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T H E W INDY C ITY S P E LE ON E WS
P U B L IS H E D Q U AR T E R L Y B Y T HE W I ND Y C IT Y G ROT T O OF T HE NAT IONAL SPEL EOL OG ICAL S OC IET Y Phil Go ldm a n 414 N. E lm St. M t . P r o sp e c t , I l l i no i s 6 0 0 5 6 S e nd e xc ha n g e s/ c o r r e s p o nd e n c e t o t he e d i t o r : R a l p h E a r l a nd s o n 802 S. H ig hla nd Ave. O a k P a r k , I l l i no i s 6 0 3 0 4 - 1 5 2 9 G r o t t o m e m b e r s h i p s, w i t h t he S p e l e o n e w s , a r e $ 1 5 . 0 0 p e r ye a r . F a m i l y - d e p e n d e nt m e m b e r s h i p s, w i t ho u t t he S p e l e o n e w s , a r e $ 5 . 0 0 . A va i l a b l e t o p u b l i s h i ng g r o t t o s b y e xc h a ng e . Ad ver tisi ng a vaila ble. C o nt a c t e d i t o r f o r m o r e i nf o r m a t i o n. IS S N 0 1 4 8 - 2 8 2 3 T he W i nd y C i t y G r o t t o U nd e r g r o u n d P r e s s

I N T HIS I SSUE ...

M E E T IN G S
AN D

M E M B E R S H IP - -

3 2

G R O T T O E L E C T IO N S - PUERTO 2014-R IC O : J AN U A R Y 12-20,

4-9 10-15

T R IP R E P O R T S - T r apper Cave T r ip ; Wint er T AG 2014. G R O T T O M IN U T E S - S P E N T C AR B ID E - WCG M E M B E R S H IP L IS T - -

16-19 19, 21 20-21

G ROT TO E LECT IONS

T he a nnua l gr ot t o ele ct io ns w i ll be he ld at t he Ma y me et ing o n Ma y 14. No min at io ns w il l be t aken at t he Apr il meet ing, a nd w il l be o pened fo r each o ff ice ju st pr io r t o t he vo t ing. T he fo llo w ing Bo ar d me mber s wil l be e lect ed: T he Ch ai rp e rson r uns t he grot t o and bo ar d meet ings a nd co nduct s gr ot t o co rr espo nde nce. T he Vi ce - Ch ai rp e rson is r e spo ns ib le f or pr o gr ams at t he gr ot t o me et ing s a nd r uns meet ing s in t he Cha ir per so ns a bse nce. T he S ec ret a ry keep s minut es o f t he gr ot t o and bo ar d meet ings. T he T rea su re r is r e spo ns ib le fo r grot t o f ina nce s and co llect s dues. T he B oard M emb er at Large se l ls T shir t s, st icker s a nd o t her it e ms, a nd r o unds o ut a six- pack o f be er . T he Ed i t or is appo int ed by t he fi ve e lect ed bo ar d me mber s. T o r un fo r grot t o o ffice, yo u mu st be a Regu lar me mber o f t he gr ot t o, t hat is, an NS S me mber ( o r me mber s hip pe nd ing) . All pa id - up gr ot t o me mber s ( bo t h Regular and Asso c iat e) ma y vo t e in t he e lect io ns.

WCG B O AR D M E M B E R S
C HA I RPE RS O N -p h i l @ ho u s e o f g o l d m a n. o r g V ICE-C HA I RPE RSO N -b a g e l s1 0 1 @ sb c g l o b a l . n e t SECRETARY-c a ve c r i t t e r 1 0 0 @ g m a i l . c o m T REAS URE R- p h i l @ ho u s e o f g o l d m a n. o r g l sa n g a i l a @ y a ho o . c o m MEM BE R-AT - LA RG E- W C G _ K a ve r B i l l @ y a ho o . c o m P hi l G o l d m a n (847) 632 -1290 Rich Pagels (815) 793 -1410 G r e g S c hm i t (708) 387 -0592 Molly (847) L a ur a (630) Goldman 632-1290 Sangaila 306-6340

Bill English (773) 342 -6097

S PEL EONEWS ED IT OR-Ralph Earlandson r a l p h. e a r l a nd s o n@ g m a i l . c o m (708) 524 -1215

C O M M IT T E E C H A IR P E R S O N S
MEM BE RS HI P/D AT ABASE -c a ve c r i t t e r 1 0 0 @ g m a i l . c o m G r e g S c hm i t (708) 387 -0592

S PEL EO NEWS E XC HA NG E- R a l p h E a r l a nd s o n r a l p h. e a r l a nd s o n@ g m a i l . c o m (708) 524 -1215 LIBRA RIA N- open

N EW MEM BE RS ACT I V IT IE S & P RO J ECT MG M T -Ad am Haydo ck a d a m h a yd o c k 2 0 0 0 @ ya ho o . c o m ( 8 4 7 ) 5 4 2 - 4 1 3 5 S A F ET Y C HA I R PE R S O N- l e g n i n i @ a p s. a n l . g o v C O NS E RVAT IO N C HA I R-sp e l e o 3 0 @ ya h o o . c o m P R O PE RT Y M A NA G E R -c a ve w o l f 0 0 @ ho t m a i l . c o m B AT H O USE P RO JECT C HA I R- s sc o u@ ya h o o . c o m W EBSIT E ADM I NIST RAT O R-A d m i n@ w i nd yc i t yg r o t t o . o r g D a n L e g ni n i (630) 393 -2240 Jack W ood (773) 252 -9773 Joe W olf (708) 503 -1448 Steve Scoutaris Terry Chambliss (773) 342 -6097

O N T H E C OV E R
T his is sue feat ur es a r epo rt by Ad a m Ha ydo ck o n his t r ip t o P uert o Rico in Ja nuar y. Ada m is s i lho uet t ed, st and ing in t he e nt r ance r oo m o f Obser vat or y Ca ve. His figur e dr amat ica l l y il lu st r at es t he huge s iz e o f t his cha mber . P hot o by Ad a m Ha ydo ck.

http://www.windycitygrotto.org

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M EETINGS
Meet ings o f t he Wind y C it y Gr o t t o o f t he Nat io na l S pe leo lo g ica l S o c iet y ar e he ld o n t he seco nd Wed nesd a y o f ever y mo nt h at 7: 30 p. m. I n o dd - nu mber ed mo nt hs, t he me et ing w il l he ld at Au re li o' s Pi zze ri a, 145 5 W. Lake S t . ( US 20), Add iso n, I L 60101, pho ne ( 630) 889- 9560. I n eve n- nu mber ed m o nt hs, t he meet ing w i l l be ho st ed by H e at her McQuee n a nd Que nt in S haw at Dru m face , 3231 W. Ar mit age, C hicago , I L 60647, pho ne ( 773) 671 - 5575. T he ne xt t hr ee me et ings w il l be M arch 12 at Aur elio s, Ap ri l 9 at Dr u mfa ce, and M ay 14 at Aur e lio s. T he bu s ines s and a nno unce me nt s part o f t he me et ing is fo llo wed by a pr o gr am o n a caving r e lat ed t o pic. Bo ar d meet ing s, at whic h gr o t t o bus ine ss is d is cus sed, ar e o pen t o ever yo ne. T he d at es and lo cat io ns o f t he bo ar d me et ing s w il l be anno unced a t t he gr ot t o me et ing s. T he Ju ne Sp el eone ws wil l be a sse mb led fo r ma i l ing dur ing t he June meet ing. T he dead l ine fo r each is sue o f t he Spel eone ws is t he weekend fo llo w in g t he gr ot t o meet ing o f t he mo nt h pr eced in g t he mo nt h o f is sue. All mat er ia l mus t be subm it t ed in fina l fo r m via e - ma i l, o r on CD o r paper at t hat t ime. T he dead l ine fo r t he June Spel eone ws is t he week e nd o f Ma y 17 18.

M EMBERSHIP N EWS
Our annua l Gr ot t o me mber s hip list sho ws a t ot al o f 57 me mber s o f t he Wind y Cit y Gr ot t o, inc lud ing 47 r egu lar ( NS S ) and 10 asso c iat e me mber s. T he NS S me mber s inc lude nine li fe me mber s o f t he gr ot t o. T his co mpar e s w it h 39 r egu lar and 12 a ss o ciat e me mber s fo r a t ot al o f 51 Gr ot t o me mber s in Mar ch 2013 . All na me s and addr ess es appear in t he me mber s hip list in t his issue.

W E LCOME N EW M EMBE RS
N ico le M i l ler nm i l72 @g ma i l. co m

C HANGES

OF

A DDRE SS

E r ic h S c hu ma nn, NS S 58320 E va n S chu ma nn, NS S 63971 Fr ed S chu ma nn, NS S 44918L S andr a S chu ma nn, NS S 44919 10019 B lack ber r y Br a nc h Rd. Bo n Aqua, T N 37025 ( 931) 670- 8381 er icco y@yma i l. co m sc hu ma nn24 @ao l. co m

T HE C ARBIDE D UN
T he fo llo w ing me mber s, exp ir ing bet wee n no w and t he ne xt issu e, ar e list ed be lo w by mo nt h o f exp ir at io n. P ay at t he meet ing o r se nd yo ur pa yme nt t o t he t r easur er , Mo ll y Go ld ma n, 414 N. E lm S t . , Mt . P ro spect , I L 600 56. Not e: Pl ease mak e yo ur che ck pa ya ble t o Wind y C it y Gr o t t o. Dues fo r fu l l me mber s hip is $15. 00 per year . Exp i ri n g i n Ap ri l 2014: D ia ne C ia mbr o ne B il l Owe ns Gr eg S chmit Exp i ri n g i n M ay 2014: Ro y Be cker E ve l yn Le xa nder Laur a Le xa nder Exp i ri n g i n Ju n e 2014: Dan L eg nini E r ic h S chu ma nn E va n S chu ma nn Br ia n Vo ss To ni P a t r ick Ke n Re deker To m Wo lo s Laur a S anga ila

U PCOMING E VENTS
M ay 16 - 18. S pr ing MVO R, Bar r y Co unt y, M isso ur i. M ay 23- 26. Ke nt uck y S pe leo fe st , Lo ne St ar Ca ve P r eser ve, Bo nnie vi lle, Ke nt uck y. M ay 30- Ju n e 1. SE RA Ca ve C ar niva l, at t he new NS S Headquar t er s, Hunt svil le, Ala ba ma. Ju n e 20 - 22. Kar st - O- Rama, Gr eat S alt pet re Ca ve P r eser ve, Mt . Ver no n, Kent uck y. Ju ly 14 - 18. NSS Co nve nt io n, Hu nt svi l le, Ala ba ma. T he Gr and Ope ning o f t he new NS S HQ. Au gu st 8 - 10. Cave Caper s, Cr aw fo r d Co unt y Fa ir gr o unds, I nd ia na. Ju ly 13 - 17, 2015. NS S Co nve nt io n, Wa yne svi l le, M isso ur i. Only e ig ht ho ur s fr om t he Wind y C it y. Ju ly 17 - 23, 2016. NS S Co nve nt io n, E ly, Nevada. Co nve nt io n r et ur ns t o t he We st .

T he fo llo w ing per so ns wer e invo lved in t he pro duct io n, co llat ing and ma il ing of t he Dece mber Spel eone ws : Ra lp h E ar la ndso n, P hi l Go ld ma n, Al Go o dcave, a nd Gr eg S chm it .

T h e W in d y Ci t y Sp el e on e ws, Ma r ch 2 0 1 4

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P UERTO R ICO : J ANUARY 12-20, 2014

B Y A DAM H AYDOCK
Je ff Kr u se T o m M il ler Laur a O liver And y R ider F lo r a S per ber ger Ada m Ha ydo ck ing ho sp it a l it y w hic h inc luded br e ak fast sa ndw ic hes a nd ju ice. Aft er br e ak fa st I saw t hat damn r o o st er st and ing pr o ud and t all ne xt t o my t ent , he t ur ned in my d ir e ct io n and fo r a seco nd I t ho ught t her e was go ing t o be a co ck fig ht . I am o n his t err it o r y and he kept me up a ll nig ht !! I got o ver it and spar ed it fr o m be co ming a chicke n d inner as Car lo s s ho wed up t o gr eet us a nd get r ead y fo r Cue va Zu mbo . I t had bee n a year s inc e I saw Car lo s so it was goo d t o see hi m a nd f ina l l y c at ch up o n pro je ct s he is wo r king o n a lo ng w it h so me a maz ing t hings he had bee n do ing t o he lp P uer t o R ico . Je ff, Ju l ie, and F lo r a s ho wed up sho rt ly a ft er , so we ju mped int o Bro s car ( Car lo s ) and head ed fo r t he t r ailhead t o Zu mbo . We passed a fe w cave s a lo ng w it h wa y t o Zu mbo but aft er abo ut a mi le o n t his r o ad we par ked o ur car s and headed o ut fo r an ho ur hike t hr o ugh t he ju ng le t o t he 80 - ft dro p int o Zu mbo . We made it t o t he ent r ance drop and it lo o ked mo r e like a c li mb do wn w it h d iff icu lt ly but we had t he gear a nd it was a p it so we set up a ro pe t o r ap do wn. We a ll m ake it do wn and we co uld hear t he wat er roar ing t hr o ugh t he passage be lo w us. We ar e fina l l y her e! ! I t s bee n a lo ng t ime in t he mak ing t o get t o Zumbo but her e we ar e. We pr o ceed t o dr o p do wn t he br eakdo wn pile a vo id in g t he exped it io n r o pe as it had cor e shot s and appear ed t o suffer fr o m a lo t o f abu se. As we ent er ed t he ca ve pas sage, im me d iat e ly w e no t iced t he t er r ain. Jeff's w ife Kat r ina li kes t o descr ibe it as Dr . S usse la nd and I have t o agr ee w it h her . T he ro ck in t his cave is scu lpt ed and sca l lo ped in a wa y I ha ve ne ver ever see n a nyw her e o n t his p la net . Not eve n in p ict ur es. T he wat er has car ved a passage t hat le ft t alo ns o f per fect ly scu lpt ed ro ck t o c li mb o ver and sw i m ar o und. T he wat er dug se mi c ir cu lar co nt o ur s deep w it hin t he r o ck and ha s cr eat ed a geo lo gica l m ix bet ween Ar izo nas Ant e lo pe s lo t canyo n a nd a wat er par k equ ipped w it h war m co nd it io ns a nd wat er fa l ls enc apsu lat ed in a deco r at ed wat er cave fu ll o f act ive flo wst o ne and fo r mat io ns. T he passages had mo r e dyna mic a nd de fin it io n t han any pa ssag e I ha ve e ver bee n t hr o ugh in Ut ahs s lo t canyo ns o r in a ny ca ve s yst em. T he wat er it se lf had a bo ut 10 ft o f viz and a blue t int t o it , t he t emp o f t he wat er was ar o und 72 - 75 degr ees, t he air was ar o und 75 and hu mid, it was a caver s de l ig ht !! Aft er abo ut 5 minut es in t he passage we po pped o ut int o a canyo n pas sage, an o pen a ir

