Cavers, Huge thanks to the 11 volunteers who came out this weekend for the work day on the Texas Cave Management Association (TCMA) Rolling Oaks cave preserve in Northwest San Antonio. Volunteers sorted trash and continued the massive effort of excavating Niche Cave.
Volunteers began the day by sifting out trash from the debris removed from Niche Cave on a former trip. Volunteers then began digging in the cave and, as rocks crashed down around them, quickly realized the area was unstable and we would have to rethink the dig. We then decided to clear the entire area beginning at the surface and leading down a steep slope to the entrance of the cave. We removed several large rocks and had to knock a few massive ones into the caves with the idea that we will bring a tractor out in the future. In the end, volunteers cleared over 1 ton of rocks and large boulders from the sloping surface around Niche Cave entrance. Niche Cave still has a lead that is totally filled with boulders and the cave will give us many more trips of digging fun. Stay tuned for another trip in the fall! Thanks to: Ron Ralph, Galen Falgout, Joe Schaertl, Vickie DeLeon, Arron Wertheim, David Oualline, Veronica Esqueda, Don Arburn, Steve Gutting and David the neighbor kid. We ended the day at 2pm and several cavers visited the other small caves on the preserve. Photos from 3.29.14 https://www.flickr.com/photos/67526340@N08/sets/72157643260434365/ Thank you for your support of TCMA and cave management, Ellie Watson Rolling Oaks Preserve Manager
