texascavers Digest 1 May 2009 19:27:17 -0000 Issue 752 Topics (messages 10617 through 10626):
Re: Honeycreek trip May 8-10
10617 by: Fritz Holt
10618 by: ellie :)
10619 by: Fritz Holt
10620 by: Fritz Holt
10623 by: Fritz Holt
Chris Nicola and Priest's Grotto in Ukraine
10621 by: speleosteele.tx.rr.com
10626 by: Louise Power
Pond Party
10622 by: Peter Strickland
HC & snakes
10624 by: Kurt L. Menking
Forest Service closing caves.
10625 by: tbsamsel.verizon.net
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--- Begin Message ---Joe, I have been told about posting etiquette but aside from emphasizing, I sometimes lapse and think that all caps are easier to read. Especially if one doesn't have their eye glasses handy. I may shout but try not to scream. You are astute. Fritz ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 10:42 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Texascavers] RE: Honeycreek trip May 8-10 Why are you screaming? Joe On May 1, 2009 10:30am, Fritz Holt <[email protected]> wrote: > > KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR WESTERN DIAMONDBACKS IN THIS AREA. ABOUT > THREE YEARS AGO AT TCR I SAW A THREE FOOTER CROSS THE STRAIGHT DIRT ROAD A > LITTLE BEFORE IT SLOPED OFF TOWARD THE SPRING. OF COURSE, THEY CAN BE ANYWHERE > IN CENTRAL TEXAS. > > FRITZ > > > > > From: Kurt L. Menking [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 7:54 AM > To: > [email protected] > Subject: [Texascavers] Honeycreek trip May > 8-10 > > > > > > > > For those who haven't > heard there is a Honeycreek work weekend scheduled for the weekend of May > 8-10. We will be camping at the spring beginning Friday > evening. > > > > The focus for the > weekend will be taking down the cables, and some old fencing near the spring > entrance. The owner also would like us to pile up the debris collected > along the fences so it can be burned when the burn ban is lifted. If we > are able to burn, we'll have one heck of a bon-fire. If there are extra > people available I'm sure there are other areas that need brush cutting. > I'd say bring gloves, chain saws (if you have one), and loppers. Some > extra tow chain would be nice as well since we'll be using multiple tractors > to > move the cables, and large tree trunks that are against the > cables. > > > > Since this is > primarily a work weekend, I'd say all are welcome (even novices). Most of > Saturday will be reserved for the work projects, but we'll shut down by 4pm or > earlier, and those who want to go in the cave with appropriate team leaders > will > be turned loose. There have been several requests for through trips, QA > trips, etc. But don't show up late Saturday afternoon so you miss all the > work, and expect to go caving. > > > > Saturday evening, and > Sunday morning will also be available for trip leader training for ICS team > leaders. Bill and I, and possibly others will be leading several groups > Saturday evening and probably Sunday morning to different areas from the shaft > entrance, since all ICS trips will use only the shaft > entrance. > > > > We need about 25-30 > cavers to help lead trips to HC during the ICS convention. ICS trips to HC > are scheduled for July 19,22,23,25. This is your chance to meet new > cavers, make new friends, and share one of Texas' best and its longest cave > with > others from all over the nation and world. Contact Bill Steele or Myself > if you want to help lead ICS trips to Honeycreek. > > > > Kurt > >
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--- Begin Message ---** *I WILL BE THERE* On 5/1/09, Fritz Holt <[email protected]> wrote: > Joe, > I have been told about posting etiquette but aside from emphasizing, I > sometimes lapse and think that all caps are easier to read. Especially if > one doesn't have their eye glasses handy. I may shout but try not to scream. > You are astute. > Fritz > > ------------------------------ > *From:* [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > *Sent:* Friday, May 01, 2009 10:42 AM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [Texascavers] RE: Honeycreek trip May 8-10 > > > Why are you screaming? > > Joe > > On May 1, 2009 10:30am, Fritz Holt <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR WESTERN DIAMONDBACKS IN THIS AREA. ABOUT > > THREE YEARS AGO AT TCR I SAW A THREE FOOTER CROSS THE STRAIGHT DIRT ROAD > A > > LITTLE BEFORE IT SLOPED OFF TOWARD THE SPRING. OF COURSE, THEY CAN BE > ANYWHERE > > IN CENTRAL TEXAS. > > > > FRITZ > > > > > > > > > > From: Kurt L. Menking [mailto:[email protected]] > > > > Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 7:54 AM > > To: > > [email protected] > > Subject: [Texascavers] Honeycreek trip May > > 8-10 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > For those who haven’t > > heard there is a Honeycreek work weekend scheduled for the weekend of May > > > 8-10. We will be camping at the spring beginning Friday > > evening. > > > > > > > > The focus for the > > weekend will be taking down the cables, and some old fencing near the > spring > > entrance. The owner also would like us to pile up the debris collected > > along the fences so it can be burned when the burn ban is lifted. If we > > are able to burn, we’ll have one heck of a bon-fire. If there are extra > > people available I'm sure there are other areas that need brush cutting. > > > I'd say bring gloves, chain saws (if you have one), and loppers. Some > > extra tow chain would be nice as well since we'll be using multiple > tractors to > > move the cables, and large tree trunks that are against the > > cables. > > > > > > > > Since this is > > primarily a work weekend, I'd say all are welcome (even novices). Most > of > > Saturday will be reserved for the work projects, but we'll shut down by > 4pm or > > earlier, and those who want to go in the cave with appropriate team > leaders will > > be turned loose. There have been several requests for through trips, QA > > trips, etc. But don't show up late Saturday afternoon so you miss all > the > > work, and expect to go caving. > > > > > > > > Saturday evening, and > > Sunday morning will also be available for trip leader training for ICS > team > > leaders. Bill and I, and possibly others will be leading several groups > > Saturday evening and probably Sunday morning to different areas from the > shaft > > entrance, since all ICS trips will use only the shaft > > entrance. > > > > > > > > We need about 25-30 > > cavers to help lead trips to HC during the ICS convention. ICS trips to > HC > > are scheduled for July 19,22,23,25. This is your chance to meet new > > cavers, make new friends, and share one of Texas’ best and its longest > cave with > > others from all over the nation and world. Contact Bill Steele or Myself > > > if you want to help lead ICS trips to Honeycreek. > > > > > > > > Kurt > > > > >
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--- Begin Message ---Geary, I hadn't thought about it but you are right. The area around the spring does seem like good habitat for cottonmouths even if the water is rather cold. I can't claim to be a herpetologist but have always been interested in snakes and the reptilian world. I have caught (and released) a couple of large water snakes while swimming in The Frio on the river road near Concan with my daughters. One was about five feet in length and I believe that it was a diamondback water snake. Property that I owned near Columbus, Tx. had numerous Texas Rat Snakes, some of which were five feet or more. There were also abundant Southern Copperheads of lesser length. A year or more ago at her Austin home, daughter Jenny took careful note of a Tx. rat snake climbing along her cyclone fence. Later measurement showed it to have been seven feet long and as big around as your arm (mine). I wish that I had been there to attempt to catch it as it may have been a record. I would have given it to Andy for further study. Fritz ________________________________ From: Geary Schindel [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 11:24 AM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: RE: [Texascavers] RE: Honeycreek trip May 8-10 Well, caps can also be used to emphases a point and I think Fritz was saying is that you need to careful about snakes in the area. Now, Bob C. and Kurt M. have also warned folks that there are cottonmouths around Honey Creek. So a couple of years ago, I was walking around down there changing out some samplers and saw two cottonmouths. Now, as an amateur snake guy, I realize that many folks think that any snake near the water is a cottonmouth but Bob and Kurt know snakes and I think I'm pretty good with them also. So, not only did I think they were cottonmouths, I took a picture of one of them and it keyed out in the snakes of texas book and yes, it was a cottonmouth. Didn't see any diamondbacks but I'm sure they're around. So, be careful in the high grass and don't put your hands anywhere you can't inspect first and don't walk around after dark without a light. Remember that most snakebites