I t was abo ut 5: 30 am w he n Laur a O l iv er and I ar r ived at t he a ir po rt in C hic a go t o cat ch a dir ect fl ig ht t o S an Juan, P uert o R ico , fo r what t ur ned o ut t o be o ne o f t he mo st int ense ad ve nt ur es o f my l i fe ! I was t hink ing abo ut ho w amaz ing t his t r ip was go ing t o be as we wer e go ing t o go t o so me wo r ld c la ss caves, an is la nd o ff o f P uer t o Rico , a c lo ud fo r est in t he E l Yu nque, a nd a n at t empt t o su mm it so me a maz ing wat er fa l l r iver canyo n s yst e ms deep in t he so ut h dist r ict o f t he E l Yunque. What a wa y t o kick o ff t his 1 0 - da y t han t o st art wit h o ne o f t he best cave s I ha ve ever hear d a bo ut o n t he ver y ne xt da y, Cue va Zu mbo ! We go t t o S an Jua n, got t he r ent al ca r , head ed t o t he gro cer y st o r e t o get supp lies, and made o ur way o ver t o P ipo s ho use in F lo r ida, P uer t o Rico . We ca me t o a clo s ed r o ad co nt inu ing do wn int o t he ju ng le sur r o unded by mo go t e mo unt a ins a nd t hick veget at io n, so I got o ut o f my car and I he ar d P ipo ca ll ing m y na me in t he backgr o und. Car lo s co nt act ed him be fo r e I sho wed up. Aft er t alk ing w it h P ipo and Car lo s o ver t he pho ne, I was sur pr ised t o hear t hat he was w i l l i ng t o a llo w us t o st ay in his back yar d inst ead o f us ha ving t o dr ive int o t he ju ng le o n t he br o ken up mo ss y r o ad at nig ht . P ipo and his fa mi l y o ffer ed us dr ink s and fu l l i m mer s io n int o P uer t o Rica n cu lt ur e, whic h inc luded my ha lf - ass S pa nis h spe ak ing a bi l it y, a bia sed S panis h t r ans lat io n bo o k, and ha nd s ig ns. We got lo st in t r ans lat io ns a few t ime s like su bt it les in a lat e nig ht br avo mo vie spec ia l, but we wer e able t o under st and each o t her about 80 85 per cent o f t he t ime, whic h wo r ked o ut fine g ive n so me peo ple t hat speak per fect E ng lis h, I under st and a lo t le ss. P ipo has insp ir ed me t o lear n S panis h t hat muc h mo r e, so no w whe n I co me ba ck ne xt year I ca n make sur e we can ha ve a co nver sat io n a nd I s ho u ld kno w S panis h i f I a m go ing t o be co mi ng t o any dest inat io n so ut h o f t he Unit ed S t at es. We set up t he t ent and got t o bed aro und 9 p m w hic h wa s like 7 p m C hic ago cent r a l t ime. St art ing at mid nig ht and at a r at e o f o ne o ut bur st ever y ho ur , t he fa m i l y r oo st er had t o mak e his pr e se nce k no wn a nd wa ke me up. I almo st fo r got abo ut t he chick e ns and r oo st er s in P uer t o Rico , t he y ar e e ver yw her e ! T he sun ca me up and we wo ke up in bet ween a ho r se and a r oo st er hen, figur e s! We get r ead y fo r a lo ng da y int o t he ju ng le. Pipo s fa m i l y co nt inued w it h t his une xpe ct ed a maz-

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canyo n t hat c lo ses ba ck up int o t he cave s yst em a bo ut 100 ft do wn a passage. N ot all caves ar e u nder gr o und a ft er a ll! ! Ha. . . T his s yst e m get s mo r e impr es s ive w it h eac h st ep I a m fr e ak ing t ak ing ! U nbe l ie va ble ! !! As we made o ur way do wn t he pas sage we fo und o ur se lves f lo at ing w it h o ur packs in deep wat er, c li mb ing o ver st ero id induced flut ed ro ck car vings, and sur r o unded by wat er fa l ls , act ive flo w st o nes, and s he ar ent hus ia s m. I was lagg ing be hind so I co uld at t e mpt t o get so me p ict ur es o f t his p lace, w hic h p r o ved t o be a cha l le nge fo r me, ba sed o n t he li ght s I had, t he fo ot ing t he t r ipo d had and just ho w c lo se t he passage wa l ls wer e t o each ot her . Co nt inu ing do wn t he canyo n wa lls be ca me mo r e d yna m ic w her e we had t o cli mb up mu lt ip le le ve ls t o be able t o co nt inue int o t he cave. So no w we wer e in t he midd le a nd o n t o p o f t hese mas s ive flut ed st o ne st r uct ur es w it h r ag ing wat er be lo w us cut t ing c ir cu lar vo r t exes in t he r o ck cr eat ing mo r e o f t his st r uct ur e. It s dif fic u lt t o exp la in ho w t his cave lo o ks so I ho pe t hese p ict ur es ca n gr asp just a lit t le bit o f what t his p la ce r ea ll y lo o ks l ike. Aft er cr o ss ing so me s had y r o pes and e xpo sed c limbs, w e made it t o t he su mp se ct io n wher e it s mo r e o f a lo ng duck - under t ha n a su mp. I peeked my head t hr o ugh t he su mp and t he cave co nt inu es o n t o Cueva E sclar a I kno w wher e I am go ing ne xt ye ar ! ! On o ur wa y o ut I at t empt ed t o get so me mo r e pict ur es and vid eo o f t his a maz ing p la ce whi le we made o ur way back t o t he ent r ance. We co nt inued o n t o t he upper le ve l o f Zu mbo t hat co nne ct s t o Cueva Yu Yu. We wer e o ut o f t he wat er passage, but at t imes we co uld hear it be lo w us. T he passag e r em inded me mo r e o f I nd ia na no w, except it was in t he 70s ins ide t his ca ve inst ead o f 54 degr ees. We c l imbe d o ver so me e xpo sur e and got int o so me wa lk ing pas sage t hat t oo k us t o a br eakdo wn r o o m fu l l o f bat s. Je ff po int ed o ut wher e t he co nnect io n t o Yu Yu was so ne xt t ime I co me back, I want t o see i f we can make a cr o sso ver t r ip w it h Yu Yu and Zu mbo . We t ur ned aro und and headed out o f t he cave t hr o ugh t he pit . T he su n wa s set t ing a nd t he ju ng le st art ed a s ymp ho ny o f var io us insect s, co quis , and ot her unusua l so unds. F ina l l y we ma ke it back t o t he car a ft er cro ss ing pat hs w it h so me o f t he bigge st fr o gs I have ever seen ho pp ing ar o und. We get back t o P ipo s ho use t o chil l o ut and get r eady fo r Da y T wo , Cueva Co nve nt o and Cueva Ba lco ne s. We wo ke up o n o ur seco nd da y in t he ju ng le o f F lo r ida, P uer t o Rico , in t he ba c k yar d o f t he la ndo wner s pr o pert y. He want ed t o jo in us a nd t ake us o n a t r ip t o vis it Cue va Ba lco nes a nd Cue va Co nve nt o, whic h ar e t wo caves s it uat ed r ig ht next t o t he R io Enca nt ado S yst e m. We wer e a maz ed o nce aga in as

his mo t her coo ked us br eak fast whic h was r at her amaz ing. E ggs, me at , ju ice, eve n t he br ead wer e fa nt ast ic. We a ll ju mped int o o ur r ent a l car a nd pr o ceeded do wn t his nast y br o ken- up r o ad t o t he end wher e t hese ca ves ar e lo cat ed. As I was t aking t he fr o nt whee l dr ive N is sa n up and do wn t his mo ss y, s lipper y ro ad I was t hink ing t o mys e lf ho w I was go ing t o dr ive t his car back up t his inc l ine o f a s lip and s l ide, as well as ho w was I go ing t o make sur e t he car do esn't go int o a figur e - 8 sp in o ut o ff t he r o ad whe n w e go do wn t he hi l l. I was t hink ing t o myse l f t hat an o ff - r o ad boo bo o wo uld t umble us int o t he ju ng le be l o w. I was co mm it t ed and be yo nd t he t ur ning po int , so I had t o make t he best o f t his t r ip and dea l w it h it whe n we dec ided t o get o ut . Aft er a ha lf m i le o f wa lk ing we r eached t he ent r ance s o f Co nve nt o and pro ceed t o get r ead y fo r a t r ip ins ide t his s yst e m. T he ent r ance was lar ge !! T he mo ss y flo r a la yer ed it se l f o ver t he fo r mat io ns, whic h ga ve t his cave a mo nst r o us lo o k t o it . T her e were t wo ent r ance s fr o m w her e we wer e and eac h e nt r ance had a n e xit t o t he ot her sid e. We went int o and do wn t he fir st ent r anc e a nd t he lar ge bo r eho le pas sage s r evi led it s P uer t o R ic a n nat ur e, ma ss ive !! T her e ar e a nu mber o f caves in P uer t o R ico t hat appear t o be pr et t y ma ss ive and t hese t wo caves wer e no except io n. We made o ur way do wn t he lar ge bo r eho le and int o anot her lar ge r oo m fil led wit h st alact it es and st a lag mit es w hic h co ncluded in a n e xit back int o t he ju ng le. Aft er ha ng ing o ut her e fo r a bit we decided t o t ur n ar o und and pr o ceed back t o t he ent r ance t o vent ur e int o t he ot her s ide o f t he Co nve nt o s yst em. T he e nt r ance her e wa s e ve n lar ger a nd t he bo r eho le pass age fo llo wed su it t o t he ma ss ive ent r ance we had ju st walk ed do wn fr o m. T her e wer e a few mo r e bat s in t his se ct io n, but aft er walk ing ar o und a few be nds , t he cave ended. T her e was a s id e passag e we che cked o ut , whic h wa s fu l l o f fo r mat io ns, so we got a co uple p ict ur es o f t hat and proceeded t o exit . Aft er we le ft Co nve nt o we made o ur wa y o ver t o Cueva Ba lco nes. P ipo cut a B - line t r ail t hr o ugh a saddle in bet ween t wo mo go t es, so we co uld get t o t he cave qu i cker . We we nt t hr o ugh a dense fer n o ver gr o wt h sect io n, so cut t ing o ur way t hr o ugh t his w it h mac het es made t he desc e nt do wn t he sadd le eas ier . We get t o t he ent r ance a nd t her e was a cr ack in t he wa ll w her e t he ent r ance o f t he cave is. We c l i mbed up int o t his ho le a nd pr oceeded t hro ugh a co uple r oo ms w it h s ma ll squeeze e nt r ances t hat co nnect ed t o lar ger r oo ms. I co uld he ar cr icket s, so I knew we wer e abo ut br eak t hr o ugh int o lar ge ca ve passage. We lo o ked t o t he ce il ing and we ca n s ee lar ge bat s swar ming t he ce i l ing a ir space

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abo ve u s. As w e wa lk int o t he lar ge r oo ms t he guava sco r pio n let it s pr ese nce be k no wn by r u nning acr o ss t he walls a nd st o pping fo r br ie f p ict ur es her e a nd t her e. T hese t hings ar e pr et t y big ! T he s ize o f t he sco r pio n is abo ut t he le ngt h o f t wo hand s and t he y c a n r un pr et t y fa st t oo ! We co nt inued t o walk t hr o ugh t hese passages t o t he end o f t he cave t aking p ics o n t he wa y in a nd o ut . It was a fr eak in sweat bo x in t hes e lar ge pass ages ; it must ha ve bee n in t he 80 's w it h hig h hu m id it y. I was sweat ing my as s o ff just wa lk ing ar o und in t hese upper roo ms. We e xit ed t he ca ve a nd mad e it back t o t he car just in t ime fo r it t o r a in! N ic e, let 's add a lit t le insu lt t o sho w o f a r ide ba ck t o t he no r ma l o ne in a ha lf la ne r o ads no w sha l l we. . .. T his was pr et t y bad but it co uld ha ve bee n a lo t wo r se and I ha ve bee n t o ld t hat car s like mine ha ve made it o ut be fo r e so I was lo cked in co mm it me nt and st art ed my wa y back up t his mo ss y s l ip a nd s lid e r o ad, mak ing sur e we did nt ro ll int o a 200 - ft d it ch be lo w us. We wer e mak ing go o d st eady speed unt il I go t t o t he inc line. T he w hee ls st ar t ed t o sp in, t he car lo cked int o ant i- s lip mo de, and I t ur ned t o put t he whee ls o n t he dir t t o get mo r e t r act io n as w e wer e no w inc hin g o ur wa y up t he r o ad wit h t he whee ls t hr o wing d ir t . I was mak ing pr o gr ess as t he r ain co nt inued t o fa l l mak ing mat t er s wor se. I st art ed t o s lide a bit mo r e and s lo w ly t he car br e ached t he t o p o f t he hil l mak ing it past t he ma in o bst ac le. No w we had t o go do wn ano t her hil l no w, so I s lo wed do wn and st ar t ed t he desce nt do wn t he r o ad inc hing c lo ser t o t he exit . Wit h t he mo s s, r a in, and t he de c li ne a l l wo r king aga inst me, t he car st art ed t o fis h t ail. P ipo t oo k a deep br eat h and I co uld hear Laur a s hear t skip a beat as I st art ed t o slid e o ff t he r o ad. I t ur ned t he whee l in t he o ppo s it e d ir ect io n aga inst t he s lide a few t imes and was a ble t o gain co nt ro l o f t he r ent a l car o nce aga in as we ca me t o t he bot t o m of t he hi l l. We mad e it t o t he exit a nd as t he gat e was be ing u n lo c k e d I sho ut ed out ye eeaaa a! ! We d id it ! I m no t mu c h o f a car gu y but t hat was pr et t y goo d co ns id er ing t he co nseque nce s we co uld ha ve bee n fac ing ot her w ise. We dr o pped o ff P ipo and we nt t o t he bea c h ar ea wher e Cue va de l I nd io is lo cat ed t o check o ut t he T a ino pet ro glyp hs, t he sea ar che s, and t o wash o ff o ur c lo t hes wit h a co r al r ee f s no r ke l sw i m in t he o cea n. What an ep ic da y. We e nd ed up get t ing a hot el t hat nig ht t o br eak up t he ju ng le l i fe a bit ( aft er a ll, t his is a va cat io n) and w hi le we wer e s it t ing do wn eat ing d inner we hear d abo ut a 6. 5 ear t hquake w it h a n ep ice nt er 35 mi le s fr o m us t hat happe ned ho ur s ago . I did nt fee l a

da mn t hing o r hear anyt hing abo ut . T his mu st ha ve happe ned whe n we wer e sleep ing in t he t ent but t hank fu ll y t her e wer e no ser io us injur ies, no t suna m is, o r aft er sho cks w he n we wer e ins ide t he ca ve s s hak ing br eakdo wn int o o ur heads. We go t r est fo r t he fo llo w in g da y int o Cueva Lar ga a nd Cue va Do s O jo s. T he ne xt mo r ning, we le ft fo r Lar es, P uer t o R ico , t o pur sue anot her lo ng d a y o f hik ing t hr o ugh t he ju ng le o n a quest t o get t o Cue va Do s O jo s a nd Cue va Lar ga. We meet up wit h Ro lf, And y, and F lo r a at t he Wa lgr eens in L ar es so we co uld gat her up o ur la st minut e supp lie s a nd mak e o ur way o ver t o t he dro p -o ff po int fo r t he r ent al car . We p la nned t o dro p o ff t he car , hike t o Do s O jo s and lar ga, me et up wit h Ro lf at Lar ga, t hen co nt inue t o hike o ut wit h Ro lf t o his car , and get shut t led back t o o ur car . T hat was ver y t ho ught fu l o f F lo r a and Ro lf t o place t he car s in a wa y t hat wo uld make it eas ier fo r a ll o f us, yo u gu ys ar e aweso me ! !! ! We mad e it up t he hi l l a nd t a lked t o t he la ndo wner s a bo ut what we wer e go ing t o do. We co nt inued do wn int o t he ju ng le w it h so me ind icat o r s t o wher e Do s O jo s was lo cat ed. Aft er abo ut 45 minut es o f mo got e hik i ng we made it t o t he impr ess ive e nt r ance o f Do s O jo s. It was mo r e impr es s ive fr o m t he ins id e lo o k ing o ut , but I r eall y e njo yed t his cave. Once we wer e a ble t o scr amble o ur wa y do wn t o t he bot t o m o f t he ent r anc e, F lo r a went o ff t o wor k o n her pro ject while L aur a, And y a nd I went in t he o t her d ir ect io n. We pa ss ed an i mpr es s ive o ld f lo wst o ne dr aper y co ver ed in f ine po pcor n t ext ur es. T he ce iling w as at lea st 50 ft and t he passage pr o vided br eakdo wn and hug e flo w st o ne st r uct ur es t o c li mb ar o und. Soo n aft er we mad e it t o t he end o f t he cave, whic h had so me mo r e impr ess ive f lo wst o ne dr aper y fo r mat io ns. Aft er war ds we t ur ned ba ck a nd we nt t he ot her s ide o f t he cave wher e F lo r a was wo r king. I dec ided t o st ay ba ck near t he ent r ance t o cat ch so me o f t he no o n sunl ig ht t hat was shin ing int o t he cave, lig ht ing up t he fo r mat io ns. I co nt inued back t o see what F lo r a was wo r king o n and t he y wer e abo ut t o wrap up w it h w hat t he y had go ing o n so I came back o ut and got so me mo r e pic s o f what was ar o und us and o f ever yo ne e xit ing t he cave. We wa nt ed t o get o ver t o Lar ga in goo d t ime so we packed up and got r eady t o go . We co nt inued t o o r ie nt and r e o r ie nt o ur se lves t o get t o Cueva Lar ga. Alo ng t he wa y, we passed Cue va Dugo n and I was impr essed w it h t he ent r ance t his cave had, whic h was s it uat ed o n a wa ll o f a lar ge s ink ho le. Next t ime I m co ming back her e. Aft er a few m ino r m is- o r ie nt at io ns, and a st r ange mo nke y so und, we fo und Ro lf a nd t he Lar ga ent r anc e. Lar ga had a n int er est ing vine - co ver ed fo r mat io n e nt r ance t hat yo u wa lk in bet ween t he

