texascavers Digest 6 Oct 2008 12:51:28 -0000 Issue 622
Topics (messages 9116 through 9121):
TSA Officer Nominations -- Last Call!
9116 by: Linda Palit
TCMA Garage Sale
9117 by: Linda Palit
Texas Cavers Reunion 2008
9118 by: Allan Cobb
need your old inner tubes
9119 by: David Ochel
Long Caverns Big Dig Update
9120 by: Paul Unger
9121 by: Lyndon Tiu
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--- Begin Message ---
Send in those last minute nominations for TSA officers. Those running will
be announced on Sunday. The ballot will be prepared late this weekend;
those who attend TCR will be able to pick up the ballot and vote there.
Those not attending will have the ballot mailed to them, and elections
should be complete by the end of October.
At this point we have one nomination for each office, and two for secretary.
My role has been to pass on nominations, and keep track of those who have
agreed to run. Thanks to all for considering nominations, whether to
nominate somebody, think about running, or agree to run. TSA is important
to Texas Caving, and we have had many great officers. It is good that the
tradition is continuing.
Thanks for your participation and help,
Linda
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Remember to check your gear as you get ready for a caving trip this weekend,
or as you think about next weekend and TCR! We would appreciate minimum
prices for expensive or unusual items. Other things you can put a price on,
or we will do so at TCR. Help us raise more funds to buy caves, and get rid
of some of your clutter at the same time!
Thanks,
Linda
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Howdy Y'all,
This time next week I hope all of you are at Paradise Canyon
(http://paradisecanyon.com/) for the 31st Texas Cavers Reunion. If you been
before, you know you will have a great time. If you haven't been before,
you really need to come and have fun with all of us. The site is the same
as last year. The water is a little lower than last year but it is still
flowing well. The long range weather forecast looks like sunny and warm
days with cool nights. For more information and direction, visit the
Paradise Canyon website, the TSA website
(http://www.cavetexas.org/maps/tcr2007.html), or the TCR website
(http://www.oztotl.com/tcr).
The cost for TCR is the same as last year, $25 for adults, $15 for children,
and $15 if you are an old time Texas caver! We will have the hot tub and
sauna as usual. We are planning a great feed on Saturday night followed by
various awards and wonderful door prizes (thanks Whole Earth Provision
Company! and others). The Bexar Grotto will have a spaghetti dinner on
Friday night for a small donation and TCMA will have a breakfast on Saturday
morning for a small donation. There will be a TSS meeting on Saturday
morning. On Sunday, there will be a general members meeting of the Texas
Cave Management Association followed by a general members meeting of the
TSA.
We have the park until 4 PM on Sunday so please help us out by picking up
any trash when you leave.
See ya'll there...
Allan
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Hi,
If you have truck inner tubes that you cannot use anymore because they
can't be patched, or you simply don't need them anymore: I'd love to get
them. Not for tubing - we'll cut them up and make pigs out of them to
haul concrete in. Bring them to TCR!
Thanks,
David
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
October 4th
Saturday noon update
The dig is progressing with the help of 10 young energetic cavers whose
enthusiasm is so contagious. Mark Alman, the fearless leader, supervised
the dig from a very comfortable room, short of the actual dig face. Knowing
that Mark needed support, I too remained in the room to count the buckets
coming out of the dig.
Before lunch over 100 buckets of dirt had been removed from the fill that is
blocking the entrance passage.
Now to the details.
I arrived at 7PM on Friday evening expecting to find a nice camp site.
Instead I found the gates locked and the ranger was not at the residence. I
waited until the lightening became fierce, and decided to find a camping
place in a Burnett motel, a luxury indeed.
It did not rain, but I enjoyed a completely decadent breakfast of honey
chicken biscuit at Whataburger. It was really good. Had one now, don't need
another.
Mark and the other cavers arrived AT LCSP much later than I, and chose to go
to Inks SP where they camped for the nite. They arrived shortly after 9 AM
and we all caravanned to the cave that is located on private land. The
entrance is gated, but very nice, having a vertical ladder. We found that
the entrance to be filled with harvestman spiders. Not really a problem
unless you know that all spiders contain venom and are poisonous..