involve the three T - tequila, testosterone, and tattoos. Two out of three is probably close enough to warrant a bite from a snake. Geary From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 10:42 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Texascavers] RE: Honeycreek trip May 8-10 Why are you screaming? Joe On May 1, 2009 10:30am, Fritz Holt <[email protected]> wrote: > > KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR WESTERN DIAMONDBACKS IN THIS AREA. ABOUT > THREE YEARS AGO AT TCR I SAW A THREE FOOTER CROSS THE STRAIGHT DIRT ROAD A > LITTLE BEFORE IT SLOPED OFF TOWARD THE SPRING. OF COURSE, THEY CAN BE ANYWHERE > IN CENTRAL TEXAS. > > FRITZ > > > > > From: Kurt L. Menking [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 7:54 AM > To: > [email protected] > Subject: [Texascavers] Honeycreek trip May > 8-10 > > > > > > > > For those who haven't > heard there is a Honeycreek work weekend scheduled for the weekend of May > 8-10. We will be camping at the spring beginning Friday > evening. > > > > The focus for the > weekend will be taking down the cables, and some old fencing near the spring > entrance. The owner also would like us to pile up the debris collected > along the fences so it can be burned when the burn ban is lifted. If we > are able to burn, we'll have one heck of a bon-fire. If there are extra > people available I'm sure there are other areas that need brush cutting. > I'd say bring gloves, chain saws (if you have one), and loppers. Some > extra tow chain would be nice as well since we'll be using multiple tractors > to > move the cables, and large tree trunks that are against the > cables. > > > > Since this is > primarily a work weekend, I'd say all are welcome (even novices). Most of > Saturday will be reserved for the work projects, but we'll shut down by 4pm or > earlier, and those who want to go in the cave with appropriate team leaders > will > be turned loose. There have been several requests for through trips, QA > trips, etc. But don't show up late Saturday afternoon so you miss all the > work, and expect to go caving. > > > > Saturday evening, and > Sunday morning will also be available for trip leader training for ICS team > leaders. Bill and I, and possibly others will be leading several groups > Saturday evening and probably Sunday morning to different areas from the shaft > entrance, since all ICS trips will use only the shaft > entrance. > > > > We need about 25-30 > cavers to help lead trips to HC during the ICS convention. ICS trips to HC > are scheduled for July 19,22,23,25. This is your chance to meet new > cavers, make new friends, and share one of Texas' best and its longest cave > with > others from all over the nation and world. Contact Bill Steele or Myself > if you want to help lead ICS trips to Honeycreek. > > > > Kurt > >
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--- Begin Message ---I could read that. With any luck we can all aspire to reach Geezerdom. I have. Fritz ________________________________ From: ellie :) [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 11:59 AM To: Fritz Holt Cc: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Re: [Texascavers] RE: Honeycreek trip May 8-10 I WILL BE THERE On 5/1/09, Fritz Holt <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Joe, I have been told about posting etiquette but aside from emphasizing, I sometimes lapse and think that all caps are easier to read. Especially if one doesn't have their eye glasses handy. I may shout but try not to scream. You are astute. Fritz ________________________________ From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> [mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>] Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 10:42 AM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Texascavers] RE: Honeycreek trip May 8-10 Why are you screaming? Joe On May 1, 2009 10:30am, Fritz Holt <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR WESTERN DIAMONDBACKS IN THIS AREA. ABOUT > THREE YEARS AGO AT TCR I SAW A THREE FOOTER CROSS THE STRAIGHT DIRT ROAD A > LITTLE BEFORE IT SLOPED OFF TOWARD THE SPRING. OF COURSE, THEY CAN BE ANYWHERE > IN CENTRAL TEXAS. > > FRITZ > > > > > From: Kurt L. Menking [mailto:[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>] > > Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 7:54 AM > To: > [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> > Subject: [Texascavers] Honeycreek trip May > 8-10 > > > > > > > > For those who haven't > heard