Re: [Texascavers] book review: Underwater Potholer

[Stefan Creaser via Texascavers]

I just bought this on Amazon (Smile) for $22.07. I would suggest you do the 
same if interested coz there is now only 11 left :-)

Cheers,
Stefan


-Original Message-
From: Texascavers [mailto:texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] On Behalf Of 
Mixon Bill via Texascavers

Underwater Potholer: A Cave Diver's Memoirs, by Duncan Price. Whittles 
Publishing, Scotland, 2015. ISBN 978-184995-158-6. 6.5 by 9.5 inches, 185 
pages, softbound. £18.99, $24.95.

"Cave diving is dangerous--do _not_ do it. Remember I told you so. Everything 
else I say is bollocks!"

This book is a welcome addition to the small number of well-written cavers' 
memoirs in English, most which have come from British cavers. Duncan Price has 
had a long and active career in cave diving, and he has worked with pretty much 
all of the other British cave divers I've ever heard of. Most of his diving has 
been sump diving in the UK, especially in the part of it where w is a vowel. 
But he has also laid new line in France and the US. Sometimes the blow-by-blows 
of some of his more complicated sump dives get a bit tedious, but there are 
flashes of understated humor or drama. Some cave maps can help with the 
geography, but they are all grouped together as pages XI–XIX, apparently as an 
afterthought. The sixteen unnumbered pages of color photos could have used a 
lot of adjustment. But these production problems do not detract seriously from 
enjoyment of the book.

Besides sump diving, which often includes difficult dry caving to reach the 
sump, Price has done tri-mix diving, rebreather diving, and scooter diving, 
despite the fact that his only formal training certification is from the 
British Sub-Aqua Club--for snorkeling. A lot of cave divers will be amused, or 
not, by a certain cavalier attitude about equipment. "One of my regulators 
started free-flowing on account of the cold water even before I'd set off; I 
hit it against a rock at the entrance until it stopped leaking and then headed 
into the cave." He did a dive using a home-made rebreather borrowed from Rick 
Stanton after receiving instruction in its use: breathe in, breathe out, add 
gas as required.

Do _not_ do it, but do read it.—Bill Mixon

A man cannot be too careful in his choice of enemies.



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Re: [Texascavers] Drones for rigging

[Mark Minton via Texascavers]

  There is a TED talk that discusses and demonstrates really cool
quadcopter stuff using a closed GPS-type system that might work
underground: 
http://www.ted.com/talks/raffaello_d_andrea_the_astounding_athletic_power_of_quadcopters?language=en

Mark

On Mon, September 28, 2015 11:10 am, Wm Shrewsbury via Texascavers wrote:
> Here's one I've been thinking of purchasing. They indicate they will have
> a proximity sensor option in the future:
> http://www.ascentaerosystems.com/sprite. Combine it with the live control
> panel and we might just have a 'cave capable' drone for checking out high
> leads.
>
> Wm
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Texascavers [mailto:texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] On Behalf
> Of Mark Minton via Texascavers
> Sent: Monday, September 28, 2015 11:00 AM
> To: texascavers@texascavers.com
> Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Drones for rigging
>
>   Here is a link to a (no doubt pricey) "collision-proof" drone:
> . The cage likely reduces payload for other
> things, but it might at least work with a video camera for recon, even if
> it couldn't do any rigging. Another lightweight option would be to use a
> drone to simply drape a string over a suitable anchor (if one could be
> found) and use that to pull up a rope later. Something similar was done
> years ago using a helium balloon for Top of the Cross in Carlsbad.
>
> Mark
>
> On Sun, September 27, 2015 11:19 pm, Charles Goldsmith via Texascavers
> wrote:
>>
>> There are a lot of factors when dealing with obstacles around you
>> while flying.  If I know I'm going to be flying near walls or other
>> things that could interrupt the props, I have prop guards that I can be
>> put on.
>>
>> I have smacked a canyon wall once, while "ridge walking" using my
>> drone, luckily it survived, even after falling 20 feet and hitting a
>> large rock at the bottom, but I was very lucky and no, didn't have the
>> guards on that time.
>>
>> Terrain/obstacle avoidance would be a nice feature of a drone, give me
>> sensors to let me know how far away I am on 3 axis and I'd be happy :)
>> Even if it cost a bit of weight and lowered my flight time.
>>
>> On Sun, Sep 27, 2015 at 9:49 PM, Mixon Bill via Texascavers
>>  wrote:
>>
>>> You'll notice that the video of using a drone for rigging has nicely
>>> padded walls, presumably to protect the drone. Just yesterday I was
>>> talking to a profession film maker who uses drones on his projects.
>>> He said drones and canyons don't go well together, at least not when
>>> the drone is carrying an expensive video camera. I would think trying
>>> fly a drone anywhere near a cave wall would be a big problem. --
>>> Mixon

