texascavers Digest 4 Feb 2011 23:32:06 -0000 Issue 1239
Topics (messages 17014 through 17042):
TSA Winter Meeting Minutes
17014 by: Denise P
Re: The Sleaze has been machetizado
17015 by: Don Cooper
Re: True Grit
17016 by: David
Hydrogeologic Atlas of the Hill Country Aquifer
17017 by: Logan McNatt
17020 by: Mark Minton
17024 by: Mark Minton
Gearing up for Sanctum?
17018 by: Lydia Hernandez
17019 by: ryan monjaras
Re: Evelyn Bradshaw
17021 by: Mark Minton
17023 by: Gill Edigar
17029 by: Logan McNatt
17031 by: Preston Forsythe
North Florida Trip Report
17022 by: michael david
caving trip report, Mexico
17025 by: Mixon Bill
Support James Cameron! (More than slightly off-topic)
17026 by: dirtdoc.comcast.net
UT Grotto Business
17027 by: Crystal LeBoeuf
Re: NSS IO INFO February 2011
17028 by: Mark Minton
gear testing videos
17030 by: Mixon Bill
17033 by: David
17037 by: Mark Minton
Re: Mexico
17032 by: David
17034 by: David
Blind Descent
17035 by: Mixon Bill
NSS Board Candidacy extended to Thursday, February 10
17036 by: Geary Schindel
fall factor
17038 by: Mixon Bill
17039 by: Mark Minton
Movie
17040 by: Denise P
Washington Post review of "Sanctum"
17041 by: Louise Power
Link
17042 by: Bill Bentley
Administrivia:
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
--- Begin Message ---
The TSA winter meeting minutes are posted at
http://cavetexas.org/PDF/TSA/Minutes-2011-01-23.pdf
There are also links off the TSA home page and the minutes index page:
http://cavetexas.org/TSA/meetingminutes.html.
Enjoy,
Denise Prendergast
TSA Secretary
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I thought he was just getting serious about selling Viagra...
-WaV
On Wed, Feb 2, 2011 at 8:02 AM, Alex Sproul <[email protected]> wrote:
> Be advised that Mr. Weazel's e-mail account has been hacked, and messages
> from it containing curious links should be ignored until he says otherwise
> -- in his
> inimitable way so that we know it's actually him.
>
> Alex
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected]
> For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
>
>
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
In response to the pine tree root scene in the cave,
I meant to say that it would not be common for a small
pine tree to have a vine-like root like the one in the movie 30 feet
deep in a pit, but
feel free to correct me on that. And there were not any trees in the vicinity
of the pit, that I recall.
What would have made more sense would have been for the girl to fall through
an indian trap and then into the cave with scary indian stuff in it.
After all, they were in Choctaw country
and there was not a scene in the movie showing a Choctaw tribe or
anything related to what their major fear as they started the journey.
It would have been more interesting had the cave been a large chamber decorated
with speleothems. And the dead guy in the cave, should have been
a miner or something more interesting, than a dusty set of bones
filled with rattlers.
( at first glance the snakes when they were coiled up, looked more
like tropical snakes )
Another spoiler,
Mattie had her father's gun for several days, but waited till the bad
gunslinger showed up
and confronted him with it before she ever bothered to learn how to
even hold it.
David Locklear
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
This appeared on the Texas Archeological Society list today:
The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Bulletin notes a recent publication
of interest:
Hydrogeologic atlas of the Hill Country Aquifer, Blanco, Hays and Travis
Counties, central Texas
Available in the UT Digital Repository at:
http://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/handle/2152/8977
"This unique digital document provides interested geoscientists with a
practical base to evaluate, expand and continue the analysis of the Hill
Country Trinity Aquifer. The contents of the DVD include: all plates,
water and water level availability studies, geophysical logs with
elevations and coordinates, geological formation interpretation and
lithology and original hand drawn stratigraphic cross sections. The
original product was a 17 plate atlas, 2'x3', printed in a limited
edition of 250 copies, and a DVD, the contents of which are included in
this repository. The DVD includes additional resolutions of the images
and a Well Cad reader plug-in for the geophysical logs, which are not
available here."
