 1986, p. 57.

Correspondence

March 20, 1987 Dear Jay:

I thought Terry Raines might like to know he isn't I would say that there is truly current worldwide standing alone on his rebelay system question. In the last interest in this subject, and we need to keep the dialog NSS News letter (March '87, p. 66), he said it very well. open. We were most pleased to read what Terry had to He concluded by saying that he was ending his participa­ say on the subject. Maybe you can find room for some of tion in the debate but welcomed others to continue. I the enclosed discussion for southwestern cavers in the thought you might want to print some of the enclosed Texas Caver. material or extract from it for the Texas Caver. Sincerely, The first is letters from Diablo Grotto's Devil's Janet McClurg Advo cate (July 1986) by David McClurg and by Roger NSS 9301 Mortimer. This was commented on by Vern Smith in the 1610 Live Oak Devil's Advocate (August 1986.) Finally, the comments Carlsbad, N.M. 88220 by Steve Knutson in American Caving Accidents 1985, are included. ' Totally new and not published elsewhere is the Huautla Connection! enclosed paper David presented at the Ninth Interna­ by Jay Jorden tional Congress in Barcelona last summer. His intention was not to attack the rebelay system, but rather to A multinational team of cave explorers this spring ,explain American vertical techniques as we have success­ has pushed the Huautla cave system in Southern Mexico fully and safely used them for nearly 30 years. · to the second deepest in the world, said an organizer this The surprise was that when he presented this paper, month. the room filled to overflowing. It turned out to be the Bill Steele of San Antonio, who returned to Texas subject of greatest interset at the Congress, as judged by on April 3, said a team consisting of Don Broussard of the number of people in the room, the various countries Austin, Doug Powell, Jim Smith, Ed Holladay, and oth­ represented, and the long question period that followed. ers succeeded in connecting Nita Nanta and Sotano de f.l' he television crew got wind of where everyone was, as San Agustin in the Huautla Plateau of Oaxaca, Mexico. :-veil, and showed up to film some of the action. David Smith made the initial connection with a scuba and I missed the group shot of the Americans attending dive, then helped guide the other cavers through to map the Congress scheduled for the lunch break, because the passages, said Steele. there were so many questions and so much vigorous dis­ "This was the culmination of seven years of work," cussion. said Steele. Page 58 June, 1987 the Texas Cav 11

He said the cave system now has a depth of between was a caving gathering, with trips into Century and ~ 1370 and 1385 meters, depending on closure error. the nearby Guadalupe River Ranch for ridge-walkin1 "We have been working hard on this," said Steele. and virgin caving. "We also discovered a new route in San Agustin." On Friday night, the traditional bonfire gr e et~ . Steele said that another group of cavers, including early arrivals and talk continued way into the wee hou ~ Jay Arnold of Virginia, had planned to join the others of the morning. As the cedar and mesquite crackled an ~ and undertake a filming effort, but that has been post­ glowing embers rose into the starry, moonlit sky, mam poned now until next year. cavers met up with comrades from distant cities and n e~ "They will now hold off one year and the whole acquaintances were made. Many a beer tab was pullea approach of the project will shift," he said, adding that and it was far past bedtime when the author draggel diving the system's resurgence is one goal. himself into his sleeping bag in the Holsinger Hilton. He said the new route now means that "we have big The sun rose too early on Saturday for someon; cave all the way to the bottom." suffering from an upper respiratory infection. But a Before the connection, Nita Nanta was 11,655 m quick trip into town for breakfast at the Dutch Boy Res­ long and 1080 m deep. taurant and several cups of coffee reinvigorated one of In 1985, the Nita Nanta Expedition realized a long­ sought connection between La Grieta and Sotana de San The convention was as Agustin. action-packed as one chose A group of Texans, including Andy Grubbs of San the Dallas-Fort Worth groups. Back at camp, the res: Marcos, was en route to Huautla in a second wave of had already awakened and were looking for something to exploration late in April. do. Outside the cave, Bridges was painting signs, one ol which was to replace a greeting that had been stolen th' · night before by vandals. TSA Convention 1987 That incident and a break-in were the onl) by Jay Jorden tragedies to mar an otherwise relaxing, beneficial week· end. It turned out that, sometime late Friday or early It was the convention that nearly wasn't. But, due Saturday, trespassers broke through the roof of the out· to all-American caver ingenuity and no small amount of building that led to the cave staircase and went into the luck, the Texas Speleological Association pulled it off cavern. There, they took a formation about four fe el agam. long and extracted it from the cave, where it was bidder. With the rising of the sap, cavers across the Lone then in nearby bushes. But the formation was discovereQ Star State leaped into their trucks, vans, and honkey a short time later and the vandals fled. cars and converged in the Texas Hill Country. Outside of A group of cavers on Saturday night replaced th' Boerne, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene and Joleen Ebell still formation in its original position inside the cave. Info r· operate Cave-Without-a-Name. They extended their hos­ mation was being sought on the suspects, and the Ebell: pitality to the TSA cavers. and Bridges issued a statement on the break-in. The cave, also known as Century Caverns, had been a focus of some activity for the author and others since the early 1970s. Cavers have brought scuba tanks to the miles of stream passage at the end of the cave's commer­ cial section and succeeded in pushing past several sump~ . It's really nice, with the coming of spring in Texas, to know that some things never change. The Ebells have been extending their down-home hospitality to visitors for decades and seem to have preserved the charm of the cave and the field-rock visitors' center. Interestingly enough, John Bridges, another com­ mercial cave operator, was at Cave-Without-A-Name as well . He was helping the Ebells repair and renovate the buildings above the cave and fix up new signs to guide visitors there. The convention was as action-packed as those parti­ cipants chose to make it. Whether there was too much to do or not enough depended on individual perspective. To the Dallas-Fort Worth cavers who attended, the smaller group at the site seemed to provide just the right level of activity. It was a free-form convention, with little actu­ ally planned in the way of traditional, organized activi­ AU. Thxas caver on rope In Dead Man's H:>le, Marble Falls, Thxas. 1U78 Pbolo by Jo.Y R ties. But the convention was unique in another way - it Jorden. the Texa.s Caver June, 1987 Page 59

