Speleonews Feb15

2
T h e W in d y Ci t y Sp el e on e ws, F e b r ua ry 2 0 1 5
I N T HIS I SSUE ...
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
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
P hi l G o l d m a n
(847) 632 -1290
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
Rich Pagels
(815) 793 -1410
SECRETARY-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
T REAS URE R- l sa n g a i l a @ y a ho o . c o m
L a ur a S a n g a i l a
(630) 306 -6340
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
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
(708) 524 -1215
LIBRA RIA N- r e d e k e r . k e n@ g m a i l . c o m
Ken Redeker
(630) 803 -4884
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
D a n L e g ni n i
(630) 393 -2240
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
Jack W ood
(773) 252 -9773
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
Joe W olf
(708) 503 -1448
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
Steve Scoutaris
Terry Chambliss
(773) 342 -6097
http://www.windycitygrotto.org
Vo l . 5 5
G R O T T O E L E C T IO N S - -
M E E T IN G S
AN D
FROM
T R E AS U R E R
THE
M E M B E R S H IP - -
T H E BMAL S C O L U M N - -
C AV E S
IN
ARCHAEOLOGY--
C AV IN G A C R O N Y M S - -
P U E R T O R IC O : J A N U AR Y 1 1 - 1 8 ,
2015--
B IN K L E Y C AV E T R IP , J AN U AR Y 1 0 ,
2015--
16
S P E N T C AR B ID E - -
19
WCG M E M B E R S H IP L IS T - -
20
G ROT TO E LECT IONS

I t s not t oo ear ly t o t hink a bo ut yo ur ne xt
WCG Bo ar d. T he annua l gr o t t o ele ct io ns w il l
be he ld at t he Ma y meet ing o n Ma y 13.
No minat io ns w i l l be t aken at t he Apr i l meet ing o n Apr il 8, and w i l l be o pened fo r each
o ffic e just pr io r t o t he vo t ing. T he fo llo wing
Bo ar d me mber s w il 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.
O N T H E C OV E R
Ada m Ha ydo ck in a fo r mat io n r oo m w i t h
lo ng, whit e so da st r aws in Cue va S o rbet o s,
P uer t o R ico . Ada ms r epo rt o n his lat est t r ip
t o P uert o Rico , in J a nuar y, is in t his i ssue.
P ho t o by Ada m Ha ydo ck.
Vo l . 5 5
M EETINGS
M EMBERSHIP N EWS
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. T he meet ing w il l he ld at Au reli o' s
Pi zze ri a, 1 455 W. Lake St . ( US 20),
Add iso n, I L 60101, pho ne ( 630) 889 -9560.
T he ne xt t wo meet ing s w ill be Feb ru a ry 11
and M arch 11 at Aur e lio s. We ar e cur rent l y
sear c hing fo r a su it able lo cat io n in Chicago
fo r meet ings in a lt er nat ing mo nt hs.
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 meet ing s. T he Apr i l Sp el eone ws w il l
be as se mb led fo r ma i ling dur ing t he Apr i l
meet ing.
T he dead l ine fo r each is sue o f t he
Spel eone ws is t he last weeke nd o f t he mo nt h
pr eced ing t he mo nt h o f is sue. All ma t er ia l
must be subm it t ed in fina l fo r m, pr e fe r abl y
via e- ma il o r blo g, at t hat t ime. T he dead line
fo r t he Apr il Sp el eone ws is t he weeke nd o f
Mar ch 28 - 29.
Our annua l Gr ot t o me mber s hip list sho ws

a t ot al o f 67 me mber s o f t he Wind y Cit y
Gr ot t o, inc lud ing 44 r egu lar ( NS S ) and 23
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 47 r egu lar and 10 a ss o ciat e
me mber s fo r a t ot al o f 57 Gr ot t o me mber s in
Mar ch 2014 . All na me s and addr ess es appear
in t he me mber s hip list in t his issue.
F R OM
TH E
T R E AS U R E R
WCG me mber s no w ha ve t he o pt io n t o
r enew t he ir me mber s hip dues a nd mak e do nat io ns o nl ine. P lea se vis it o ur webs it e
www. wi n d yci t ygrot t o. org and c lick o n t he
Paymen t s an d Don at i on s me nu t o make pa yme nt s. Yo u can pa y us ing a Cr ed it / Debit car d
o r a P ayP a l a cco unt . T his is t he pr e fer r ed
met ho d fo r r enew ing dues s ince it sa ves t ime,
paper , and po st age co st s.
T hanks t o o ur
me mber s ge ner o us do nat io ns, I m p lea s ed t o
anno unc e t hat t he Wind y C it y Gr o t t o ju st
pur chas ed a s lic e o f S t ephe ns Gap Ca ve - a
35 fo ot do me - in suppo rt o f t he So ut heast er n
Ca ve Co nser va nc y's r ece nt acqu is it io n o f t he
S t ephens Gap Ca lla ha n Ca ve P r eser ve ! Wind y
C it y Gr ot t o wil l no w appear o n t he S CC i s
map o f S t ephe ns Gap Ca ve. T ha nk yo u t o
ever yo ne w ho co nt r ibut ed!
- - Laur a S anga i la,
WCG T r easur er
T HE C ARBIDE D UMP
N ico le M il ler has be e n dr o pped fo r no n pa yme nt o f dues.
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 nd so n, Al
Goo dcave, P hil Go ld ma n, Ke n Redek er , and
Gr eg S chmit .
W E LCOME N EW M EMBE RS
Br ia n Hu nsak er
2424 Re flect io ns Dr .
Aur o r a, I L 60502
g ive me so mesugar @s bcg lo ba l. net
T he fo llo w ing me mber , r ece nt ly dr o pped,
ha s be e n r e inst at ed:
Ala n Me yer s, NS S 23317L
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 e xp ir at io n. P a y at t he meet ing, o r
o nline at www. win d yci t ygrot t o. org , o r send
yo ur pa yme nt t o t he t r easur er , Laur a S anga ila , 869 Bo nnie Br ae Lane, Bo ling br oo k,
I L 60440 . Not e: Pl ease make 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 Feb ru a ry 2015:
Her ber t T ellfo r s
Exp i ri n g i n M arch 2015:
Bo b S a lika
Exp i ri n g i n Ap ri l 2015:
P at t y Ru back
Gr eg S chmit
St eve S co ut ar is
Exp i ri n g i n M ay 2015:
M it z i Ago st a
Jo r ge Bar r er a
And y McN ea l
T o ni P at r ick
Ke n Re deker
To m Wo lo s
Gerr y Wo lt er ing
Ala n Me yer s se nt me t he fo llo w ing: On

page 3 o f t he Wint er 2015 issue o f t he Wi l l
Co unt y Fo r est Pr eser ve D ist r ict s news l et t er,
is a n art ic le a bo ut t he new bat co ndo , inst alle d at Hamme l Wo o ds t his year as p ar t o f
a pro cess t o r elo cat e a mat er nit y co lo ny o f
big br o wn bat s fr o m a near by p ic nic s he lt er .
P r esent at t he S ept ember inst a llat io n, as an
o bser ver , was Ja net T ybur ec, who wor ked fo r
Bat Co nser vat io n I nt er nat io na l fr o m 19 89 t o
2012. T he ar t ic le de scr ibe s t he new st r uct ur e,
exp la ins ma ny int er e st ing fact s abo ut bat s
and me nt io ns bat mo rt a lit y issue s, inc l ud ing
WNS . Ca ll ( 815) 727 - 8700 fo r a fr ee co py.
T HE BMAL S C OLUMN
I am happ y t o r epo rt t hat t he BMAL sa l es
d ivis io n o f WCG has ju st r eceived a s hip me nt
o f ne w spe leo - s ymbo l ic de vices d ir ect fr o m
t he NS S o ffic e in Hunt s vil le ! We ha ve lar ge
ye l lo w bat st ick er s, (t his is t he t r ad it io na l
dar ker ye l lo w, not t he br ig ht ye l lo w) . T his
des ig n and co lo r is a va i la ble as a mag net in
bo t h lar ge a nd s ma l l s izes. But wait ! T her e 's
mo r e! Fo r t he fir st t ime ever , t her e is a c lo t h
pat ch bat st icker a va i la ble ! T hese w il l be
se ll ing fo r $5. 00 ea. O f co ur se, no BMAL r epo rt wo uld be co mp let e w it ho ut a me nt io n o f
T - shir t s. While mak ing r oo m fo r o ur new inve nt o r y, I r an acr o ss t his inve nt o r y o f WCG
T - shir t s fr o m Fe br uar y o f 2003! We had 14
XL in blue, 14 XL, a nd 3 L in gr e y, a nd XL
in bla ck. Cur r ent ly, t her e ar e 5 gr ey and 1
blue in XL ! T hat 's a ll t hat 's le ft o f t his o ld
st yle s hir t ! ( Yeah, o f co ur se I kno w O ld
S t yle is a be er , br ewed by t he G. Heil e ma n
Br ew ing Co mp a ny, La Cr o sse, WI . ) However
in t his co nt ext it r e fer s t o t heCa ving i n t he
US A gr ot t o T - shir t . T he list o f ca ves on t he
back o f t he shir t ar e o nes t hat wer e vis it ed by
WCG me mber s. Wit h o nly s ix le ft , t his is t he
t ime t o pur chase a p ie ce o f wear a ble WCG
hist o r y. S t o p by be fo r e or aft er t he me et ing
and c heck o ut all t he ne at st uff!
- - B il l E ng l is h,
Bo ar d Member at Lar ge
C AV ES
IN
A RCHAEOLOGY
As a su bscr iber t o A rchaeol ogy mag az in e,

