[SWR] Forwarded from Carl Paganoca
Subject: Natural Trap Cave, Wyoming From: Carl Pagano pagan...@comcast.net Date: 7/24/2014 8:17 AM To: swr-boun...@caver.net Great article. Carl Wyoming cave with fossil secrets to be excavated Associated Press http://www.ap.org/ 1 hour ago * https://www.tumblr.com/share/photo?clickthru=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.yahoo.com%2Fwyoming-cave-fossil-secrets-excavated-061433750.html%3Fsoc_src%3Dmediacontentstorycaption=CHEYENNE%2C%20Wyo.%20%28AP%29%20%E2%80%94%20For%20the%20first%20time%20in%20more%20than%2030%20years%2C%20paleontologists%20are%20about%20to%20revisit%20one%20of%20North%20America%26%2339%3Bs%20most%20remarkable%20troves%20of%20late%20Pleistocene%20fossils%3A%20The%20bones%20of%20tens%20of%20thousands%20of%20animals%20piled%20at%20least%2030%20feet%20deep%20at%20the%20bottom%20of%20a%20sinkhole-type%20cave.source=http%3A%2F%2Fl1.yimg.com%2Fbt%2Fapi%2Fres%2F1.2%2FV6ICsGlQB6E6IB8YseuE.g--%2FYXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYwMA--%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen_us%2FNews%2Fap_webfeeds%2F2930b426df19c51c5a0f6a706700c90d.jpg * https://www.facebook.com/dialog/feed?app_id=90376669494redirect_uri=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.yahoo.com%2F_xhr%2Fmediacontentsharebuttons%2Fpostshare%2F%3Fsrc%3Dfblink=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.yahoo.com%2Fwyoming-cave-fossil-secrets-excavated-061433750.html%3Fsoc_src%3Dmediacontentstorypicture=http%3A%2F%2Fl1.yimg.com%2Fbt%2Fapi%2Fres%2F1.2%2FV6ICsGlQB6E6IB8YseuE.g--%2FYXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYwMA--%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen_us%2FNews%2Fap_webfeeds%2F2930b426df19c51c5a0f6a706700c90d.jpgname=Wyoming+cave+with+fossil+secrets+to+be+excavateddescription=CHEYENNE%2C+Wyo.+%28AP%29+%E2%80%94+For+the+first+time+in+more+than+30+years%2C+paleontologists+are+about+to+revisit+one+of+North+America%26%2339%3Bs+most+remarkable+troves+of+late+Pleistocene+fossils%3A+The+bones+of+tens+of+thousands+of+animals+piled+at+least+30+feet+deep+at+the+bottom+of+a+sinkhole-type+cave.display=popupshow_error=yes * https://twitter.com/share?text=Wyoming+cave+with+fossil+secrets+to+be+excavatedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.yahoo.com%2Fwyoming-cave-fossil-secrets-excavated-061433750.html%3Fsoc_src%3Dmediacontentstoryvia=YahooNews * http://news.yahoo.com/_xhr/mtf_popup/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.yahoo.com%2Fwyoming-cave-fossil-secrets-excavated-061433750.html%3Fsoc_src%3Dmediacontentstorysite=newsregion=USlang=en-UScontent_id=79f18ea0-fc07-350c-8394-f190ba3b7531alias_id=story%3Dwyoming-cave-fossil-secrets-excavated-061433750 * * * In an image provided by the Bureau of Land Management, date not known, Bureau of Land Management cave specialist Bryan McKenzie rappels into Natural Trap Cave in north-central Wyoming during a cleanup expedition. The cave holds the remains of tens of thousands of animals, including many now-extinct species, from the late Pleistocene period tens of thousands of years ago. Starting July 28, 2014, scientists plan to venture back into the cave and resume digging for the first time in more than 30 years. (AP Photo/Bureau of Land Management) http://news.yahoo.com/wyoming-cave-fossil-secrets-excavated-061433750.html# . View gallery * http://news.yahoo.com/wyoming-cave-fossil-secrets-excavated-061433750.html# . CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) --- For the first time in more than 30 years, paleontologists are about to revisit one of North America's most remarkable troves of late Pleistocene fossils: The bones of tens of thousands of animals piled at least 30 feet deep at the bottom of a sinkhole-type cave. Natural Trap Cave in north-central Wyoming is 85 feet deep and almost impossible to see until you're standing right next to it. Over tens of thousands of years, many, many animals --- including now-extinct mammoths, short-faced bears, American lions and American cheetahs --- shared the misfortune of not noticing the 15-foot-wide opening until they were plunging to their deaths. Now, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management is preparing to reopen a metal grate over the opening to offer scientists what may be their best look yet at the variety of critters that roamed the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains during the planet's last glacial period around 25,000 years ago. Des Moines University paleontologist Julie Meachen said she has been getting ready to lead the international team of a dozen researchers and assistants by hitting the climbing gym. I'm pretty terrified, Meachen admitted Wednesday. She hasn't done any real climbing before, she said, and the only way in is to rappel down. The only way out is an eight-story, single-rope climb all the way back up. The cave is perpetually cold and clammy, with temperatures in the mid-40s and humidity around 98 percent. Even Bureau of Land Management regional paleontologist Brent Breithaupt, who isn't one to get the willies from lots of animal bones, describes it as a tad creepy. View gallery In an image provided by the Bureau of Land Management,nbsp;hellip;