BOG Mailout 8.00 BOG Minutes, TSA Convention BCI Membership 50.00 by Jay Jorden NSS Publications Balance 159.90 Bank Service Fee 3.00 Editor'~ Note: the following are minutes from the Secretarial Supplies/post office 8.01 Board of Governor's meeting, Texas Speleological Associ­ ation Convention, April 4, 1987. 228.91 About 30 people attended the BOG meeting at Cave-Without-a-Name near Boerne, Texas. Officers SUBTOTAL: 583.55 present: Brian Burton, chairman and Terry Holsinger, vi ce chairman. Absent: Andy Grubbs, secretary. The Transfers meeting was brought to order about 10 a.m. Bank to Petty Cash 8.01 I. Minutes from the last meeting, in San Marcos, were Bank to Bulk Mail 20.00 read. Linda Palit of San Antonio moved, Jorden seconded motion to approve. Passed. Johanna said TSA operating at more than $200 ll. Financial Report from Jan. 24 to April 12, 1987, less revenues than on Jan. 1. She said membership submitted by Johanna. Reece, was read: income is equalled by debits, including printing and mailing costs. Burton said he collected $93 for the Jan. 24 April12 TSA Convention, at $3 registration fee per person. He Bank balance 2,623.32 2,453.95 said 31 people attended the convention. Petty Cash 20.00 20.00 Palit m/, Chuck Cluck s/ that report be accepted LOGO 250.00 250.00 as read. Approved. Bulk Mail 86.16 52.53 2,979.48 2,776.48 ill. Committee Reports A. Conservation and Safety: Jay Jorden, co-chair, Credits said there have been no rescues or other activity since the Winter BOG report. But he said a mock Memberships: rescue and/or litter carry should be considered for 1/26 40.00 the Old Timers Reunion. He said that co-chair Bob 2/6 40.00 Cowell could not attend the Winter BOG and a 2/14 162.00 mock rescue was not held then. 3/10 20.00 B. Slide Screen: There has been no activity since prel­ 3/20 56.00 iminary estimates were received for the project. But 4/10 30.00 about $350 has been allocated. Another TSA member volunteered for the project and Jorden said 348.00 that more investigation was needed. Burton said he would also look into the possibility of getting a Interest on Account: salon-quality screen for slide shows, movies, etc. 11.30 1/25 Shelter: Again, this committee made preliminary 10.84 c. 2/25 contacts about purchasing a large tent for TSA 3/25 10.41 gatherings, Jorden reported. There has been no 32.55 recent activity since initial reports showed that a large enough tent to suit TSA purposes could cost TOTAL: $380.55 over $1,000. D. Texas Cave Management Association: Mike Debits Walsh said that TCMA is one year old in April. He testified in Hondo earlier this year at a Texas Water Te xaB Gaver Expenses/Pate 117.01 Commission hearing on proposed new regulations Caver 11/12-Speleo Press 192.00 concerning the Edwards Aquifer. He urged that Bulk Mail 45.63 TSA members write to the commission in support of 354.64 the proposals. They would prevent toxic chemicals and other waste from being stored or dumped in Page 60 June, 1987 the Texas Ca ,~

caves. Currently, there are no regulations on the newly elected vice chair at OTR must delegate duti es, books. Linda said that no hearing date had yet been committee members would have five or six months t~ set on the proposed Texas Caverns Protection Act. organize under plan. Motion passed. But she expected the bill to come up in committee. V. Other Business Linda passed out copies of the bill. She said that There was discussion on printing of flyers an ~ Lena Guerrero is the House sponsor, with no Senate other TSA needs. Johanna said she would check int~ sponsor as yet. costs. Linda said that commercial cave owners gen­ Whitis said one printer can produce forms ana erally support the bill, especially its proposed limi­ other documents in a very timely fashion. tations on liability. Walsh said Jim Beall is Texas Walsh said plans are being made for the Oil Parks and Wildlife Department liaison with TSA. Timers Reunion in September. He will get together with Robert Green and Walsh Palit said appreciation was expressed to Mr. ana on this. TPWD just bought Kickapoo and Green Mrs. Ebell at Century Caverns for the convention site. Caves in Brackettville, 90 miles west of San Antonio, last year. The parks and wildlife depart­ ment has been interviewing applicants for caretaker. Memorandum A project at the caves involving TSA was envisioned for June or July. Notices will be mailed. of Understanding E . Texas Caver: Jorden said that the Texas Caver had by Texas Cave Management Associa,tioo been slowed by printing delays and problems with the TSA mailing list. Andy Grubbs had reported Memorandum of Understanding betweeo problems getting the mailing list to run on his com­ Texas Speleological Association (TSA} and tb1 puter. And he did not have notices for the TSA Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Convention. Bill Elliott, who had the TSA mailing General Philosophy list previously, mailed the old discs to Jorden, who printed two sets of TSA labels for the February and Caves are a natural resource which have scientific, April Cavers and concocted a quick and dirty notice recreational and scenic values. All contents of a cave, i ~ for the convention, which was mailed to about 50 speleothems, life forms, physical environment, cultur~ , ~ key people in geographic regions around Texas. The paleontological and other deposits are significant to ill mailing list discs were dumped into a Jorden PC value and are to be protected. The TPWD recognizes th1 and plans were to send it up to a mainframe at need to protect and manage cave resources when the) Convex Computer Corp. in Richardson. Hopefully, occur on state parklands, since caves are unique, non· acquisition of the mailing list will prevent problems renewable resources, easily destroyed or permanent!) in the future by providing backups. But, in the damaged. meantime, the two old sets of mailing labels must be updated with new subscriptions with the help of Purpose Johanna, Brian and others. The purpose of this Memorandum is to recogniz, Burton said information on new subscriptions the participatory management contributions of the TSA comes from the secretary, Grubbs, and goes into the on behalf of cave resources on lands which TPWD mailing list. administers and to encourage the continued or incr e as~ IV. TSA Convention Planning volunteer participation of the TSA in the inventory.' The BOG received criticism concerning planning management and stewardship of these cave resources. for this year's TSA Convention. Walsh advocated expanding the responsibility for planning same from Scope the vice chairman to the entire Executive Committee. Jorden said old-timers should be sought out by con­ The TSA will provide volunteer assistance t~ vention planners for tips, and a guide to convention TPWD in the following areas: planning would be useful to this end. Burton said such a sheet once existed, but could be updated. Walsh 1. Inventory of cave locations and cave resources. moves that an advisory committee be formed for TSA 2. Develop comprehensive cave management plans. Convention planning. Johanna reads duties of officers 3. Provide survey and cartographic services. from TSA Constitution. Vice chairman is responsible 4. Conduct information and education programs an for meeting and program arrangements. Walsh's publications as appropriate. motion fails. Duain Whitis of Austin suggests that the 5. Prequalify applicants for special cave access permits. vice chair form a committee at the Old Timers Reun­ 6. Install and maintain cave gates and signs I>' ion with members responsible for various parts of the appropriate. TSA Convention the next year, so that all know who 7. Provide administrative support for cave resource pr~ is responsible for what by OTR and can keep track. grams, e.g., TPWD staff training programs. Whitis so moves, Jorden s/ motion. Whitis said since 8. Other cave projects as mutually agreed. the Texas Caver June, Hl87 Pa.ge 61 Duration 25-Year NSS Members This agreement shall be in effect for three years. by Jay Jorden The agreement may be renewed at the end of this period. Either party can cancel this agreement at any time by The National Speleological Society's 1987 Memben' 30-day advance written notification. Manual lists a number of cavers who have been members of the NSS for 25 years. Each year the Society recognizes Use of Collections the contributions of veteran cavers. In large part the accomplishments of the NSS are due solely to the efforts Collections of any kind remain the property of of its membership. TPWD and are subject to separate biological, paleonto­ Among the list are several Texas cavers. logical, geological and cultural resource permits. "... The Society shows its appreciation by the gift Release of Liability and Statement of Status of a special NSS Member's pin with '25 Years' on its bottom half," the award statement said. The cavers will It is understood that all work will he under the be honored in an award ceremony at the NSS convention direction of the TPWD and TSA members will be in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan in August. Other awards required to execute a TPWD supplied waiver of liability at the convention will include NSS fellows and scientific and volunteer agreement. certificates of merit. It was the fourth year the pin has been given to the Effective Jan. 21, 1987. cavers, "symbolizing their deep and abiding interest in caves and their continuing support of the National s/Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Speleological Society for many years." Director Included in the list are Katherine R. Goodbar of Dallas; Pete Lindsley, Allen; William Mixon, Austin; and s/Texas Speleological Association, Brian C. Burton Kenneth N. Laidlaw, formerly of Texas. Others include Jon W. Vinson. Respectfully submitted by Jay R. Jorden for the Texas There were many others. Congratulations to these Speleological Association on May 18, 1987. veteran cavers!

