Project Date: October 11-13, 2013
VOLUNTEERS: Lori Karker, William Quast, Anthony Garot, Yazmin Avila, Jim Kennedy, Gerry Geletzke, Vivian Loftin, Lydia Hernandez, Aubri Jenson, Nicole Goodman, Justin Shaw, Galen Falgout, Ellie Watson, Davey Siddors, Heather Tucek, David Moore, Diana Tomchick, Jason Cook, Jessica Smith, Kasey Irons, Jessica Aguilar, Neil Buckman HOURS: 102 hours drive + 121 volunteer hours SUMMARY: Jessica, Neil and Gerry surveyed SAB 314 (Spider Web Cave) and reported that a VERY small, experienced caver should return and attempt to push the lead. They also visited SAB 272 (Hard Wedge Cave), SAB 797 (LIVC01 Karst Feature) which could use some additional digging, and SAB 798. They were unable to locate SAB 350. Lydia, David, and Kasey’s team and Jessica, Vivian, and Nicole’s team crossed the river in search of unknown features. Together they found several promising features that could use some digging and two caves were tentatively named (Rack Cave) and (Minor Mishap Cave). Justin, Galen, Ellie and Diana set out to continue the dig on SAB 199 (Don’t Fit Pit) and SAB 718 (Two Burnt Ropes Cave). They were unable to locate (Don’t Fit Pit). They did find and begin digging on (Two Burnt Ropes Cave), only to find that the cave continues as a tiny crack that would require endless digging. Will, Laura, Aubri, and Lori completed a survey of SAB 599 (Cody’s Well) and explored SAB 769 (Deep Dream Cave). A subsequent trip is required to complete that survey. Heather and David explored an area labeled “new karst area” and confirmed that it requires a larger karst walking team. They successfully located SAB 338 and tentatively named it (Fred’s Cave), but they were unable to survey it as it requires additional digging. They were also able to locate and describe (French Press Karst Feature) and to survey SAB 245 (Slumps Below Cave). Caver Camp was full of gnats, making sitting and eating difficult. Saturday night had thunderstorms on the way. The combination of these factors led some to leave Saturday night while others embraced them and had a great night watching the lightning roll in. FULL TRIP REPORTS: Team 1: Jessica, Neil, Gerry Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. total hours: 18 Data: Pouch #4 Objectives: to survey caves and describe karst features. (SAB 314, SAB272, SAB273, SAB797, SAB798, SAB350) Report: SAB 314 (Spiderweb Cave): survey (see pack number 4). A more experienced and very small experienced caver should retry. If you head toward the fence in the cave you have to travel on your side on the ground. A helmet barely fits through. Ahead you can see a tiny room with a column and stalactite formations. Beyond that, another tight crawl space exists. This one is horizontally formed. It looks to be 10 feet long and beyond that is unknown. SAB 272 (Hard Wedge Cave): the tight fissure entrance dropped about 12 feet to the first ledge. The entire drop is about 20 feet. This cave is extremely narrow. Could not see beyond. SAB 797 (LIVC01 karst feature): the entrance was covered in overgrown shrubbery. Could not get around it or see inside. SAB 273 (coon scat cave): description given from 7/8/95 is correct except the entrance dropped about 10 feet down. SAB 798 (karst feature): 4 feet deep and very narrow. No way to fit beyond. SAB 350 (SABK001): could not locate. Next tasks: send screening, experienced cavers to investigate the type passage of spiderweb cave. Team 2: Lydia, David, Kasey Time 10:00 - 18:00. Total hours 24. Data: GPS Garman Ellie Watson Objectives: Ridge walk across the east side of the river and look for karst. Report: we ran across the river after walking down the trail to Gorman from the conference center. We hiked along the East Park boundary fence and fanned out looking for karst. We finally found something at the end of the hike 3.6 km from our start point (048). Karst feature was blowing air, needs modification (HEB). Then we swam in the river we cross and helped a scout leader back to her camp and went on a trip to Spicewood Springs. Then back to camp for food and fun. Team 3: Jessica, Vivian, Nicole Time 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Total hours 21. Data: GPS number #1 Objectives: search for new caves. Report: This was my first time out. We crossed the river followed the fence boundary until the turn and split into two groups. We came across one hole that looked promising then found a cave that we named "rack cave". I had found a deer antler, so we wanted to name it something along those lines. We were able to climb in and saw a couple of passage ways. But they were too tight to continue too far. We found another promising sinkhole near here. Continued walking the rim, then decided to meet our other group. Then we ran out of water, so decided to head back. I got a little lost! Then we came across another large cave Vivian called this porcupine Cave because she