Sent by:
Leslie L. Bush, Ph.D., R.P.A
Macrobotanical Analysis
12308 Twin Creeks Rd., B-106
Manchaca, TX 78652
[email protected]
www.macrobotanicalanalysis.com
512-217-8288
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I couldn't get that URL to work, although this
might:
<http://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/8977/Atlas-Book-72dpi.pdf>.
That starts to download for me, but gives only a tiny, unreadable
file. Maybe that's because I don't have a UT electronic ID. You can
get to the UT Library card catalog entry by searching for OCLC number
679603720 at <http://catalog.lib.utexas.edu/search/i>.
Mark Minton
At 12:27 AM 2/3/2011, Logan McNatt wrote:
This appeared on the Texas Archeological Society list today:
The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Bulletin notes a recent publication
of interest:
Hydrogeologic atlas of the Hill Country Aquifer, Blanco, Hays and Travis
Counties, central Texas
Available in the UT Digital Repository at:
http://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/handle/2152/8977
"This unique digital document provides interested geoscientists with a
practical base to evaluate, expand and continue the analysis of the Hill
Country Trinity Aquifer. The contents of the DVD include: all plates,
water and water level availability studies, geophysical logs with
elevations and coordinates, geological formation interpretation and
lithology and original hand drawn stratigraphic cross sections. The
original product was a 17 plate atlas, 2'x3', printed in a limited
edition of 250 copies, and a DVD, the contents of which are included in
this repository. The DVD includes additional resolutions of the images
and a Well Cad reader plug-in for the geophysical logs, which are not
available here."
Sent by:
Leslie L. Bush, Ph.D., R.P.A
Macrobotanical Analysis
12308 Twin Creeks Rd., B-106
Manchaca, TX 78652
[email protected]
www.macrobotanicalanalysis.com
512-217-8288
Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
It turns out the UT server was temporarily down. Everything
works now.
Mark
I couldn't get that URL to work, although this
might:
<http://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/8977/Atlas-Book-72dpi.pdf>.
That starts to download for me, but gives only a tiny, unreadable
file. Maybe that's because I don't have a UT electronic ID. You
can get to the UT Library card catalog entry by searching for OCLC
number 679603720 at <http://catalog.lib.utexas.edu/search/i>.
Mark Minton
At 12:27 AM 2/3/2011, Logan McNatt wrote:
This appeared on the Texas Archeological Society list today:
The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Bulletin notes a recent publication
of interest:
Hydrogeologic atlas of the Hill Country Aquifer, Blanco, Hays and Travis
Counties, central Texas
Available in the UT Digital Repository at:
http://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/handle/2152/8977
"This unique digital document provides interested geoscientists with a
practical base to evaluate, expand and continue the analysis of the Hill
Country Trinity Aquifer. The contents of the DVD include: all plates,
water and water level availability studies, geophysical logs with
elevations and coordinates, geological formation interpretation and
lithology and original hand drawn stratigraphic cross sections. The
original product was a 17 plate atlas, 2'x3', printed in a limited
edition of 250 copies, and a DVD, the contents of which are included in
this repository. The DVD includes additional resolutions of the images
and a Well Cad reader plug-in for the geophysical logs, which are not
available here."
Sent by:
Leslie L. Bush, Ph.D., R.P.A
Macrobotanical Analysis
12308 Twin Creeks Rd., B-106
Manchaca, TX 78652
[email protected]
www.macrobotanicalanalysis.com
512-217-8288
Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
If anyone wants to see Sanctum (all decked out in cave gear) tomorrow or if
there is another day/time we can get a big group together, let me know.
We've been talking about it on facebook or just reply on here.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=182754305090666&index=1
peace2u.-LydiaUTgrotto
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
the cheapest place in Austin for 3D is Regal Metropolitan 14 at $10 with
showtimes at 7:05and 8 pm, which one would y'all rather go to
P.s. the IMAX theater in Austin is not showing sanctum
"Semper Exploro" Ryan MonjarasMaverick GrottoCowtown GrottoDFW GrottoUT
GrottoBexar Grotto(832)754-5778
List-Post: [email protected]
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 03:32:11 -0800
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Texascavers] Gearing up for Sanctum?
If anyone wants to see Sanctum (all decked out in cave gear) tomorrow or if
there is another day/time we can get a big group together, let me know.
We've been talking about it on facebook or just reply on here.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=182754305090666&index=1
peace2u.-LydiaUTgrotto
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Some of you older-timers may remember Evelyn Bradshaw. She
died recently.