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C lo ckw ise fr o m upper le ft : Carl os, Jef f , Fl ora, L aura and A dam about t o ent er 80 -f t pi t ent rance of Cueva Z umbo; A dam Haydock at R i o Pri et o; Fl o wst one i n Cueva Dos Oj os; L ooki ng out of Cueva Convent o; Guava non - poisonous s corpi on i n Cueva B al cone s; C ueva Convent o; L aura Ol i ver i n t he canyon passage Cue va Z umbo; L aura Ol i ver l i ght i ng up connect i on passage i n Cueva B al cones. Phot os by A dam Haydock.

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fo r mat io ns t o get int o t he cave. T he n yo u c li mb do wn fo r mat io ns t o get t o t he ma ss ive, and I me a n mas s ive, bo r eho le passage. To m M il ler sur pr ised us by mak ing a guest appear anc e whic h wa s nice t o ha ng o ut wit h hi m a nd t alk abo ut so me o f t he cave fe at ur es and geo lo g y. S o me o f t he p ic s d id nt t ur n out so we ll a nd ot her s t ur ned o ut pr et t y dece nt Ro lf was wo r k ing o n so me pr o ject s so I was able t o he lp hi m do cu me nt his wor k wit h a fe w pho t o s fo r him w hic h I po st ed o n Facebo o k. I was able t o get a pic o f Ro lf o n t he ot her s ide o f a mass ive br eakdo wn p i l e t hat got hig h car bo n d io xide r ead ing s and was war mer t han w her e we ca me fr o m. T her e was a lo wer le ve l w her e we we nt do wn int o aft er Ro lf fin is hed up w it h his wo r k and I was pr et t y impr essed w it h t he fo r mat io ns t hat wer e gro wing in t his s ect io n. We made o ur exit fr o m t he ca ve s ho r t l y a ft er go ing t hr o ugh knee hig h st ick y mu d and s lid ing do wn a few mud hil ls in t he cave. Aft er an educat io na l sp eec h d ir ect ed by F lo r a abo ut educat io n, we pr o ceeded o ut and t hr o ugh t he ju ng le mo got e la ndsc ape past t he la ndo wner s ho use and do wn t o Ro lfs c ar . No t hat wasnt Ro lf s car but it was a car o n t he s ide o f t he r o ad. It r eminded me o f what o ur r ent al wo uld ha ve lo o ked like i f we f lipp ed t he edge o f t he mo ss r o ad in F l o r ida, P uer t o Rico . Aft er be ing cha l le ng ed t o a due l o f swo r ds ma ns hip, we c ha nged o ut o f o ur super her o sexy c a ver gear int o so met hing a bit mo r e int imat e a nd pr o ceeded t o pack Ro lfs o uppdee t o shut t le back t o o ur car . Aft er a few wr o ng t ur ns, d ir ect io na l f inger s fr o m lo ca ls, 1 piz za s ide t ho ught , 1 la nd s lid e, and abo ut a bill io n w ind ing t ur ns in t he r o ads, we made it ba ck t o o ur r ent al a nd sa id goo dbye t o o ur fr ie nds. We got a goo d nig ht s r est fo r t he ne xt day t o Obser vat or y Ca ve. Last da y in t he ho t el a nd we go t an ear l y st art t o Obser vat or y Ca ve o n t he T ana ma R iver . Laur a a nd I got t o t he par k ing lo t and I t alked t o t he secur it y guar d abo ut fo llo wing t he t r ail t o t he r iver t o vis it t he cave. He was nice e no ugh t o he lp w it h a bit mo r e inf o r mat io n a lo ng w it h a lit t le hist o r y o n ho w t he I nd ia ns used t his hist o r ic t r ail t o gat her gr o ups t o get her fo r var io us eve nt s. We made o ur hike t hr o ugh t he t r ail a nd po pped o ut in a f ie ld and o n a few r o ads aft er mak ing a few m ino r mis- o r ie nt at io ns. E ve nt ua ll y w e co uld hear t he r iver and make a B - line t o t he r iver wher e we su it up fo r so me wat er bo r ne act ivit ies. We scr a mble d o ver r o cks in t he r iver and swa m do wnst r ea m t o so me wat er fa l ls wher e we ju mped int o t he wat er so we co uld co nt inue do wnst r ea m. We no t iced t he cut ba nks w her e wat er had r ecent ly r aged t hr o ugh, whic h cr eat ed a pat h fo r us t hat made it eas ier t o r each t he en-

t r ance o f t he ca ve. S oo n aft er , I lo o ked out t o t he 500 - 600 ft cli f f fac e a nd no t ic e d t he c li ff st ar t ing t o sur ro und us. T hat is when we no t iced t he ent r anc e t o t he cave. I t was like a 6 - la ne hig hwa y go ing int o t his mass ive e nt r ance. T his is o ne o f t ho se caves t hat r emind me o f so me caves t hat I ha ve r ead abo ut in As ia, ma ybe a bit sma l ler but t his o ne was t he biggest cave I ha ve ever bee n t hr o ugh. We kept go ing deeper int o t he cave a llo w ing t he ambie nt sunl ig ht t o lig ht o ur wa y as we cr o ssed o ver t he r iver me nt a ll y no t ing o f t he co lo r s o n t he wa ll. Be aut if u l. We no t ic ed hu ndr eds o f bat s fl ying at t he t o p o f t he ce i ling w hic h wa s a ma z ing t o see but t he s me l l o f t he fr es h gua no and t he fact t hat we got shat o n mu lt ip le t imes r a ng my hist o pla s mo s is be l l, so we kept mo vin g and st a yed in t he wat er wher e it d id nt s me ll so bad. We co uld see t he exit fr o m t he ent r ance but it t oo k us 45 minut es just t o get t o t he ot her side o f t he cave. T he wat er got deeper so we st art ed swim m ing in t his r iver not ic ing t he hig h ce i ling a nd t he act ive flo w s t o nes po ur ing wat er aro und us. As we got clo ser t o t he exit , t her e wer e wat er fa l ls t o t he side o f us whic h ma de t his p lace lo o k like a fa nt as y la nd Abso lut e ly br eat ht ak ing !! Whe n we exit ed t he cave, we got t o a li t t le r o ck bank w her e t her e was a no t her s ma ll cave t o swim t hr o ugh w it h wat er fa lls po ur ing o ver t he ent r anc e! ! T his p lace d id not eve n see m r ea l, I t was like a p lac e o ut of t he mo vie L ord of t he R i ngs . T he sma ll ca ve had t hese wat er fa l ls po ur ing o ver and flo w st o ne ar o und it so we st art ing sw i m m ing t hr o ugh and we fo und t he r iver blo cked by lo g s t hat pr eve nt ed us fr o m co nt inu ing t hr o ugh. I at t empt ed t o clear t he lo gs but we dec id ed t o t ur n aro und and cli mb o ver t he wa ll t hr o ugh t he ju ng le a nd co me o ut t he ot her s ide. Aft er sca l ing t he wall, we wa lked do wn a pat h t hat see med t o be wher e ot her peo ple wa lk ed t o avo id t hat lo g ja m. We wer e able t o walk do wn a spr ing t hat was bla st ing wat er whic h was flo w ing o ver t o t he ot her side o f t his s ma ll ca ve s yst e m. I was so impr e ssed w it h t his p la ce a nd I t hink t his is my new a ll t ime fa v ca ve. Just an incr ed ib le p lace a nd wo r t h t he t r ip in it se lf. S oo n aft er , we decided t o t ur n back so we co uld get t o t he E l Yunqu e Jung le o n t he ot her s ide o f t he mo unt a in a nd make su r e we st il l had so me sunl ig ht le ft t o get dinne r and set up t he t ent . T he o r ig ina l e nt r ance was ju st an a ma z ing s ig ht t o see, and I w il l ne ver fo r get ho w we ll t he sunlig ht was able t o il lu m inat e a goo d po rt io n o f t he e nt r ance. We t oo k o ne la st goo d lo o k int o t he ca ve be fo r e head in g out int o t he upst r eam r iver and mak ing t he c li mb back o ut t o t he par k ing lo t . We a lso got a cha nce t o see what t he lo ca ls ca l l E l Ra dar ,

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whic h is t he lar ge st r adio t elesco pe in t he wo r ld, but fr o m w hat I under st and, t he Chine se ar e abo ut t o bu ild a bigger o ne. It was eas y fo r t his t o be bu i lt as it is s it uat ed in a s ink ho le. We gr abbed so me d inner on o ur wa y t o t he E l Yu nque, but r ig ht abo ut t he t ime we got t o t he ju ng le, dar kne ss set t led in, so set t ing up t he t ent and hik ing up t he 200 - ft p iece o f mo unt a in t o get t o t he r idge wa s just a bit mo r e int er est ing, but t he mo r ning view s fr o m t he r idge ar e a ma z ing. S o in t he midd le o f t he nig ht I hea r d so met hing r unning ar o und t he t ent . We wer e hu ndr eds o f feet up o n a r idg e a nd I had ne ver se e n a ny do gs o r cat s ro aming a r o und fr o m t he ne ig hbo r hoo d be lo w wher e we wer e ca mp ing. S o t her e was so met hing r u nning ar o und and a l l o f a sudde n it r a n r ig ht int o t he t ent and int o my fo o t ! I ju mped up and gr abbed my k nife ! What t he he ll was t hat !?! I t wasn't a har d punc h int o t he t ent but it was ver y m yst er io us t o sa y t he le ast . It m ig ht have bee n a mo ngo o se or an ig uana, but I am just sur e, and it ma y ne ver be kno wn what it r eall y w as. We wo ke up ear ly so we co uld go get fer r y bo at t icket s t o Cule br a a day ear ly a nd get t o t he no r t h dist r ict fo r a hike. I want ed t o check o ut t he La Co ca t r ail w hic h is suppo se t o be a bit mo r e r ust ic w it h wat er fa l ls, and t he o nly t r a il I had nt been o n. We get t o t he t r ailhe ad a nd I not ic ed a lo t o f br o ken car w indo w gla ss o n t he gro und whic h was no t a goo d lo o k fo r me so we dec ided t o sum m it t he mo unt a in via t he E l Yunque T r a il whic h t oo k us t o t he clo ud fo r est . We st ar t ed up t he gr ave l t r a il w hic h ma de it a he l l o f a lo t easier t o hike up r at her t ha n bus hw hack ing a nd s lo gg ing o ur way t hr o ugh p la nt debr is a nd mud. We not ice d t he weat her cha nge as it got a bit coo ler and t he t r ees st art ed t o shr ink a nd get sma l ler . E ve nt ua ll y, we made o ur su mm it t o t he t o p o f t he E l Yu nque t r ail a nd t he clo uds st art ed t o ro ll in w it h a har d dr izz le of r a in t hat fo llo w ed. As we w er e at t he t o p, I was t hink ing abo ut ho w we wer e in a ma ss iv e wat er cave w it h pr e vio us wo r ld c las s ca ve s befo r e t hat , and no w we ar e o n t o p o f a c lo ud fo r est mo unt a in. T his r ea ll y put P uert o R ico int o per spect ive fo r me as t o ho w t his is la nd ha s so muc h d iver s it y in t er ms o f bio lo g y a nd geo lo g y. I lo ve t his is la nd ! ! We made o ur descent back t o t he car enjo ying t he hike a nd wat ching t he c ha nge in weat her w it h t he p la nt s ar o und us. E ar lier in t he da y we got o ur t icket s t o go t o Cule br a fo r a co uple da ys so we wer e r eall y e xc it ed t o be cha ng ing it up a bit and enjo ying some R and R in a r e mo t e and beaut ifu l des er t is la nd. Last da y in P uer t o R ico and it sur e has bee n o ne a maz ing t r ip! ! T his la st excur s io n was no t anyt hing s ho r t o f aweso me. T he

year s pr e vio us I have t r ave led up t he R io S aba na t o t he T r ade Winds r a i l t o E l T o ro and do wn t he R io Cubu y t o P R 191. I have go ne up t he R io Bla nco t o t he R io I caco t o t he p ipe l ine t r ail, a nd t his t ime I want ed t o summ it t he Rio P r iet o fr o m t he pipe l ine t ra il a s we ll a s desce nd do wn t he R io S aba na t o t he co nflue nce o f t he S aba na/ Cu bu y r iver s and asce nd up t he Rio Cubu y t o o ld P R 191. T his cascade hike was no jo ke! We got dro pped o ff at t he end o f t he r o ad o n o ld P R 191 and wa lked t o t he t r ailhead w her e t he R io Saba na and P R 191 meet . We fo llo wed t he pipe line t r ail a l l t he wa y t o t he ju nct io n o f t he R io P r iet o and t he pipe l ine t r ail w hic h inc lu ded a 40- ft wat er fa ll a nd a o ld ladder t hat we had t o cli mb up t o r each t he t o p o f t his fir s t wat er fa ll. We make it ar o und t he r ust y lo ck jaw in fest ed ladder and c li mbed up t he shad y ladder t o t he t o p wher e we co uld see t he ma in wat er fa l l. T his wat er fa l l ca n be s ee n fr o m t he r o ad and was o ne o f t he biggest wat er fa lls I ha ve s ee n in P uer t o Rico . E ve nt ua ll y we made it t o t he last po rt io n o f t he fa l ls a nd wa s a ble t o scr a mble o ver t hat car efu ll y so we did n't t ake a s lid ing t umble o ver 100 ft t o t he fa l ls be lo w. I used nat ur a l anc ho r s and me at ancho r ed mys e lf t o sa fe l y get us t o t he t o p o f t he R io P r iet o . It r ea ll y do esn't lo o k like we d id muc h but it bit o ff a c hu nk o f o ur da y wo r king up t his cascade t o t he r im w hi le mak ing sur e we wer e no t br eak ing a ny legs a nd r u nning int o any f las h flo o ds. P eo ple ha ve d ied o n t his r o ut e and ot her ro ut es due t o expo sur e by r im m ing t he ms e lves o r using po or judge me nt so we made sur e we wer e car e fu l a nd we d id it . F ina l l y we mad e it t o t he Rio Cubu y S aba na co nf lue nc e a nd t oo k a sw im in t he r iver poo l be lo w. Aft er war ds, we dec ided t o asce nd t he R io Cubu y ba ck t o t he ro ad so we co uld wa lk back t o o ur car and head t o t he ho t e l fo r t he last nig ht in P uer t o R ico . We scr amb led and bo u lder ed o ver ro ck unt il. . . . What t he he l l is t his t hing do ing her e ?! ? who put t his mas s ive mu lt i - dr o p wat er fa ll in t he wa y? I have ne ver seen o r hear d anyt hing abo ut t his t hing ! What a sur pr ise it was fo r us. We co nt inu ed o n and slo w ly ma d e o ur asce nt by c l i mb ing up t he bo ulder s in t he cascades scr a mbl ing o ur way t o t he t o p. Fina l l y we made it t o t he t o p!! N ic e view a nd what an a maz ing wat er fa l l t o co me o ut o f. T hat was a n ep ic end t o o ur mo st amaz ing t rip o f a maz ing c a ves, cas cades, des er t is l and s, o cean sw i ms, a ma z ing fr ie nds, gr eat peo ple, ear t hquakes, cult s, we ir d anima ls, a nd just an a maz ing t ime. My best t ime in P uer t o R ico ever . I want t o t hank t he la ndo wner s , o ur fr ie nd s, and a ll t he gr eat me mo r ies w e had exper ie nc ed o n t his t r ip. It wil l ne ver be fo r got t en and I a m lo o k ing fo r war d t o co ming back o ut t o P uert o Rico ver y so o n! !! ! !!