One artist's conception of SPR cavers ... June, 1987 the Texas Cave

earth for orientation. Southern Plains Region Researchers are in the process of a major bat counl by Jay Jorden in Western Oklahoma. Major hibernaculum caves wen noted. The threat of rainfall never materialized for the Caire ended his talk by reminding his audience thai Southern Plains Region's 1987 Spring Technical the oriental symbol for bats is a good luck charm mean· Regional, and cavers from Kansas, Tex~ and O~lahoma ing "May five bats live in your house." converged in Oklahoma City May 2-3 m the th1rd year ' Ian Butler of the Nature Conservancy outline ~ of region activities. features of the Oklahoma Bat Caves National Wiidlil! The capable members of the Central Oklahoma Refuge. He said he was taken on a tour of one cave b) Grotto organized a fine gathering. About 35 cavers and Bill Puckette. The Oklahoma Nature Conservancy E other interested persons attended at the height of the becoming more interested in national refuges. The area regional Saturday. of interest contains 49 acres of cave habitats io For Dallas-Fort Worth members Terry Holsinger Northeast Oklahoma, in Adair and Delaware counti es. and Jay Jorden, the trip to the regional began with a The property was purchased in fee title and conservatioo meeting at the landmark Denny's in Denton and ended in Oklahoma with the early-morning arrival at Dave Researchers are in the pro­ Jagnow's house in Edmond. Fanette Begley and Ryan Taylor had also driven up from Texas and Bruce Baker cess of a major bat count had arrived for the night. in Western Oklahoma. Bright and early on Saturday, all headed to Grace easements were acquired in the Oklahoma Ozarks. Tht United Methodist Church west of downtown Oklahoma Ozark Big-Eared Bat and Virginia Big-Eared Bat are tht City for registration to the talks and the Sunday morn­ focus of the refuge, although about 500 to 1,000 Ozarl ing Corn Caves tours and mock rescue west of town. cave fish were also found. Their presence is assoc iat~ Nine years of bat counts and other research ?ave with grey bats. The forest service proposes to manag1 been performed by a biologist at Central State Umver­ system by inventory tracts and continue recovery plans. sity. Dr. Bill Caire said Oklahoma is at a crossroads, Butler said the Conservancy on a nationwide lev el because eastern and western varieties of bats blend there. has learned a lot about management of cave resourc es. One such species is the endangered Myotis soda/is. And Gating is a last resort because of impact to cave fauna Myotis velifer have been found in many western Gypsum Passive electronic detectors have been used to control caves. access. Bat houses have been installed as roosts next to Major factors in deposition of Middle Permian eva· trees and other locations in southeastern Oklahoma, said porites in the Southwestern U.S. were discussed by Dr. Caire. Ken Johnson of the Oklahoma Geological Survey. He One of his graduate students, Rita A. Veal, has said the Blaine Gypsum-Dolomite Karst Aquifer ol been researching ectoparasites on Myotis velifer, and has Southwestern Oklahoma is comprised of. carbonates, sui· I identified 20 species so far. fates and chlorides. Many gypsum quarnes dot the area, A long series of experiments followed on bat flies along with anhydrite deposits. The Blaine Formation ha! and their types of attractions. The researchers, including a series of dolomite/gypsum/slate units. . Donna Zonwiak, a master of science candidate, found the The Blaine is important for agriculture ID attraction was mainly due to carbon dioxide levels in Oklahoma and, at certain locations, farmers and ranch· breath. ers are implementing artificial recharge of its aquifer. In Another study identified critical habitats of bats, the area around Altus Mangum and Eldorado, Okla., where they forage for food, etc. Nineteen species of hoary yield is 100 to 200 gpm'. Depth to the top of the aquifer bats were identified. The height of their capture is just is generally less than 30 meters. Wells are generally 50 ~0 above a regular mist net. Most bats were netted in the 200 feet deep. Total dissolved solids are first few hours after sunset. 1,840-4,6~ m~l· ligrams per liter. The mean is 3,110. Dissolved sohds JD In a bat migration study, which is still in its terrace deposits are less: about 315-458, with 390 the infancy, researchers found that Tadarida brasiliens~s uses mean. Ironically, little buildup of hardpan in soils was stellar cutes. A planetarium was used for the expenment. noted. Bats seemed to stay oriented to the north end of the Johnson said he worked with the U.S. Geological planetarium. Bats may also use magnetic fields of the the Texas Caver June, 1987 Pa.ge 63