there is a Honeycreek work weekend scheduled for the weekend of May > 8-10. We will be camping at the spring beginning Friday > evening. > > > > The focus for the > weekend will be taking down the cables, and some old fencing near the spring > entrance. The owner also would like us to pile up the debris collected > along the fences so it can be burned when the burn ban is lifted. If we > are able to burn, we'll have one heck of a bon-fire. If there are extra > people available I'm sure there are other areas that need brush cutting. > I'd say bring gloves, chain saws (if you have one), and loppers. Some > extra tow chain would be nice as well since we'll be using multiple tractors > to > move the cables, and large tree trunks that are against the > cables. > > > > Since this is > primarily a work weekend, I'd say all are welcome (even novices). Most of > Saturday will be reserved for the work projects, but we'll shut down by 4pm or > earlier, and those who want to go in the cave with appropriate team leaders > will > be turned loose. There have been several requests for through trips, QA > trips, etc. But don't show up late Saturday afternoon so you miss all the > work, and expect to go caving. > > > > Saturday evening, and > Sunday morning will also be available for trip leader training for ICS team > leaders. Bill and I, and possibly others will be leading several groups > Saturday evening and probably Sunday morning to different areas from the shaft > entrance, since all ICS trips will use only the shaft > entrance. > > > > We need about 25-30 > cavers to help lead trips to HC during the ICS convention. ICS trips to HC > are scheduled for July 19,22,23,25. This is your chance to meet new > cavers, make new friends, and share one of Texas' best and its longest cave > with > others from all over the nation and world. Contact Bill Steele or Myself > if you want to help lead ICS trips to Honeycreek. > > > > Kurt > >
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--- Begin Message ---YES, ONE FLU OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST. when pigs can fly. (Me either). Geezer ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 10:42 AM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: RE: [Texascavers] RE: Honeycreek trip May 8-10 CAUSE HE JUST SAW A SNAKE WITH SWINE FLU! (Sorry, I couldn't help myself). Mark ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Fri 5/1/2009 10:42 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Texascavers] RE: Honeycreek trip May 8-10 Why are you screaming? Joe On May 1, 2009 10:30am, Fritz Holt <[email protected]> wrote: > > KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR WESTERN DIAMONDBACKS IN THIS AREA. ABOUT > THREE YEARS AGO AT TCR I SAW A THREE FOOTER CROSS THE STRAIGHT DIRT ROAD A > LITTLE BEFORE IT SLOPED OFF TOWARD THE SPRING. OF COURSE, THEY CAN BE ANYWHERE > IN CENTRAL TEXAS. > > FRITZ > > > > > From: Kurt L. Menking [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Friday, May 01, 2009 7:54 AM > To: > [email protected] > Subject: [Texascavers] Honeycreek trip May > 8-10 > > > > > > > > For those who haven't > heard there is a Honeycreek work weekend scheduled for the weekend of May > 8-10. We will be camping at the spring beginning Friday > evening. > > > > The focus for the > weekend will be taking down the cables, and some old fencing near the spring > entrance. The owner also would like us to pile up the debris collected > along the fences so it can be burned when the burn ban is lifted. If we > are able to burn, we'll have one heck of a bon-fire. If there are extra > people available I'm sure there are other areas that need brush cutting. > I'd say bring gloves, chain saws (if you have one), and loppers. Some > extra tow chain would be nice as well since we'll be using multiple tractors > to > move the cables, and large tree trunks that are against the > cables. > > > > Since this is > primarily a work weekend, I'd say all are welcome (even novices). Most of > Saturday will be reserved for the work projects, but we'll shut down by 4pm or > earlier, and those who want to go in the cave with appropriate team leaders > will > be turned loose. There have been several requests for through trips, QA > trips, etc. But don't show up late Saturday afternoon so you miss all the > work, and expect to go caving. > > > > Saturday evening, and > Sunday morning will also be available for trip leader training for ICS team > leaders. Bill and I, and possibly others will be leading several groups > Saturday evening and probably Sunday morning to different areas from the shaft > entrance, since all ICS trips will use only the shaft > entrance. > > > > We need about 25-30 > cavers to help lead trips to HC during the ICS convention. ICS trips to HC > are scheduled for July 19,22,23,25. This is your chance to meet new > cavers, make new friends, and share one of Texas' best and its longest cave > with > others from all over the nation and world. Contact Bill Steele or Myself > if you want to help lead ICS trips to Honeycreek. > > > > Kurt > >
