[Texascavers] Spring Creek Cave invitation for Dec. 14th trip
Those of you who read the Texas Caver likely know that the Dallas/Fort Worth Grotto has had a multi-year project underway to thoroughly explore and survey Spring Creek Cave, north of Boerne, Texas. The 6th season (Nov. - April due to the bats) is about to begin with a trip there on Dec. 14. This season will probably be the last one. Texas cavers are welcome to come and see the cave that Saturday. To do so you will need to either camp on Friday night, Dec. 13, at nearby commercial cave Cave Without a Name (CWAN - http://www.cavewithoutaname.com/), or arrive at CWAN no later than 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. Access to the CWAN property (gate combination) can be obtained the week of the trip by e-mailing me. Spring Creek Cave is a wetsuit cave. No exceptions. Fins are not needed. It is an easy cave, requires swimming, and a four hour trip in the cave will enable cavers to see over a mile of stream passage with a waterfall destination and turn-around point. Camping at CWAN will be fun with a campfire on Saturday night if there is no burn ban. If you haven't toured CWAN, commercial tours will be available on both Saturday and Sunday. An additional fun aspect of the Dec. 14 trip is that I will have an inflatable two-person kayak in the cave and available for people to take turns and use. There is a mile of navigable water in the cave starting near the entrance (half mile in and a half mile out). I cannot think of another Texas cave where kayaking in the cave is possible. There is a very good photo opportunity here, so bring your cameras. Please let me know if you plan to come. Cavingly, Bill Steele Irving, Texas
texascavers Digest 21 Nov 2013 20:18:11 -0000 Issue 1887
texascavers Digest 21 Nov 2013 20:18:11 - Issue 1887 Topics (messages 23072 through 23078): Re: A look at Caverns newly discovered room 23072 by: Pete Lindsley In Quest of the Rim of Hell 23073 by: dirtdoc.comcast.net Re: Karst Abstract Opportunities @ S. Central GSA - Fayetteville - deadline approaching! 23074 by: Julia Germany SWR Winter Tech Reminder 23075 by: Carol Belski Spring Creek Cave invitation for Dec. 14th trip 23076 by: Speleosteele.aol.com Cave kayaking 23077 by: Nancy NSS related 23078 by: David Administrivia: To subscribe to the digest, e-mail: texascavers-digest-subscr...@texascavers.com To unsubscribe from the digest, e-mail: texascavers-digest-unsubscr...@texascavers.com To post to the list, e-mail: texascavers@texascavers.com -- ---BeginMessage--- Two short videos on the new room in Carlsbad... Begin forwarded message: From: Karen Lindsley karen4ca...@gmail.com Date: November 19, 2013 1:57:55 AM MST To: Lindsley Pete caverp...@gmail.com Subject: A look at Caverns newly discovered room I saw this story on KRQE.com and wanted to share it: A look at Caverns newly discovered room Tourists in southeastern New Mexico are getting their first glimpse at the newest discovery at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. http://j.krqe.com/zvf94 http://www.krqe.com/news/local/new-room-discovered-in-carlsbad-caverns---End Message--- ---BeginMessage--- I have seemingly exhausted most other possibilities and so I ask the august body of older Texas Cavers if one of you might have either an arcane memory and an actual hard or digital copy of something from the late 60s. This DOES have a tie to Texas caves and cavers, albeit a bit tangential. Less so that other topics that drive folks away from this forum. At least this involves Real Cavers and an almost-real cave (at least it is a collapse into one that once was: Terlingua Sinkhole). The quest: For a copy of a movie titled Rim Of Hell . This may have been filmed on 16 mm film, I am not sure. It was written and directed by Frank Dobbs (of later greater fame, including Lonesome Dove and a series of later movies filmed in the Lajitas-Terlingua area); Mike Cusack Producer and Cinematographer (also of Greater Fame). This was filmed sometime around 1966-1968 in Terlingua, and involved at least three cavers: Ring Huggins, Bill Wright, and Fred Meyer, at that time caving with the Sul Ross Cave Club. The story I have from Ring and Fred, told and retold over the years and repeated to me last week in Terlingua (with only slight variations): Ring was the Snake Wrangler who, after innumerable tries finally succeeded in pissing off a reasonably-sized rattled enough to strike at him; Fred and Bill were technical support who tried to get the actors to rappel into Terlingua Sink, without success. You gotta be kidding!, the actors said. The story I hear is that Fred then successfully got the cinematographer down to the bottom of the sink (Mike Cusack), and Bill was recruited on the spot as the stunt double to rappel so he could be photographed from below. Bill rappelled in, zipping down the rope as was his normal fashion, to the horror of the producer and director. They made both Fred and Bill climb out and do it a few more times in a much more hesitant and unsure fashion. Geeze! You're supposed to be SCARED! This is not to be confused with the later film Disciples of Death (distributed at least in part under the title Enter the Devil in 1972), by the same producer and director. I have a poor copy of that: a VHS which is supposed to have been made from a 16-mm version that I digitized (if anyone is