S rvey to set up 70 monitor wells in the area to deter­ mine pumpage rate and recharge. Recharge wells are constructed to isolated beds in the aquifer, usually 20 to 60 feet deep to caverns. The wells are usually placed at t e bottom of drainage ditches. About 75 have been diilled. Percolation rates are five to 10 mph. Exploration in Palo Pinto and Jack counties of Texas is only in preliminary stages, but already several important caves have been found and there is potential for more discoveries, said Terry Holsinger of the Dallas­ Fort Worth Grotto. Eagle Creek Cave has about 180 feet of passage, some of it Palo Pinto County walking passage! Manley's Water Hole is 650 feet and still going, with two leads. Bowden's Water Cave was surveyed for about 100 feet bu t still goes. Possum Kingdom Lake near Mineral Wells has about 200 feet of limestone beds, with caves reported at the -90 foot level in the lake. In Jack County, a state park contains interesting karst features including Boiling Springs Cavern and other springs. Work has just begun here, said Holsinger. Before lunch, various grotto representatives gave reports on the work their members have been doing over the past year. Bill Wylie of Kansas said that work con­ tinues in his state, and cavers have visited Oklahoma caves as well. He said there are about 60 active members of the Kansas Speleological Survey. A cave rescue team was for med and trips made to the Medicine Lodge area. Sue Bozeman of the Central Oklahoma Grotto said that exploration in Cedar Cave has occupied much time. Fan ctte Begley of North Texas Speleological Society said that cavers visited Walkup and other caves near Qua­ nah. Bill Bennett of Lubbock Area Grotto said members have traveled to New Mexico to lava tube caves, includ­ ing the Malpais area. Jay Jorden of Dallas-Fort Worth Grotto said surveying and cartography continues in Wild Woman Cave and other caves of the Arbuckle Moun­ tains. He said Holsinger reviewed efforts west of Dallas­ ~ort Worth and other caves have been visited southwest of the Metroplex. Of course, visits have been made to caves in Mexico, Arkansas and New Mexico. Sam Martinez of Tulsa Grotto said the club IS building membership. The members have visited Sherfield Cave in Arkansas and studied Indiana bats in winter. The grotto is working with biologist Puckette on bat caves, and with a Boy Scout Explorer post. Baker, Southern Plains Region president, spoke on the 1986 cleanup of Alabaster Caverns. The topic of a talk by Greg Sievert, Oklahoma non-game wildlife biolo­ gist was "Cave Life of the Southern Plains Region." Sue Bozeman and Becky Jagnow of COG, who were fe atured recently in an article in the Daily Oklahoman, gave a report on Jester, the longest gypsum cave in the fr ee world. In the mapping, survey stations were designed using coat hangers and stakes. These were also ~ sed for marking leads. Gypsum has created formations, mcluding flowstone and popcorn, in the cave. Also found Were pseudo-boxwork. The cave has about 60 entrances Noel Sloan (lndlanapolla) rap~ lnlo Sohoo de Arroyo, Moxloo. 111111 ~ by J~ R and 70,000 feet of side passages. Some connections have Jorden. P age 64 June , 1987 been made by smoke. engendering long and vocal discussion and questiom Gypsum rimstone found in Jester is among the from many in the audience, which included geologi s ~ fin est ever discovered. There is a pouroff at the south scientists, and a large number of visitors. Further d ~ end of the cave, a hypothetical connection from the cave. cussions have raised issues with his technique, not tnt From Tiger Well, it is 600 feet to the Train Tunnel least of which is cost.. While normal clients pay up t1 spring. Arson Pit entrance was smoke connected at 5 $3,200 per day according to a telephone conversatio1 p.m. March 15, 1986 to Tiger Well. with his firm, discounts can lower the price to belo1 Baker showed slides of the NSS field camp for res­ $15,000 per week. This is no doubt an inexpensive wa1 toration of Carlsbad Caverns. Other SPR members at to find oil; it is prohibitively expensive for finding cav~ the restoration included Pat Copeland, Pixie Clark and (Ed. note: accord£ng to us). John Beard. Paul and Lee Stevens, the NSS president Brooks Ellwood, a grotto member, has sent prival! and his wife, were at Carlsbad. Rich Wolfert was super­ correspondence to one editor which may uncover evu visor, as CRF person. Cavers used small brushes and better ways of nonintrusive surveying. More det ai l s~ brooms and buckets to clean off the floors and forma­ they develop. tions. Ropes were replaced at Lake of The Clouds for the Visitors last week included two employees of CONVEX NSS Convention crowds from Tularosa. Lake of the Computer Corporation, Dave Rotheroe {a hardwan Clouds is 1,037 feet below the surface. type) and Jeff Polk (a software type). Bill Elliott j o i n ~ The cleanup crew was rewarded with spectacular us from Austin. Bill co-edits the Texas Speleologic' views of aragonite needles and taken to Spider Cave in Survey. He updated the grotto on Bat Conservatim the park. Another cleanup in June 1987 is sponsored by International - another of his activities. Hugh Under· the NSS and Cave Research Foundation. wood of Bedford, Peter Haines of Fort Worth, ani Jagnow showed slides of spectacular gypsum caves Robert Bissett of Waco also visited. in New Mexico and Oklahoma. Several are on Bureau of Land Management lands. They include Torgache in New Mexico. Lost Lake also had spectacular formations. Pho­ tos of selenite crystals were shown. SPR Minutes Rounding out the technical regional talks, a 1 1/2- by Dave Jagno1 hour cave rescue seminar was conducted by Jay Jorden, Texas coordinator for the National Cave Rescue Com­ Here are minutes of the fall Southern Plaim mission, with help by Bill Wylie of Garden City, KS, a Regional on Oct. 12, 1986 in Sulphur, Okla.: fir efighter and Kansas cave rescue organizer. The sem­ The Fall 1986 SPR was hosted by the Dallas-Fon inar was designed as an overview to longer cave rescue Worth Grotto and held in the Arbuckle Mountain' courses run by NCRC annually. Topics included rescue Approximately 40 cavers from North Texas ani. types, hazards, callout, proper first aid and rescue gear, Oklahoma attended the weekend activities at Chickasa1 organization, search, medical considerations, the bash National Recreation Area near Sulphur, Okla. The Su ~ team, communications, patient evaluation, packaging, day morning business meeting was quickly moved to tnt extrication, resources and other matters. meeting room at the Arbuckle Restaurant because of tn1 Dinner on Saturday night was an all-you-can-eat 4(}.degree te~peratures and rain. treat from Crockett's Smokehouse, including sliced beef, The meeting was called to order at 10:15 a.m. n) Polish sausage and chicken. It was followed by a business meeting. T he Saturday activities were followed by a mock rescue on Sunday at the Corn caves west of Oklahoma City, attended by about 20 participants, and caving in the area. Please see additional articles for details.

D/FWGROTTO Jay Jorden & Rob Kolstad

February's program featured Michael Edelman from Geophysics International. His firm markets a device called the "Petro-Sonde" which uses subatomic particles from the solar wind to find and survey boundaries of layers beneath the surface of the earth. His firm finds the boundaries between sand and oil to be interesting; our group finds boundaries between rock and air to be ~ I particularly intriguing. Mark Minion aL the lQIIII 'ISA Olllvenlloo aL Inner Space Caverns. Photo by J13 R. l

