David, Thanks for the inclusion and introduction. I couldn't figure out how but please delete the Z from Holt. I, like most, have definite opinions but will refrain from expressing them on certain topics. I'm not sure if I am automatically on the VSC but if not, add me.
In planning a five day trip to Big Bend N. P. recently, Mary Kay Manning was most helpful in providing me with information on the river and the park in general. I had visited the park a half dozen times but did not know Mary Kay or that she was a park ranger. Last Friday I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with her at the Panther Junction Headquarters. What a delightful and vivacious lady. Keep on moderating. Fritz Holt ________________________________ From: David [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, April 18, 2008 9:28 AM To: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Fritz Holt; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Virtual Speleo-Campfire This private list is now officially called The Virtual Speleo-Campfire http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Rossall/fire_1.gif About this list: This is sort of an introduction to the members of this list. For the time being, I am posting my opinionated stories to a select group of people. Most if not all of these people I met on Cavetex or are cavers I have met over the years. The purpose of project is to allow cavers to talk to one another on-line as if they were sitting around the camp-fire after a long day of caving. I would like to encourage a wide range of discussions, while at the same time walking a tight rope of not offending readers on the sensitive issues. Now I would like to introduce a few of the people on the list.: I will start with Mary Kay Manning since I have known her for 24 years. Mary Kay is a park ranger out at Big Bend. She has won several caver rope climbing contest. I have been caving with her in Precipicio and several trips to the caves in Langtry. Dave McClung. I met David in 1987. He is well known for making margaritas at TSA functions. I think he is temporarily stuck out east somewhere - like Florida? Bill Bentley. I think everyone knows Bill. He is the world's cyber-caving guru. Dr. Roger Moore is a prominent archealogist in Houston. Many of Houston's landmarks before being built had to first past his archeaological scrutiny. Dorothy Mladenka is the world's 3-D speleo-photography guru. Fritz Holtz. Fritz did some caving in Texas back in the 50's. He has been posting things on Cavetex for at least a year, and he has been active in the Houston Grotto for several years now. I strongly believe we should listen to the opinions of our elders. So his opinions are highly needed on this project. Jim McLane. Jim is one of the most highly opinionate people that I know, and for that very reason he needs to be part of this project. Jim has a lot of experience with technical things, and has travelled the world, especially my favorite part of it - the Sierra Madres. Preston Forsythe. Preston is a very active caver in Kentucky. I have caved with him in a river cave in southern Mexico. He and his wife Sherry are the birding gurus of the list. Kenny McGee. I met Kenny in 1989. He has an unbelieve artist skill with all kinds of media. He is a petroleum geolgist in Colorado. I have been caving with him in Precipicio. You have probably seen some of his artwork on the covers of some Texas cavers back in the early 90's, but most recently he has a hand-drawn portrait of Carl Kunath in the book 50 years. Wayne Hutchinson. Well, I don't really know Wayne yet. However, he has been one of the most active cavers in Houston for the past several years. He loves to go caving in the Guads. Bill Steele. I think everybody knows and highly respects Bill. He has several claims to fame. He wrote the exciting tale - Yochib - The River Cave. He has been very active in encouraging exploration of Honeycreek Cave. Bill is an executive officer in the Boy Scouts. Carol McGee. I once went caving with Carol at Precipico. She has been on the cover of several Texas Cavers. Carol is pre-occupied these days with taking care of her elderly mother. Gil Ediger. I met Gil in 1985 at TCR. He was ram-rodding the show back in those days. I still remember his famous speech that day. "If the younger members of the TSA do not step up soon and start volunteering, we are going to find ourselves without leadership." ( or something to that effect ) Gil may be even more opinionated than Jim. That is a tough call. I think Gil drives a train up north somewhere now. Right? Alex Sproul. Alex is very well known on the national caving scene. He knows more about caving gear than just about any caver on earth. He is retired from operating a speleo-business called "Inner Mountain Outfitters," which is still the best place in the world to buy your caving gear. Charles Fromen. I have mentioned before that I love the Sierra Madres. Well, Charles knows more about the Sierra Madres than anybody - even the Huastecas that live there. He has several claims to fame. He discovered the longest dry cave in Mexico. He may be the oldest caver to ever do Precipicio. His son Carl Phillip is the youngest caver to ever do Precipicio. And Carl Phillip has won numerous rope climbing contest. Charles has a beautiful beach house just north of Acapulco in what once was a quaint little village called Zihuantenajo, but is now a major tourist attraction. Dale Barnard has been an active caver in the Austin area for something like 20 years. He recently married another well-known caver Denise Prendergast. Dale plays the acoustic guitar and has performed at several TCR's. I will have to describe the rest of you later. Feel free, to introduce yourself, or make any corrections to the above. If you know someone who would enjoy being part of this project please tell them to e-mail me, or just forward the messages to them. If you don't want to be part of the virtual speleo-campfire ( VSC ), please inform me, so we all won't be spamming you. Also, I encourage everyone to post interesting topics on the listserve at [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> This was set up to help Cavetex focus on important caving related events. You can post non-caving things on the "ot" listserve that are considered of interest to cavers in general. David Locklear temporary moderator of the VSC P.S. Topics currently being proposed for the VSC are the rising gas prices, the rising cost of groceries, condoms for middle school kids, the continuing FLDS polygamy story, the newest version of Windows Vista SP1, hybrid cars, LED lights, taxes, retirement, the presidential campaign, Religion, Armageddon, Sexuality, Travelling in general - especially the Sierra Madres, road-trip stories, movie reviews, "non-technical" computer talk about Macs and Linux. Gadget reviews, announcements concerning your family such as your kids, or a new baby, or an obituary. Current events in the news. Historical comparisons to current events. I would ask politely that we all refrain from cursing, however, the general use of the word "frickin" is allowed. And you can substitue explicatives with symbols "sh*t."
