Hello All,
Sandia Grotto members have been working hard on this weekend's regional in the
Sandia Ski Resort. We have more projects and trips planned than we probably
have people coming to attend. Please join us for the weekend. Print this
email out and take with you.
We have camping at the north end of the Ski Resort lower parking lot arranged.
Direction signs will be out starting at 4PM Friday.
There is a gate to the lower ski lodge and the camping area that closes about
6PM each night.
The gate will be locked. We will have our lock on the gate.
The combination is 2402.
Cell phone numbers if there are any problems:
Kevin Lorms (Sandia Pres.) 505-205-9090
Ray Keeler (Sandia Grotto VP) 623-523-1760
A pot luck dinner is set for Saturday evening. Bring food to share.
Elevation is about 8000 feet so it will be cool/chilly at night (which will be
a nice relief)
The lodge within short walking distance will be open for food each day from
10AM-3PM.
The ski lift will be open from 9AM to 4PM for those who want to ride to the top.
The Ski Resort will rent mountain bikes if you want to ride to the top and bike
down.
We have a special use permit for the event.
Two porta jons are being rented.
Kevin is bringing a keg and five gallons of margaritas.
The beer and margaritas will be $1 per glass to help pay for the porta jons.
CAVES:
We have trips planned to (and permission for) the following caves in the Sandia
Mountains. Trip sign ups will be after the SWR meeting Saturday morning. Yup,
we have leaders.
Sandia Cave - is a 454 foot long, dry, phreatic cave. There are no pits. The
cave is a national natural landmark. It was the subject of an extensive
archeological dig circa 1939. A spiral stair case was installed to allow
public access.
Guano Cave - The cave has a large opening that is easily seen from the road and
is located about ½ mile north of Sandia Cave. The cave has a large entrance
room and about 125 feet of passages. Soot covers the ceiling in the entrance
room. There is recent litter in this room that needs to be removed.
Davis Cave - is a small, two room cave and was the subject of an archeological
dig circa 1939.
Marmot Cave - was referenced in the original proposal as Tee Pee Cave. The
Hibben report (1939) referenced Marmot Cave and we believe these are the same
cave. The Marmot Cave name will be used in the future. The Cave is a single,
walking passage about 30 feet long. The joint controlled passage continues as
a very narrow crawlway.
Embudo Cave - is located on the Ski Resort property. The cave is a large,
single room and currently has a solid steel door that seals the entrance. A
hand crank is needed to open a covering that allows access to the lock. The
Forest Service has both the crank and the key. We need to GPS the entrance.
The forest service is having trouble locating the key so no trip this weekend.
We will be looking at the upcoming effort to convert the gate to restore the
entrance as a bat habitat.
Cat Track Cave - is on the Ski Resort property. The entrance can be seen from
the ski lift and it is not far from one of the towers. It is joint controlled
with several hundred feet of passage and needs a map created.
A currently unnamed cave is also located on the Ski Resort property. An
employee will be showing us the location during the weekend. The cave is
reported to be a narrow fissure with two rope pitches.
Cooper Ellis Cave - is on private property nearby - The cave contains several
hundred feet of joint controlled passages. We need a GPS and a map created.
Lake Cave - Small Cave with a permanent pool. We have the GPS on this.
GPS's on three other karst features.
ADDITIONALLY:
We have written permission from the Zia Indian Nation to visit Alabaster Cave
(aka el Diablo) AND the 14 caves in the area. Alabaster is horizontal, most of
the others are vertical.
We hope to see you this weekend.
Ray
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