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Re: [Texascavers] Drones for rigging

[Mark Minton via Texascavers]

  Here is a link to a (no doubt pricey) "collision-proof" drone:
. The cage likely reduces payload for other
things, but it might at least work with a video camera for recon, even
if it couldn't do any rigging. Another lightweight option would be to
use a drone to simply drape a string over a suitable anchor (if one
could be found) and use that to pull up a rope later. Something similar
was done years ago using a helium balloon for Top of the Cross in
Carlsbad.

Mark

On Sun, September 27, 2015 11:19 pm, Charles Goldsmith via Texascavers wrote:
>
> There are a lot of factors when dealing with obstacles around you while
> flying.  If I know I'm going to be flying near walls or other things
> that could interrupt the props, I have prop guards that I can be put on.
>
> I have smacked a canyon wall once, while "ridge walking" using my drone,
> luckily it survived, even after falling 20 feet and hitting a large rock
> at the bottom, but I was very lucky and no, didn't have the guards on
> that time.
>
> Terrain/obstacle avoidance would be a nice feature of a drone, give me
> sensors to let me know how far away I am on 3 axis and I'd be happy :)
> Even if it cost a bit of weight and lowered my flight time.
>
> On Sun, Sep 27, 2015 at 9:49 PM, Mixon Bill via Texascavers
>  wrote:
>
>> You'll notice that the video of using a drone for rigging has nicely
>> padded walls, presumably to protect the drone. Just yesterday I was
>> talking to a profession film maker who uses drones on his projects.
>> He said drones and canyons don't go well together, at least not when
>> the drone is carrying an expensive video camera. I would think trying
>> fly a drone anywhere near a cave wall would be a big problem. -- Mixon

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Re: [Texascavers] Drones for rigging

[Wm Shrewsbury via Texascavers]

Here's one I've been thinking of purchasing. They indicate they will have a 
proximity sensor option in the future:
http://www.ascentaerosystems.com/sprite. Combine it with the live control panel 
and we might just have a 'cave capable' drone for checking out high leads.

Wm

-Original Message-
From: Texascavers [mailto:texascavers-boun...@texascavers.com] On Behalf Of 
Mark Minton via Texascavers
Sent: Monday, September 28, 2015 11:00 AM
To: texascavers@texascavers.com
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Drones for rigging

  Here is a link to a (no doubt pricey) "collision-proof" drone:
. The cage likely reduces payload for other things, 
but it might at least work with a video camera for recon, even if it couldn't 
do any rigging. Another lightweight option would be to use a drone to simply 
drape a string over a suitable anchor (if one could be found) and use that to 
pull up a rope later. Something similar was done years ago using a helium 
balloon for Top of the Cross in Carlsbad.

Mark

On Sun, September 27, 2015 11:19 pm, Charles Goldsmith via Texascavers wrote:
>
> There are a lot of factors when dealing with obstacles around you 
> while flying.  If I know I'm going to be flying near walls or other 
> things that could interrupt the props, I have prop guards that I can be put 
> on.
>
> I have smacked a canyon wall once, while "ridge walking" using my 
> drone, luckily it survived, even after falling 20 feet and hitting a 
> large rock at the bottom, but I was very lucky and no, didn't have the 
> guards on that time.
>
> Terrain/obstacle avoidance would be a nice feature of a drone, give me 
> sensors to let me know how far away I am on 3 axis and I'd be happy :) 
> Even if it cost a bit of weight and lowered my flight time.
>
> On Sun, Sep 27, 2015 at 9:49 PM, Mixon Bill via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
>
>> You'll notice that the video of using a drone for rigging has nicely 
>> padded walls, presumably to protect the drone. Just yesterday I was 
>> talking to a profession film maker who uses drones on his projects.
>> He said drones and canyons don't go well together, at least not when 
>> the drone is carrying an expensive video camera. I would think trying 
>> fly a drone anywhere near a cave wall would be a big problem. -- 
>> Mixon

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[Texascavers] Letter from Vickie Mayeux (Mallory's mother)

[Emily McGowan via Texascavers]