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TRIP REPORTS
T R AP P E R C AV E T R IP
T r apper Cave Januar y 4, 2014 Wa s hingt o n Co unt y, I nd ia na Andr ea Bo lks Do r ia n Go ld ma n P hi l Go ld ma n S ar a Hughes Br ia n Hu nsaker Laur a O liver Jaso n St . Jo hn Ada m Ha ydo ck Aft er lo o king at t he weat her r eport s a fe w t imes a nd w at ching peo p le back o ut of t his t r ip, we decided t o keep o ur pla ns and go do wn t o I nd ia na fo r a weekend o f co ld weat her caving fu n and o ne he l l o f a dr ive back ho me. We a ll p i led in P hil s 4 x4 t r uck so we co uld s it 7 peo p le co mfo r t abl y in t he t r uck. We wer e all cat ching up w it h s leep unt il we go t t o Bedfo r d. Br ia n ca me do wn separ at e ly in his car a nd M ic hae l Ang e l o and his w ife Z e lda got a roo m t he nig ht be fo r e in Bed fo r d. We met at t he usua l me et - up lo cat io n and pr o ceeded t o t he la ndo wner s pr o per t y wher e we wo uld find t he ent r ance t o T r apper Cave t ucked under a s ma l l bl u ff a quar t er o f a mi le be hind t he la ndo wner s pr o pert y. T his ca ve app ear s t o have a co uple ent r ance s but o nly o ne see med t o be ac cess ible t o us. We wo r ked o ur wa y o ver t o t he ent r ance a nd M ic hae l Ange lo t o ld me t hat he co uld nt make it ins ide t he ca ve due t o his back pr o ble ms, so he a nd Ze lda r et ur ned t o t he hot el. We wor ked o ur way do wn t he s ma ll br eakdo wn p ile a nd int o t he wat er passage wher e we pro ceeded t o cr awl 150 ft t o a p lace w her e we co u ld st and up and ge t o ur bear ings. T he st r ea m pa ssage was a so lid lo o king t unne l w it h gr ave l a nd sa nd fo r a bot t o m. T his was a bit differ e nt t ha n t he t r ad it io na l mud - ba nked bo t t o m pass age t hat we ha ve bee n in pr e vio us l y. Re minded me o f. . . ., just a lit t le o f. . . ., Cueva Lo s Cho r ro s in P uert o R ico , except fo r t he bo as, 65 degr ee wat er, 75 degr ee cave t e mp a nd r azo r ro ck art t hat t he wat er car ved o ut in Lo s Cho r ro s. Once we st art ed do wn t he wat er passage, we st art ed t o mea nder le ft and r ig ht , pass ing s ma ll wat er fa lls a lo ng t he wa y no t ic ing cave cr it t er s as we pr o ceeded deeper int o t he s yst em. I not iced a ho le in t he wa ll t hat t oo k us up t o a passage. T his pass age is ca l led t he O ld Upper P assage a nd was t he r iver passage u nt il t he lo wer passage was mad e waaaa yy back whe n. It appear s t o me t hat t his lo wer st r eam pa ssage we wer e in m ig ht ha ve bee n made in t he past ice age a nd be fo r e but s ince t his ca ve is near Fr edr ick s bur g Cave, I am assu m ing t hat t hese t wo caves wer e deve lo ped under s im i la r cir cu mst ances. T he dr ied - o ut rot t en do lo mit e passage we fo u nd o ur selves in m ig ht be a n anc ie nt passage as t he flo o r sho wed s ig ns o f sa nd and s ilt depo s it , le ad ing me t o be li eve a st r eam wa s pr ese nt her e at o ne po int . We t oo k a br eak her e w hi le so me peo ple went t o t he end o f t he passage in o ne d ir ect io n t o see what was aro und t he St . Lo uis L ime st o ne co r ner . Once ever yo ne ca me back, we co nt inued do wn int o t he fo r mat io n r oo m. T his r oo m had so me ver y int er est ing art ifact s. T her e wer e he lig m it es a nd he l ict it es o n she lves o ver o ur heads a lo ng w it h a not her int er est ing feat ur e t hat st ill ha s bee n po nder ing what it is e xact ly. R ig ht be fo r e o ur se lve s was a co lu mn o f so rt s t hat appear ed t o be r eco nne ct ed. Furt her mo r e t wo she lfst o ne t able s o n t he fo r mat io n be lo w, mig ht sho w evidenc e wher e an o ld wat er line used t o be. T he fo r mat io n was so met hing I had ne ver seen be fo r e and p iqued my int er est t o under st and ho w t his was act ua ll y fo r med. We co nt inued do wn t o t he 45 - ft do mes t hat wer e next t o each ot her and made it t o t he ot her end o f t he upper passage. We t oo k ano t her br eak and s ho rt ly a ft er t hat , we pro ceeded int o t he Maze and int o t he Maze Do me Ro o m, w her e t he pas sage go t int er est ing. T her e wa s a do me t o cli mb int o t hat had a ho le in t he gr o und lead ing t o anot her do me. T his do me t oo k me t o a cli mb w her e I had an o pt io n t o go in t hr ee differ e nt dir ect io ns. I went in a d ir ect io n t hat led back ar o und int o a c li mb co nnect io n t hat was near t he o ld upper passage, w hic h a lso co nne ct ed t o t he lo wer st r eam passag e. Aft er so me s ma l l e xpo sur e cli mb ing ar o und t he p it s we ca m e t o a do me wher e we co uld co nt inue t o c limb up int o t he t o p le ve l p as sage. T his was l ike a fr e ak in p la ygr o und fo r caver s! !! I t r eminded me o f t he pas sage s in E l liso ns c a ve but a bit s ma ller . I co nt inu ed o n t o wher e I came t o a s lo t canyo n. T his s lo t canyo n had c lear wat er but super - fine mud, a nd I co uld o nly i m ag ine ho w lo ng t his wat er must ha ve be e n s it t ing her e. Once we go t t hro ugh t he s lo t canyo n I ca me back ar o und t o get ever yo ne e ls e and we a ll pr o ceeded t hr o ugh t he s lo t canyo n t o t he Wat er fa l l Do me Ro o m. T he wat er passage wa s a lo t o f fu n, t he ma ze wa s a p la ygr o und, t he s lo t was we ll de f ined and s har pened, but t he Wat er fa l l Do me Ro o m wa s t he

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cat s meo w. T her e was a nice ca nyo n pa ssage t hat lead t o a 15 - ft . wat er fa l l. Once I was able t o cli mb t he wat er fa l l I p lac ed a l ig ht o n t he seco nd wat er fa ll, and we wer e o pen fo r bus ine ss l ike a fr eak in s ho w cave. T he wat er was lit up fr o m t he fir st wat er fa l l a nd fr o m t he s eco nd wat er fa ll, w hic h br o ught a beaut ifu l per sp ect ive t o t his passage. S o me at t empt ed t o cli mb up but we ma in l y e njo yed t he wat er fa l ls s him mer ing beaut y a nd po nder ed t he o bvio us pas sage t hat was abo ve t he fa l ls. Next t ime I co me back I want t o see if t hat upper passage can be r eac hed. We st art ed t o head o ut o f t he cave and made it t o t he bat ht ub sw i m fo r a br ie f p add le acr o ss t he war m 54 - degr ee wat er s o f T rapper Ca ve. Opt io ns wer e t o eit her get wet fr om t he t o p do wn o r go back ar o und, so ever yo ne dec ided t o t hr ust t hro ugh t he wat er and bo lt out o f t he cave w it ho ut any issue s. We go t o ut o f t he cave, and a lt ho ugh it was co ld, it co uld ha ve bee n a lo t wo r se. Regar dle ss, we st ar t ed cha ng ing int o dr y c lo t he s a nd made it ba ck t o t he car fo r a space heat er , beer , and fest ive laug hs t hat we co nt inued t o enjo y t hr o ugh t he nig ht . Unfo r t unat ely t he ne xt da y we wo ke up and dec ided t o head ba ck due t o t he r a in a nd sno w. We made t he r ig ht dec is io n t o go back whe n we d id! I got wo r d lat er o n t hat t he caves e xper ie nced hig h wat er BUT t he spot l ig ht go es t o t he r ide ba ck. . .o h yes, t he r ide back ho me, mo r e like an ep ic jo ur ne y t hr o ugh t he t ast e o f t he no r t h po le lead ing o ur wa y back t o Chiber ia. E ver y st o p lig ht go ing no r t h went fr o m r a in, t o sleet , t o t hick s leet , t han hea vy wet sno w, t o sno w, t o blo wing t undr a bliz zar d F ML s no w. What a cha nge in t he weat her . We wer e get t ing r epo rt s o f hig hwa ys c lo s ed so we diver t ed o ur ro ut e and just made it t hr o ugh t he la ne c lo sur es as we passed by t he m. Whi le dr iving a n a ver a ge o f 30 mi les per ho ur fo r 230 mi les, we w it ne ssed o ver 10 se m i t r ucks t hat wer e flipped o ver , and mu lt ip le car s t hat s lid int o t he d it ch. At o ne t ime we even fe lt o ur t r uck being blo w n o ff t he r o ad and int o t he d it ch but P hi l a nd his br o wn 4 x4 S p ir it O f Mo unt P ro spect pr eva i led! N ine ho ur s lat er T he I nt r ep id Ca ve r s make it back t o Chicago sa fe a nd s o und. Alo ng t he wa y we had a new fr ie nd and a co mpa nio n, a sno w bit ch na med Mat ilda. S he was a st r o ng sno w wo ma n, but unfo r t unat e ly a ft er 5 minut es o n t he hig hwa y o n t he bo w o f t he S p ir it o f Mo unt P r o spect s ho o d, she d isint egr at ed be fo r e o ur ver y e ye s back int o t he w int er wo nder la nd, wher e s he c a me fr o m lik e t he dude fr o m I ndi ana Jones and t he L ast Crusade c ho o s ing po or ly t o dr ink o ut o f t he wr o ng cup. I wil l ne ver fo r get yo u Mat ild a. - - Ada m Ha ydo ck

T r apper Cave, t o p t o bot t o m: Group shot at ent rance; T rapper f ormat i on room wi t h evi dence of an anci ent wat er l ev el ; T rapper s mi d - l evel st ream passage; Sl ot canyon i n L evel 3. Phot os by A dam Haydock.

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W IN T E R TAG 2014
T AG Co unt r y Br ia n Hu nsak er Ke vin Ro ma nak No bo r u S akabe Febr uar y 14 - 16, 2014 Laur a S anga ila Just in T ho mpso n Ada m Ha ydo ck

Aft er pr epar ing t he a lmig ht y Ho nda acco r d fo r a 1200- mi le r o und t r ip t o T AG, Br ia n Hunsaker , Laur a S anga ila, No bo ru S akabe a nd Ada m H a ydo ck hit t he road at ar o und 9 pm T hur sda y nig ht o n a t hr u t he nig ht t r ip t o Ala ba ma. We dr o ve t hr o ugh t he nig ht and go t t o Hunt svi l le ar o und 6 a m Fr id a y mo r ning. Kevin Ro ma nak and Just in T ho mp so n wer e wa it ing in t he t r uck fo r us at t he Ke nna mer P r eser ve in Ala ba ma. Whe n sunl ig ht br o ke t hro ugh we lo aded up Ke vin s car and dr o ve his 4x4 t o t he t r ailhead pr eser ve. T he Ho nda wo uld ha ve got st uck in t he t hick mudd y r o ad if t he at t empt had bee n made t o t r aver se t he ro ad, so we put ever yt hing we ne eded in Ke vin s t r uck and pr epar ed fo r a lo ng and co ld da y in t he me lt ing Ala ba ma s no w. We hiked up t he mo u nt a in t o S ecr et Pit . T his is a 140 - ft dro p wit h no passage at t he bo t t o m. We r igg ed and bo unced t his cave w it h no issue s. It was a nice st art er pit and at 140 ft , it was a nice dr o p t o get r eady fo r t he lar ger T AG dr o ps we wer e abo ut t o go t o. Aft er we de - r igged, we sp l it up a nd st art ed t o head fo r t he Or gy E nt r ance t o Ke nna mer Ca ve, whic h is wher e Ke nna P it is lo cat ed. T he Or gy E nt r ance is t he ent r ance we wer e suppo sed t o co me o ut o f fo r t he t hr u t r ip in Ke nna mer cave, but we wer e not able t o find it o r able t o find Ke nna P it , so we hiked up t o t he wat er fa ll e nt r ance a nd dug ent r ance t o see wher e we s ho u ld e nt er t he cave s yst e m. Aft er a few m is - o r ie nt at io ns, m is- co mmu nicat io ns, a nd so me co ld chi l ls t hink ing abo ut t he wat er fa l l e nt r ance, ever yo ne dec ided t o go int o t he dug ent r ance. Laur a dec id ed t o st ay back a nd head t o t he car , so t he r est o f us e nt er ed t he t iny ho le in t he gr o und wher e we had t o cr awl t hr o ugh co ld wat er t o get t o a wat er fa ll r oo m. T his wat er fa l l r o o m had a 35 - ft she er dro p r ig ht ne xt t o an expo sed cr awl t hat we had t o t r aver se ar o und. T his br o ught us t o a 45 - 50 degr ee mud s lo pe t hat t oo k us t o t he lo wer st r eam pa ssag e. We do wn - c l i mbed t his sect io n a nd go t t o a roo m w it h a ser ies o f do me r oo m co nnect io ns w it h wat er fa l ls r a in ing do wn int o sma l l po o ls. We st art ed o ur at t empt t o make t his a t hr u t r ip t o t he Or gy E nt r ance. We had t he map and no t iced wher e we wer e init ia l l y but as t his ca ve wo u ld s ho w lat er o n in t his t r ip, we sho u ld ha ve bee n pa ying at t ent io n t o t he map. We wa lked t hr o ugh a lar ge r oo m u nt il w e get t o t he Mo by D ick Roo m whic h is a ma ss ive