I m a lwa ys o n t he lo o k o ut fo r r efer e nc es t o
o r art ic le s a bo ut caves, a nd t he ir impo r t ance
in ( t yp ica l l y) hu ma n hist o r y. What fo l lo ws
ar e a few ar t ic le s fr o m t he S ept ember /
Oct o ber ( 2014) is sue a nd t he Ja nuar y/
Fe br uar y ( 2015) is sue.
Re ynar ds Ca ve in Do veda le - Der bys h i r e
( E ng la nd) is t he lo cat io n w her e ar c ha eo lo g ist s fr o m Br it a ins Nat io na l T r ust r ecent l y
fo u nd a ho ar d o f co ins. T he 26 co ins made
fr o m go ld and s i lver pr edat e t he Ro ma n invas io n o f Br it a in in A. D. 43. Acco r ding t o t he
aut ho r, t he ma jo r it y o f t he co ins w er e at t r ibut ed t o t he I ro n Age Co r ie lt a vi t r ibe , but
t hr ee co ins ar e o f Ro ma n or ig in. Add it io na ll y, t his is t he fir st t ime co ins fr o m bot h
c ivi l izat io ns ha ve bee n fo und in a ca ve.
Whe n mo st peo ple ( espec ia l l y ca ver s)
t hink abo ut cave ar t , t he y im med iat e ly t hink
o f p lac es lik e S pa in o r Fr ance. Ho wever , archa eo lo g ist s ha ve det er mined t hat image s
fo u nd in a cave o n t he I ndo nes ia n is la nd o f
S u lawe s i ar e ju st as o ld o r o lder t ha n t ho se
fo u nd in E ur o pe. It is be l ie ved t hat a ha nd
st enc i l is abo ut 39, 000 year s o ld and t hat an
i mage o f what is descr ibed as a p ig lik e anima l is at lea st 37, 500 year s o ld. While ma ny
peo ple ar e fa m i l iar w it h t he pr o cess o f us ing
Vo l . 5 5
car bo n dat ing t o det er mine t he age o f so met hing t hat was o nce liv ing, it do es not wo rk
o n ino r ganic sa mp le s. Rese ar c her s ha ve est ablis hed t he mini mu m age o f t he des ig ns by
us ing a pro cess t hat ana lyze s t he r at e of deca y o f t r aces o f ur aniu m fo und in miner a l depo sit s co ver ing t he paint ings. Not sur pr ising l y, t he se d isco ver ies ha ve r a is ed ma ny
quest io ns as t o t he o r ig ins o f ar t ist ic expr ess io n. Wit h t hese dr aw ing s be ing co nt empo r ar y t o t ho se in E uro pe, t he quest io n is d id
t he y de ve lo p indepe nde nt ly, o r was t he deve lo pme nt o f art muc h ear lier ? S o me be l i eve it
bega n be fo r e hu ma ns le ft Afr ica, in whic h
case s i m i lar r o ck art sho u ld be fo u nd in ma ny
ot her pla ces ar o und t he wor ld.
E scar got anyo ne ? Be ing a Fr enc h wo r d
fo r sna i ls, it sho u ld no t be a st r et ch t o ide nt ify e at ing t he m w it h Fr a nce. Whi le t his ma y
be a mo r e r ecent asso ciat io n, a t eam o f r esear c her s exc a vat ing Bar r iada Cave in s o ut hwest er n S pa in ha ve fo und e vide nce t hat
sna ils wer e eat en as lo ng ago as 31, 000
year s ! T he y fo u nd a he ar t h t hat co nt a ine d t he
she lls o f a bo ut 150 sna i ls t hat had bee n
coo ked o n a bed o f co als. S inc e Neande r t ha ls
had d isappe ar ed fr o m t he ar ea, t he r esear cher s be lie ve t hat mo der n hu ma ns at e t he m. I f
so , t his is t he ear l ie st evid e nce o f peo ple eat ing escar go t !
S t ick ing w it h Nea nder t ha ls, t his ne xt art ic le e xp lo r e s t he po ss ibi l it y t hat t he y cr eat ed
ar t . Gor ha m s Ca ve in G ibr a lt ar is t he s it e
o f a r ece nt disco ver y w her e a des ig n co ns ist ing o f o ver lapp ing line s car ved o n a cave
wa ll w as fo und. P a leo lit hic ar t exper t Fr a ncesco dE r r ico o f t he Univer s it y o f Bo rdeaux
ana l yz ed t he e ngr a ving a nd r epr o duced t he
pr o cess o f mak ing it . His ana lys is s ho ws t hat
a st o ne t oo l wa s used, a nd t hat each l in e was
car ved pr ec is e ly, ind icat ing t hat it was made
by a n e xper ie nc ed ar t ist . T he ar t ic le f ur t her
st at es t hat t he des ig n at Go r ha m s Cave is t he
c lear e st evid e nce yet t hat Neander t ha ls made
ar t wor k.
Mo ving a lit t le c lo s er t o ho me geo gr aphica ll y a nd no t as far back in t ime, we ha ve a n
ar t ic le abo ut a ske let o n fo und in a n und er wat er cave in Me xico s Yucat an. T he cave,
kno wn as Ho yo Negro , o r black ho le is
wher e d iver s fo und t he near l y int act skelet o n
o f a 15 t o 16 year o ld g ir l. Alt ho ugh s he was
fo u nd in 2007, it was nt unt il t his yea r t hat
r esu lt s fr o m mu lt ip le t est s co nc luded t hat she
l ived bet wee n 12, 000 and 13, 000 ye ar s ago,
mak ing her o ne o f t he ear lie st hu ma ns ever
fo u nd in t he Amer icas. Her e's wher e it get s
int er est ing.
Fo r t ho se o f yo u wer e at t he Ja nua r y
gr ot t o me et ing, yo u ma y r eca l l t her e wer e
so me new peo ple w ho wer e not fa m i l iar wit h
a ll t he acr o nyms we ca sua l l y t o ss abo ut .
We l l, her e s o ne t hat ma y no t be fa m i l iar t o
ma ny o f yo u. NAGP RA, o r Nat ive Ame r ica n
Vo l . 5 5
Gr ave s P rot ect io n and Repat r iat io n Act . T his