Fortunately, harvestmen have no means of dispensing their poison, and are
therefore harmless. It was really nice to see one of the young distaff
cavers overcome their fears and descend among the spiders crawling all over
her.
The young caves attacked the dig, and Mark and I watched as bucket after
bucket came out of the passage. At noon, all decided to make the short trip
to the surface for lunch. I had a family obligation so I decided to return
home. Mark will have to continue the report.
Mark is planning on returning the first week in November. This is a rare
opportunity for you to see a really magnificent cave. And it is unusual as
it is the most outstanding example and proof of Ralph Ewers' ground breaking
theory of para-genesis as I have observed. I would really love to have
access to the cave as I am sure that the sediments would contain proof.
According to the Park staff, there is about a mile of cave separating this
entrance and the commercial tour. Once we break through, we expect so see a
lot of really nice off tour cave passage.
I f you want to be a part of this dig, contact Mark Alman.
Paul Unger
512-446-6715
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Thanks for sending the update Paul. It was great meeting you.
We did not break through as we hoped for so we will be back first weekend of
November for more digging.
We stopped digging at around 3pm as we wanted to catch the last guided tour of
the day at 4pm. The guided tour lasted about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Some headed back home after the tour. Six of us stayed behind overnight and
camped at Longhorn Caverns State Park. We had brats and dogs for dinner.
We spent the evening chatting on the observation tower with a 360 view of Texas
hill country. We could see bats flying around us. It was a cool clear evening.
Quite windy and no insects.
I'm looking forward to the next dig in November.
On Sat, 4 Oct 2008 19:13:22 -0500 [email protected] wrote:
> October 4th
>
> Saturday noon update
>
>
>
> The dig is progressing with the help of 10 young energetic cavers whose
> enthusiasm is so contagious. Mark Alman, the fearless leader, supervised
> the dig from a very comfortable room, short of the actual dig face.
> Knowing
> that Mark needed support, I too remained in the room to count the buckets
> coming out of the dig.
>
>
>
> Before lunch over 100 buckets of dirt had been removed from the fill
> that is
> blocking the entrance passage.
>
>
>
> Now to the details.
>
>
>
> I arrived at 7PM on Friday evening expecting to find a nice camp site.
> Instead I found the gates locked and the ranger was not at the
> residence. I
> waited until the lightening became fierce, and decided to find a camping
> place in a Burnett motel, a luxury indeed.
>
>
>
> It did not rain, but I enjoyed a completely decadent breakfast of honey
> chicken biscuit at Whataburger. It was really good. Had one now,
> don't need
> another.
>
>
>
> Mark and the other cavers arrived AT LCSP much later than I, and chose
> to go
> to Inks SP where they camped for the nite. They arrived shortly after 9 AM
> and we all caravanned to the cave that is located on private land. The
> entrance is gated, but very nice, having a vertical ladder. We found that
> the entrance to be filled with harvestman spiders. Not really a problem
> unless you know that all spiders contain venom and are poisonous..
> Fortunately, harvestmen have no means of dispensing their poison, and are
> therefore harmless. It was really nice to see one of the young distaff
> cavers overcome their fears and descend among the spiders crawling all over
> her.
>
>
>
> The young caves attacked the dig, and Mark and I watched as bucket after
> bucket came out of the passage. At noon, all decided to make the
> short trip
> to the surface for lunch. I had a family obligation so I decided to return
> home. Mark will have to continue the report.
>
>
>
> Mark is planning on returning the first week in November. This is a rare
> opportunity for you to see a really magnificent cave. And it is unusual as
> it is the most outstanding example and proof of Ralph Ewers' ground
> breaking
> theory of para-genesis as I have observed. I would really love to have
> access to the cave as I am sure that the sediments would contain proof.
>
>
>
> According to the Park staff, there is about a mile of cave separating this
> entrance and the commercial tour. Once we break through, we expect so
> see a
> lot of really nice off tour cave passage.
>
>
>
> I f you want to be a part of this dig, contact Mark Alman.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Paul Unger
>
>
>
>
>
> 512-446-6715
>
>
>
--
Lyndon Tiu
--- End Message ---