Chairman Bruce Baker. Annual elections were the first Honorary members: For their outstanding contribu­ order of business, in which Bruce Baker was re-elected tions to speleology, Murray and Mary Looney were voted chairman and Terry Holsinger was re-elected vice­ Honorary Membership in the Region. They are founders chairman. Joe Giddens, outgoing secretary- treasurer, of the Central Oklahoma Grotto, and owners of the had expressed the desire not to run again, and David January-Stansberry Cave System. Jagnow was elected to fill that position. The efforts of Bruce Loard, A.C. Pletcher and Jerry Old Business: Baker indicated there had been Chisum were recognized through certificates designed by problems getting out the Southern Plains Record 30 days Fanette Begley and Bob Harper. Brian Burton suggested in advance of the regional. The problem resulted from that members who have in mind special awards such as the secretary- treasurer not receiving the information on certificates of appreciation for cave owners and stewards a timely basis. He emphasized that Jagnow needs infor­ be empowered to determine the most appropriate awards mation a couple of months ahead of time to publish the for them. Joe Looney moved that persons who wish to newsletter on a timely basis. honor noncavers within the region, propose the type of New Business: Meeting Time - Jay Jorden award merited. The motion passed. Jorden said those brought up the question of the fall regional's timing. He honored would receive copies of the guidebook. suggested that the very end of September would be a Georganne Payne asked when a membership list better time for a regional because the weather would be would be provided. Jagnow said that it would be in the . better and the regional wouldn't conflict with Texas-OU spring newsletter . weekend. Baker said that the SPR Constitution states Minutes of the previous regional were approved as the fall regional should be in September or October, so printed in the fall newsletter. there is enough latitude to vary the schedule. It was The Central Oklahoma Grotto was accepted as the pointed out that several caving affairs, including the host for the spring regional. Jagnow indicated they TSA Convention, were rained out this year. The sense of would like to host a technical regional, involving talks the group was that late September was a better time for lasting 20 to 30 minutes. He would like every grotto to a regional, so as not to conflict with Texas Old Timers participate. The talks will be scheduled Saturday on any Reunion, Labor Day caving trips and MVOR. Baker said subject involving caving, not just scientific matters. He that Tulsa members did not attend because of flooding said the Corn Caves nearby will probably be available this year in Oklahoma. And poor Kansas attendance was for caving on Sunday. attributed to the weather as well. Members surveyed and voted upon region patch Dues: Jorden also brought up the dues. Newsletter colors. Most voted for a patch with red background, blue and guidebook expenses were detailed. Baker pointed out border and yellow lettering for the region. Jagnow said that last year, dues were increased from 50 cents to $4 he would order patches that would be available at the per year and folks were still absorbing that boost. Jag­ spring regional at a cost of about $3. now said that he will keep close tabs on expenses for the White 's Cave Warning: Bruce Baker warned cavers region and determine whether the newsletter is costing to stay out of White's Cave in Pittsburg County, Okla., more to put out than revenues provide. because the cave is badly polluted. One caver was tem­ Direction of the Region: Baker said the next porarily blinded and immobilized after popping bubbles newsletter will contain a questionnaire attempting to underlying the sediment. The bubbles were thought to , determine what the regional members want from this contain methane and hydrogen sulfide. organization: Conservation? Surveying? Recreation? The meeting was adjourned about noon.

those who escaped, said Sunday night from his home · NEW GROTTO Newton, Kan. by Evelyn Bradshaw, NSS I/0 Chairman Price's body was found on a rope about 60 from the floor of the cave and Ms. McCluskey's Please note the chartering of a new NSS Grotto: was on a rope about 20 feet off the floor, said The Maverick Grotto (G-322) Pruszko, a member of a cave exploring team called P .O. Box 170274 rescue the students. Arlington, TX 76003 Initial chairman is Corky Corcoran and they have a publication, The Maverick Bull, edited by Perrie Butch Fralia. Four Rescued in Tennessee This is the second NSS grotto in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and will serve cavers around Fort Worth. Editor's Note: The following was reprinted from article by The Associated Press on Feb. 28, 1987: NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Four people who Two Dead in Iowa trapped by water while exploring a cave planned edited by Jay Jorden spend the night there as rescuers on Monday waited the water to recede. Editor's Note: The following was from an article by A diver found the four spelunkers in an air pock• The Associated Press in the Journal-Star, March 2, 1987: of the flooded cave Monday morning, almost 12 hou~ after relatives reported them missing. LUANA, Iowa - Freezing water from a storm left no #There were no injuries, and there weren't an) way out of a cave, killing two people on a college­ problems at all. They were just cold," said Steve Smil! sponsored expedition, including a professor who of Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. apparently went back in to try to save other members of Rather than risk bringing out the four through I ~! the group. cold water rescue workers carried supplies to them u The bodies of Katherine McCluskey, 38, an assis­ waterproof' bags, said Andy Ebley, an operations offici tant professor of geology and physical education at Grin­ for the state's emergency agency. nell College, and Michael Price, 29, who worked in the Ebley said rescuers would remove the group wh e1 school's computer services division, were recovered early the water level was lower in the Fisher Cave, just norll Sunday from the natural limestone cave near this of Woodbury, a town 50 miles southeast of Nashville. . northeast Iowa community. Authorities identified two of the spelunkers as Pili They died of hypothermia, said Deputy Allamakee Fratesi and Roger Fleming, age unknown. A third rna County Medical Examiner Tom McMullen. and a woman were not identified. Five students also were on the expedition, but three The group was trapped after rain seeped i~to I~ of them managed to escape the cave while two others cave and filled it with water, said Capt. T.L. Miller ' found refuge in a dry tunnel until their rescue, according the Cannon County Rescue Squad. to the father of one of the survivors. Three of the stu­ Officials began searching for the group at 9 p.n dents were treated at a hospital and released. Sunday after a call from relatives who said the four ha The cave exploration, which began Saturday morn­ planned to return to Nashville by 6 p.m. ing, was sponsored by the Grinnell Outdoor Recreation Program, of which Ms. McCluskey was the leader. The group had permission to be in the cave but got into trouble when water began pouring down the open­ Lincoln Forest Conservation edited by Jay Jorde ing Saturday night, said Deputy Allamakee County Sheriff Gary Darling. Editor's Note: From an article by The Associate "The cave is in a dry creek bed, and when it began Press transmitted March 18, 1986: raining, sleeting and snowing, water began pouring in there," he said. CARLSBAD, N.M. - Officials of the Lin co~ Ms. McCluskey managed to escape with two stu­ National Forest are seeking wilderness status for t dents, but went back in the frigid cave to try to save the rugged Guadalupe Escarpment near Carlsbad to prot ~ others, Bill Andreas, whose son, Jonathan, was one of the Texas Caver June, 1987 Page 67 dozens of fragile caves from oil and gas exploration. The decision, announced by Forest Supervisor Jim Bat Troubles in Chile Abbott, reverses a previous recommendation against a wilderness designation in the National Forest's draft 50- Editor'& Note: the following is from an article by y ar plan released in July. The Associated Press in the Champaign, lll., New&.· Lincoln administrators plan to make the wilderness Gazette, Sept. 27, 1985: recommendation to Congress in the final version of the plan that expected to be released this summer, forest SANTIAGO, Chile- This South American country Planner Ed Wood said. is under a seeming invasion of bats, and experts say it's The Guadalupe Escarpment covers 21,000 acres of because of a recent earthquake. steep desert canyons and high ridges linking Carlsbad "The bats were driven from their homes, just like Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The the people were. They're disoriented. They're looking for escarpment was identified as a potential wilderness area new places to settle," said zoology professor Dr. Eliza­ in the first Forest Service Roadless Area Review and beth Chiappa of Catholic University of Valparaiso. Evaluation in 1973 and was proposed as a wilderness "The bats' lifestyle has been changed," she area in 1979, Wood said. explained in a telephone interview. "They go out more in A year later, Congress turned down the Forest Ser­ daylight. Therefore, they're having more run-ins with .vic e request and instead created the Guadalupe Escarp­ human beings." ment Wilderness Study Area to evaluate the potential A March earthquake shook the Santiago capital and for oil and gas drilling in the formation. A wilderness Valparaiso, Chile's No. 2 city 75 miles northwest, killing designation would forbid exploration and development of 178 people and leaving more than 1 million homeless. potential reserves. Milder tremors have been jolting the two cities ever Congress instructed the Forest Service to make a smce. second recommendation this year, based on the oil and Chilean newspapers have stories almost every day gas study. of encounters between people and bats. Panicked moth­ Wood said oil companies, caving experts and geolo­ ers have found their children playing with the winged gists were brought in to help study the escarpment and mammals. Parishioners of a downtown Santiago Catholic an adjacent 10,000 acres protected from oil and gas dril­ church recently screamed in fright when they discovered, ling in a 1983 Forest Service order. literally, bats in the belfry. Their research found that about 5,000 acres of the Dr. Mario Munoz, the head of the Greater Santiago escarpment are suitable for drilling. Cave passages and Environmental Health Service, which has sent out special steep terrain prevent exploration in the rest of the study bat-capturing squads, also believes the earth tremors area. have led to the zoological phenomenon. Wood said forest officials determined the potential Munoz said that since the earthquake, his service, drilling area is too small to "override the wilderness aided by the University of Chile's Veterinary School, had ch aracter of the escarpment." caught more than 400 bats. Concerned citizens who have "The wilderness values are obviously greater" than found bats in their homes "or sometimes just walking th e oil and gas value," Wood said. down the street" call the health service several times a The draft 50-year plan recommended against wild­ day requesting help, he said. erness because the Forest Service had not determined the It even was necessary to call in an expert bat zoolo­ oil and gas potential last year, Wood said. The results of gist from southern Chile who, according to Munoz, the resource study were published Feb. 11. knows special bat- trapping techniques such as using In the draft plan, Lincoln experts indicated they white sheets to throw off their radar. opposed the wilderness because it would prevent effective Seven of the bats were found to be carrying rabies. management of the caves, which could number in the But the health service chief, noting Chile's excellent hundreds. record in rabies control - no human infection in 14 years Foresters still are concerned about protecting the - said the danger to people was minimal. caves if the area becomes a wilderness because that "However, we must constantly warn people: don't Would forbid use of mechanized equipment on the escarp­ touch bats," said Munoz. "We tell them, through news­ ment, Wood said. Many caves need to be protected with papers and radio and TV: 'If you see a suspicious bat, st ~e l grates, which often require power tools to install, he leave it alone. Call us.' " sa1d. As a precaution, the health service gives a rabies No other national wilderness area includes such vaccination to anyone known to have come in contact extensive cave formations, according to the Lincoln with an infected bat. Munoz said that during the current management plan. wave of bat sightings, there had been about 50 such innoculations. June, 1987 the Texas C1