interested) some time ago. That was a Grade Z horror movie filmed at the old Waldron Mine shortly after Glen Pepper started to develop the Villa de la Mina and is fun to watch for those that knew the Villa in the early daze. That's when the alter was built in the big room in the mine but before Glen had built much of the outbuildings and guest quarters. Now-historic images of the old steel bridge on the county road, the gas pump (then still functional) at the Lajitas Trading Post, Brewster County Courthouse, and more. Sandy and I actually watched what was claimed to be the world premier of Disciples of Death at a drive in movie theater in San Antonio. Backed Tortuga One in, honky chairs and a cooler. A Hoot and a half-!. I have copies of more than 10 films made using some locations in the Terlingua-Lajitas area and would like to add this (supposedly that first one, but not sure I believe that). Includes Uphill all the Way (great fun with Roy Clark, Mel Tillis, Glen Campbell, Burl Ives), John Sayles' 1996 movie Lone Star; as well as Dead Man’s Walk and Streets of Laredo, which were part of the Lonesome Dove series, part of Kenny Rogers The
[Texascavers] November CBSP Project Trip Report
Project Dates: November 9 - 10 Volunteers: Kris Peña, Alvis Hill, Dawn Hill, John Young, Angela Young, Bryce Smith, Fernando Hernandez, Westin Green, Leah Woods, Yvonne Reyes Total Hours: 73 hrs work time + 46 hrs drive time = 119 volunteer hours Summary: In all 10 people split over 3 teams comprised the November Colorado Bend Project weekend. We had several Project newbies including 4 members from ASS and John and Angela Young, who have previously caved with Bexar Grotto. The weather was beautiful with clear days in the 70s and cool nights. Alvis and Dawn Hill from the Friends of Colorado Bend were kind enough to join us and take Kris all over the park identifying holes that they’d found in their work trail building. They’re doing great work out there! Team 2 went out to re-GPS some caves in Gorman North and dig at the end of Porcupine Cave. They pushed it past the terminus of the existing map and a future team will have to be sent out to finish the survey. Team 3 headed out to Lively to reconcile conflicting data for Crippled Deer Cave and Cow Bone Cave. Both were located and the data was updated. They were also able to push a promising lead in Crippled Deer Cave that is not currently on the map. A new team was formed Sunday morning to attempt to push further. They made some additional progress, but were stopped by bad air. A team should be sent at later day to reassess the air and survey if possible. Full Trip Reports: Team 1 Names: Kris Peña, Alvis Hill, Dawn Hill Time Out: 1000 Time In: 1700 Total hours: 21 hrs Objectives: Meet with Alvis and Dawn from the Friends of CBSP and compare projects; and investigate caves found on previous trail building trips Report: Kris drove down from camp to meet up with Alvis and Dawn Hill, two of the leaders of the Friends of Colorado Bend State Park. They met up with Kelby Bridwell, park superintendent, and headed out the Spicewood Canyon trail to investigate a small crack that had been discovered earlier in the year. On the way, Alvis pointed out a previously unmarked sink on the side of the trail and Kris recorded the GPS location. Upon arriving at their main objective, Kris slid down into the tight entrance crack to investigate and found a very small, but diggable drain at the bottom and A LOT of fire ants. As she worked her way out the entrance, Alvis and Dawn were kind of enough to dispatch some of the ants that had decided to hitch a ride. That cave could use a 1 shot survey and a very small caver to try and push the lead at the bottom. It is tentatively named Ants in Your Pants Cave. They then proceeded to check out several caves Alvis and Dawn had noticed in their trail building work and to compare them with the current GPS data. Kris was also excited to take a look at one of their in-progress trails. The team first stopped at a vertical cave. That cave was confirmed to be SAB 214 (Butch Fralia’s Cave). The GPS showed three caves nearby, so the team fanned out in search of those and any other holes. They identified SAB 669 (Baby Maze Cave) and SAB 215 (Unnamed Cave), small holes within earshot of one another. Kris then circled around a few times searching for SAB 678 (Two-Shot Fissure). Once located and corrected in the GPS, Alvis and Kris took a quick look inside and it lived up to its name. They then continued on with a short stop at SAB 210 (Fern Pit), an impressively large pit in an open clearing, and another stop at SAB 285 (Unnamed Cave) a particularly tight fissure crack that bells out after 10 feet, before starting back. They made one more stop at SAB 673 (Guadalupe Cave) and corrected the GPS location before returning to their vehicles. None of the caves visited had visible tags, so a future team will need to be sent out to tag. This area proved to be a beautiful section of the park and it will be exciting to see the completed trail once the Friends of CBSP have finished their work. Once their main objectives were finished, Kris took the Hills over to Sweet Cave for a quick explore before wrapping up a long day. Future: Tag all caves visited, survey Ants in Your Pants Cave, check for maps of all known caves Team 2 Names: John Young, Angela Young, Bryce Smith Time Out: 1000 Time In: 1530 Total person hours: 16.5 hrs Data: Sketch book 3 and Go Pro Videos Objectives: Locate Porcupine Cave, Elmo’s hole, and Moose Twit. Describe entrance, mark and sketch entrances. Dig and explore Porcupine Cave Report: First cave entered was Porcupine and once inside the Cave, J. Young and Smith began to dig and move large boulders to allow passage into a new part of the cave. Once the blockade was moved all members were able to proceed through three more tight entrances which all three led into their own rooms. The second to last room had nice active flowstones. The last room had a small crack with a little water flowing in the bottom. After fully exploring this room we came to the determination that the cave could no longer be explored as