Mark Minton
Evelyn Bradshaw (NSS 11874L OS, FE) passed away from pneumonia on
January 29, 2011, at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, Va. She was 95.
Many of you will remember Evelyn as NSS Internal Organizations
chairman, a position she held for nearly 20 years. She also served as
NSS Director 1978-1984, chairman of the NSS Bylaws Committee 1980-83,
and member of the NSS Awards Committee.
Evelyn was a fixture at NSS Conventions until she was nearly 90, and
at the registration table at OTR for many, many years. She was made
a Fellow of the NSS in 1977, and honored with its Outstanding Service
award in 1984.
Evelyn was a mainstay in the VAR caving community. She helped get
the Virginia Cave Commission off the ground (later to become the
Virginia Cave Board), and was a driving force in forming the
Tidewater Grotto. For many years Evelyn was involved in the DC
Grotto, serving as its newsletter editor, and also a BATS member,
attending meetings until she was 90.
Born in Maine, Evelyn received her degree in mathematics at
Radcliffe, and met her future husband while working in China. She
took a fall in a cave when young, breaking her neck!
Evelyn was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2005. She had three
children, James Bradshaw MD (deceased), Katharine Dryer, and Martha
Adams, seven grand children and one great-granddaughter.
She was an amazing woman, a good friend to cavers and the NSS, and
admired by all who knew her.
Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cheryl Jones <[email protected]>
List-Post: [email protected]
Date: Thu, Feb 3, 2011 at 12:07 AM
Subject: Evelyn Bradshaw
To: [email protected]
Some of you probably remember Evelyn Bradshaw.
----------
Evelyn Bradshaw (NSS 11874L OS, FE) passed away from pneumonia on
January 29, 2011, at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, Va. She was 95.
Many of you will remember Evelyn as NSS Internal Organizations
chairman, a position she held for nearly 20 years. She also served as
NSS Director 1978-1984, chairman of the NSS Bylaws Committee 1980-83,
and member of the NSS Awards Committee.
Evelyn was a fixture at NSS Conventions until she was nearly 90, and
at the registration table at OTR for many, many years. She was made a
Fellow of the NSS in 1977, and honored with its Outstanding Service
award in 1984.
Evelyn was a mainstay in the VAR caving community. She helped get the
Virginia Cave Commission off the ground (later to become the Virginia
Cave Board), and was a driving force in forming the Tidewater Grotto.
For many years Evelyn was involved in the DC Grotto, serving as its
newsletter editor, and also a BATS member, attending meetings until
she was 90.
Born in Maine, and Evelyn received her degree in mathematics at
Radcliffe, and met her future husband while working in China. She
took a fall in a cave when young, breaking her neck!
Evelyn was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2005. She had three
children, James Bradshaw MD (deceased), Katharine Dryer, and Martha
Adams, seven grand children and one great-granddaughter.
She was an amazing woman, a good friend to cavers and the NSS, and
admired by all who knew her.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Was it Evelyn who did Golondrinas 35 or 40 years ago, when she was 60 or 55?
On 2/3/2011 9:09 AM, Mark Minton wrote:
Some of you older-timers may remember Evelyn Bradshaw. She died
recently.
Mark Minton
Evelyn Bradshaw (NSS 11874L OS, FE) passed away from pneumonia on
January 29, 2011, at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond, Va. She was 95.
Many of you will remember Evelyn as NSS Internal Organizations
chairman, a position she held for nearly 20 years. She also served as
NSS Director 1978-1984, chairman of the NSS Bylaws Committee 1980-83,
and member of the NSS Awards Committee.
Evelyn was a fixture at NSS Conventions until she was nearly 90, and
at the registration table at OTR for many, many years. She was made
a Fellow of the NSS in 1977, and honored with its Outstanding Service
award in 1984.
Evelyn was a mainstay in the VAR caving community. She helped get
the Virginia Cave Commission off the ground (later to become the
Virginia Cave Board), and was a driving force in forming the
Tidewater Grotto. For many years Evelyn was involved in the DC
Grotto, serving as its newsletter editor, and also a BATS member,
attending meetings until she was 90.
Born in Maine, Evelyn received her degree in mathematics at
Radcliffe, and met her future husband while working in China. She
took a fall in a cave when young, breaking her neck!