act , as t he na me mig ht imp l y, has t o do wit h
t he prot ect io n o f Nat ive Amer ica n gr ave s.
T he y wer e r o ut ine l y lo o t ed fo r gr ave goo ds.
T he act makes it i l lega l t o po sses s ma ny
t ype s o f art ifact s and fur t her st at es t hat any
ske let a l r e ma ins be t ur ned o ver t o a lo ca l
t r ibe fo r r ebur ia l. T he pa leo - ar t ifa ct s hit t he
pr o ver bia l fa n back in 1996 whe n t he r ema ins
o f a 9, 000 year o ld hu nt er was fo und in
Wa s hingt o n st at e. A phys ica l e xa m inat io n o f
t he sku ll s ho wed feat ur es mo r e clo se ly asso c iat ed w it h ear ly E ur o peans t han any co nt e mpo r ar y N at ive Amer ica ns. S ince t he act put s
no t ime fr a me o n mat er ia ls t hat must be r epat r iat ed, Nat ive Amer ica ns c la ime d t hat t he
r e ma ins wer e o ne o f t he ir a nce st or s, and
sho u ld be r et ur ned t o t he m fo r r ebur ia l . Not
sur pr is ing l y, ar c haeo lo g ist s wer e up in ar ms
o ver t his, c it ing no co rr e lat io n bet ween t he
ske let o n and Nat ive Amer ica ns.
I r ecall r ead ing abo ut o ne r esear cher who
was do ing a fac ia l r eco nst r uct io n bas ed o n
t he sku ll. He kept sa ying t hat he ho ped t he
f inis hed wo r k wo uldnt lo o k lik e P at r ick
S t ewart ( aka Capt . Jean Luc P iccar d fr o m
S t ar T r ek, t he Next Gener at io n) . Whe n t he
r eco nst r uct io n was co mp let ed, it did bear a
st r ik ing r ese mb la nce t o t he act o r. Fast fo r war d near ly 20 year s, and bas ed o n mit o cho ndr ia l D N A sa mp les t aken fr o m Na ia, (t his
na me co me s fr o m t he Gr eek, and mea ns wat er
nymp h) , it do es appear t hat , while p hys ic a l
appear ances do d iffer , t he y ar e mo r e like l y
t he r esu lt o f envir o nme nt a l inf lue nc es , and
no t a dist inct separ at e line age. S o, whi le
Na ia a nd Ke new ick Ma n, as t he Wa s hingt o n st at e ske let o n bec a me k no wn, appear
E uro pean, t he DNA s ho ws t hat she has gene s
asso c iat ed w it h mo der n Nat ive Amer i cans.
What t his wo u ld see m t o suggest is t hat bot h
Na ia, Ke new ick Ma n a nd mo der n Nat ive
Amer ica ns shar e a co mmo n a nce st r y fr o m t he
sa me so ur ce po pulat io n, a gr o up t hat is
t ho ught t o have bee n iso lat ed o n t he la nd
ma ss t hat o nce co nnect ed As ia and t he
Amer ica s. Ho w coo l is t hat !
- - B il l E ng l is h
U PCOMING E VENTS
Ap ri l 24 - 26. S pr ing MVO R at Hanso n H il ls
Ca mpgr o und near Co lu mb ia, M is so ur i.
M ay 8 - 10. S E RA Ca ve Car niva l at E ast Fo r k
S t ables, Ja me st o wn, T enness ee.
M ay 22 - 25.
Kent uck y S pe leo fe st at Lo ne
S t ar P r eser ve, Bo nnie vil le, Ke nt uck y.
Ju ly 13 - 17. NS S Co nve nt io n, Wa ynes vi l le,
M isso ur i. S ever a l MVO Rs wer e he ld her e.
C AVING A CRONY MS
( A P ART IAL L IST )
AC A - Amer ica n Ca ving Acc ide nt s
AC C A - Amer ic a n Ca ve Co nser vat io n As so c iat io n
ACS - Ala ba ma Ca ve S ur ve y
AG A - Amer ica n Geo lo g ica l I nst it ut e
BCI - Bat Co nser vat io n I nt er nat io na l
BI G - Blo o mingt o n I N Grot t o
Bo G NS S Bo ar d o f Go ver no r s
CCMS - Cave Co nser vat io n a nd Ma nage me nt
S ect io n
CDS - Cave D iving S ect io n
CR F - Cave Res ear c h Fo undat io n
CT F - Co nser vat io n T ask Fo r ce
E I G - E ast er n I nd ia na Gr ot t o
GS S - Geor gia S pe leo lo g ica l S ur ve y
I CS - I nd ia na Ca ve S ur ve y
I KC - I nd ia na Kar st Co nser va nc y
I MO - I nner Mo unt ain Out fit t er s
I S S - I ndia na S pe leo lo g ic a l S ur ve y
KI P - Kar st I nfo r mat io n P o rt al
KO R - Kar st - O- Rama
KS S - Ke nt uck y S pe leo lo g ic a l S ur ve y
LE G - Lit t le E g ypt Grot t o
M AR - M id - Appa lac hia n Reg io n
MVOR - M is s is s ipp i Va l le y- Ozar k Reg io n
NC KMS - Nat io na l Ca ve & Kar st Manage me nt
S ympo s iu m
NC KRI - Nat io na l Ca ve and Kar st Resea r ch
I nst it ut e
NCRC - Nat io na l C a ve Rescu e Co mm is s i o n
NNG - Near Nor ma l Gr o t t o
NRO - No rt heast er n Reg io na l Or ga nizat io n
NS S - Nat io na l S pe leo lo g ica l S o c iet y
OR1 - On Ro pe 1
OT R - Old T imer s Reu nio n
P MI - P igeo n Mo unt a in I ndust r ies ( r o pe
ma nu fact ur er )
P U - P ro ject Under gr o und
QAS - Qu ick At t ach S a fet y
S CC i - S o ut heast er n Cave Co nser va nc y I nc.
S E RA - So ut heast er n Reg io na l Asso c iat io n
S KT F - S E RA Kar st T ask For ce I nc.
S RT - S ing le Ro pe T echniqu e
T AG - A geo gr aphica l ca ving ar ea co mpr is ed
o f t he st at es o f T enne ss ee, Ala ba ma, and
Geo r gia.
T CS - T enne sse e Ca ve S ur ve y
US CF - U. S . Caver s Fo r u m
VAR - Vir g in ia Ar ea R eg io n
WCC - West er n Ca ve Co nser va nc y
WCG Wind y C it y Gr o t t o
MC KC - M isso ur i Ca ves a nd Kar st Co nser va nc y
WNS - Whit e No se S yndr o me
WS S - Wisco ns in S pe leo lo g ica l S o c iet y
- - Al Go o dcave
Vo l . 5 5
P UERTO R ICO : J ANUARY 11-18, 2015

B Y A DAM H AYDOCK
Jan u ary 11: G olon d ri n a an d Cat h ed ral
I ha ve bee n wa nt ing t o get o ut t o Hawaii,
China, Bo r neo , and S o ut h Amer ica fo r qu it e
so me t ime no w but P uert o Rico keeps dr agg ing me back e ver y year a nd no w her e I a m,
back aga in, o n my 5t h ye ar vis it ing P uert o
R ico . I abso lut e ly lo ve t he r a in fo r est s t hat
P uer t o Rico has t o o ffer a lo ng w it h t he isla nd s t hat surro und t he ma in is la nd , t he
o cean, t he Dr y Fo r est , and o f co ur se, t he
caves. T her e ar e t ho usands o f ca ve a nd fr agme nt s o f o lder s yst e ms in t he Mo got e Mo unt ain kar st be lt o f P uer t o Rico w it h mo r e ju st
wa it ing t o be d isco ver ed fo r t he int r ep id vis it o r t o t he is la nd. S o me o f t hese ca ve s ha ve
bee n d e ve lo p ing a nd co llaps ing fo r mi l l io ns
o f year s in a act ive so lut io na l da nc e t hat t he
kar st t o po gr aphy ha s bee n do ing w it h t he meander ing wat er co ur ses. T he Ca mu y S yst e m
ha s o ne o f t he lar gest under gr o und r iver s in
t he wo r ld w it h lead s t hat ar e st il l be in g d isco ver ed. T he R io E nca nt ado s yst e m st r et ches
fo r almo st 17km under t he r a in fo r est wit h
act ive c a ves a nd su mp s t hat ha ve bee n hydr o lo gica l l y co nnect ed t hr o ugh pr evio us e xped it io ns.
M il l io ns o f year s ago , t he R io Ca mu y
used t o t ake a differ e nt co ur se do wn t o t he
o cean a lo ng w it h ot her r iver s yst e ms lik e t he
T ana ma R iver , as t he y wo u ld eat away t he
l i mest o ne int o va lle ys and ca ve s unt il it enco unt er ed basa lt la yer s t hat wo uld st op t his
er o sio n fr o m co nt inu ing. T his act io n wo uld
wo r k in co nju nct io n w it h t he usual car bo nic
d is so lut io n pr o cess cr eat ing so me ma ss ive
t r unk passages ins ide t hese ca ve s w it h ce ilings o ver 150 ft and st r et ch a lmo st an equa l
d ist ance in w idt h. T he geo lo g y o f P uert o
R ico is int er est ing, as P uert o Rico ro se o ut o f
t he So ut h Amer ica n seas near P at ago nia hundr eds o f mi l l io ns o f year s ago a nd s hi ft ed
t hr o ugh t ect o nic act io n t o wher e P uert o R ico
is lo cat ed in t he Car ibbea n t o day.
P uer t o Rico has so me o f t he mo st impr e ss ive canyo n and ca ve s yst e ms in t he Car ibbea n, so it s no quest io n a s t o why t his beaut ifu l is la nd keeps br ing ing me back t o vis it .
T he ca ves ho use a p let ho r a o f li fe inc l ud ing
cr icket s, bo as, d iffer e nt spec ies o f bat s, sco r p io ns, cr abs, and t he fa mo us whip sco r p io n
ca lled t he Guapa. On t his t r ip we got t he o ppo rt unit y t o vis it 13 ca ve s w hic h r anged fr o m
m is s ing p iece s o f t he Ca mu y S yst e m t o fr agme nt s o f s yst e ms t hat have ot her w is e co llap sed upo n t he mse lve s cr eat ing t he ir o wn
ind iv idua l ide nt it y fr o m o ne ano t her .
Ka ss ia T ho r ma ha le n and I arr ived at
P ipo s wa it ing t o hear abo ut ho w t he weat her
was go ing t o be like fo r Juan N ie ve s t he fo llo w ing da y. Cueva Jua n N ie ve s is a ver y w et