Re: [Texascavers] November CBSP Project Trip Report
Thanks Kris for the trip report. Re Crippled Deer Cave Map, we were never satisfied with that map as it does not match the detailed description we have for that cave, we just never got anyone to go back out to that part of the park to do a remap. From the CBP files: CRIPPLED DEER CAVE San Saba County (SAB 201) State of Texas (Parks Wildlife Department) Length: 80' Depth: 55' History: February 13, 1988: The cave was discovered during the monthly TSA volunteer work project. That month a monumental ridgewalk was executed in the Lively Pasture and 25 caves including this one were located. Description: The two entrances to this cave are situated in an area of exposed karst in a wooded field. The southern entrance is a 2 foot by 10 foot chimney which drops about 10 feet. At the bottom, a crawlway trends due north toward a second entrance but is impassable. A second fissure passage trends west but is also impassable. The second entrance is located about 15 feet due north of the first entrance. The second entrance leads to a chimney-able crevice about 2 feet wide dropping about 20 feet to a small room. Two passages each about 40 feet in length, lead off this room. The passage to the south leads towards the first entrance. Some formations a nd a dome about 10 feet high are found in this passage. A room 15 feet by 20 feet with a 2 foot high ceiling leads off to one side of the entry room. An estimated 35 foot deep pit drops from this room but was not entered. Air quality readings taken about 6 feet into the top of this pit indicated oxygen levels of 13.2%. A stream passage can be seen at the bottom of the pit and may be a continuation of the cave. Air quality readings in the rest of the cave were no worse than 20% oxygen content during t his trip to the cave in November 1988. From the entry room, the other 40 foot long passage may be traversed for about 5 feet before becoming to tight. (Alvis Hill, 11/88). Also in those files we have at least two sets of sketches/survey notes for Fern Pit that were never drafted, both were done by first timers as survey practice. Also survey/sketch of 214 BFC, but I seem to remember a map made of that one recently but may be mistaken as I can not find one. The tight entrance to Elmo's Hole has defeated all but about 6 people IICRC. Terry H. On 11/21/2013 2:20 PM, Kris Pena wrote: Project Dates: November 9 - 10 Volunteers: Kris Pe�a, Alvis Hill, Dawn Hill, John Young, Angela Young, Bryce Smith, Fernando Hernandez, Westin Green, Leah Woods, Yvonne Reyes Total Hours: 73 hrs work time + 46 hrs drive time = 119 volunteer hours Summary: In all 10 people split over 3 teams comprised the November Colorado Bend Project weekend. We had several Project newbies including 4 members from ASS and John and Angela Young, who have previously caved with Bexar Grotto. The weather was beautiful with clear days in the 70s and cool nights. Alvis and Dawn Hill from the Friends of Colorado Bend were kind enough to join us and take Kris all over the park identifying holes that they�d found in their work trail building. They�re doing great work out there! Team 2 went out to re-GPS some caves in Gorman North and dig at the end of Porcupine Cave. They pushed it past the terminus of the existing map and a future team will have to be sent out to finish the survey. Team 3 headed out to Lively to reconcile conflicting data for Crippled Deer Cave and Cow Bone Cave. Both were located and the data was updated. They were also able to push a promising lead in Crippled Deer Cave that is not currently on the map. A new team was formed Sunday morning to attempt to push further. They made some additional progress, but were stopped by bad air. A team should be sent at later day to reassess the air and survey if possible. Full Trip Reports:cut - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Mars related