Evelyn was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2005. She had three
children, James Bradshaw MD (deceased), Katharine Dryer, and Martha
Adams, seven grand children and one great-granddaughter.
She was an amazing woman, a good friend to cavers and the NSS, and
admired by all who knew her.
Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected]
For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
No, that was Sarah Corrie, the late well-known inspirational leader of the
KY James Cavers. Sarah was from W VA. Her husband was the late George
Corrie. Their son, Bruce Corrie, has worked for Mammoth Cave National Park
for decades.
Preston
---------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Logan McNatt" <[email protected]>
To: "Mark Minton" <[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 10:09 PM
Subject: [Texascavers] Re: Evelyn Bradshaw
Was it Evelyn who did Golondrinas 35 or 40 years ago, when she was 60 or
55?
On 2/3/2011 9:09 AM, Mark Minton wrote:
Some of you older-timers may remember Evelyn Bradshaw. She died
recently.
Mark Minton
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Cora and i had a great time in High Springs last week.
We've found that our love for smaller caves while diving is hard to
resist...so we just jumped full force.
Last week we dove Devils Cave (Ginnie) quite a bit and got back to the worm
tunnel and spent some time in the catacombs perfecting our side mounting
procedures and gear rigging.
We've moved to using helmets for our backup /primary lights and keep taking
knives to the Nomads and customizing them.
We ended the trip by taking a class from Jill Heinerth on side mounted caves
and techniques for their safe(r) exploration.
The class culminated with a canoe trip and dive at Rock Bluff. It's
considered a moderately hard cave to dive due to the initial restriction but
Cora and I were able to work on it and pretty quickly push right through.
The cave beyond was beautiful, however we had zero vis on the exit due to
percolation...not many dive this system.
Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures or video this trip, the caves were
full value and there was no way i wanted to have more task loading.
Planning on possibly getting some video for Rock Bluff next trip.
Here's a video of Agnus doing the Rock Bluff entry in high flow. It was a
total blast!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIlreHwSm1g
We took our first load to store in Alachua, can't wait to move in the
spring!
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Might be worth quoting this part from a trip report received by the
AMCS for next newsletter. Cavers from Arizona drove down to Michoacán.
Parts of Michoacán are frequently said to be under the control of drug
gangs. -- Mixon
This was our ninth fantastic cave mapping expedition to the
Coahuayana area of Mexico. The Coahuayana valley is on the border
between Colima and Michoacan near the coast.
Now that we’re back, the questions that Kent, Josh, and I are most
often asked are, “Did you find any cool caves?” and “Did you have
any scary experience with drug violence?”
Yes, we explored and mapped nine super caves. We did a lot of
rigorous hiking up steep mountains through dense and beautiful
jungles. We also met a lot of friendly people who were anxious to
help.
No, we didn’t have any scary experiences with drug violence, but
were continually careful where we went and what we did. We passed
two clearly visible marijuana fields and no doubt others, sheltered
from view by dense vegetation. Once we were stopped by the army,
interrogated and searched.
If you are planning a trip to Mexico there are two major points to
remember.
• Don’t be out at night.
• Personally know the people in your immediate area. It is their
“territory”.
The importance of territory can’t be over emphasized. Mexicans are
anxious to help if they know who you are, but if you’re in the wrong
area, and they don’t know you, you may get shot. Don’t go on
other’s property without asking permission. Don’t go into the back
country without a local escort who personally knows the people where
you will be caving.
----------------------------------------
A fearless man cannot be brave.
----------------------------------------
You may "reply" to the address this message
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: [email protected]
AMCS: [email protected] or [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
See what you are funding James Cameron to do if you go see Sanctum. With or
without caver or other clothes.
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2378964,00.asp
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Hello UT Grotto members and Other Interested Texas Cavers,
I would like to introduce myself as your new Secretary/Treasurer of the UT
Grotto. Your former S/T and I are working together to make the transition
as smooth as possible. In the meantime, please contact me at
[email protected] if you have any updates to the phone list. You should
expect an updated version at the next Grotto meeting.
There was a call for t-shirt ideas at last night's meeting. Carol
Schumacher is currently working out a design. Details soon.
In addition, if there is any way further I can serve you, please contact me
at the address above.