counting the crawlway loop). An auxiliary entrance · Palo Pinto Caving observable one third of the way through the cave. It· by Rob Kolstad not clear it is big enough for a person. Terry and friends have a partial survey compte Even though we brought survey equipment, we had ti~ Destination: Eagle Creek Cave, only for a short tour and some photographs du~ ~ tl Palo Pinto County time spent searching for sinkholes. The short VISit w long enough, though, for Mr. Spence to determine th Dates: January 11, 1987 he had no small amount of claustrophobia. It is anti · pated that he will not join the Grotto any time in t Personnel: Terry Holsinger, Rob near future. Kolstad, Jeff Polk, Tony Sanders, We departed the rest area at 5:45 for Mineral We and Jim Spence. and K-Bob's. A restful ride was had by all but Te , A quick trip from Richardson to the Hurst-Euless­ (whom Kolstad conned into driv!ng) as ~e journeye Bedford area found us at Terry's house in Kolstad's east through the night after a bnef (and m some wa Kavemobile. Equipment loaded and Eric Spears con- forgettable) experience in the thrilling nether-regio tacted, we journeyed west. . beneath Palo Pinto County. Arriving in Mineral Wells, a phone call to Er1c revealed that he could no longer join us. A Whata- burger and we continued west. . We arrived at the first rest stop west of Palo Pmto Oklahoma Exploring & Po~ on 180 and suited up. Our novice, Jim Spence, excitedly by Rob Kolstad Jeff donned his red and white striped caving shirt as the rest of us geared up to explore the depths of Eagle Creek Cave. Destination: Exploring in Mum) A walk through a fine set of woods brought us to County, Oklahoma the side of a sort of cliff about 25 feet high. We followed its base to Eagle Creek Cave and then beyond to a Personnel: Fanette Begley, Raal climb-up. Terry wanted to find "this terrific sinkhole" Brown, Terry Holsinger, Jay Jot that he'd heard about. den, Rob Kolstad, Jeff Polk, Ton)j Find it we did. Roughly 50 feet across, 20 feet Sanders, Troy Shelton, and tw~ other famous DFW cavers deep, and 40 feet long, this sink had several fee~ of water in it and the mouth of some sort of a cave (1t was at Dates: March 6-8, 1987 least 10 feet long). We were unable to get close enough to the mouth (which had several feet of water in its Raalen Brown and Terry Holsinger had made am~ entrance) to judge whether the cave "went" above ing discoveries in Oklahoma just a few weeks before thi ground or below (or not). We documented the find with grand trip. A working expedition, we were to surv ~! slides, searched for other sinks on the same fault line, several caves run surface surveys to various points n and skipped rocks across the sink. Murray Couo'ty, and explore some incredibly fine looki~ leads East of lnterstate-35. Returning to Eagle Creek, we entered. Now Palo 1 Pinto caves are not the same as those of the Guads. Meeting at Denton's Dennys at 8 pm Fri~ 1 They have about the same amount of water but are brought the adventure to an early start. Mter suppt~ l often narrower and shorter. This cave ranged from 8 and consuming fanciful desserts (e.g., Strawberry. Spnv Special, yum yum), five early-birds motored the1r wa) inches wide to fully 3 feet in one place. The passage north. Arriving at Bruce's house before 11 pm, trel appeared to be a joint-controlled slit ranging in height t~e to the fiat drill pad ended by 11:30 when all ret1red v from 8 to 20+ feet. A small crawlway made a loop in their vans to sleep to the serenade of the longhorn cattl one part of the cave. who also sleep on the drill pad. It takes roughly ten minutes to get from the By dawn, Raalen had already spotted several m o~ entrance to the farthest reaches of the cave. The very interesting caves to explore and we were ready to begu end had a fairly deep {6") puddle of water before a the day. The first order of business was to check ou climb-up-and-over to a passage which squeezed off. It is several holes south and east of our campsite. Each 0 estimated the cave is about 200 feet in length (not the Texas Caver June, Hl87 Page611