This is almost vaguely caving related if you consider that the Mars rover Curiosity, is ridgewalking over virgin rocky terrain. The rover has been on the planet 446 days now. I do not believe it is a kilometer from the landing site, but is pretty close to passing that in the next few drives. It has had to do a whole lot of zig-zagging to get to the current waypoint. I think it is safe to say that a human would have covered far more terrain in 446 days, especially if he was on a dirt-bike, or even a mountain-bike. Even better a small animal wearing a pressurized suit and a helmet cam. Any future caver on Mars will likely find plenty of building material to make a nice stone house.In my opinion, the first astronaut needs to be a good stone-mason, so he can set up the hut for future explorers. Supposedly, the rover will be camped out at this rock for the next few days: http://www.spaceflight101.com/uploads/6/4/0/6/6406961/8446456_orig.jpg Click on that photo to enlarge it. Check out those odd circles in the rocks to the left. It seems obvious to me that an erosional process took place here that took millions of years, and is most likely common throughout the universe. But there are millions of people that are convinced these rocks magically formed in a few seconds about 328,500 days ago in an event they refer to as Day 4. It would seem such an act that amazing would be celebrated in some festival, but they don't see it that way, or can even agree on exactly how many days ago it was. They feel their omnipotent creator did this on a whim, and interpret it as, backed by solid science. I am not saying that he or she did not do it, but only that it took millions of years, for the rocks to erode, and another billion years for the Martian surface to solidify, and another 20 billions years for the cosmic elements to form a spherical shape, and another 100 zillion years for the cosmic elements to bounce around our galaxy, and that they will do this all again in another cosmic event billions of years from now, and that that process will go on for an infinite number of cosmic events, and that we are no where near the beginning of that space-time equation, and certainly not 328,500 days into it. On a related note, the current news story about the Martian meteorite found in the Sahara Desert lacks credibility. I do not believe it could have escaped the gravitational pull of the planet in the manner which they are proposing. The Locklear Theory is that it came off of Deimos, and that explains the shape of Deimos. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Deimos-MRO.jpg David Locklear overly-opinionated guy, but less grumpy now that I am single - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
[Texascavers] Re: Colorado Bend State Park Project Report for November
Kris, thanks for sending the trip report to the list. You described fire ants (Ants in the Pants Cave); very small, tight entrances, cracks, crevices, and passages; and bad air. Yet y'all were able to relocate several caves, update GPS locations, check out several in-cave leads, and even dig open/push some leads into virgin cave. Colorado Bend SP caves are not easy, and I'm impressed with what was accomplished. Also good that you have feedback from one of the long-time project leaders, Terry Holtzinger. Thanks to everyone involved, keep up the good work, and I'm looking forward to your next trip report. Logan Project Dates: November 9 - 10 Volunteers: Kris Pe�a, Alvis Hill, Dawn Hill, John Young, Angela Young, Bryce Smith, Fernando Hernandez, Westin Green, Leah Woods, Yvonne Reyes Total Hours: 73 hrs work time + 46 hrs drive time = 119 volunteer hours
[Texascavers] RE: Paradise Canyon Trip
I've had a few cancellations so I have space for about 6 additional people. Saturday Sunday morning tacos and or pancakes will be provided. Saturday evening is okra, chicken and shrimp gumbo with rice. Please remember to bring your own plate, utensils and cups. Anyone interested in coming this weekend or even the weekend after Thanksgiving please let me know so I have a head count and can make arrangements to get you in the gates. It would also be a big help if everyone could bring a few snacks to share and or a dessert for Saturday night dinner. Otherwise it is BYOB or drink of choice. We most likely will not be able to arrive before 8 pm on Friday. Please call for gate code and instructions for camping if you are arriving before that time. See you folks this weekend. Kurt
[Texascavers] Scheduling the TSA Spring Meeting
Thanks to Tom Summers and Cave Without a Name we have a proven place to hold the 2014 Spring Convention of the Texas Speleological Association. But to move forward with planning we need to set a date for the convention. Tom wants to block out Spring Break for Texas schools since this is a very busy period for the Cave. Spring Break can vary over a few weeks between the state's many districts, so if you know the dates in your area please e-mail them privately to me and I can see how much time needs to be blacked out of consideration for the convention. Similarly, please notify me privately of the dates for ongoing cave projects or other special caving events that will take place during the Spring months. Once I receive this information I should be able to find a weekend that is viable for CWAN and the TSA officers and membership. Thank you. P.S. Now is the time to begin thinking about the talk you want to give or the map or photo you want to enter in the salon. Mallory Mayeux will again be the speaker wrangler for this year's convention, so you can contact her with your proposed paper abstracts AFTER the date for the convention is set. Roger Moore TSA Vice Chair cavera...@aol.com
[Texascavers] Cave kayaking
Back in the heyday of the honey creek project I took my hard shell perception kayak into the spring entrance paddling thru formations and their crystalline reflections to the first sump. It was a heavenly experience I highly recommend taking Bill up on his offer - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