Your humble steward,
Crystal LeBoeuf
aka La Hacha Loca
Secretary/Treasurer, UT Grotto
Secretary, TX Caver 4Runner Club
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
The following notice appeared in the February NSS IO
Information sent out by Keith Wheeland. Note that Bexar, Dallas-Fort
Worth and UT Grottos are among the delinquent organizations.
Mark
List of IOs delinquent in submitting the IO Annual Report
Here is the list of IOs which have not submitted the IO Annual
Report which was due in January for the calendar year 2010. If you
could contact someone in the IO and have them submit the Report, I'd
certainly appreciate it. 217 IOs have submitted the report or have
promised to do so. These 35 have not done so. There is little excuse
since IOs have had since mid December through the entire month of
January to submit the report. I really appreciate those of you who
have submitted the report on time, it is the late ones that cost me
the most amount of time. I also appreciate those of you who took the
time to verify that your officers are paid-up NSS members. It is
easy to do on the NSS website at Search/Member search. To submit the
report log in to www.nssio.org using the IO serial number and
password, correct any information, and click on Submit. To see the
status of those who did or did not submit the report and to see the
IO serial number go to this page
http://www.caves.org/committee/i-o/All_IOs.shtml Remember to update
the information throughout the year as changes occur within the IO.
If you have questions, please contact me. I'm here to help.
*200011SVALAlabama Cave Survey* *000304GRTXBexar Grotto *
*300002SSCave Geology & Geography* *300011SSCave Photography
Section* *000375GRFLCentral Florida Grotto* *000152GROKCentral
Oklahoma Grotto* *000020GRVACharlottesville Grotto*
*000454GRTNClarksville Underground* *000033GRCOColorado Grotto*
*000076GRTXDallas-Fort Worth Grotto* *000409GRCADesert Dog
Troglodytes* *000193GRNCFlittermouse Grotto* *200021SVFLFlorida Cave
Survey* *000447GRVAGrapevine Grotto* *000452GRWIGreat Lakes Cavers*
*000110GROHGreater Cincinnati Grotto* *000422GRKYHart of Kentucky
Grotto* *000233GRWYHole-in-the-Wall Grotto* *300005SSHuman Sciences
Section* *000412GRMSJUST Cavers* *000327GRPALoyalhanna Grotto*
*000266GRVAMadison University Student Grotto* *100011RENorthwest
Caving Association (NCA)* *000425GRFOPAAMUL - Gruta de*
*000406GROHRed-Eye Karst Team* *000205GRCASan Diego Grotto*
*000088GRNMSandia Grotto* *000439GRIDSilver Sage Grotto*
*000424GRAZSouthern Arizona Grotto* *000279GRMOStygian Grotto*
*000295GRFLTampa Bay Area Grotto* *000187GRVATidewater Grotto*
*000034GRTXUT Grotto* *000259GRINWestern Indiana Grotto*
*000294GRMDWestern Maryland Grotto* *000101GRWIWisconsin
Speleological Society***
Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
there are some interesting videos of caving gear testing at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2CRZaq1Mqw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3merFxEhY8s&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjB2i46CS3Y&feature=related
The talk is in Italian, and there are plenty of reasons to wonder how
relevant the results are to actual caving, but fun to watch anyway. --
Mixon
----------------------------------------
A fearless man cannot be brave.
----------------------------------------
You may "reply" to the address this message
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: [email protected]
AMCS: [email protected] or [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
How far would you have to fall to generate 4,000 plus pounds of pull
like that on a biner?
I doubt your webbing or your body would survive the jolt.
Nevertheless,
I was impressed with the results of the Petzl Vertigo.
Although the gate latch broke early, it looked like had you been hanging in it,
and had a gate failure like that, then it appeared that your webbing might have
not slipped out.
All the carabiners first failed at the latch end of the gate, and not
at the pin end that
the gate pivots on, so maybe there is room for improvement there.
And the threads on the 4mm maillon seemed stronger than the bend in the link.
I did this test once on a used piece of 5 mm Kevlar cord that had
Figure-8 knots in it and
it broke at 5,000 pounds. I had been caving ( I used to do that )
with the rope tied
to a Jumar on a Mitchell System, and used it on several 100 foot plus ascents.