bo u lder t hat is blo ck ing t he pa ssag e a he ad o f us. M y ca mer a a nd I wer e no t get t ing a lo ng t oo well in t his hu m id ca ve, so t he p ic s I got ins ide t his ca ve s yst e m d id no t t ur n out as we ll a s I wa nt ed t he m t o . T he ca ve is a lot mo r e be aut ifu l t ha n t hese p ict ur es sho w. T his bo u lder was a co uple st o r ies hi gh and it s we ig ht must ha ve be e n in t he T ONS !! !. . HUGE , so huge it t oo k us 20 minut es t o squeeze t hr o ugh a lo wer r iver passage via br eat hing in t o fit t hr o ugh t he squeeze passage t o get back int o walk ing pas sage. We go t t o t he ot her s ide a nd t he do me s see med t o get bigger a bo ve o ur heads. S o me o f t hese do mes r eac hed a lmo st 120 ft up. It was pr et t y a maz ing t o see t he des ig n abo ve us t hat has bee n er o ded away by wat er and ot her effect s. We co nt inued o n a nd co me t o a do wn- c li mb w her e we had t o chimne y do wn and go t hr o ugh a ser ies o f r a in do me r oo ms w it h c her t le ve ls, st r at ified r o ck, and m i ner a l jo int s whic h ar e a lwa ys a maz ing t o see. We got t o anot her do me r oo m, and t he passage st art ed t o t ur n int o a hands a nd k ne es c r aw l. We co nt inued do wn t hr o ugh a sma ll ha nd s and k nee s passag e and pa ssed by fo r mat io n and f lo wst o ne r oo ms u nt il we e ve nt ua ll y ca me up t o t he 40 - 50 ft dro p. We lo o ked do wn and co uld nt figur e out ho w t o get do wn init ia ll y. We backt r acked, che cked a ll t he s ide passage s, checke d t he map, but no t hing appe ar ed t o make se nse. I viewed t he dro p and it appear ed t o be ll o ut under neat h us, so I co uld nt imag ine ho w so meo ne wo uld ha ve do wn c li mbed t his p it . I co nt inued t o lo o k aro und but I did n t see anyt hing t hat lo o ked like a wa y t o c li mb do wn. We wer e a ll t ir ed but we must ha ve m is sed so met hing. We backt r acked and t r ied t o r et r ace o ur st eps but aft er a few at t empt s, we dec ided t o exit and go o ut o f t he cave t he wa y we ca me in. I t was a defeat , as we want ed t o make t he t hr o ugh t r ip a nd we ar e pr et t y goo d at na vigat io n a nd sur ve y, but no t t o nig ht . De feat accept ed. We got o ut o f t he cave pr et t y qu ick so t hat t ells me t hat we mis - o r ient ed t he dist ance o n t he map and t her e must have bee n a wa y do wn. We wer e dr enc hed and it was in t he lo w 40s by t he t ime we go t out so we kept mo ving u nt il w e got t o t he car . It was a nice fe e ling t o kno w t hat we got a mo t el at t he L iber t y I nn fo r a nig ht so we co uld dr y e ver yt hing o ff a nd st r et ch o ut in a war m p lace, t ake a sho wer , and r ela x. We g ot t o t he Ho nda and in a daze, we mad e it t o t he mo t e l a nd cr as hed fo r t he nig ht . S at ur day mo r ning we wo ke up ear ly so we co uld get an ear ly st ar t t o t he mo unt a in t op fo r a 15 - hr t r ip int o 5 caves. We co o ked up br eak fast in t he mot e l and t oo k o ff t o t he mo u nt a in w her e t he ca ve s wer e lo cat ed and I fo llo wed t he ro ad t o t he po int wher e t he

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pave me nt end s a nd t he d ir t r o ad beg ins. I t oo k t he Ho nda r ea lly s lo w and st ead y do wn t his r o ad so I can mak e sur e no t hing wo uld get da maged me c ha nica l l y, as we need ed t o get back t o Chicago in t his t hing. T he ro ad was nt t oo bad; I was a ble t o get do wn t o t he t r ailhead r o ad wher e t he 4x4 ro ad beg ins. T his 4x4 r o ad was a differ e nt st o r y. T her e wer e t imes w her e t he mudd y r o ad wo uld be o n a 30 - 40 degr ee s lo pe go ing st r a ig ht up t he mo u nt a in! T he gro und was s lipper y, a nd t he mud was deep. We lo aded up Kevin s t r uck and pr o ceeded t o blast uphil l a vo id ing t ro uble so me depr ess io ns a nd qu ick l y mak e it t o a be nc h w it h e ver yo ne e it her ins ide o r ho ld ing t o t he s ide o f t he car o ut side. Ke vi n at t empt ed t o go up anot her lo ng st r et ch o f r o ad but t he t r uck kept spinning it s whee ls so he just s lo w ly br o ught t he t r uck do wn t o t he be nc h. We e nded up par k ing t he t r uck at t he be nc h a nd pr o ceeded t o hike up t he r est o f t he mo unt a in t o t he fir st cave lo cat io n, Ho lida y Ho le. T his was a nic e lit t le o pen - air ent r ance w it h a 105 - ft dr o p int o a lig ht r a in st o r m at t he bo t t o m. We enjo yed bo unc ing t his o ne a s it was no t t oo deep and a good war m- up fo r what was co ming. Laur a was able t o dia l in her r ack and was no w able t o g lide and co nt ro l t he r ack wit h ease, nic e wo r k!! Aft er t he fir st t hr ee peo ple go t back up t o t he t o p, t he y agr eed t o r ig 67 - Do llar P it , while we ca me up, de - r iged t his p i t and met t he m o ver at 67 - Do llar P it . We de - r igged t his p it and got o n t he r adio t o see if t he y wer e able t o find t he ent r ance t o 67 - Do llar P it . T he y co u ld nt find it so t he y we nt t o r ig Ma nd y s P it . We w e nt o n a sear c h and fo und t hat t he wa ypo int s wer e o ff a few hu ndr ed fe et but we wer e able t o lo cat e t he pit ent r ance. 67 - Do llar P it was an 80 - ft p it wit h a s ma l l e nt r ance a nd just a drop do wn int o a sma ll r o o m at t he bo t t o m. It was nice t o bo unce t his p it , so we le ft t he r igg ing in p lace so t he ot her s co uld bo unce it t oo . We hiked back up hi l l t o t he ro ad t o go t o t he f ina l ca ve o n t he mo unt a in, Mand y s P it . T his o ne is a 170 - ft wit h a s ma l l 10 - ft dr o p t o get t o t he ma in e nt r ance. We coo ked up so me lu nc h w hi le t he ot her s ca me up fr o m t he dro p. T he y we nt o ver t o 67 - Do ll ar P it and we pr o ceeded t o get o n ro pe and dr op do wn t his huge gapp ing r oo m! !! T his was r ea ll y nic e! ! T her e wa s t his r ing ing so und we co uld hear at t he t o p t hat gave an eer i e yet m yst er io us so und t hat echo ed ins ide t his r oo m. I got o n ro pe and pr o ceeded t o desce nd do wn t o t he bo t t o m. As I desc ended do wn, I co uld see a sma l l w at er fa l l dr i pp ing r ap id l y o n a cher t le ve l t hat is cr eat ing t his r ing ing so und. I t ho ught t hat was so int er est ing as it so unded like a ma n made inst ru me nt le ft fo r a wat er fa l l t o r ing. I get t o t he bot -

t o m a nd it was a pr et t y go o d ser ies o f wat er fa l ls cr eat ing a r a in st or m at t he bo t t o m a lo ng w it h ano t her wat er fa l l t hat was go ing pr et t y goo d. T her e was cave pas sage but we dec ided no t t o go t hro ugh it as we want ed t o sa ve so me o f o ur t ime fo r t he ot her lo cat io ns we wer e go ing t o be go ing t o. Br ia n Ascend ed t he p it and we made it o ut of t he cave, wet , and int o t he co ld Ala ba ma w int er a ir as t he su n was st ar t ing t o set . We de r igged a nd hiked back t o t he car so we ca n qu ick l y get o ver t o Do g Co llar P it be fo r e nig ht fa ll. We par ked o ur car s o n t he s ide o f t he r o ad and hiked up t o t he ent r ance o f Do g Co llar P it . T his was a no t her 105 - ft . dro p wit h a beaut ifu l a ct ive flo wst o ne wat er fa ll a t t he la st 50 ft . We all r ea l l y e njo yed dr o pping t his t oo, but it was t ime fo r so me ho r izo nt a l lar ge bo r eho le pas sage, B lu ff R iver Ca ve. T his ca ve w as a gr eat end ing t o a wo nder fu l da y o f ca ving! ! ! We t r aver sed acr o ss a r iver st r ea m and fo llo w it t o t he ent r ance o f B lu f f R iver Ca ve. Aft er a sma l l cr aw l, t his cave o pened up int o a lar ge bo r eho le pas sage. NI CE !! !! We wer e all r ea l l y i mpr ess ed wit h t his ca ve as it was no t o nly a nice wa lk ing passage ca ve but it was nice t o t ake a st ro ll t hr o ugh a war m ca ve s yst e m w it ho ut r o pes and e xt r a gear. I was not able t o get t he best p ict ur es ins ide B lu ff R iver Cave, but I was able t o get a co uple dece nt shot s o f t he passage. I hig hl y r eco mme nd t his cave if yo u ar e lo o king fo r a nice wa lk ing lar ge bo reho le cave w it h lar ge r oo ms. T his r e minded me o f a s ma l ler t yp ic a l P uer t o Rico cave in t er ms o f t he hu m id it y and t he s iz e w it h fewer fo r mat io ns. BUT t his cave had a lo t o f fo r mat io ns in sect io ns, lar ge br eakdo wn mo u nt a ins o ver 100 ft hig h, and ce il ing s 30 - 40 ft w it h a w idt h o f 20 - 30 ft at t imes. We got t o t he end o f t he ca ve s yst e m and dec ided t o t ur n back and he ad bac k o ut and t o t he car so we co uld get back t o t he mo t e l. It was a nice add it io n t o be able t o st a y in t he mo t e l a nd it made a lo t o f se nse fo r us, espec ia l l y s ince we wer e wet and co ld !! We a l l go t up a lit t le lat er , as t he t r ip t he nig ht be fo r e we nt no rt h o f 15 ho ur s o f so lid caving. We wo ke up so r e and in ne ed o f br eak fast so we fir ed up o ur st o ves a nd got r ead y fo r a c la ss ic a l p la ce, o ne o f my f avo r it e p lace s, S t ephens G ap! We make it t o t he t r ailhead a nd t her e wer e peo ple get t ing r ead y t o dro p t he gap even be fo r e we got t her e. We a ll s har ed o ur ro pes so ever yo ne was a ble t o get o n ro pe t o dro p do wn t o t he bo t t o m o f t he wat er fa l l a nd o nt o t he plat fo r m w it h t hr ee o pt io ns t o choo se fr o m. P eo ple ca n a lso wa lk o ut o f t his cave so if yo u do n't fee l l ik e ascend ing ( w hic h I do not r eco mme nd) , it is a n o pt io n.

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Ke vin wa s t he fir st t o dro p do wn int o t he fa l ls. Aft er abo ut 10 minut es, he r an u p and sa id t o me t he wat er fa l l w as r ag ing a t t he bo t t o m and gave me t his lo o k as if I was sur e I want ed t o go do wn t her e. ON ROPE ! I sa id as I had bee n wa it ing t o get do wn t o t he bo t t o m o f t his hur r ica ne wat er fa ll Ke y L ime Co ve mad ne ss r oo m fo r a lo ng t ime ! ! I get o ver t he edge and lo o ked at t he wat er fa lls r ag ing awa y be lo w me. As I desce nded do wn, I co uld st art t o fee l t he wat er vapo r t ur n int o wat er dro ps t ha n int o r ain whic h qu ick l y t ur ned int o so lid r a in. I was abo ut 20 ft fr o m t he gr o und and t he wat er was ha mmer ing do wn o n me l ike a fir e ho se at t imes ! T he pr essur e o f t he wat er and t he d ir ect io n t he w ind t hat was cr eat ed fr o m t he wat er in t his c ir cu lar co lle ct io n p it was l ike a hur r ic a ne. It was aweso me !! ! I cli mbed back o ut o n ro pe and pendulu med acr o ss t o anot her ro pe and o nt o t he p lat fo r m so I co uld st a y do wn. Laur a and I che cked o ut t he s ide pa ssage s a r o und S t ephens Gap. T he y d id nt go t oo far , but so me o f t he r o o ms had so me pr et t y int er est ing ca nyo n wat er fa l l dr o ps. One roo m had a r ag ing wat er fa l l co ming fr o m a pass age 20 ft abo ve us. We ca me ba ck o ut and I pro ceeded t o go t o t he t o p o f t he passage a nd c hec k out t he ma in r e sur gence. To my sur pr ise, t her e was mo r e cave at t he t o p, so I wor ked m y wa y t hr o ugh and ar o und so me be nd s unt il it got t o a po int wher e t her e wer e a few s ma ll ho le s t oo sma l l fo r me t o fit t hr o ugh. I want ed t o see if t her e wer e any d ive o ppo rt unit ies, but t hese ho les wer e t oo sma l l fo r me t o fit t hr o ugh. I wo uld nt be able t o fit t hr o ugh even w it h a no - mo unt co nfigur at io n. I came back do wn a nd checked o n ever yo ne e lse so see what t he y wa nt ed t o do. We dec ided t o de - r ig t he r o pes and mak e o ur head ing t o war ds o ur last cave, Mo ses T o mb. Ke vin a nd Just in had t o lea ve fo r I nd ia na so we exc ha nged o ur goo dbyes a nd we we nt o ur separ at e dir ect io ns. Aft er abo ut an ho ur s wo rt h o f dr iving, we ar r ived at t he pr oper t y t hat had a beaut ifu l va l le y sur r o unde d by mo u nt a ins. We par ked t he car and st ar t ed o ur jo ur ne y t o Mo ses To mb. We got t o t he bus and I checked m y co r ds, It appear ed t he cave was nt t hat far and if we wer e t o make a B l ine t o t he cave we s ho u ld be t her e s ho rt l y. T his dec is io n t ur ned o ut t o be a pr et t y bad o ne as t he t er r ain dr ast ic a ll y c ha nged t o t hick dead br anc hes, t hor ny vine s t hat gr abbed at yo ur c lo t hing w it h eac h st ep yo u mad e, and a d iso r ie nt ing fee l ing o f wo nder ing whic h d ir ect io n t o go . T hank fu l l y it was st ill lig ht o ut and we wer e go ing up, yet we had t o cho o se whic h dead bus h we sho u ld do dge ar o und fir st t o get t o t he ne xt foot st ep. S o met hing must ha ve co me t hr o ugh t his mo u nt a in w ip ing o ut ever yt hing in it s pat h. I t appear s t hat a t o r nado came t hr o ugh s ince