cave w it h r ag ing wat er fa lls a nd fa st f lo o d
pot ent ia l, so a ft er t he lo ca ls lo o ked up t he
weat her co nd it io ns, t he y d id no t want us t o
ve nt ur e int o t he ca ve t he fo llo w ing da y. I nst ead we slept at P ipo s a nd dr o ve o ver t o
Lo udr es, whic h is a bak er y a nd a place wher e
lo ca l c a ver s meet up t o vis it t wo ot her caves
in t he ar ea, Cue va Go lo ndr ina a nd Cue va Cat hedr a l.
We go t t o t he baker y a bit ear ly t o find
o ut t hat ever yo ne was go ing t o sho w up an
ho ur lat e, so we t oo k a nap in t he car and
wo ke up when t he y ar r ived. We met up wit h
Ju lie Dut il, T o m M i l ler , a nd Car lo s Ar t iguez.
Car lo s was r u nning lat er t han t he o t hers, so
we ended up go ing t o t he fir st cave t o r ig and
get set up wit ho ut bur ning o ff t oo muc h dayl ig ht . Go lo ndr ina was l it er a l l y do w n t he
st r eet and r ig ht o ff t he r o ad. We co uld see
t he ent r ance fr o m t he r o ad and I r e me mber
dr iving p ast t his p lac e o n pr evio u s t r ip s c luele ss as t o what was r ig ht o ff t he r o ad. Amazing what is lit er a l l y r ig ht o ff t he r o ad. Ju lie
had a 300ft ro pe, so we r igg ed a t ens io nle ss
anc ho r t o a vine y pa l m t r ee and set up a r ed ir ect o n a st alag m it e t o r educe ro pe abr as io n.
T his cave ended up us ing just abo ut all o f
Ju lie s r o pe but t he pit it se l f is mo r e o f a
st aged st eep walk do wn w it h a co uple s ma ll
sheer ledges, r at her t han a st r aig ht ve r t ica l
dr o p. I set up t he de - dir ect and descended
do wn whi le la ying o ut t he ro pe as I dro pped
int o t he p it . Aft er pass ing t he mid - dr o p I not iced so me bag s o n so me k ind o f co r d t hat
lo o ked like t he y had dead chicke ns ins i de o f
t he m!! Car lo s was pr evio us l y de scr ibin g t hat
t her e wer e chick e ns fo und w it h t he ir head s
cut o ff a nd ca nd le s at t he ent r anc e dr o p o f
t his p it be fo r e, so it was a bit cr eep y t o find
t his a nd I po nder ed voo doo as I bu mp e d int o
t hese deca ying r e ma ins o f s acr if ic ia l go r e,
was I was go ing t o be po ssessed ?
Anywa y, I made it do wn t o t he bo t t om
and ca l led o ff r o pe while I no t iced t he sun s
r a ys blast ing t hr o ugh int o t his ca ve as t he sun
was lig ht ing up t he who le e nt r ance a nd r ef lect ing an o r ange hu e. It was beaut ifu l! !! ! !
T his ca ve wa s a lso kno wn t o have t r ash at
t he bot t o m, so we want ed t o sur ve y and do cume nt t his ca ve a nd r eco mme nd a c lea nu p e ffo r t be execut ed t o keep t his beaut ifu l ca ve in
goo d shape.
T her e was br o ken g la s s and
t ir es at t he bot t o m but o ver a ll it was not as
bad as I t ho ught I wo uld be a ft er hear ing t he
st o r ie s be fo r e ent er ing t his ca ve.
We a ll
he lped w it h t he sur ve y e ffo r t and eve nt ua ll y
Vo l . 5 5
asce nded o ut o f t he cave t o go acro ss t he

st r eet t o vis it Cueva Cat hedr a l. T hes e t wo
caves must ha ve co nnect ed at o ne t ime a s
t he y ar e r ea ll y c lo se t o each ot her and t r end
in a s im i lar d ir ect io n.
We r a n acr o ss t he st r eet in o ur mudd y
caving gear and r an int o t he fo r est t o st art
o ut t r ek do wn t he sadd le o f a mo got e t hat
lead s t o a va lle y a nd t he t o p o f t he beaut ifu ll y deco r at ed pit ent r ance t o Cueva C at hedr a l.
T his ca ve used t o be a co mmer c ia l
cave, and peo ple wo uld pa y a gro up t o t ake
t he m int o t his ca ve s yst e m, but fo r so me r easo n it was s hut do wn and is no w vaca nt .
Do wn t he va l le y is w her e Cue va De l Fa lso
T r ibut ar io is lo cat ed and is a not her cave t hat
we wo uld be vis it ing in a co uple o f da ys, but
fo r no w we got t o go do wn int o t he ho r iz o nt al
ent r ance o f Cue va Cat hedr a l. T he e nt r ance
was a pr et t y i mpr ess ive o ne fo r P uert o R ico
st andar ds as t he cr icket s wer e chir p in g and
t he co lo r s o f gr eens a nd blue s r e flect ed t he ir
mo s s y co lo r t hat t he a nc ie nt fo r mat io ns had
o n t he o nce act ive so lut io na l li me st o ne.
We co nt inu ed do wn t he passage and
c li mbed o ver so me bo uld er s t o get t o anot her
le ngt h o f pas sage w her e we had t o walk up a
st eep br eakdo wn p i le o f lo o se r o ck and mud
t o t he ma in r o o m in t he cave. T his was a
beaut ifu l o pe n a ir r oo m w it h ha ng ing ga r dens
o f mo ss and p la nt s dr aped o ver t he o ld fo r mat io ns. B ir ds m ing led w it h t he bat s as t he y
f lew in a nd o ut int o t he r a in fo r est fr o m t he
kar st windo w at t he t o p o f t he ca ve. I w is h
we co uld ha ve r appe lled int o t his r o o m t o get

t he fu l l e ffect but ju st be ing her e lo o king up
int o t he r a in fo r est fr o m t he bo t t o m wa s impr ess ive in it se lf! ! ! On t he walls o f t he cave
t her e wer e pict o gr aphs fr o m t he T a ino I nd ians, but a ll I co uld imag ine wer e t he angr y
bir ds fr o m t he mo bile app ga me.
Ka ss ia a nd Ju l ie ca me o ut o f a deco r at ed
r oo m and ins ist ed t hat I go t hro ugh knee - hig h
mud t o view t his p lace, so Car lo s and I went
back t her e a nd we fo u nd so me ver y int er est ing fo r mat io ns. A lo t o f t he m lo o ked lik e
t he y wer e cut o ff fr o m t he t o p and t he ce il ing
was fil led w it h so da st r aws and t he flo o r was
deco r at ed wit h o ver 100 st a lag mit e s. Aft er war ds we st art ed t o head o ut as it was get t ing
dar ker o ut sid e and we wa nt ed t o make sur e
we had so me t ime t o beat t he cr o wds fr o m t he
S an S e bast ia n fest iva l go ing o n do wn t he
st r eet fr o m w her e we wer e cur r ent ly at .
I got so me p ics a s we ca me o ut o f t he
cave passag e whic h wa s no t t hat lo ng. Act ua ll y a s a mat t er o f fact , a lot o f t he cave s in
P uer t o R ico see m t o be fr ag me nt s o f l o nger
anc ie nt s yst e ms so t he le ngt h o f t he se caves
is no t as lo ng as t he ma jo r it y o f t he ca ve s in
t he st at es wit h r egar d t o le ngt h but t he roo ms
ar e quit e lar ge a nd p ict ur esque! Once we got
back t o t he car , To m inv it ed us t o st a y at his
p lace fo r a few da ys, whic h was nice o f him.
S o we ended up go ing t o his p lace t o set up
t he t ent under his car po rt , whic h had a nice
o ver lo o k t o t he mo unt a ins o f S a n S e bast ia n
P uer t o Rico .
Kassi a T hormahal en i s si l houet t ed i n t he huge ent rance room of Cueva E vaporado.