tHem loomed large in the early morning sun and original discoveries that Terry and Raalen had found. beckoned the intrepid survey crews to enter. The groups {more cavers having arrived) split into two Raalen's rule is now: SURVEY AS YOU GO, so teams of four and went their separate ways. e did . We entered Eat Knee Cave and found it to be The Insane Brain Drain crevice appeared to have a 60 foot drop at 45 degrees. On the right was a room tremendous potential - when viewed from the outside. most easily entered from the base of the drop, though a Inching down a 45 foot 45 degree slope {which really had ..,\Iindow peered out half way down. The room contained no bottom - mostly a chimneying kind of action) 3 magnificent pearly white drapery over four feet high brought a small patch of flat land and a sump. A crev­ !(well, it's magnificent for Oklahoma). ice {also with five feet to water) takes air in tremendous At the base of the entry, a short passage exited to gulps. About 100 feet of survey; still no rival to the left and another three foot slope. Taking the low Carlsbad. road lead to a loop which ends up under the floor of the A Really Good Entrance. A hole some three feet in entrance slope {lights can be seen through small cracks diameter set at a 45 degree angle in the side of a large which can even be passed by skinnier cavers). Taking hill greeted Jeff Polk as he donned his vertical gear. We the high road leads to famous Eat Knee Straddle, so knew that This Was It. named for its obvious abilities. A one foot wide crevice It wasn't it. Thirty feet down; a room with clay­ l~ads forward for two dozen feet and ultimately up to a covered floor; nowhere. pleasant dome with some average speleothems. Hols­ Meanwhile, Holsinger had found an even better inger hypothesizes the dome to be just below the surface. hole just 100 feet away. We moved the rope. Polk des­ Total survey: over 108 feet. A nice cave, nevertheless. cended, slipping occasionally on the thick moss which Bird Nest Cave was another fine entrance found covered the sides of the three foot diameter hole and the near a cave known to some as Sheep Dip Cave. A rocks near the top of the first room. Thirty feet down, a safety rope helped the cavers to negotiate the initial 40 mud choke - in two directions. A small hole higher in feet - again with an average slope of 45 degrees and the wall breathed out nice, cool air. Nonnegotiable. occasionally over 60 degrees. Neither the front tape man Sigh. nor the sketcher wished to negotiate the final 12 foot More surface exploring, a couple nice holes tagged drop without ascending and descending equipment. A for future adventures, and a final excursion into: The small room at the end of a relatively straight entrance MegaCrevice. Giant piercing planes of limestone per­ slope led to a squeeze which, in other realms, might have pendicular to the ground part to reveal a four foot wide gone. Unfortunately, not even Tony Sanders could nego­ passage. No vertical gear was required to follow the tiate the small hole through which rocks dropped five crevice to its conclusion, only 75 feet from the first sta­ fe et to water. Seven bats were found in the cave along tion. with garbage in a nearby (five feet) pit. Fifty feet of tor­ All in all an entertaining and productive trip turous surveyed passage. though disappointing in its lack of super-caves. The Surface survey, lots of surface survey, consumed the preponderance of drops which ended at roughly the same afternoon. Over five thousand feet of surface survey now depth - often with water only a few feet deeper - leads ties together all the major holes and the wellhead on the one to believe Murray County still has secrets to yield. drillpad. Yay. Maps are in the making. It is unknown what lies below and beyond those areas Fern Cave. Too tough to go without a rope; not nearer the roads. Maybe next time will allow an even tough enough to go anywhere with a rope. Another greater discovery. See you then! vertical drop; another room at the bottom with no exit. 63 feet of boring survey. Echo Cave. 57 feet straight down; no horizontal Fort Stanton Caves passages . by Barbara Geyer A final foray into one of the discoveries, Falling Rock Scorpion Cave was made just before dusk. A gaping entrance, 50 feet of vertical relief (not quite Destination: Fort Stanton Reser­ straight down, but almost), and what appeared to be the vation; Lincoln County, N.M. potential for 50,000 feet of walking passage lured the ~ t r e pid spelunkers. Unfortunately, the cave petered out Dates: Nov. 27, 1986 shortly after its splendid entrance leaving the cavers with the belief that only Mighty Mouse could negotiate Personnel: Mike Bilbo, Barbara the 50,000 feet that still lies somewhere under the Geyer, Victor Polyak Arbuckles. A crevice cave with few comfortable way­ Conversations with Buzz Hummel, Recreation Spe­ stations, nevertheless a disappointment at 93 feet. cialist, Roswell District, Bureau of Land Management, Dinner of hot dogs and vegetarian chili greeted has made the LAG aware of several caves newly Fanette Begley and her daughter and granddaughter. discovered by Buzz on the Fort Stanton Reservation. The cows joined us in a quick dinner. Formed in the Permian San Andres Formation, as are Sunday morning we journeyed to the rest of the the larger, well known caves in the area, these caves are Page 70 June, 1987 the Texas Car unexplored. Victor Polyak of Lubbock, unhindered by a half-dozen shots, none of the fauna. I waited unti job commitments, left Lubbock at 3 p.m. on Nov. 26 Mike and Victor were out of hearing range. and met with Buzz in Roswell about 6 p.m. to discuss By previous agreement, I left an extra light sour locations and times. He then drove to the camp by the in the first room and then left the cave to {search) t~ old brothel on the Rio Bonito on the western edge of the area for several hours before returning to the first roorr Fort Stanton Reservation. At about 3:45 p.m., Mike and Victor left the cave an· Victor set up a tent and built a fire to ward off the attempted to remove quantities of fine white dust fro chill of the 20-30 degree temperatures. Mike Bilbo and I themselves. Mike had worn jeans and a long sleeve l left Lubbock after work on the 26th about 7 p.m. We shirt and carried an outdated military shirt. He founi stopped to visit with Buzz at about 10:30 p.m. and then clusters of cholla spines in his shirt in several places. V!1 drove to Fort Stanton and the camp, waking Victor up tor had worn coveralls and had no spines at all. momentarily while we moved our sleeping bags into the We went on another reconnaissance walk in thr tent. The fire had long since gone out and the tempera­ different directions with nothing further found. We droP ture was between 15 and 20 degrees. A cloudy morning to Carrizozo for a turkey dinner in a roadside cafe, afk greeted us at 7 a.m. Mike and Victor walked upstream a which Victor left to camp and ridgewalk in the Malp ai! ways to look at a spectacular waterfall, which has been as Mike and I headed for Old Bent's Fort some four h created by a Tertiary igneous dike cutting NNW through dred miles north. the Dakota Sandstone, while I changed from office Editor's Note: reprinted from LAG News, Lubbod clothes of the day before into clothing more suitable for Area Grotto of the NSS, November-December 1986. caving. At 9 a.m., we went looking for the caves using a map provided by Buzz. Turning off a good graded road, Palace Cave, et al. which runs between Fort Stanton and U.S. 70, we by Jay Jordtt bumped through a grassy pasture along an old road. Nearing the hill crest, we stopped and made some recon­ naissanc·e ·walks but found no caves. While Victor drove Destination: Palace Cave, Cam~ back down the pasture to another possible location, Mike woods, Texas; Caverns of Sonora went to the hill crest as I walked down toward Victor's TSA Meeting, Austin. location but higher on the slope. Meeting up with Victor, Mike reported finding a gated cave that we think is Personnel: John Brooks, Briar Aggogino Cave. Victor and I hadn't found anything. Vic­ Burton, John Cochran & lad! tor then looked a little further down the valley in some friend, Sheila Knight, Jay Jord en rocky areas and came across a small opening, partially DFW Grotto; Andy Grubbs an! plugged by a boulder. Removing it, he called us over, Alan Cobb: San Marcos Grotto; and other San Antonii and we prepared the caving equipment as we ate a meal cavers. of cheese, bread, cookies and water. The opening is about 2 feet by 3 feet and is roughly Dates: July 4 weekend, 1985 triangular. It drops down about 5 feet, opening in all directions to a chamber roughly 4 feet by 5 feet. Mike Through college connections, John had access to I went in first, then Victor. They checked out the first big ranch near San Antonio which contains caves and abu& room and then started a Brunton and tape survey. I dant, clear, flowing surface water. It was agreeable !1 recorded the data as they surveyed. The first feature all to make the Falling Water Lodge a destination f~ observed was a rabbit which ran around one edge of the the Fourth of July. John, Brian, and Andy plus othe r. room and into a hole in the upper part. After they had arrived at the property very early Thursday and begar mapped the room, I went in as they prepared to go into mapping Palace Cave. the next chamber. The room is a cavity created by Sheila and Jay showed up later Thursday evenin! breakdown and dissolution. A large slab forms a central after a breathtaking late-afternoon drive down Statt elevated part of the first room, another the slope up to a Highway 337; John and his lady friend rendezvoused ~ low wide opening which drops into the next room. Lost Maples State Natural Area on Friday evening. On the ceiling above this slope was a lone Mexican Everyone on Thursday and Friday assisted in tnt long-eared bat with one ear retracted and the other mapping of Palace and took photos inside the heavilJ extended, as if listening. The temperature in the cave decorated cave. It has not seen traffic for many year. was about 40 degrees, a good hibernating temperature, but is in a sensitive area direly in need of conservation according to Victor. efforts. Brian and Andy tried to push a high lead insidt Mike went into the next room and Victor followed. the cave without initial success. I waited as they mapped the room and went into others. The cave was mapped to the end at the Lake Room A packrat appeared from under a slab below the bat and and many photos were then taken. The group return ~ walked around unconcernedly. After about 15 minutes, I by truck and honky car back to the lodge, where water· went to the entrance and brought in my camera, taking melon that had been chilling in a plunge pool await~ the Texas Caver June, 1987 Page 71 and the affable landowner chatted merrily. The group out our legs during a pleasurable break. At this point in elected to take a second plunge of the sunny Friday in the cave, we could right, on a sticky clay ledge toward a the Campwoods Creek tributary waters. It was a wel­ six-foot waterfall, or go through "Fat Man's Misery." I come relief. Then all relaxed under the shade of a had to exhale to clear my chest in "Fat Man's Misery." gazebo and dined on succulent melon, some electing to That was the first time I've had to wiggle like a sit in the cool flowing water at the same time. It doesn't salamander in a cave. In this one isolated area, we ruled get much better than this. out swamp gas because someone heard Skipper expel Late Friday, John and Brian went on to Lost intestinal gas! We moved on fast, thankful that no car- Maples, met Cochran and friend and went on to Caverns of Sonora and elsewhere. Jay and Sheila returned with Andy and a San Antonian to the Alamo City to spend the night and had a sumptuous meal at Taco Cabana - of which, watch out for the upcoming review. On Saturday, after watching Andy's slide and conversing, Sheila and Jay went on to Austin and caught the tail end of a meeting organized by Mike Walsh on management of state-owned caves.