t her e was ma n- mad e de br is la ying ar o und t he mo u nt a in. Aft er inc hing o ur way c lo s er t o what appear ed t o be t he lo ngest 1/ 4 mi le hike in Ala ba ma, we got t o a s ma l l r idge and line po int ing t he wa y. Her e we wer e, well no t r ea ll y. No w we co uld not find t he cave. T he co r ds did not br ing us t o t he ent r ance ! ! We co nt inued t o lo o k aro und and t ur ned up no t hing, so I made t he dec is io n t o go do wn t he r o cky was h a s it was a bit eas ier t o t r aver se and ho pe fu l l y we wo u ld f ind a t r ail le ad ing us t o t he ca ve o r back o ut . Once we got do wn t o a co nflue nce we fo u nd a no t her was h t hat led us r ig ht t o t he cave e nt r ance. Ma n t hat was o ne he l l o f find !! ! T he ne xt cha l le ng e was t o r ig a nd t r ust a pair o f dead t r ees t hat wo uld ho ld us in p lace so we co uld dr o p t his 230 - ft pit . We r igged a t ens io nle ss anc ho r t o a fa lle n t r ee and backed it up t o ano t her t r ee. Fee ling mo der at ely co mfo r t able w it h t he r igg ing, we mad e t he dec is i o n t o dr o p and pad o ur way do wn t o t he bo t t o m o f t he pit . T her e was no cave passage do wn her e, so we quick l y asce nd ed and go t o ut in r easo na ble t ime. As I was as ce nd in g my Cr o ll wa s st art ing t o slip, and o n a 230 - ft c li mb, t his is not t he p lac e fo r t hese iss ues t o co me up. Regar d les s, I mad e sur e I set t he t eet h in eac h t ime I made a r evo lut io n a nd eve nt ua ll y I got t o t he t o p. We de - r igge d and st art ed o ur descent do wn t o t he va l le y be lo w. We got abo ut ha lfw a y w hack ing t hr o ugh t he bus h and fo llo w ing ye l lo w t ape alo ng t he r o ck wash o nly t o r ealiz e t hat I did no t have m y GP S unit !! ! AAGGHHH !! I wasnt happ y abo ut t hat at all, a nd I dec ided t o co nt inue o n w it ho ut it as I did nt want t o keep eve r yo ne wa it ing. I am ho p ing t he ne xt gro up t hat visit s t he ca ve w i l l r et ur n it t o me. We st ar t ed t o quest io n o ur ro ut e but r iver ( wet o r dry) a lwa ys lead t o peo ple a nd lead s int o t he va l le y wher e we want ed t o be, but we co uld nt see anyt hing a head o f us e xcept fo r mo r e dead t r ees. We t ur ned o ur lig ht s o ff t o id ent if y t he t err ain a nd t he r idge ar o und us w hic h wa s a bit o f he lp so we co nt inued t o fo llo w t he was h. E vent ua ll y we ca me up o n t he o ld bus t hat we passed whe n we mad e o ur hike up t he mo u nt a in so we knew we wer e o n t he ho me st r et ch int o t he va lle y a nd back t o t he car !! ! it wa s a gr eat fe e ling t o get back t o t he car and r e fle ct o n what an a ma z ing T AG t rip we had let a lo ne what an adve nt ur e it was just t o get t o t he fina l dr o p at Mo ses To mb. I want t o t hank Ke vin Ro ma nak, Just in T ho mp so n, No bor u S akabe, Laur a S anga ila, and Br ia n Hu nsaker fo r t he t ea m wo r k, gr eat me mo r ies, and o ne he l l o f a t r ip we ha d t o get her !! I t was a blast and o ne I wil l ne ver fo r get . T he ne xt mo r ning we w e nt t o t he L iber t y Ca f t o sig n t he cave lo g and st art o ur jo ur ne y ba ck t o Chicago . - - Ada m Ha ydo ck

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T AG Ca ving, c lo ckw ise fr o m upper le ft : L aura Sangali a ascends Dog Col l ar Pi t ; B ri an Hunsaker a scend s M andy' s Pi t ; L aura Sanga l i a descends Hol i day Hol e; L aura Sangal i a i n St ephens Gap; M oby Di ck B oul der i n Kennamer C ave; B ri an Hunsaker cl i mb s out of 230 -f t M oses T omb; B ri an Hunsaker and Just i n T hompson look at t he bot t om of wat e rf al l i n St ephens Gap; Kevi n R omanak ascends Secret Pi t . Phot os by A dam Haydock.

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G ROTTO M INUTES
S UBMITTED BY G REG S CHMIT
T he fo llo w ing is a su m mar y o f gr ot t o and bo ar d meet ing s o ver t he past t hr ee mo nt hs, as r eport ed by S ecr et ar y Gr eg S chm it . G R O T T O M E E T I N G , D E C E M B E R 11, 2013: O ffi ce rs p resen t : Ra lp h E ar la ndso n, B il l E ng lis h, P hi l Go ld ma n, R ic h P age ls, and Gr eg S chm it . T he Cha ir ca l ls t he meet ing t o o r der at 7: 40 P M wit h int r o duct io ns. He t hen o ffer s so me wo r ds r egar ding t he pa ss ing o f T i m McC la in w hile ca ving in I nd ia na w it h Ada m Ha ydo ck. T he Cha ir t he n pr o vide s a br ie f t r ip r eport o n t he gear r eco ver y e ffo r t t hat fo llo wed T im s e vacuat io n. Vi ce Ch ai r Rep ort : T he Vic e Cha ir is sear c hing fo r cave r e lat ed video s su it a ble fo r fut ur e pr esent at io n at me et ing s. S ecret ary s Rep o rt : No ve mber 13t h meet ing no t es ar e r eviewed a nd appr o ved w it h a co r r ect io n. T he V iet Na m t r ip t hat Do ug Bil l ings is p la nning is no t r elat ed t o any XME T effo r t , e it her at pr esent or in t he fut ur e. B oard M emb er at La rge: I t ems ar e ava i lable. Do yo ur Chr ist mas / Wint er Fe st iva l sho pp ing t o nig ht aft er t he meet ing. Ed i t or s Rep o rt : T he Dece mber Spel e one ws is a va i la ble a nd r ead y fo r public at io n. P r int ing ser vic e is co urt esy o f P hi l Go ld ma n. T he E dit o r is r eque st ing mo r e t r ip r epo rt s and ar t ic le s. Any o r ig ina l co nt e nt fr o m a ny me mber w il l be co ns id er ed fo r public at io n inc lud ing pho t o gr aphic, gr aphic, o r lit er ar y ar t lik e speleo - fict io n. Mar c h w i l l be t he ne xt issu e w it h a dead line near t he end o f F e br uar y 2014 . O ld B u si n ess: Out reach: T he caver o ut r each gr o up wil l meet ne xt Wed nesda y at Quent in and Heat her s Dr u mface. Over t he E dge: A gr o wing o ppo rt unit y fo r Gr ot t o public it y a nd me mber s hip o ut r each r e ma i n s a c h i e va b l e t hr o ug h t he O T E / Resp ir at or y Hea lt h As so c iat io n eve nt and pr o gr am. No new punc h list it e ms ar e int r o duced o r decis io ns ar e made r egar d ing t he OT E . Websi t e: T he web ca le ndar o f eve nt s at www. wi n d yci t ygrot t o. org is go ing t o be updat ed by t he Gr ot t o S ecr et ar y. T he s ec r et ar y w il l be view ing a ll o f t he a nno unce me nt s t hat sho w up in Ya ho o Gro ups and t r ans fer r ing hig hl ig ht s fr o m t ho se a nno unce me nt s t o t he webs it e. T hese updat es w il l no t be on a ny sc hedu le but w il l happ e n o nly at t he secr et ar y s co nve nie nce. New B u si n ess: A bo ar d meet ing w i l l be sc hedu led a ft er t he C hr ist mas ho lida y t o co ns id er so me c ha ng es t o meet ing fo r ma t and par t icu lar ly t o ho w t he r at her le ngt hy S ecr et ar y s r epo rt is go ing t o be pr esent ed. Lot s o f act ivit y is go ing t o mea n a lo ng r epo r t . A new st r at egy is t o get o fficer s t o pr e - r evie w t he no t es t aken at t hese meet ings, per fo r m t he need ed co rr ect io ns, and t hen s i mp l y ap pr o ve in w ho le a ny a nd a ll o f t he S ecr et ar ys r epo rt s gener at ed bet ween me mber s hip meet ings. T his wo u ld be in p lac e o f t he S ecr et ar y s o r al r epo rt . What r ema ins t o be d iscussed, at least in t er ms o f po lic y, is w hat is be st way fo r o ur no n - o fficer s t o r eceive meet ing minut es and ot her wr it t en r epo rt s fr o m t he Grot t o bo ar d. Also t o be det er min ed is ho w co mme nt s fr o m t ho se me mber s w ho ha ve r ead t hese r epo rt s will get co llect ed and pr ese nt ed. An n ou n cemen t s: An o ut r each cave t rip is p la nned fo r Ja nuar y 12t h. Co nt act Phi l o r wat ch Face bo o k. A ver t ica l S RT wo r ksho p w il l be ho st ed by P hi l at his ho me in Mo unt P ro spect . The act ivit y w i ll t ake place t his S unda y Dec e mber 15t h st art ing at 3 - P M. NCRC Le ve l O ne S RT t r aining w il l be ho st ed by t he NCRC in T e xas st ar t ing Fe br uar y 8t h and go ing t o t he 17t h. P hil w i l l be at t end ing. Ca ve Re sear c h Fo und at io n w i l l be act ive at Ber o me Mo or e cave in M is so ur i. T he p l anned dat e is Dece mber 21st . T he t r ip w il l in c lude M yst er y Ca ve o n t he fo llo w ing da y. Our Chr ist mas ho lida y par t y w il l be ho st ed b y B il l E ng l is h at his ho me in C hicago . Dat e fo r t he eve nt is t he eve ning o f Dece mber 21st . P lea se br ing a d is h t o shar e and, o pt io na l l y, a g ift fo r t he Gr ot t o gr ab bag. P r epar e fo r cha lle ng ing ne ig hbo r hoo d par king. Yo se mit e w il l be so me t ime in Mar c h. Det ails t o be anno unced. A Wind Ca ve t r ip is st il l be ing p la nned. Ada m is st il l go ing t o P uert o Rico o n Januar y 11t h. P hi l w i l l be at t end ing t he NS S co nve nt io n at Hunt svi l le ne xt year . P hi l w i l l a lso be a t t ending T AG. T he me et ing is co nc luded a nd fo llo wed by a Nat io na l Geo gr aphic video ent it led T he L ongest Cave .

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G R O T T O M E E T I N G , J A N U A R Y 8, 2014: O ffi ce rs p re sen t : Ra lp h E ar la ndso n, B il l E ng lis h, P hil Go ld ma n, R ic h P age ls, Laur a S anga l ia, a nd Gr eg S chm it . T he C ha ir ca lls t he meet ing t o o r der at 8: 00 P M w it h int r o duct io ns. Ch ai r s Rep o rt : Fr ed S c hu ma nn sa ys he l lo fr o m T e nnes see. He e xpect s t o be in t o wn abo ut t wo weeks fr o m t o nig ht . Vi ce Ch ai r s Rep ort : T he pro gr am t onig ht is a video pr esent at io n pr o vided by Ke n Redeker . T he pro gr am is ent it led Bat t le fo r t he Bat s and is a pro duct io n fr o m Dave McGo wan. Dave has be e n t o o ur meet ings in t he past and has a lso bee n a Wind y C it y me mber . S ecret ary s Rep ort : Not es fr o m Dec e mber 11t h ar e r eviewed a nd appr o ved by me mber ship pr ese nt . T reasu ry Rep o rt : P a yme nt is pe nd in g fo r t he ar chive s hip me nt t o FS U. T he $400. 00 shipp ing e xpe ns e w il l be r e imbur sed i n fu l l by D ick B le nz. Mr . Ble nz s ge ner o s it y in t his e ffo r t is no t ed by t he me mber s hip pr ese nt . T ha nks as we ll a s appr ec iat io n is ext end ed t o hi m. Ed i t or s Rep ort : T he Dece mber Spel eone ws is sue is ava ila ble t o me mber s and guest s pr ese nt t o nig ht . T he Mar ch is sue w il l be publ is hed at t he Mar ch me mber s hip meet ing o n Mar ch 12. T he de ad line fo r ar t ic le su bm iss io ns w il l be t he end o f Fe br uar y. B at H ou se Proj ect : T he S ecr et ar y w i l l be co nt act ing Jaso n S t . Jo seph w he n a nd i f Jaso n at t ends t he Gr ot t o me et ing ne xt mo nt h at Dr u mfa ce. T he S ecr et ar y at t hat t ime w i l l get Jaso ns co nt act info r mat io n a nd a lso discus s his ac ces s t o Fer mi La b in Bat a via I ll ino is. Our bat ho use t her e need s a vis it and Jaso n ma y be a ble t o pro vide a grot t o me mb er access t o t he pro pert y. O ld B u si n ess: T - shi rt s: St eve S co ut aris advis es t hat t he appro ved art wo r k is g et t ing c lea ned up and pr epar ed fo r fina l pr e s ent at io n and su bm is s io n. Web Pre sence: Aut o mat ed dues pa yme nt feat ur e was discu ssed br ie f l y w it h t he webma st er who is in at t endance. Grot t o M ember I dent i f i cat i on and B usi ness Cards: Al le n Go o dcave advis es t hat t he pr inc ipa l ar t wor k is in pr o gr ess o n a suit a ble Gr ot t o bus ines s car d. Wi nd Cave: No r eport . Mot or co ach c o mpanie s ha ve bee n co nt act ed but as yet no r ep ly. M eet - Up an d Ou t reach : T he co st of t he Meet - Up ser vice w il l be t aken o ver fr o m Heat her and Quent in and in t he fut ur e wi l l be

pa id fo r and expensed t o Grot t o fu nd s. To suppo rt t he ser vice w hic h ha s bee n ver y e ffect ive in o ur effo r t t o at t r act new me mber s, a mo t io n is made t o appro ve t his fu nd ing. Heat her and Que nt in w i l l st ill be ho st ing and sc hedu l ing t he meet - up alo ng w it h Ada m . A fo r ma l mo t io n t o appro ve year l y fu nd ing o f t he Meet - Up web ser vice, no t t o exce ed $144. 00 is made, seco nded, a nd appr o ved by vo ice vo t e o f t he me mber s pr ese nt . P hi l has no t ed t hat t he ver t ica l wo r ksho p sess io ns he has be e n ho st ing, he ld c hie f l y in suppo rt o f t he o ut r each e ffo r t , have been poo r ly at t ended. A pla n, s ylla bus, o r an agend a w il l be co ns ider ed a nd wo r ked o n as t he wor ksho p sess io ns pr o gr ess. T her e is br ie f d iscu ss io n r egar d ing w hat demo nst r at ed abi l it y a no vice ca ver sho u ld ha ve be fo r e t aking o n a n e xpo sed e nvir o nme nt . Fur t her discuss io n inc lude s whet her t he no vice caver sho u ld be de mo nst r at ing t hat abil it y u s i ng his o wn c limb ing gear . An n ou n cemen t s: T he la st Meet - Up t rip t o I nd ia na was su cces s fu l, we l l at t ended and enjo yed by a ll. T r apper s cave was vis it ed but ot her caves w er e no t due t o weat her and t ime li m it . Our next me mber s hip meet ing w il l be he ld at Quent in a nd Heat her s Dr u mfa ce. T he d at e o f o ur meet ing is st il l t he se co nd Wed nesd a y o f eac h mo nt h. Mar ch 12t h we w il l be back her e at t he r est aur ant in Add iso n. S ubse quent meet ing dat es w il l a lt er nat e bet ween t hese t wo lo cat io ns. P hi l Go ld ma n w il l ho st o ur next Bo ar d o f D ir ect o r s ( Off icer s) meet ing at his ho me in Mo unt P ro spect . T he meet ing w il l be t he evening o f Ja nuar y 25t h. All int er est ed me mber s ar e invit ed. O ff icer s ha ve a n est imat ed o ne ho ur o f bus ine ss t o discu ss a nd t hen a mus ica l ja m sess io n w il l fo l lo w t he bus ine ss. It see ms t hat ma ny o f t he o ff icer s o f o ur c lu b ar e mu s ica l l y t r a ined a nd ar e lo o king t o exper ime nt a lit t le. So wit h t hat in mind, br ing yo ur fa vo r it e no is e maker ! Ga ve l t ime fo r t he meet ing w i l l be 6 - P M. Br ing yo ur o wn adu lt be ver age. Gr een R iver Gr ot t o wil l be co nduct ing a r e sur ve y o f a co mmer c ia l ca ve near Ca ve C it y Ke nt uck y. T he e ffo r t wil l be t his we ekend ( Januar y 11 - 12) . Co nt act P hil Go ld ma n. Ada m H a ydo ck wil l be go ing t o T AG fr o m Fe br uar y 8t h t hr o ugh t he 12t h. Cave na me s wer e no t dis cuss ed. S o me me mber s w i l l be go ing t o e it her B ink le y s Ca ve o r Co ldw at er Cave so met ime in Mar c h.