A dam Haydock.
Phot o by
Jan u ary 12: Pen ch o, Evap orad a an d Hu mo

Ka ss ia a nd I set o ut o n o ur o wn t o vis it
so me ca ves in t he Ca mu y ar ea, as e ve r yo ne
e lse had t o wo r k. I was t o ld abo ut a sinkho le
t hat had a s ma ll c a ve pas sage in so me e xce lle nt wat er wor k syst e m ca l led Cue va P e nc ho .
Acco r d ing t o Jeff Kr use, t his cave is t ho ught
t o be Po no r 4 and a part o f t he Ca mu y S yst em, but it t ur ns o ut t o be a separ at e s yst em.
We go t so me co r ds and set o ut t o t he la ndo wner s ho use ear ly in t he mo r ning t o avo id
t he aft er no o n r ainfa l l. T he la ndo wner s wer e
nice e no ugh t o allo w us t o par k in t he fr o nt
o f t he ir ho use so we did n't have t o wo rr y
abo ut t he car be ing br o ken int o, alo ng w it h
ha ving t he o ppo rt unit y fo r a r at her eas y wa lk
back t o t he car fr o m t he cave.
I had a co uple o f coo r ds t o t his s yst e m
so we set o ut and e nded up hik ing up a st eep
sadd le in bet ween t wo mo got es t hat t oo k us
do wn int o t hick t ho r ny vine br us h, w hic h wa s
no t eas y t o whack t hro ugh w it h a dull edged
mac het e. We eve nt ua ll y fo und a t r ail t hat
was lead ing east and west , so I sco ut ed up
and do wn it w it ho ut any luck in f ind in g t his
s ink. I t t ur ns o ut t hat so me o f t he c oo r ds
t hat we got wer e not accur at e, so we r et r aced
o ur pat h and we nt t o a le ad t hat I saw whic h
t ur ned o ut t o be P enc ho .
T he s ink ho le had a 70 ft t o o ver a 100ft
dr o p do wn t o t he bot t o m o f t he s ink. We
r igged a t ens io nle ss t o a wild - lo o k ing t r ee
and r apped o ver t he edge and do wn t o t he
bo t t o m o f t he s ink. It was dr y. T her e was no
wat er r unning t hro ugh t he cave like we wer e
t o ld t o be awar e o f, but t he su n was s hin ing
t hr o ugh t he fo r est and t he ar r a y o f vine s t hat
dang led a nd t r aver sed acr o ss t he s ink gave
t his s ink a ver y int er est ing char act er .
T his ca ve appear s t o be a whir lpo o l o f
so rt s as r un-o ff wat er r echar ges t his s in k and
appear s t o swir l ar o und bo t t o m. I a m sur e
t his is qu it e a s ig ht t o see in a flo o d! T her e is
a bo t t o m le ve l t hat ha s st at ic wat er w it h gar bage flo at ing a nd a wat er passage lead i ng t o
t he su mp.
Do wn in t he lo wer le ve l o f t he s ink t he r e
was a st at ic poo l o f wat er t hat I was t o ld has
a lr ead y bee n pu s hed by ca ve d iver s w it ho ut a
succes s fu l co nnect io n t o any ot her s ig ni f ica nt
passage.
We co nt inued t o walk up s t r eam
t hr o ugh t he passag e a nd r eco gniz ed t he int er est ing wa l l a nd fo r mat io n gr o wt h o n t he wa lls
o f t his ca ve.
Aft er abo ut 10 minut es we fo und t he exit
t o t he cave a nd we w er e able t o walk o ut if
we want ed t o, but we ca me back do wn and
dec ided t o cli mb ba ck up t he r o pe t o exit t he
cave. T his was a nice lit t le s yst e m w it h t he
a mo unt o f gr o wt h fr o m t he t r ee root s and
vine s t hat ar e at t empt ing t o do minat e t he
space w it hin t his s ink. I am g lad we got a
cha nce t o co me her e as it was a bea ut ifu l
Vo l . 5 5
p lace a nd int er est ing t o vis it w hi le we wer e

do wn her e, but in my o p inio n, it was no co mpar iso n t o t he ne xt t wo caves we wer e go ing
t o vis it , E vapo r ada and Humo .
We dr o ve past t he Ca mu y co mmer c ia l
cave e nt r ance a nd we nt do wn ano t her t w ist ing r o ad t o t he s ma ll r o ad wit h a 50 - 55 degr ee s lo pe st r aig ht up t o t he la ndo wner s
pr o pert y, wher e we par ked and got r eady fo r
t he caves. I t alk ed t o t he la ndo wner s and
t he y wer e nic e eno ugh t o allo w us t o park and
vis it t he t wo caves near t he ir proper t y.
Cue vas E vapo r ada and Hu mo ar e so me o f my
a ll t ime fa vo r it e cave s! !
Cue va E vapo r ada has a ver y impr ess i ve
ent r ance w hic h t akes a l mo st 20 minut es t o
get do wn and lea ve t he lig ht zo ne. It ha s a
lar ge t r unk passage t hat has a r oo m wit h a
kar st windo w, a micr o fo r est in a n upper
le ve l o pen a ir s ink ho le, a nd so me mo r e f lo wst o ne passag e t hat leads t o a br eakdo wn p ile
and t he end o f t he cave.
T his is a fr ag me nt o f a cave s yst e m t hat
used t o feed int o t he Camu y S yst e m a nd used
t o be co nnect ed t o Cueva de l Hu mo . Hu mo
ha s a s imi lar ent r ance a nd a lso has lar ge
t r unk passage t hat ext ends int o a lar ge canyo n pas sage a nd co nt inu es do wn int o a lake,
ha s s ide pas sages, and a T yr o lea n t r aver se
sect io n t hat co nne ct s t o Ang e les Ca ve whic h
co nne ct s t o t he Ca mu y S yst e m. T his ca ve is
o ne o f t he lar ger s yst e ms in a ll o f P uert o
R ico but we wer e r unning o ut o f t ime and had
t o get int o t his s yst e m be fo r e t he sun went
do wn so we co uld make it back t o T o m s
ho use. We hiked t hr o ugh t hick vine o ver gr o wt h and int o t he mo got es. Aft er ent er ing
t he mo got es, we t r aver se ar o und and up t o a
sadd le t hat t oo k us do wn int o t he s ink wher e
t he t wo caves e xist . F ir st , we went t o Evapo r ada and st art ed o ur hik e do wn t he 200ft ent r ance and ar o und t o wher e o ne o f my f avo r it e vie ws is lo cat ed lo o king o ut o f t he cave
fr o m w it hin.
We co nt inued ar o und so me ma ss ive bo ulder s and ent er ed a mas s ive t r unk passage t hat
ext ended t o t he kar st windo w r oo m w he r e we
t oo k a co uple o f p ict ur es. I lo ve t his cave.
T he mas s ive r oo ms, and t he e c ho es fr o m t he
bat s and cr icket s make t his cave a nd P uert o
R ico ca ves so int er est ing t o me. T he d eve lo pme nt o f li fe in suc h a r e mo t e plac e ponder s
m y m ind as t o ho w adapt ive li fe can be in
suc h ext r e me co nd it io ns.
We headed o ut o f E vapo r ada and head ed
o ver t o Humo t o hike do wn t his 200 ft ent r ance wit h a bit mo r e cha l le nge due t o t he
bo u lder s a nd t he s lipper y co nd it io ns. We got
t o t he bot t o m le ve l a nd s hined o ur lig ht s up
int o t he ce iling t o wat ch hu ndr eds o f ba t s fly
do wn t he passage a nd int o ot her roo ms wher e
t he y hide. T her e m ig ht eve n ha ve bee n t ho usa nds o f bat s!! T he ir w ings made a d i st inct
Vo l . 5 5
so und as t he y fle w in co lo nie s at t he t o p o f