Re: [SWR] BLM reopens Wyoming's Natural Trap Cave
Hi Lee, You beat me to this. Here's a link to the online story: http://news.msn.com/us/wyoming-cave-with-fossil-secrets-to-be-excavated Louise Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:53:16 -0600 From: skin...@thuntek.net To: s...@caver.net; texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: [SWR] BLM reopens Wyoming's Natural Trap Cave Natural Trap Cave reopens: Channel 7 Denver: http://tinyurl.com/lsuek4l Fox News: http://tinyurl.com/mra8rnl Lee Skinner ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://lists.caver.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swr ___ This list is provided free as a courtesy of CAVERNET ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://lists.caver.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swr ___ This list is provided free as a courtesy of CAVERNET
Re: [SWR] BLM reopens Wyoming's Natural Trap Cave
Lee, what do you know of the recent history of Natural Trap? I visited Armpit in 1974. The grate was in place, but one could get the key from the BLM office in Cody. I bounced Natural Trap, in the company of Barry Fuller, the unofficial 'mayor' of Armpit. (Anybody know what became of him?) We also visited Horsethief and Bighorn and I got some fantastic photos. Was access to Natural Trap denied at some point after that, and until now? Alex Sproul On 24 Jul 2014 at 8:53, Lee H. Skinner wrote: From: Lee H. Skinner skin...@thuntek.net To: SWR Mailing List s...@caver.net, texascavers list texascavers@texascavers.com Date sent: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:53:16 -0600 Subject:[SWR] BLM reopens Wyoming's Natural Trap Cave Natural Trap Cave reopens: Channel 7 Denver: http://tinyurl.com/lsuek4l Fox News: http://tinyurl.com/mra8rnl Lee Skinner ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://lists.caver.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swr ___ This list is provided free as a courtesy of CAVERNET
Re: [SWR] BLM reopens Wyoming's Natural Trap Cave
Here is a more complete article. http://www.foxnews.com/science/2014/07/24/wyoming-cave-with-thousands-fossil s-to-be-re-opened-to-scientists-for-first/ Ray From: SWR [mailto:swr-boun...@caver.net] On Behalf Of Alex Sproul Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2014 9:00 AM To: Lee H. Skinner Cc: s...@caver.net; texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: Re: [SWR] BLM reopens Wyoming's Natural Trap Cave Lee, what do you know of the recent history of Natural Trap? I visited Armpit in 1974. The grate was in place, but one could get the key from the BLM office in Cody. I bounced Natural Trap, in the company of Barry Fuller, the unofficial 'mayor' of Armpit. (Anybody know what became of him?) We also visited Horsethief and Bighorn and I got some fantastic photos. Was access to Natural Trap denied at some point after that, and until now? Alex Sproul _ On 24 Jul 2014 at 8:53, Lee H. Skinner wrote: From: Lee H. Skinner skin...@thuntek.net To:SWR Mailing List s...@caver.net, texascavers list texascavers@texascavers.com Date sent: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:53:16 -0600 Subject: [SWR] BLM reopens Wyoming's Natural Trap Cave Natural Trap Cave reopens: Channel 7 Denver: http://tinyurl.com/lsuek4l http://tinyurl.com/lsuek4l Fox News: http://tinyurl.com/mra8rnl http://tinyurl.com/mra8rnl Lee Skinner ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://lists.caver.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swr ___ This list is provided free as a courtesy of CAVERNET
Re: [SWR] BLM reopens Wyoming's Natural Trap Cave
Alex, Lee, what do you know of the recent history of Natural Trap? I visited Armpit in 1974. The grate was in place, but one could get the key from the BLM office in Cody. I bounced Natural Trap, in the company of Barry Fuller, the unofficial 'mayor' of Armpit. (Anybody know what became of him?) We also visited Horsethief and Bighorn and I got some fantastic photos. Was access to Natural Trap denied at some point after that, and until now? Alex Sproul I was at the NSS convention in Lovell, Wyoming, but only visited a cave high on a hill near Cody that had some interesting biological mats, and Horsethief-Bighorn, but not Natural Trap, and don't know much about recent history other than what was in the article. The Fox News and MSN News (Thanks, Louise) articles state that the cave has been closed for the last 30 years. Regards, Lee ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://lists.caver.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swr ___ This list is provided free as a courtesy of CAVERNET