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--- Begin Message ---I saw on Chris' Facebook page that he was on TV on MSNBC talking about his incredible find and what it has led to. He sent me this today: The below link takes you to MSNBC, but there is a short commercial before the piece on Priest's Grotto begins. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/5324069#5324069 The below link takes you to a page I set up which has a link to order the book, and to listen to a nice interview of me by Scott Simon of NPR. http://www.geocities.com/cnico.geo/homepage/todayshowvideo.html Copying and pasting the below into a website or blog will embed the video player on the page. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/5324069#5324069 Very interesting stuff. Bill Steele Irving, Texas
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--- Begin Message ---What a wonderful story. Thanks for passing it on. > Date: Fri, 1 May 2009 13:27:52 -0400 > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected]; [email protected] > Subject: [Texascavers] Chris Nicola and Priest's Grotto in Ukraine > > I saw on Chris' Facebook page that he was on TV on MSNBC talking about his > incredible find > and what it has led to. He sent me this today: > > The below link takes you to MSNBC, but there is a short commercial before the > piece on Priest's Grotto begins. > > http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/5324069#5324069 > > The below link takes you to a page I set up which has a link to order the > book, > and to listen to a nice interview of me by Scott Simon of NPR. > > http://www.geocities.com/cnico.geo/homepage/todayshowvideo.html > > Copying and pasting the below into a website or blog will embed the video > player > on the page. > > http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/5324069#5324069 > > Very interesting stuff. > > Bill Steele > Irving, Texas > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Visit our website: http://texascavers.com > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] > For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected] >
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--- Begin Message --- We have chosen Saturday June 13th for our Pond Party, (the big event of the year.) We will have way fewer Sunday Swims this summer, due to ICS, and those will be announced later. Pete
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--- Begin Message ---My favorite HC snake story is while fishing along the creek one day I stepped down into what I thought was a little mushy spot because it didn't feel like hard ground. Then I felt the ground move under my foot, when I looked down I could see cottonmouth snake coils and his tail protruding from under my foot. I had stepped directly on his head and had it pinned down. I launched myself well out of his range, and he was none too happy about my intrusion on his nap. I really look carefully these days before I step down along most brushy creek areas. A year or two later a few of us hiked and fished from the cave entrance to the Guadalupe river and back. We found about a dozen decapitated cottonmouth snakes. They were easy to find since they were all about the same level of smelly ripeness. For the next several years when we did similar hikes we encountered almost no cottonmouths, but we did see more water snakes. For about 5-6 years we regularly fished the creek. The smaller fish would go in a minnow bucket, and the larger fish we would put on a stringer. Then we would transfer them to the ponds on the HC ranch. For a few years we had a very healthy fish population at the main pond near the road. Kurt
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service is preparing to close thousands of caves and former mines in national forests in 33 states in an effort to control a fungus that has already killed an estimated 500,000 bats.
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