David Locklear
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
There is a very instructive video on the effects of fall
factor, knots and type of webbing on breaking slings at
<http://www.dmmclimbing.com/video.asp?id=5>. The short answer is
that if your sling is static, you only have to fall about a meter to
generate 4000 pounds. That's not an unrealistic distance to fall, so
careful attention to anchors and type of attachment is
paramount. Similar results showing the difference between webbing
and rope for cows tails is at
<www.caves.org/section/vertical/nh/53/lanyard_tests_v6.pdf>.
Although many people use Petzl Spelegyca cows tails, they really
aren't very safe if you fall on them. Lots more good test results
related to vertical work are
here: <www.hse.gov.uk/research/crr_pdf/2001/crr01364.pdf>.
Mark Minton
At 12:08 AM 2/4/2011, David wrote:
How far would you have to fall to generate 4,000 plus pounds of pull
like that on a biner?
I doubt your webbing or your body would survive the jolt.
Nevertheless,
I was impressed with the results of the Petzl Vertigo.
Although the gate latch broke early, it looked like had you been
hanging in it,
and had a gate failure like that, then it appeared that your webbing
might have
not slipped out.
All the carabiners first failed at the latch end of the gate, and not
at the pin end that
the gate pivots on, so maybe there is room for improvement there.
And the threads on the 4mm maillon seemed stronger than the bend in the link.
I did this test once on a used piece of 5 mm Kevlar cord that had
Figure-8 knots in it and
it broke at 5,000 pounds. I had been caving ( I used to do that )
with the rope tied
to a Jumar on a Mitchell System, and used it on several 100 foot plus ascents.
David Locklear
Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
And the winner is .... drum roll...
For the first Nuevo Laredo City Police Chief assassinated in 2011. .....
drum roll please.....
Gen. Manuel Farfan Carreola !!
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
That last posting may have come out sounding mean, but I was being sarcastic.
Here is a video posted today of one of my favorite singers, performing
live in one
of my favorite Mexican caves:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0gkgBJJuNY
I would have loved to see that.
David Locklear
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I see by a spam message from Amazon that Blind Descent by Tabor (the
manic book about exploration of Huautla and Krubera) is due out in
paperback in a couple of weeks. List price $16 at your local bookstore
($10.88 from Amazon). -- Mixon
----------------------------------------
A fearless man cannot be brave.
----------------------------------------
You may "reply" to the address this message
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: [email protected]
AMCS: [email protected] or [email protected]
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Thanks to Cheryl Jones for posting this on TAGNET.
See below. The deadline to declare your candidacy for NSS director elections
has been extended to Thursday, February 10. If you're interested in serving on
the NSS Board, or can recommend someone, please contact Nominating Committee
chairman Allan ASAP. <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
---- ---- ----- ---- ---- ---- ----
Do you have experience in
**Business?
**Management?
**Marketing?
**Accounting or law?
Interested in managing your society?
Then we need YOU on the Board of Governors to help manage our Society.
Become a candidate for the 2011 Director Election **Or give us a lead on
someone else who would make a good candidate.**
Contact Allan Weberg IMMEDIATELY
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
(Revised) Deadline Feb 10, 2011. Learn More:
caves.org/committee/nominating
Geary Schindel
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The concept of fall factor in assessing the load on belays can be
overdone. Yes, it is probably meaningful when one is talking about a
fall of 40 feet on 20 feet of rope (which would be fall factor 2, if I
understand it). But there is a problem when discussing very short
falls, like 2 feet on a 1-foot cowstail. No matter how static the
cowstail might be, there is enough give in your harness and your body
to prevent the sudden stop that is the basis of worrying about fall
factors. I'd like to see a figure for the peak stress put on a short
length of static rope (it could even be a steel cable for the
experiment) by a caver falling 2 or 3 feet in his harness--not a
theoretical figure, but rather a dynomometer reading. (But even that
would hurt....) It would be a lot different from that of a concrete
block of the same weight attacted rigidly to the cable. Basically, if
you fall 1 or 2 times the length of your cowstail, your harness and
your butt are the dynamic protection.
For a long drop, like a fall of a lead climber from above his last
belay point, the slop available in harness stretch and body
compression is a lot smaller fraction of the fall distance and
provides less protection. In such a case, the stretch of the rope is
critical to avoid death. -- Mixon
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A fearless man cannot be brave.