Re: [SWR] BLM reopens Wyoming's Natural Trap Cave
Interesting on the creepiness. What's kind of creepy is the high levels of radiation in the caves around there and I imagine the Trap too. I wonder if they'll be staying in the nearby town of Armpit? Definitely a town to visit when you're in that neighborhood - it's a cavers' town and the building(s) well-stocked with stuff for cavers... On Thu, Jul 24, 2014 at 9:47 AM, Louise Power power_lou...@hotmail.com wrote: Hi Lee, You beat me to this. Here's a link to the online story: http://news.msn.com/us/wyoming-cave-with-fossil-secrets-to-be-excavated Louise -- Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:53:16 -0600 From: skin...@thuntek.net To: s...@caver.net; texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: [SWR] BLM reopens Wyoming's Natural Trap Cave Natural Trap Cave reopens: Channel 7 Denver: http://tinyurl.com/lsuek4l Fox News: http://tinyurl.com/mra8rnl Lee Skinner ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://lists.caver.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swr ___ This list is provided free as a courtesy of CAVERNET ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://lists.caver.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swr ___ This list is provided free as a courtesy of CAVERNET -- Mike Bilbo, Cave Specialist Leave No Trace Master Educator BLM-Roswell Field Office C 575-420-7121, W 575-627-0222 Fort Stanton NCA HQ 575-354-0099 mbi...@blm.gov ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://lists.caver.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swr ___ This list is provided free as a courtesy of CAVERNET
Re: [SWR] BLM reopens Wyoming's Natural Trap Cave
Has anyone taken a geiger counter with them on a trip? Louise From: pagan...@comcast.net Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 19:24:49 -0600 To: s...@caver.net Subject: Re: [SWR] BLM reopens Wyoming's Natural Trap Cave Used to go to Armpit in the 90's. At that time, there was a shack that cavers sometimes used. Bighorn and Horsethief caves were visited. There was a rumor that the uranium that was taken from the area was so rich that it was flown out. Also a cave there, named Holy Sheep, that was so hot that the cavers were limited to one visit per year. Any truth to that? Carl…. On Jul 24, 2014, at 4:46 PM, Bilbo, Michael Bilbo wrote:Interesting on the creepiness. What's kind of creepy is the high levels of radiation in the caves around there and I imagine the Trap too. I wonder if they'll be staying in the nearby town of Armpit? Definitely a town to visit when you're in that neighborhood - it's a cavers' town and the building(s) well-stocked with stuff for cavers... On Thu, Jul 24, 2014 at 9:47 AM, Louise Power power_lou...@hotmail.com wrote: Hi Lee, You beat me to this. Here's a link to the online story: http://news.msn.com/us/wyoming-cave-with-fossil-secrets-to-be-excavated Louise Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 08:53:16 -0600 From: skin...@thuntek.net To: s...@caver.net; texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: [SWR] BLM reopens Wyoming's Natural Trap Cave Natural Trap Cave reopens: Channel 7 Denver: http://tinyurl.com/lsuek4l Fox News: http://tinyurl.com/mra8rnl Lee Skinner ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://lists.caver.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swr ___ This list is provided free as a courtesy of CAVERNET ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://lists.caver.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swr ___ This list is provided free as a courtesy of CAVERNET -- Mike Bilbo, Cave SpecialistLeave No Trace Master EducatorBLM-Roswell Field Office C 575-420-7121, W 575-627-0222Fort Stanton NCA HQ 575-354-0099mbi...@blm.gov ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://lists.caver.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swr ___ This list is provided free as a courtesy of CAVERNET ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://lists.caver.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swr ___ This list is provided free as a courtesy of CAVERNET ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://lists.caver.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/swr ___ This list is provided free as a courtesy of CAVERNET