t he ce il ing passag e.
Ka ss ia put o n a mask in t he at t empt t o
m in i miz e t he r isk o f cat ching hist o pla s mo s is
o r so me o t her nast y ger m t hat mig ht fe s t er in
t he mo und s o f bat guano wit h 80 - plu s t e mp s
and 100 per cent hu m id it y. We c li mbed up t o
t he t o p o f t he fo r mat io n sect io n a nd c o nt inued t o hike do wn up and ar o und mas s iv e anc ie nt flo w st o ne fo r mat io ns a nd o t her kar st
feat ur es. We we nt t hr o ugh a s ma l l co nne ct io n
r oo m and po pped o ut int o t he t o p o f t he canyo n pass age wher e t he cave co nt inued on and
do wn int o a s ma l l lake. Diver s ha ve p ushed
t his su mp be fo r e but I canno t co nfir m what
t he y ha ve r epo rt ed fr o m t he ir d ive o per at io n.
We e nded up t ur ning ar o und so we co uld
ha ve e no ugh t ime t o make it t o To m s ho use
and I sho u ld ha ve t aken a few p ic s of t his
par t icu lar t r ip, but I alr ead y t oo k pics o f
Hu mo o n t he la st t r ip. I f I e ver co me ba ck t o
do t he t hr o ugh t r ip t o Ange les c a ve o r a d ive,
I wil l be sur e t o t ake so me mo r e pics of t his
wo nder fu l p lace.
Jan u ary 13: Cu eva d el Falso T ri b u t a ri o
Ro lf ca me o ver t o To m s ho use ear ly so
we co uld get an ear ly st ar t t o a lo ng da y we
had p la nned a head. We dr o ve up t o Lour des
t o get so me br eak fast and c hat a bit abo ut
ho w Ro lf s Cue va Lar ga pr o ject was go ing,
as we ll as so me o f his fut ur e endea vo r s t hat
he is lo o k ing t o acco mp l is h r egar d ing kar st
mo r p ho lo g y. We co nt inued o n t o t he Lar es
ar ea and t he la ndo w ner s pr o pert y w her e Do s
O jo s, Lar ga, and Dugo n ar e lo cat ed. We had
t o par k ne xt t o t he la ndo wner s ho use , and
t he o nly spo t t o par k was ne xt t o a pile o f
br o ken g la ss a nd gar bage, whic h wa s a bit
sket chy s ince t his was a r ent a l. T he ro ad
lead ing t o t he pro pert y was nt t he best eit her ,
and in t he past , To m had his car s ip ho ned
whi le par k ing do wn t he st r eet fr o m whe r e we
par ked t he car s no w.. . Nice ! ! We wer e r e assur ed t hat not hing wo uld happe n t o t he car s
and t hat ever yt hing wo uld be fine.
We he aded o ut o n t he t r ail o ver t he
mo go t e sadd les and do wn t he st eep and slipper y mo got e s lo pes t o a dr y was h, w her e t he
ju nct io n t o Lar ga and Dugo n co uld be dec ided upo n. I t is no t t hat eas y t o hik e up and
do wn t he sadd le s o f t he mo go t e mo unt ains,
eve n t ho ugh t he y ar e mo r e lik e lar ge st eep
hi l ls. T he de ns e veget at io n a nd t he mo got es
in t he ar ea ar e so ple nt ifu l t hat it can eas y
get lo st and find it har d t o cut t hro ugh t he
ju ng le t o get t o wher e yo u want t o go .
We hiked up t o anot her sadd le a nd I saw
so me t r ail t ape. We hiked do wn and a r o und
an ar ea w her e I was la st year , w it h s ma ll
fr ag me nt s o f a ca ve s yst e m w hic h mig ht ha ve
bee n a co nnect io n t o Dugo n and Lar ga in t he
past . I pur sued all o f t he lead s, but t hey d id
no t go anyw her e. We co nt inued up anot her
sadd le and ca me t o a nar ro w canyo n wit h

sheer c li ffs 50 - 60 ft t o t he bo t t o m. We hiked
up and ar o und t his ca nyo n, and it co nt inued
t o be sheer a l l ar o und t he co llapse. T hi s was
Dugo ns co llaps ed ent r ance. We wo u ld ha ve
need ed t o br ing r o pe and r ig t o a t r ee in o r der
t o get int o t his ent r ance o f Dugo n.
On t he ot her s ide we co u ld see t he lar ge
ent r ance o f t he ca ve. It was quit e impr ess ive
but wit h so me co or ds at hand, I co nt inu ed t o
lo o k fo r t he ho r izo nt a l e nt r ance t o t he cave.
We hiked do wn t o anot her co llaps e wher e t he
wa ypo int t oo k me, a nd t his wa s no t successfu l. T hese co o r ds wer e o ff ag a in. We loo ked
ar o und a bit mo r e and I co uld no t fin d t he
wa y in. We sear c hed o n t he ot her sid e o f t he
sadd le w it ho ut success. Her e we wer e, st anding o n t o p o f t he ent r anc e w it h a lar ge canyo n w it h s heer c l if fs e xt end ing t o anot her
ent r ance, a nd we co u ld no t even get ins id e
t his ca ve. . . . lo l. . . I t ho ught it was amus in g and
a bit o f a s lap in t he face at t he sa me t im e.
T ime w as r unning o ut , so Ro lf we nt t o
Lar ga whi le we we nt t o meet up wit h T o m at
Lo udr es t o vis it Cue va de l Fa lso T r ibu t ar io .
E ve nt ua ll y w e met up wit h T o m, a nd we
dr o ve t o t he par king spot wher e we geared up
and head ed do wn t o Cueva de l F a lso T r ibut ar io . To m was e xp la in ing t o me t hat peo ple
ma y no t have bee n t o t his ca ve fo r o ver 20
year s, a nd s ince his r ece nt la st vis it , r o pes
ar e r equir ed t o descend ins ide t he ca ve . T he
r eport was t hat t her e is a c li mba ble dr o p, and
t hen t her e is a no t her dro p t hat lead s int o a
wa lk ing pass age wher e wat er can be hear d,
lo t s o f wat er.
T his is s ig nif ica nt as t he Ca mu y d is a ppear s under t he va l le y ar ea wher e we wer e
near a nd r esur ges far t her do wn t o war ds t he
o cean. T her e ar e ot her syst e ms t hat fee d and
r echar ge fr o m t he Ca mu y, but no bo dy has
ever be e n able t o co nnect t he Ca mu y o r find
wher e it go es fr o m wher e it insur ges t o wher e
it r esur ges, so Cue va De l Fa lso T r ibut ar io is
a goo d le ad whic h ma y he lp answer t his quest io n. We wer e no w r ig ht in t he midd le o f t he
quest io na ble ar ea, in a va l le y, po ss ibl y abo ve
t he under gr o und Ca mu y S yst e m.
We hiked t hr o ugh t he va l le y a nd pass ed
lea ve s t hat ar e lar ger t han Ka ss ia. Af t er a
whi le, we made it t o t he ent r ance o f t he cave,
and it was a dr y wa s h lead ing int o t he s yst em. We gear ed up o ur ver t ica l ge ar and made
o ur t r aver se t o war ds t he fir st dro p whi le
cr aw ling ar o und lar ge lo gs a nd u nder fo r mat io ns. T he fir st dr o ps wer e sho rt , and o ne
was indeed c li mba ble, but we r igged a ro pe
hig h int o a nat ur al ho le w it h a lo t o f st one t o
ensur e t he anc ho r d id no t br eak. T her e wer e
no ot her goo d anc ho r s, and o f co ur se t her e
wer e no bo lt s o r pit o ns in t he ar ea. We padded t he shar p a nd na st y lip w it h T o m s bag
and desce nd ed do wn t o t he bot t o m wher e t he
10
ne xt dro p was lo cat ed. I mo ved so me r o cks