thought one lived in it. We were getting tired at this point so continued back, removed our clothing and took a nice dip in the river. This made us feel so much better! After this, or other group came back and we check out the springs on the other side of the park. I learned a lot of new things on this trip, which was my objective. So overall a good trip. Next project: possibly dig the potential caves we found today. Learn how to survey. Addendum: As there are several Porcupine Caves in the park, Vivian would like to instead name the cave Minor Mishap Cave. Team 4: Justin, Galen, Ellie, Diana Time 10:00 – 15:30. Total hours 22. Data: Justin has fieldnotes. Objectives: Enlarge constriction at end of Don't Fit Pit and explore and survey. Enlarge entrance of Two Burnt Ropes Cave and explore and survey. Report: We departed caver camp at 10:00 and headed out to find SAB 199 (don't fit pit) with the goal of enlarging a constriction that is the current and of the cave. Unfortunately we didn't have the SAB number, and our GPS only had the numbers, no names, so we were hoping to find it by memory. Gorman Creek Crevice was along the way, so we popped into the entrance for about 15 minutes. Oxygen level was measured at 20.9% at 10:30 – 10:45 AM. Searching through lively pasture we thought SAB 198 might be it, and Galen went in to discover it was not. Around 11:30 we found ourselves at Radish Run Rift and observed that the shrubbery we had cut out of the entrance has regrown and is obstructing the entrance. More caves were found and checked SAB 197, SAB 724 were not what we were looking for. Just after noon we decided to go find Crash and see if his GPS had cave names and numbers. We couldn't find Don’t Fit Pit in his GPS but did find Two Burnt Ropes Cave SAB 718. At 13:00 we arrived at SAB 718, a fissure that you could see down into and appeared to have passage going off in one direction. We dug the fissure until I could squeeze in to see that the crack was tiny forever and would require endless digging to further penetrate. Team 5: Will, Laura, Aubri, Lori Time: 10:30 – 4:15. Total hours 24. Data: Aubri's field book Objectives: to resurvey SAB 599 (Cody's Well) and SAB 769 (Dream Deep Cave) as well as collect data on whoop ASS cave. SAB 599 – We hiked for 30 minutes and we had some difficulty finding Cody's well with the current GPS coordinates but we found it eventually. The initial description of the karst feature was a 10 foot drop and we dropped more than 40 feet (no vertical needed). We found a small passage at the and and it leads to be tighter passage and unable to make it further. We completed the survey with 10 points and unable to go further than that. At the other end, we found a drop point where the initial report had described and used it to climb out. SAB 769 (dream deep cave). We found it without issue, dropped down with vertical (vertical is a must) for approximately 60 feet. We noted there are two more exit points at the top to check out. We found an ancient beer can from 1976 (Schultz) inside the cave after we slid down between two walls. Our time ran out and we were not able to survey Dream Deep so that remains an objective for the next trip. Other objectives remain to be completed. P. S. On the way back to the car I think will was trying to be lost on purpose as we hiked back for what seemed to be ages. Next project: complete the survey for SAB 769, collect data on Whoop ASS Cave. Addendum: SAB 769 is actually named (Deep Dream Cave). Team 6: Heather, David Time 10 AM – 4 PM. Total hours 12. Data: loose leaf Objectives: check out "New Karst Area". Get data on SAB 338, resurvey SAB 245, write description for "French Press Karst Feature", locate Lone Bat 1 & 2 Caves. Report: We started out looking for a new karst area, that we had GPS coordinates for, but nothing else. We located a current feature but nothing else. The area could use a full day with lots of people karst walking. We attempted to locate SAB 807 on the way back to the car, but was not where it was supposed to be. We then went to Lemon's Ranch area, and found SAB 338. We had no data other than the GPS coordinates. We named it "Persimmon Cave", since there were three old Texas persimmon trees right at the entrance. We wrote a description for it and took preliminary measurements, but it will still need to be dug out before it can be surveyed. We located and wrote a description for "French press karst feature". We located and surveyed SAB 245, or "Slumps Below". It was a 3' x 1' pit, full of crickets. There is a voice connection to another pit but it is too small to fit. We could not locate either “Lone bat caves”. Next project: Full karst walk of "new karst area", dig and stabilize persimmon cave for serving. Find lone bat one and two. Addendum: “Persimmon Cave” will tentatively be named “Fred’s Cave” as the use of persimmon may be confusing with existing caves.