Dear Cavers,

I want to tell you that you are an awesome group of people! You warmed our 
hearts and gave great emotional support at the worst time of our lives. When we 
were called to Houston after Mallory got hit by the drunk driver a little over 
two years ago, we had no idea of the seriousness of the situation. And it took 
a couple of days before the reality of the situation sank in. Here we were in a 
city that totally intimidated me with its size and traffic, facing a terrifying 
situation. But you came out in force. You knew Mallory, not us, her parents, 
and Mallory was just lying there, but you came to the hospital to show your 
caring and support. It meant more than you will ever imagine. It made the long 
hours go faster and kept my spirits up. The Houston Grotto was awesome. I loved 
the pig and the Pooh Bear, the famous bat that Mallory reached for that let us 
know there was some brain function, giving us much needed hope. I loved 
everything you sent. Some of you came from Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and all 
over to visit. I was very surprised and so very pleased. You sent cards, money, 
parking tokens, brought food, took me out to eat to get me out of the hospital. 
And so importantly you prayed for Mallory. You were all so nice and upbeat. 
Many months later, I found out that many of you and many of my family were 
quite concerned we would never get our Mallory back. But you never let me know 
that. As her mother, I could only be positive and think she would recover. I 
had to believe that and we did get her back. Her desire to return to caving and 
keep up her friendships with you was a big factor in her getting better. 
Exercise helps heal the brain and she would train so hard to get back the arm 
strength from her hurt arm so she could drop pits, and to improve her general 
stamina to do the long crawls. So many of you, particularly those in the 
Houston grotto, have been true friends in her recovery. Thank you for all you 
did for her.

I need to tell you that Mallory going caving the way you all cave scared me so 
much until I finally decided I just could not worry anymore. It was going to 
kill me. Funny thing, I would have given anything for her to have been in a 
cave that night. There would have been no drunk driver around and she would 
have had on a helmet. The irony!

Steve and I may be in Louisiana but you are always in our hearts. We would love 
a visit if you want to get out to the country. Sorry we have no caves. We keep 
up with you through Mallory and the GHG Facebook page. Thank you for all you 
did to get us through this long, tough journey. I will always remember you. You 
are wonderful people and deserve the best in life. All my love, Vickie Mayeux





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Re: [Texascavers] Drones for rigging

[Greg Passmore via Texascavers]

We use heavy lift drones for professional cinematography. The cameras weigh 
30-50 pounds, so the drones tend to be large and fly with severe control 
latency (due to their mass).  You can do just about anything with drones if you 
can afford to wreck them and not rain debris onto bystanders below.  That being 
said, we have seen a lot of serious injuries from the larger copters (over 100 
stitches into a pilots face) and serious financial losses (over $100k for high 
en rigs).  Even small drones can hurt people and break formations.  So … my 
only real comment here is please be careful.  Even toy drones with prop guards 
can dislodge things or hurt if they fall onto you.  Big drones are damn 
dangerous and if you are on a cave trip where large drones are in use, keep a 
safe distance and stay out from under it.  

Greg
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[Texascavers] book review: Underwater Potholer

[Mixon Bill via Texascavers]

Underwater Potholer: A Cave Diver's Memoirs, by Duncan Price. Whittles 
Publishing, Scotland, 2015. ISBN 978-184995-158-6. 6.5 by 9.5 inches, 185 
pages, softbound. £18.99, $24.95.

"Cave diving is dangerous--do _not_ do it. Remember I told you so. Everything 
else I say is bollocks!"

This book is a welcome addition to the small number of well-written cavers' 
memoirs in English, most which have come from British cavers. Duncan Price has 
had a long and active career in cave diving, and he has worked with pretty much 
all of the other British cave divers I've ever heard of. Most of his diving has 
been sump diving in the UK, especially in the part of it where w is a vowel. 
But he has also laid new line in France and the US. Sometimes the blow-by-blows 
of some of his more complicated sump dives get a bit tedious, but there are 
flashes of understated humor or drama. Some cave maps can help with the 
geography, but they are all grouped together as pages XI–XIX, apparently as an 
afterthought. The sixteen unnumbered pages of color photos could have used a 
lot of adjustment. But these production problems do not detract seriously from 
enjoyment of the book.

Besides sump diving, which often includes difficult dry caving to reach the 
sump, Price has done tri-mix diving, rebreather diving, and scooter diving, 
despite the fact that his only formal training certification is from the 
British Sub-Aqua Club--for snorkeling. A lot of cave divers will be amused, or 
not, by a certain cavalier attitude about equipment. "One of my regulators 
started free-flowing on account of the cold water even before I'd set off; I 
hit it against a rock at the entrance until it stopped leaking and then headed 
into the cave." He did a dive using a home-made rebreather borrowed from Rick 
Stanton after receiving instruction in its use: breathe in, breathe out, add 
gas as required.