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Over Mar t in Lut her King Weeke nd ( Ja nuar y 18t h t hr o ugh t he 20t h) so me me mber s wi l l be vis it ing S lo an Va l le y. Al iso n, B i ll, a nd T er r y inv it e me mber s t o at t end t he Chine se New Year s P ar ade in C hinat o wn. A D imS u m d inner w il l fo llo w t he par ade. ( Went wo rt h Ave nu e near 22 nd S t . ) T he Cha ir a lo ng w it h ot her o ff icer s w il l be at t end ing NCRC o n t he nig ht o f t he Febr uar y 12t h meet ing at Dr umface. Ada m w i l l be asked t o r un t he meet ing t hat nig ht . T ri p Rep ort s: T r apper s C a ve ( P hi l Go ldma n) ; Auck la nd New Zea la nd ( Laur a S anga ila) . T he Cha ir ad jo ur ns t he me et ing at 9 : 20 P M, fo llo wed by t he video pr esent at io n Bat t le o f t he Bat s. B O A R D M E E T I N G , J A N U A R Y 25, 2014: O ffi ce rs p resen t : B il l E ng l is h, P hi l Go ldma n, Laur a S anga i la, a nd Gr eg S chmit . New B u si n ess - - Year 2014 i n it i at i ves: NSS Convent i on: T his ye ar s co nve nt io n w il l be he ld in Hu nt s vil le a nd w i l l be fr o m Ju ly 14 t hr o ugh t he 18t h. It is pr o po sed wit hout f lo o r mo t io n t o co ns ider sw it c hing t he Wind Ca ve pla nned t r ip t o pur sue inst ead a p la nned car a va n t ype o f gr ot t o t r ip t o t his co nve nt io n ve nue inst ead. Me mber s hip w il l be ad vised a nd d iscu ss io n e nt ert ained. Vert i cal T rai ni ng E f f ort : A usa ble t r ain ing s yl la bu s is r equ ir ed. Ada m w i l l c heck t o see i f o ne is r ead y a nd wa it ing w it hin t he pages o f NS S s On R ope t r a ining ma nu a l. P hil w is hes t o co ns ider t he NS S publicat io n Bas ic St udent Vert i cal T rai ni ng M anual as r equ ir ed r ead ing pr io r t o any ver t ica l t r aining ac t ivit y he ma y ho st . E qui pment : Ret ir ing caver s ha ve be e n do nat ing t he ir go o d ver t ica l a nd ca ving gear t o t he c lu b. P hi l is cur r e nt ly in po sses s io n o f mo st o f t his mat er ia l a nd is r equest ing as s is t ance in inve nt or y a nd cat a lo g ing o f t hes e asset s. Jo e Wo lf is o ur quart er mast er and w il l need t o be advis ed o n st at us o f t his gear upo n co mp let io n o f t his t ask. A fut ur e dat e wi l l be dec ided o nce w int er weat her impr o ves. T hank You L et t ers: T he secr et ar y w il l wr it e a t emp lat e let t er o f t ha nks. T he m is s iv e w il l be d ir ect ed t o o ur cave o wner / la nd o wner co nt act s who have bee n fr ie nd l y t o o ur me mber s a nd ha ve pr o vided r equest ed access t o t he ir kar st and cave feat ur ed pro pert y. O fficer s and int er est ed me mber s ma y us e t he let t er as a co ver fo r ot her mat er ia l suc h as pho t o gr aphy o r t r ip r epo rt s. R est ri ct ed A ccess and Cl osed Caves: S pr ing M il l w i l l be r e - o pened t o caving. I ll ino is Ca ver ns w il l no t ! I ll ino is has no t appr o ved

fu nd ing fo r it s ca ves o r it s cave par ks. Br a inst o r ming t he issu e r esu lt ed in po ss ibl y pro vid ing int er ve nt io n t hr o ugh a co nser va nc y t hat Wind y C it y wo u ld st ar t and t he n spo nso r . I ll ino is Ca ver ns in Mo nr o e Co unt y is a fa bu lo us fir st t imer s ca ve. I nit ia l e ffo r t s sho u ld be fo cus ed o n o pening t his c a ve par k f ir st . B ill E ng l is h has bee n ass ig ned t he t ask o f co nt act ing t he ca ver co mmu nit y in and ar o und St . Lo uis. T his e ffo r t is st r ict ly t o engage t ho se in t he ar ea and get t he ir vie ws o n t he cur r ent st at us o f t he par k as w e ll as r ecent hist o r y, if a ny, o f t he ir e ffo r t t o o pen t he par k. P hil Go ld ma n w il l be co nt act ing Jack Wo o d fr o m I ll ino is S pe leo lo g ica l S ur ve y fo r t he sa me info r mat io n. S t eve S co ut ar is pr o vid ed a defin it io n fo r Jo ke Clo sur e and o ffer ed Ru mbl ing Fa lls Ca ve as a nd exa mp le. R escue T rai ni ng: T he NCRC nat io na l r escue t r aining eve nt . will be he ld at Ma mmo t h Cave N. P . ne xt S pr ing ( 2015) . Wind y C it y su pport o r spo nso r ship o f t he eve nt is br ie fl y discussed w it h no mot io n o r decis io n made. Commi t t ee Chai r s: Ada m Ha ydo ck has bee n ver y invo lved in o ur o ut r each e ffo r t as we l l as pr o vid ing su bst ant ia l t r ip r epo r t ing o n a ll o f his ca ving e ffo r t s. Ada m ha s bee n p la nning a nd ho st ing t r ips fo r bo t h sea so ned me mber s a s we l l as o ur no vice e xp lo r er s . T he Bo ar d o f D ir ect o r s discu ssed cr eat ing a new cha ir po s it io n fo r Ada m t hat wo uld comb ine ma ny o f t he t asks he is cur r e nt ly per fo r m ing. T he ne w po sit io n w i l l co mbine T r ip Cha ir and t he Out r each/ Meet - up act ivit ies. T he T r ip Cha ir po s it io n w il l be de let ed. T he new cha ir ma ns hip w i l l pr o vide gu ida nce a nd r epo rt ing t o t he Bo ar d if r equ ir ed. T hat cha ir per so n w ill a lso pro vide gu ida nce t o me mber s engag ed in t ho se ass ig ned pr o ject s. A fo r ma l mo t io n is made by t he T r easur er t o cr eat e t he po sit io n o f New Me mber Act ivit ies and P r o ject Manage me nt Cha ir . T his m ot io n is s eco nded by t he Bo ar d Me mber at Lar ge and is appr o ved by u na ni mo us vo ice vo t e. Ada m Ha ydo ck is ass ig ned a nd accept s t he po sit io n o f Act ivit ies a nd P r o ject Manageme nt Cha ir . B at House Proj ect Chai r: Mot io n is ma de by t he Bo ar d Me mber at Lar ge t o ass ig n S t eve S co ut ar is t he po s it io n o f B at Ho use P r o ject Cha ir . Mo t io n is s eco nded by t he T r easur er and is appr o ved by u na ni mo us vo ice vo t e. S t eve S co ut ar is accept s t he po sit io n o f Bat Ho use P ro ject Cha ir . O t h er B u si n ess an d an n ou n cemen t s: Febr uar y 12, 2014 w il l be t he ne xt Gr ot t o Member ship meet ing. I t will be he ld at Dr um face. Ada m w i l l c ha ir t he me et ing in P hi l s abse nce. T he meet ing w i l l a lso feat ur e t he by -

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mo nt hl y t he Meet - Up. Bus ine ss t o pic s w i l l be ver y br ie f. Next beg inner s t r ip w i l l be t o Reese Cave and E ver so le Ca ve. T his t r ip w i l l be o n t he f ir st fu ll week e nd in Mar c h. T reasur y/ St rat egi c Fundi ng: A s ho rt br a inst o r ming ses s io n is he ld t o addr ess st rat egic fu nd ing o f r eg io na l pr o ject s as we ll a s me mber t r aining e ffo r t s. No mo t io n o r decis io n is made. Meet ing is ad jo ur ned at 9: 50 P M. G R O T T O M E E T I N G , F E B R U A R Y 12, 2014: O ffi ce rs p re sen t : Ra lp h E ar la ndso n, B il l E ng lis h, Ada m Ha ydo ck, Laur a S anga ila , and Gr eg S chmit . Ada m Ha ydo ck ( act ing Cha ir ) o pens t he me et ing w it h int ro duct io ns at 8: 00 P M CS T . S ecret ary s Rep ort : Not es fr o m bo t h t he me mber s hip meet ing o n Ja nuar y 8t h a nd t he Bo ar d o f D ir e ct o r s meet ing o n Ja nuar y 25t h ar e r eviewed a nd appr o ved by vo ice vo t e o f t he me mber s hip pr ese nt . B oard M emb er at La rg e Rep o rt : T -shir t s and ot her it e ms ar e ava i la ble fo r purcha se a ft er t he meet ing. Ed i t or s Rep o rt : T he subm iss io ns dead line fo r t he Mar ch Spel eone ws w i l l be Fe br uar y 28t h. Co llat ing and ma i l ing is sc hedu le d fo r t he ne xt me mber s hip meet ing at Aure lio s P izza o n Mar c h 12, 2014. B at H ou se Proj ect : T he Fer m i la b s it e ha s bee n vis it ed a nd t he co nd it io n o f t he bat ho use t her e is co ns ider ed go o d. T he st at us o f o ur ot her sit es w il l be det er mine d o n fut ure vis it s t o t ho se s it es. An n ou n cemen t s: T he ne xt int r o duct o ry a nd beg inner ca ving t r ip is in p la nning st age wit h no fir m dat e set . Our next Bo ar d o f D ir ect o r s meet ing w il l be ho st ed by B il l E ng l is h at his ho me in C hicago . Dat e wil l be t he a ft er noo n o f S u nda y Mar c h 9, 2014 st ar t ing abo ut 3- P M in t he a ft er no o n. T ri p Rep ort s: Ada m H a ydo ck pr esent s a s lide a nd nar r at ive r epo r t o n t he gr o up t r ip t o T r apper cave in I nd ia na. New B u si n ess: An int r o duct io n t o ver t ica l t echnique is be ing p la nned. T he r equ ir ed t r aining s ylla bus is br ie f l y d iscu ssed w i t h no dec is io n made. Meet ing is ad jo ur ned at 9 -P M. - - Respect fu l l y su bmit t ed Gr eg S chmit , S ecr e t ar y

S PENT C ARBIDE
1 0 Y E AR S A G O
IN T H E

SPELEONEW S

I f yo u lo o k c lo se ly, yo u ma y no t ice a s ubt le cha ng e in t he appear anc e o f t he Spel eone ws . Not ice in par t icu lar t he t able o f co nt ent s and t he T r ip Repo r t s header . Beg inning w it h t his is sue, I a m no w us ing M icr o so ft P ublis her t o fo r mat and la y o ut t he news let t er . B lo cks o f t ext ar e co nt ained w it hin t ext bo xes, whic h can be linked, mo ved or placed anyw her e in t he do cume nt . E ach it e m, r a ng ing fr o m sho r t f il ler s, t o r ecur r ing t hings suc h as t he meet ing no t ice, t o ma jo r art ic le s and t r ip r epo rt s, is in a t ext bo x o r gro up o f l inked t ext bo xes. T he co ver phot o was scanned int o a JP EG fi le and t he n impo r t ed int o a pict ur e fr a me. And I st ill r e me mber t he days whe n c ut t ing and pa st ing wa s a lo w - t ech o per at io n, us ing sc isso r s t o cut blo cks o f t ext o n paper , and r ubber ce me nt t o past e o nt o a la yo ut over a l ig ht t able. ( Apr il 2004) 2 0 Y E AR S A G O
IN T H E

SPELEONEW S

Last Janu ar y r eco r d lo w t e mper at ur es and ice st o r ms c aused a n u npr ecede nt ed r o ckfa ll in Ma mmo t h Ca ve t hat dest ro yed o ne o f it s mo st po pular ar t ifact d isp la ys. A 100 - t o n r o ck s la b, whic h fe ll in t he Rot unda ar ea abo ut 800 fe et fr o m t he H ist o r ic E nt r ance , t he cave s lar gest nat ur a l e nt r ance, is co ns ider ed t he mo st sig ni fic a nt geo lo gica l o ccur r ence at t he cave s ince it o pened t o t o ur ist s in 18 61. T he s la b, whic h fe l l a bo ut 40 feet fr om t he ce il ing o f t he Ro t unda, was abo ut 70 fe et lo ng, 20 feet wide a nd o ne fo ot t hick. P ar k o ffic ia ls a nd geo lo g ist s sa y t hat heavy w inds appar ent ly se nt ext r eme l y co ld a ir we l l beyo nd t he cave e nt r ance, due t o t he fac t t hat t he nat ur al e nt r ance was w id e ned t o acco mmo dat e a new e nt r ance gat e. Fr o zen mo ist ur e w it hin t he li me st o ne fo r mat io ns cause d t he s la b t o pr y lo o se. ( Apr il 1994) 3 0 Y E AR S A G O
IN T H E

SPELEONEW S

( T he fo llo w ing is a n acco unt o f exit ing I llino is Ca ver ns dur ing flo o d ing. - - ed . ) Whe n I t ur ned t he co r ner , t he sig ht of t he no r ma l l y p lac id st r eam ca me int o fu l l view. T he no r ma l w idt h is a bo ut t wo feet wid e and t hr ee t o six inc hes deep, but t his was t went y feet acr o ss and t wo t o t hr ee feet deep. In go ing acr o ss I had t o fig ht t he unco mmo nl y co ld, r ushing wat er wit h e ver y st ep. Whe n I r eached t he o t her side, I r ea lized I had o nly got wet up t o my a nk les w he n we ca me in, S P E N T C AR B ID E - - Co n t . o n p . 2 1

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T h e W in d y Ci t y Sp el e on e ws, Ma r ch 2 0 1 4