Missouri Caving bide lamps were in use. A couple more crawls and ornate by Dale Ellison dome rooms later, we entered a small pit area which was known as the Brachiopod room. For 10 feet up the walls, encrustations of all sorts were visible. They appeared as Destination: Nixa, Missouri and Camden County, Mis­ delicate as dry corn flakes stuck by their edges. It was soun astonishing that eight people and a dog were standing in an ancient sea bed, underground in the mountains of Personnel: Arlene Heintz, Dale Ellison, six members of Missouri. the Heart of the Ozarks Grotto and Skipper We set up camp at Tunnel Dam Campgrounds and waited until midnight to find and explore Tunnel Dam Dates: August 30-September 1, 1986 Cave, which wasn't actually a cave, but a 500- foot tun­ nel. Several areas of blockage caused by massive-size Arlene and I met with six members of the Heart of trees made the tour a little difficult. Cloudy water was the Ozarks Grotto on the parking lot of Southern Mis­ on average knee-deep and smelled like a sewer in one souri State University at Springfield, Mo., at 10 a.m. area. There was evidence of bats in two areas but were Saturday morning. Shortly thereafter, a caravan of four too old for recent bat habitation. vehicles ventured out toward Hooten Cave, outside Nixa, Island Cave was located in Ha Ha Tonka State Park Mo. off Highway 54. A caving permit is required from the Hooten Cave, I believe, is classed as a B Cave. It park ranger. We obtained it. Ninety percent of the 120- begins with a short stoop opening, which opens into a foot cave is now dead, with all the tourist traffic. The walk. A few small green, speckled frogs were seen just balance is still alive, which includes inaccessible areas inside the cave, cooling in a couple inches of clear water. like 50 feet up or in 4-5 inch spaces. Few areas beamed It was difficult to keep Skipper, a large mongrel dog, on with small, delicate rimstone dams, but no water. For the idea of straight exploring without fresh munchies. Island Cave's size, it was compact with speleothems. Oh well. Several hundred feet inside, we came across a Another cave we located on the island was tricky to breakdown area after passing large stage draperies of 30 gain access. It was about eight feet to the greatly-sloping feet plus in length. floor of clay. No evidence of bats except one using it as a ' The sights were spectacular. The next one hundred temporary home away from home. This cave was basi­ feet or so of easy up-and-down climbing over very old cally one room except for a belly crawl which Arlene breakdown wasn't bad at all. 'Tites, 'mites, and columns pushed in a circle back into the main room. If we had Were everywhere; they apparently had grown after the scuba equipment, we could have explored further as the breakdown. I knew it was too good to be true, for we cave floor sloped into a blue hole of very clear water. I came to an area requiring hands-and-knees crawling in a could see the passage continue to parts unknown. Any small scalloped passage for maybe 70 feet. I don't think I cave divers out there? can fully describe the passage, as it was, let's say, This entire area of Camden County is believed to be "Omnidirectional, switchback, hairpin and turnarounds one extensive cave. At this time, no one knows just how deluxe." Maybe Jody Robertson could have said it massive it is. The landscape is lined with sinks and better. Thank goodness it wasn't in sucking, sticky clay! springs for 20 miles toward Mashfield, Mo. Someday, To exit this crawl, we slithered up onto a ledge at some lucky cavers will discover the secrets of this under­ the edge of a dome room. Here we enjoyed straightening ground honeycomb. The Texas Caver P.O. Box 208 San Marcos, Texas 78667