Do _not_ do it, but do read it.—Bill Mixon

A man cannot be too careful in his choice of enemies.

You may "reply" to the address this message
(unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org

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Re: [Texascavers] book review: Underwater Potholer

[Mixon Bill via Texascavers]

Considering that the official release date of the book is October 7, 2015, I 
imagine Amazon will be able to get more if it needs to. I got mine on Amazon, 
too, but I quoted the publisher's list price. Presumably just about everybody 
knows he can get it at least a little bit cheaper on Amazon. -- Mixon

A man cannot be too careful in his choice of enemies.

You may "reply" to the address this message
(unless it's a TexasCavers list post)
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
AMCS: a...@mexicancaves.org or sa...@mexicancaves.org

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[Texascavers] caver-actors needed

[Greg Passmore via Texascavers]

I am producing a short dramatic film in a river cave.  As such, I am looking 
for three cavers who can also act and have time to shoot a film over the course 
of several days.  The film is expected to have high festival visibility and be 
a good acting resume builder.  All expenses paid (assuming you are in Texas) 
and there is also a small budget set aside for acting time.  We need two males 
(alpha obnoxious, beta hipster) and one female (athletic, confident).  Filming 
will occur during October in Austin, at CWAN and possibly a couple other area 
caves.  I would typically pull from the acting community, but there is some 
real caving going on (and I would hate to freak out an actor in a river cave). 
Contact me with a headshot, resume and a link to a demo reel. This is a real 
production, will get completed and will get international press. You can see a 
little about my film background at www.passmorelab.com 
 and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PassmoreLab 
  [This is on-topic - right?  It is 
cave related.]___
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[Texascavers] UT/USS Grotto Meeting 9/30!

[Mimi Alexander via Texascavers]

Greetings, cavers!

At the grotto meeting this Wednesday, Peter Sprouse and Fernando Hernandez
will be presenting on the Caves of Cozumel!

The meeting, hosted by the University Speleological Society, is at 7:45pm
in *Painter 4.42*. Follow this link to a map of where the building is
located on the University of Texas campus:
http://www.utexas.edu/maps/main/buildings/pai.html

For information on Underground Texas Grotto activities, please see
www.utgrotto.org

Officer contact, trip reports, event calendar, and new caver training links
to beginner trips or vertical rope training are available.

Before the meeting, take advantage of Sao Paulo www.saopaulos.net for happy
hour specials. Attendance by cavers varies but this area is the best place
to park and meet folks walking over to the meeting. Then after
the USS meeting, we continue with the decades long tradition to reconvene
for burgers, beer, and tall tales of caving at Posse East.www.posse-east.com

If you or someone you know is interested in speaking at a future grotto
meeting, please contact me.

Cheers,
Mimi Alexander
UT Grotto Vice Chair
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Re: [Texascavers] caver-actors needed

[Greg Passmore via Texascavers]

Please contact me off list at g...@passmorelab.com 

> On Sep 28, 2015, at 8:53 PM, Greg Passmore via Texascavers 
>  wrote:
> 
> I am producing a short dramatic film in a river cave.  As such, I am looking 
> for three cavers who can also act and have time to shoot a film over the 
> course of several days.  The film is expected to have high festival 
> visibility and be a good acting resume builder.  All expenses paid (assuming 
> you are in Texas) and there is also a small budget set aside for acting time. 
>  We need two males (alpha obnoxious, beta hipster) and one female (athletic, 
> confident).  Filming will occur during October in Austin, at CWAN and 
> possibly a couple other area caves.  I would typically pull from the acting 
> community, but there is some real caving going on (and I would hate to freak 
> out an actor in a river cave). Contact me with a headshot, resume and a link 
> to a demo reel. This is a real production, will get completed and will get 
> international press. You can see a little about my film background at 
> www.passmorelab.com  and 
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PassmoreLab 
>   [This is on-topic - right?  It 
> is cave related.]
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[Texascavers] Jim McLane Memorial Service

[Roger Moore (cavera...@aol.com) via Texascavers]

Krystal Cox McLane has requested that I post the following in regard to the 
service for Jim:


The First Evangelical Lutheran Church (Houston,TX) will be where my dad's 
Memorial Service will be held on October 10, 2015 at 4:00 PM Central 
Time(10/10/15)


Roger G. Moore






 
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[Texascavers] Mike Boon memorial video

[Bill Steele via Texascavers]

By British caving filmmaker Sid Perou.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adoKD0vkiuU=em

Bill Steele
cwilliamste...@gmail.com

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