and st ar t ed my desc e nt do wn t o a pla t fo r m
wher e t he ne xt dro p was lo cat ed. Our fir st
r o pe ended be fo r e t he lip o f t his dr o p, but I
f laked o ut t he seco nd r o pe and fed t hat do wn
t he dro p and fo und t hat t her e was not eno ugh
r o pe! E ven i f I t ied t he t wo ro pes t o get her ,
t her e st il l wo u ld nt ha ve bee n eno ugh r o pe t o
make it t o t he bo t t o m, and I wo uld ha ve sho r t
r o ped mys e lf.
I co uld hear wat er dr ipp ing fr o m d if fer e nt
lo cat io ns, wat er la nd ing in po o ls o f w at er and
lar ge ec ho es t hat t r ave led fo r up t o 5 seco nds, inc lud ing my vo ice w he n I ye l le d int o
t he unk no wn. I was amaz ed t o hear ho w muc h
r oo m was do wn t her e, and I r ea ll y wa nt ed t o
get t o t he bot t o m, but we just did no t have
eno ugh r o pe t o make it happe n. T hi nk ing
back at it , I sho u ld ha ve ju st r apped do wn
and do ne a change - o ver t o see what was do wn
t her e but I came back up and at t empt ed t o
lo o k fo r mo r e r ig po int s at t he bo t t o m o f t he
f ir st pit . To m po int ed o ut o ne was mar g ina l l y
goo d if t her e wer e so me o t her anc ho r s invo lved, but t he ot her t wo wer e quit e sket chy,
in my o p inio n, so we o pt ed t o save t his o ne
fo r ano t her t ime w her e it co uld be sur ve yed
and do cu me nt ed o nce at t he bot t o m.
Jan u ary 14: Cu eva M u rci elago
T he ne xt da y T o m wa s go ing t o jo in u s t o
f inis h t he sur ve y o f Map la nc he but he ended
up ha ving so me o t her bus ine ss t o t ake car e o f
so we decid ed t o t ake it easy a nd go t o t he
Dr y Fo r est in Gua nica. Guanic a is s it uat ed in
t he so ut h west co r ner o f P uert o Rico whic h
ha s a deser t envir o nme nt inc lud ing c act us
and o t her ro cky feat ur es t hat yo u wo uld find
in t yp ic a l de ser t s.
T her e is a lso a cave t hat I want ed t o vis it
her e ca l led Mur c ie lago , so we headed o ut and
made it t o t he t r ailhe ad in pr et t y goo d t ime.
We hiked up t he t r a il a nd fo l lo wed t he s id e
pat h t hat pr et t y mu c h t oo k us t o t he ent r ance
o f t he cave. T her e ar e a nu mber o f e nt ranc es
her e, but we dec id ed t o do t he c li mb - do wn
ent r ance, w hic h dr o pped us r ight int o t he
o pen- a ir cave.
I t was a sho rt but int er est ing cave in i t s
o n r ig ht as it had a few co llaps ed ent r ance s,
sk yl ig ht s, and bat s t hat live in t he co r ner s o f
t he cave.
T her e was a guano lake t ha t was
so met hing we t r ied t o avo id as muc h a s po ss ible but ot her t han t hat , t he cave was a nice
visu a l in t he dr y fo r est . We s napped a few
p ict ur es and e xit ed t he ca ve t o hang o ut at
t he beac h a nd r e la x a bit be fo r e we head ed t o
t he hot e l fo r t he nig ht and c hi ll fo r t he ne xt
da ys a ct ivit ie s. Ka ss ia st ar t ed t o get sick so
I was get t ing co ncer ned t hat she caught
so met hing, as s he a lr ead y got o ver t he flu a
few weeks pr io r t o lea ving o n t he t r ip.
Vo l . 5 5
Jan u ary 15: Cu eva M ap an ch e

We wo ke up and Ka ss ia wa s no t do ing
goo d at a ll, S he was lo s ing we ig ht fas t and
no t eat ing.
S he dec ided t o st ay o ut of t he
caves t o da y, and I mad e t he dec is io n t o ju st
vis it M ap la nc he inst ead o f vis it ing bo t h Map la nc he a nd E l Co nve nt o . We dr o ve t o t he
par k ing lo cat io n a nd I fo llo wed t he wash up
int o so me t hor ny vine fo r est be fo r e t he fo r est
gr ant ed me acc es s t o vis it Map la nc he. T his
cave ha s a decent - s ized e nt r ance, but t he hike
do wn t o t he bo t t o m o f t he ca ve was a l mo st
t wice o f what E vapo r ada was. T he last sect io n o f t he hike do wn t o t he base le ve l wa s
pr et t y st eep and s l ipper y. O nce I go t to t he
bo t t o m t her e was no t muc h mo r e t o t he cave
ot her t han a gua no poo l at t he bit t er end and
a s ide r oo m t hat can be ent er ed fr o m a not her
ent r ance a nd r apped int o . T his was t he sect io n we wer e go ing t o map. I t oo k a co uple
o f p ict ur es a nd mad e my wa y back up a nd out
o f t he cave so I co uld get back t o t he car and
make sur e e ver yt hing wa s o k wit h Ka ss i a.
Once I got back t o t he car , I packed up
and we got so me fo o d in t o wn. Aft er war ds we
dr o ve t o t he To ro Negro fo r est wher e we
wer e in t he c lo uds a nd t his is wher e s he got
r ea ll y s ick. We st o pped t he car t o chil l a nd
r e la x a nd e nded up get t ing a no t her hot e l fo r
t he nig ht so she co uld s leep it o ff.
Jan u ary 16: S orb et os an d In d i o
We wo ke up t he fo llo w ing da y a nd Ka ss ia
was st ar t ing t o fee l bet t er, well bet t er eno ugh
t o lea ve t he hot el a nd st art head ing ba ck up
no r t h. We nar r o wed t he diag no s is do wn t o
dengue fe ver a nd a ne w vir u s t hat has bee n
go ing ar o und ca lled t he chiku ngu nya vir us,
so aft er discu ss ing t his ep iso de wit h lo cals,
peo ple w ho ha ve had t hese vir use s, and a
do ct o r, it has bee n co nc luded t hat it ver y
we ll m ig ht ha ve be e n dengue fe ver whi ch is
passed o n o nl y t ho ugh a fe ma le mo s qu it o.
We wer e in t he ar ea wher e mo squ it o es exist ed.
Kass ia had t he co mmo n flu a few
weeks pr io r , and t he s ympt o ms s he de sc r ibed
f it dengue fe ver . T hank fu l l y s he was fe e ling
bet t er so we headed o ut t o Cueva S o r bet o s.
Next p age, clockwi se f ro m u p p er le ft : T om
M i l l er, Kassi a T hormahal en, Carl os A rt i guez
and Jul i e Dut i l i n t he ent rance room of
Cueva Cat hedral ; A dam Haydock and f l owst one i n Cueva Sorbet os; A passage sh ot i n
Cueva Sorbet os; A dam Haydock and T om
M i l l er i n Cueva Juan Ni eves; Carl os A rt i guez
i n t he Whi t e R oom of Cueva Perdi da; Kassi a
T hormahal en cl i mbi ng by t he wat erf al l i n
Cueva Juan Ni eves; Kassi a T hormahal e n si t t i ng next t o pet rogl yphs i n Cueva del Indi o.
Phot os by A dam Haydock.
Vo l . 5 5
11
12
T his is a be aut ifu l c a ve s yst e m t hat I had

bee n t o a few ye ar s back but want ed t o co me
back t o and get so me awe so me p ict ur es fr o m .
We had t o par k t he car in a r ea ll y shad y
ne ig hbo r ho o d, but t her e wer e wor ker s at t he
fact o r y t hat allo w ed us t o par k o n t he st r eet
and t he y sa id t hat o ur car wo uld be fine s ince
mo st o f t he peo ple wer e wo r king and not
ho me t hat day.
We hiked p ast t he hydr o lo g ic p la nt and
fo u nd t he t r ail t o t he ent r ance o f t he cave
whic h is s it uat ed acro ss t he T ana ma R iver .
We swa m a cr o ss and ent er ed t he s ma l l e nt r ance t o Cueva S o r bet o s. Car lo s a nd Jo r ge
want t o r ebu ild t he ent r ance doo r and lea ve
t his c a ve t o o nly be acce ss ib le t o peo ple t hat
can get a ke y t o unlo ck t he gat e. T hese peop le mu st have exp er ie nc e in co nser vat ive
cave pr act ic es a nd t r ead lig ht ly due t o a ll o f
t he delic at e and ver y r ar e whit e so da st r aws
t hat exist in t his ca ve.
We wa lked do wn a br eakdo wn p i le and
got t o t he ma in t r unk pas sage.
It is mudd y
br o wn, pr et t y big, a nd has a st r ea m o f sort s
r unning t hro ugh it . It wo uld just be anot her
cave w it h a r ot unda r oo m a nd a lar ge t r unk
passage r o o m if it was nt fo r t he a ll t he so da
st r aws in t his ca ve. T he st r aws decor at ed
t he wa lls a bo ve o ur heads a nd near jo int s in
t he ro ck. T her e mu st have bee n t ens o f t ho usa nds o f t hese st r aw fo r mat io ns, and so me
had flut ed inde nt at io ns and he lict it e pr ot r us io ns gr o wing o ff o f t he m.
We co nt inued t o walk do wn t he passa ge
unt il we go t t o a sma l l pa ss age w it h t hicker
mud, wher e ever y inc h o f t he passage was
co ver ed in st r aws abo ve us a nd t o t he s ide o f
us. It was like a cr yst a l pas sage o f whit e
t eet h shi m mer ing as w e pass ed t ho ugh t his
sect io n. E ver yt hing appear ed t o be he ld up
by p il lar s o f whit e ca lc it e fo r mat io ns and
t hin st r aws.
Unfo r t unat ely, a lo t o f t he st r aws wer e
br o ken o ff in t his r oo m, so it beca me mo r e
appar ent why Car lo s wa nt s t o lo ck t his cave
up fo r key acces s o nly. Wi ld t o ur s by t o ur
co mpa nie s ar e t aken int o t his ca ve and t he y
want t o r egulat e it a bit mo r e so t he spe lu nker s do not co nt inue t o br eak t he st r aws. I
cant ju st bla me t he m fo r it as I am su r e lo ca ls and ot her peo ple co me int o t his ca ve and
ma y ha ve da mag ed it in t he past . We c o nt inued do wn t he passage s, and Kas s ia was st art ing no t t o fee l so we ll. We t oo k mo r e br eaks
and s lo wed do wn a bit unt il we go t int o t he
ma in t r unk passage a nd t he r e ma in ing par t o f
t he cave.
We co u ld he ar wat er pass ing t hr o ugh t his
sect io n and t her e was a r iver t o o ur le ft
wher e a su mp d ive was co nduct ed in t he past
acco r ding t o so me o f t he lo ca l ca ver s, but t he
r eport s o n t he ir find ing s ar e unkno wn. I am
inc l ined t o be lie ve t he y d id nt find a nyt hing
Vo l . 5 5
as t his is a po pular cave. We got a shot fr o m