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Seems like I heard somewhere that dead pig carcasses were
used for just this sort of test somewhere, but the details elude
me. That should give a pretty realistic assessment of the dynamics
of the system, if you could get a pig into an appropriate harness.
Mark
At 01:12 PM 2/4/2011, Mixon Bill wrote:
The concept of fall factor in assessing the load on belays can be
overdone. Yes, it is probably meaningful when one is talking about a
fall of 40 feet on 20 feet of rope (which would be fall factor 2, if I
understand it). But there is a problem when discussing very short
falls, like 2 feet on a 1-foot cowstail. No matter how static the
cowstail might be, there is enough give in your harness and your body
to prevent the sudden stop that is the basis of worrying about fall
factors. I'd like to see a figure for the peak stress put on a short
length of static rope (it could even be a steel cable for the
experiment) by a caver falling 2 or 3 feet in his harness--not a
theoretical figure, but rather a dynomometer reading. (But even that
would hurt....) It would be a lot different from that of a concrete
block of the same weight attacted rigidly to the cable. Basically, if
you fall 1 or 2 times the length of your cowstail, your harness and
your butt are the dynamic protection.
For a long drop, like a fall of a lead climber from above his last
belay point, the slop available in harness stretch and body
compression is a lot smaller fraction of the fall distance and
provides less protection. In such a case, the stretch of the rope is
critical to avoid death. -- Mixon
Please reply to [email protected]
Permanent email address is [email protected]
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For all you non-Facebookers, Austin area cavers are going to see Sanctum at
8:00 at Regal Metropolitan 14 (south Austin). Meeting at Trudy's South
beforehand for drinks, food. Maybe 6ish. Not sure about wearing caving gear!
Cheers,
Denise
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Here comes that sinking feeling
By Mark Jenkins
Friday, February 4, 2011
Remember the climax of "Titanic,'' which seemed to consist mostly of Kate and
Leo scurrying around below deck, discovering that every path was blocked by
cascading water?
Well, "Sanctum" is nothing like that, because a) there are five people
scurrying around, and b) they're in submerged caverns, not submerged corridors.
Plus, it's in 3-D.
Executive producer James Cameron might not have had much to do with "Sanctum,"
which is a relatively low-budget production. But the movie, directed by Alister
Grierson, does use Cameron's 3-D cinematography techniques (which worked a lot
better in "Avatar") and reflects his preference for spectacle over
screenwriting.
Set in Papua New Guinea (but filmed in Australia with a largely Australian
cast), "Sanctum" sends about a dozen divers on an expedition into sprawling,
partially flooded catacombs. The ones who count are crusty master spelunker
Frank (Richard Roxburgh); his resentful teenage son, Josh (Rhys Wakefield);
cocky American Carl (Ioan Gruffudd), who's financing the dive; Carl's athletic
girlfriend, Victoria (Alice Parkinson); and George (Dan Wyllie), a veteran
caver who's savvy but burned out.
The sequences introducing these explorers are ineptly written; the dialogue
mixes cliches with phony tough-guy banter and TV-sports mottos. (One supporting
player rarely says anything but "let's do it.") The movie is most convincing
when the characters have air tubes in their mouths, and it's always cause for
alarm when the adventurers stop swimming to talk out some conflict.
A typhoon is moving in, which is good reason to exit a subterranean cave
system. But Frank is in no hurry, and the colleagues he sends toward the portal
find it inundated by heavy rain. The survivors head back to their leader, who
vows to lead them to the surface by another, uncharted course. Not all of them
will make it, of course.
The subsequent action scenes are well staged, with moments that are certain to
jangle anyone with even mild claustrophobia, acrophobia or aquaphobia. The
underground mishaps soon make their point, however, and only the most dedicated
X-treme sports fans will thrill to every stumble, slip and fall. The sensation
of being trapped shifts from the vicarious to the actual.
"Sanctum" opens with the claim that it's inspired by a true story; that
real-life incident actually involved co-writer Andrew Wight. But Wight's
adventure was a lot less grisly than the one he and John Garvin have devised.
This is a movie that features not one, but two graphic mercy killings. Forget
"127 Hours": "Sanctum" makes sawing off your own arm look like a minor penalty
for the crime of spelunking while clueless.
Contains strong language, violence and disturbing images.
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http://www.karstworlds.com/
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