Vo l . 5 4

WCG M EMBERSHIP L IST

L IF E G R O T T O M E M B E R S 5671LF 10048LF 13906LF 14907LF 9482L 5728LF 44918L 44919 835LF B l e nz , D i c k . 8 0 7 0 W . E l l e r R d . , B l o o m i n g t o n, IN 4 7 4 0 1 r b l e nz @ i n d i a n a . e d u E a r l a n d so n, R a l p h. 8 0 2 S . H i g h l a nd , O a k P a r k , IL 6 0 3 0 4 - 1 5 2 9 r a l p h. e a r l a nd s o n@ g m a i l . c o m L a r so n, D a v i d . 4 3 4 6 V i a P r e s a d a , S a n t a B a r b a r a , C A 9 3 1 1 0 d e l a r so n@ a o l . c o m L a r so n, E l e a no r B u r n s. 4 3 4 6 V i a P r e sa d a , S a n t a B a r b a r a , C A 9 3 1 1 0 d e l a r so n@ a o l . c o m L e nz , R o b e r t . 3 3 1 1 N . N e e n a h A ve . , C h i c a g o , IL 6 0 6 3 4 M i xo n , W i l l i a m . 1 4 0 4 5 N . G r e e n H i l l s L o o p , A u st i n , T X 7 8 7 3 7 b i l l m i xo n@ w o r l d ne t . a t t . n e t S c h um a n n, F r e d . 1 0 0 1 9 B l a c k b e r r y B r a nc h R d . , B o n A q ua , T N 3 7 0 2 5 e r i c c o y@ ym a i l . c o m S c h um a n n, S a n d r a . 1 0 0 1 9 B l a c k b e r r y B r a n c h R d . , B o n A q u a , T N 3 7 0 2 5 sc h um a n n 2 4 @ a o l . c o m W i g ht m a n, F a t h e r P a u l . S t . L e o C h u r c h, R R 6 B o x 6 7 0 0 , A v a , M O 6 5 6 0 8 R E G U L AR M E M B E R S 46614 60588 33810F 48856 62908 17135L 32481L 13955L 63220 30093 63653 62542 18679 24739 52727 23317L 41685 62151 38557 61988 11168 36337 18887 18888 24220 51162 64369 16043L 64980 B e c k e r , R o y. 1 1 7 5 N . L a k e s i d e D r . , P a l a t i n e , I L 6 0 0 6 7 r o y. j . b e c k e r @ j u no . c o m C a m p b e l l , T o m . 1 2 1 3 F r a nc e s P a r k w a y, P a r k R i d g e , IL 6 0 0 6 8 tj cam pbell@ gm ail.c om C ha m b l i s s, A l i s o n. 4 7 3 7 W . M o nt a n a S t . , C h i c a g o , IL 6 0 6 3 9 a v_ sc a r l e t e @ ya h o o . c o m C ha m b l i s s, T e r r y. 4 7 3 7 W . M o n t a na S t . , C h i c a g o , IL 6 0 6 3 9 C i a m b r o n e , D i a ne . 4 4 3 F l o c k A ve . , N a p e r v i l l e , IL 6 0 5 6 5 dia nago g@ woway.com C o h e n, L a r r y. 1 2 8 3 4 F a nt a s i a D r . , H e r nd o n , V A 2 0 1 7 0 c h i c k e n h i l l 9 9 @ ho t m a i l . c o m E a r l a n d so n, J e n n y. 8 0 2 S . H i g h l a nd , O a k P a r k , IL 6 0 3 0 4 - 1 5 2 9 j e n n y. e a r l a nd so n@ g m a i l . c o m E ng l i s h, W i l l i a m . 4 7 3 7 W . M o n t a na S t . , C h i c a g o , IL 6 0 6 3 9 W C G _ K a ve r B i l l @ y a ho o . c o m G o l d m a n, P h i l . 4 1 4 N . E l m S t . , M t . P r o sp e c t , I L 6 0 0 5 6 p h i l @ ho u s e o f g o l d m a n. o r g G o o d c a ve , A l . 8 9 4 0 S hi e l d s, B r o o k f i e l d , IL 6 0 5 1 3 - 2 0 5 9 alg oodca se@ hotm ail.c om H a yd o c k , A d a m . 1 6 3 3 R i ve r S t . , D e s P l a i n e s , I L 6 0 0 1 6 - 4 7 6 7 a d a m h a yd o c k 2 0 0 0 @ ya ho o . c o m J a n a s, T o m . 1 4 9 1 0 1 0 8 t h A ve . , O r l a nd P a r k , IL 6 0 4 6 7 t j a na s1 9 5 0 @ a o l . c o m K r uz i c h, J a c k . 2 3 1 S . O a k l a nd , V i l l a P a r k , I L 6 0 1 8 1 j k r uz i c h@ sb c g l o b a l . n e t L e g n i n i , D a n . 2 9 W 1 0 1 F o r e st L a n e , W a r r e n v i l l e , IL 6 0 5 5 5 l e g n i n i @ a p s. a n l . g o v L e xa nd e r , L a ur a J . 2 1 5 5 1 S E 2 7 3 r d C t . , M a p l e V a l l e y, W A 9 8 0 3 8 c a ve r 1 4 0 2 @ y a ho o . c o m M e ye r s, A l a n . 8 2 4 2 S . Y a t e s B l vd . , C h i c a g o , IL 6 0 6 1 7 A l a nm e ye r s5 0 @ ho t m a i l . c o m M i l l e r , N i c o l e . nm i l 7 2 @ g m a i l . c o m M ur r a y , T e r r y. 3 4 4 M a r i o n A ve . , A ur o r a , IL 6 0 5 0 5 t a m ur r a y@ e m a i l . m s n . c o m N e l so n , D e b o r a h. 1 5 5 5 W . I l l i n o i s A ve . , A ur o r a , IL 6 0 5 0 6 a n g e l e ye s 3 5 7 5 @ ya h o o . c o m O w e n s , B i l l . 3 4 7 W . S t . C ha r l e s R d . , L o m b a r d , IL 6 0 1 4 8 i c a ve r 2 @ ya ho o . c o m P a g e l s, R i c h . 1 4 5 1 1 A c o r n D r i ve , H o m e r G l e n, I L 6 0 4 9 1 b a g e l s1 0 1 @ sb c g l o b a l . n e t P a t r i c k , T o n i . 7 2 0 7 W . L u nt , C h i c a g o , IL 6 0 6 3 1 tpatr ick64@ hotm ail.com R e d e k e r , K e n . 4 7 2 6 N . B e a c o n S t . , A p t . 2 , C h i c a g o , IL 6 0 6 4 0 r e d e k e r . k e n@ g m a i l . c o m R e x, C h a r l e s. 4 9 2 6 N . M a r m o r a , C h i c a g o , IL 6 0 6 3 0 R e x, G l o r i a . 4 9 2 6 N . M a r m o r a , C h i c a g o , IL 6 0 6 3 0 R o b i n s o n, E l i z a b e t h. 7 4 4 H i l l c r e st R d . , M i l a n, I L 6 1 2 6 4 2 sp e l e o n a ut s@ r e ve a l e d . n e t R ub a c k , P a t t y. 1 1 7 3 F o x H o l l o w , D e K a l b , IL 6 0 1 1 5 p a t t yr u b a c k @ ho t m a i l . c o m S a k a b e , N o b o r u. 5 4 7 0 S . H a r p e r , A p t . 3 D , C h i c a g o , IL 6 0 6 1 5 N o b o r uj s_ 0 1 @ y a ho o . c o m S a l i k a , B o b . 8 6 0 8 4 7 t h S t . , A p t . 2 N , L yo n s, I L 6 0 5 3 4 - 1 6 6 2 S a ng a i l a , L a u r a . 8 6 9 B o n n i e B r a e L a n e , B o l i ng b r o o k , IL 6 0 4 4 0 l sa n g a i l a @ y a ho o . c o m (847) 358 -6560 (563) 321 -2838 (773) 342 -6097 (773) 342 -6097 (630) 408 -8084 (703) 437 -7881 (708) 524 -1215 (773) 342 -6097 (847) 632 -1290 (708) 485 -7113 (847) 542 -4135 (708) 349 -3849 (630) 832 -0851 (630) 393 -2240 (630) 824 -8341 (773) 734 -4329 (630) 896 -3219 (630) 202-9328 (630) 620 -7816 (815) 793-1410 (773) 467-8576 (630) 803-4884 (773) 283-6097 (773) 283-6097 (309) 787-1738 (630) 430-2045 (773) 595-7087 (708) 447-6897 (630) 306-6340 (812) 825 -2345 (708) 524 -1215 (805) 967 -7458 (805) 967 -7458 (773) 545 -0622 (512) 288 -4991 (931) 670-8381 (931) 670-8381 (417) 683 -5249

Vo l . 5 4
37597 58320 63971 13622 20719 14978L 9615L 24148L

T h e W in d y Ci t y Sp el e on e ws, Ma r ch 2 0 1 4
S c hm i t , G r e g . 9 3 4 3 L i nc o l n A ve . , B r o o k f i e l d , I L 6 0 5 1 3 c a ve c r i t t e r 1 0 0 @ g m a i l . c o m S c h um a n n, E r i c h . 1 0 0 1 9 B l a c k b e r r y B r a nc h R d . , B o n A q ua , T N 3 7 0 2 5 S c h um a n n, E va n . 1 0 0 1 9 B l a c k b e r r y B r a nc h R d . , B o n A q ua , T N 3 7 0 2 5 S m i t h, B r a d . 7 4 4 H i l l c r e st R d . , M i l a n , IL 6 1 2 6 4 2 sp e l e o n a ut s@ r e ve a l e d . n e t T e l l f o r s, H e r b e r t . 6 0 4 1 N . M a r m o r a A ve . , C h i c a g o , IL 6 0 6 4 6 - 3 9 0 3 T ho m se n , J a c k ( J T ) . 8 2 8 0 S . T e n n e s se e , C l a r e nd o n H i l l s , IL 6 0 5 2 7 W o l f , J o e . 3 4 4 M e r r i m a c , P a r k F o r e st , IL 6 0 4 6 6 c a ve w o l f 0 0 @ ho t m a i l . c o m W o l o s, T o m . 7 2 5 8 W . C a t a l p a , C h i c a g o , IL 6 0 6 5 6 - 1 8 1 3 t j w o l o s@ g m a i l . c o m ASSOCIATE MEMBERS B r um m e l , T o m . A ut o P r o , 9 9 2 8 S . V i nc e n ne s , C h i c a g o , I L 6 0 6 4 3 tom 6064@ ao l.com G o l d m a n, A l e x. 4 1 4 N . E l m S t . , M t . P r o sp e c t , I L 6 0 0 5 6 G o l d m a n, D o r i a n. 4 1 4 N . E l m S t . , M t . P r o sp e c t , IL 6 0 0 5 6 G o l d m a n, L i nd a . 4 1 4 N . E l m S t . , M t . P r o sp e c t , I L 6 0 0 5 6 G o l d m a n, M o l l y. 4 1 4 N . E l m S t . , M t . P r o sp e c t , I L 6 0 0 5 6 H a r r i s, D o u g . P . O . B o x 8 3 2 , N e w M u n s t e r , W I 5 3 1 5 2 H a r r i s_ 1 0 0 @ h o t m a i l . c o m H a r t m a n, T e d . 4 9 3 C l u b ho u s e C t . , L o ve l a n d , C O 8 0 5 3 7 r t . ha r t m a n@ ho t m a i l . c o m L e xa nd e r , E ve l y n. 2 1 5 5 1 S E 2 7 3 r d C t . , M a p l e V a l l e y, W A 9 8 0 3 8 V o s s, B r i a n . 8 9 2 S p r uc e S t . , W i n ne t k a , IL 6 0 0 9 3 b r i a n vo s sf a t he r @ h o t m a i l . c o m W o l t e r i n g , T e r r y . 3 1 8 C o r n e l l S t . , O t t a w a , IL 6 1 3 5 0 m ho l m e s 1 @ ya h o o . c o m

21
(708) 387-0592 (931) 670-8381 (931) 670-8381 (309) 787-1738 (773) 774-0966 (630) 323-3821 (708) 503-1448 (773) 774-7628

(773) 485-8555 (847) (847) (847) (847) (262) 632-1290 632-1290 632-1290 632-1290 537-4726

(970) 292-8431 (630) 824-8341 (847) 224-5485 (815) 433-2720

S P E N T C AR B ID E - - Co n t . f ro m p . 1 9 and no w t hat I was so aked t o mid t hig hs, we wer e in a flo o d s it uat io n. I t is a maz ing, t hat t ro ubled t ime s det er mine ho w fast a gr o up can be co me a t ea m. I t was just a mat t er o f minut es be fo r e Alic ia, Jo hn and Ro b p acked bo lt s, car bide, go r p, and ot her nu mer o us o dds and end s, t ill I saw t he m r o und t he co r ner , t o be fac ed w it h t he t ask o f cr o ss ing t he co ld st r ea m. T he lo o k o n t he ir face s and t he squea ls t he y made whe n t he wat er t o uched t he ir mo r e sens it ive spo t s t old me t hat t he flo o d was no t due t o my i mag in at io n. T he ma ny d if fer e nt mea nder s wer e a l l a ff lict ed w it h s i m i lar co nseque nces. T he wat er was ice co ld, fast mo ving, a nd deep ! We he ld ha nds t hr o ugh mo st cro ss ing s, in t he eve nt o f a s lip by o ne o f us. Appr o xi mat e ly 200 feet do wnst r ea m fr o m Cascad e pass age, we beg a n t o not ice a n ever incr ea s ing r o ar , as t ho ugh we wer e appro aching a huge wat er fa l l. T ur ning t he co r ner t o f ir st see Cas cade, it was a t r uly awe so me s ig ht . T he co r r ido r t hat nor ma ll y c ar r ie s a s ma ll a mo u nt o f wat er was gushing, whi le st il l ha lf fi l l ing t he t hr ee - fo ot - wid e, t en - fo ot hig h pa ssage. T he r o ar was so int ense t hat it abo r t ed a ll at t empt s at co mmu nic at io n. Fur t her upst r eam, a ft er expr ess ing o ur wo ws t o each ot her , we not ic ed t hat , in add it io n t o t he decr eased flo w, t he wat er was no w a lo t war mer . T his he lped ease o ur fear o f a flo o ded lo w spot in t he ent r ance passage. E ve n t ho ugh t he st r eam was st il l wa ist - deep in ma n y spot s, we made it back t o t he st air s qu ick l y. ( Apr i l 1984)

4 0 Y E AR S A G O

IN T H E

SPELEONEW S

T he o r ganiz er s o f t he co ngr e ss kept us bushy dur ing t he da y w it h se ss io ns a nd at nig ht w it h par t ie s a nd cu lt ur a l pr o gr ams. We went t o see T he B art er B ri de , whic h is t he Czec h nat io na l o per a. To finis h t he week, a l l o f t he co ngr ess par t ic ipa nt s we nt o n an a l l - da y f ie ld t r ip a nd vis it ed me mo r ia ls, t wo caves, a cast le, a nd, o f co ur se, a co llect ive far m. Aft er t he co ngr ess se ss io ns e nded, a bo ut 80 o f us we nt o n a t en- da y fie ld t r ip t o vis i t t he caves a nd kar st o f S lo vak ia. T he mo st impr ess ive ca ve ar ea was t he De ma no vska Va lle y, whic h bo ast ed an ice ca ve and a dr ipst o ne ca ve. T he dr ipst o ne ca ve had fo r mat io ns w it h br i ll ia nt o r anges a nd r eds a lo ng w it h t he st andar d mud - br o wn a nd o ccas io na l pur e whit e. T her e wer e 20 - t o 30- fo ot - hig h passage s w it h fo r mat io ns and dr ap er ies, a lo ng w it h beaut ifu l po o ls o f wat er. ( Fe br uar y 1974) 5 0 Y E AR S A G O
IN T H E

SPELEONEW S

I n sear c h o f a r epo rt ed 230 - fo ot p it ( ho pefu l l y w ar m) , we headed so ut h t o Har r iso n Co unt y. Our sear ch led us t o t he cr o ssing k no wn as G l idas, a bo ut t hr ee mi les no r t h o f Mauckpo r t . Aft er plying t he lo ca l Hoo s ier s w it h e nt ic ing qu est io ns, we so o n d isco ver ed so me do ubt as t o t he exist ence o f t his p it . Wit h t he d ir ect io ns a nd per m i ss io n o f a n o ld ge nt le ma n at t he st o ve o f t he Gener a l S t or e, we spent S at ur da y sear c hin g fo r it . H is d ir ect io ns t oo k us t o a kno wn kar st co llap se near t he su m m it o f a hi l l o ver 200 feet hig h, but we wer e u na ble t o penet r at e t he r ubble t o any gr eat ext ent . ( Febr uar y 1964)

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Vo l . 5 4