t he t o p do wn o f t his pas sage fac ing t he r ot unda roo m a nd t he end o f t he cave, as we ll
as a sho t fr o m t he bo t t o m up lead ing t o o ne
o f t he mo st ama z ing cr yst a l r o o ms I ha ve
ever see n.
We co nt inued up t he br eakdo wn p ile in
t he rot unda roo m and ad mir ed t he ma ss ive
whit e fo r mat io ns a nd t he st ala ct it es ha ng ing
fr o m t he ce il ing. T he y wer e qu it e int er est ing
t o see, as t he y wer e so me o f t he lar g est I
ha ve e ver w it ne ssed.
We we nt do wn and
cr o ssed t he passage int o t he cr yst a l r oo m,
whic h s ho u ld be ca l led t he cha nde l ier r oo m
due t o so me o f t he mo st int r icat e whit e calc it e fo r mat io ns I have ever see n. T her e must
ha ve bee n t ho usand s o f t he se st r aws so me
r ang ing mo r e t ha n 2 fe et lo ng !
S o me o f t he o t her fo r mat io ns wer e st a ined
and e mbedded w it h a d ir t y p ink go ld t int
whic h ga ve t his r o o m a lo t o f co lo r and d yna m ic t o what we wer e lo o king at . Some o f
t he ot her fo r mat io ns had lar ge he l i ct it es
gr o wing fr o m t he fo r mat io ns whic h had
shades o f ye llo w, p ink, and a cr ea m co lo r
whit e. So me ot her s wer e mo r e t r ans lucent
t han o t her s. It was fa sc inat ing t o sit her e and
st ar e int o t hese cr yst a l fo r mat io ns and lo o k
c lo se l y int o ho w t he y fo r med t he way t he y
d id.
Aft er a while, we st art ed o ur t r aver se o ut
and pas sed a n ar ea wher e t her e was a par t icular co nce nt r at io n o f st r aws o ver 2 fe et in
le ngt h, and so me wer e r eac hing t he gr o und.
I t oo k a self ie her e but I just cant t ake t he
r ig ht self ie w it ho ut laug hing my a ss off o r
mak ing so me k ind o f goo fy face ! Aft er war ds
we snapp ed a few mo r e pho t o s and mad e o ur
exit int o t he r ema ining ho ur s o f t he da y a nd
was hed o ff in t he T a na ma R iver . What a gr eat
wa y t o wash o ff! ! H ik ing ba ck was e ve n nic e
as we not iced p la nt s t hat sell fo r 30 t o 50
do llar s in C hicago , gro wing nat ur a ll y i n t he
fo r est .
We mad e it ba ck t o t he car and bo o ked
ano t her ho t el in Ar ec ibo , whic h ga ve us so me
t ime t o go t o Cueva De l I nd io a nd get a good
head st art fo r t he fo llo w ing da y s ca vin g act ivit y t o Cueva P er d ida.
Aft er S o r bet o s we had so me t ime t o bur n
o ff fo r t he r est o f t he da y, so we headed o ver
t o Cueva de l I nd io in Ar ec ibo t o chec k out
t he o cean and t he sea c a ves. I ha ve bee n her e
be fo r e and I ha ve a lwa ys e njo yed vis it i ng, as
t her e is a plac e t o sw im w it h co r al and fis h
t hat hide fr o m t he waves cr as hing o ve r t he
ba sa lt r o ck. T her e ar e so me ot her lar g e sea
caves o n t he spur s a head o f Cue va de l I nd io ,
as we l l as pet r o glyp hs e mbedded in t he ro ck
ins ide Cue va de l I nd io fr o m t he T a ino I nd ians.
We dr o ve up t o t he lo cat io n w her e we had
t o par k, and o ut o f no wher e a m id - s ize i guana
Vo l . 5 5
r an int o t he st r eet , so I at t empt ed t o dr ive

ar o und t he sho cked igua na. . wit ho ut success.
T hu mp t hu mp. . . . , is what I hear d. .. . as I kept
dr iving, cr eat ing an inst ant mea l fo r t he st r ay
do gs and cat s in t he ne ig hbo r ho o d.
We mad e it t o t he par k ing spo t and
wa lked o ver t o t he ar ea wher e I co uld sw im
and view t he r ee f near s ho r e. I swam o ut
t her e, but t he ma sk t hat I bro ught wit h me
was br o ken so it was no t wo r king t oo wel l fo r
me t o sw im a nd ho ld t his ma sk in p lac e whi le
t r ying t o enjo y t he r eef. I ended up sw imm ing o ver t o t he shar p flut ed bas a lt la va isla nd a nd wa lk ed o ver t o t he ot her s ide t o
view t he wave s po ur ing o ver t he seaweed
gr o wt h o n t he walls.
Aft er war ds we hiked up and ar o und t o t he
S eve n Apo st le sea ca ves t o wat ch t he wave s
cr ash o ver and up o nt o t he walls. It was nice
t o t ake a br eak fr o m t he ju ng le a nd enjo y t he
sea, t he wave s, and pla y ar o und wit h t he
o cean a bit be fo r e go ing int o t he cave.
Aft er get t ing t o ssed ar o und a bit fr o m t he
wave act io n o n t he sho r e, we ent er ed t he
cave, do wn t he ladd er and int o t he caver n
r oo ms w her e t he pet ro glyp hs wer e. It was
int er est ing t o see t hese dr awing s and made
me wo nder what insp ir ed t he I nd ia ns t o cr eat e t hese des ig ns. Bo ils o f wat er fr o m cr ashing cur r ent and wave act io n wo uld r is e and
fa l l in a sect io n o f t his ca ve as t he skyl ig ht s
i l lu minat ed t he r ema in ing po rt io n o f t he cave
and o t her pet ro glyp hs in t he ar ea. It was yet
ano t her gr eat vis it a nd I a m g lad I was able
t o st o p by, but it was back t o t he ho t el fo r t he
fo llo w ing da y s pr ep fo r P er dida.
Jan u ary 17: Cu eva Perd i d a
We got up ear ly t o meet up wit h Car lo s at
t he T exaco o n Ro ut e 10 near Cue va Ve nt ana,
and Car lo s me nt io ned t hat he was r u nning a
bit lat e, so we st o pped by Cue va Vent ana t o
see if w e co uld vis it t he cave fo r a bit .
I went t o Vent ana a few year s back and
pa id 2 do llar s t o walk o n t he pr o pert y t o see
t his ca ve, w hic h co ns ist ed o f t wo lar ge r oo ms
and t he fa mo us kar st windo w t hat o ver lo o ks
t he va l le y be lo w. We wa lk up t o fin d out
t hat no w t he pr ice is $10. 70, t ax inc l uded,
whic h co mes w it h a t o ur guide. No w whe n
we wer e wa it ing fo r Br o t o sho w up, t her e
wer e peo ple go ing up in su it s a nd p il es o f
k ids fa l l ing o ut o f mini bu ses ju st t o run up
t o t ake t he t o ur t o vis it t he cave.
I under st and t he who le mak ing mo ne y t hing,
and t he t o ur t hing, but it was depr es s i ng t o
see t hat t his p lac e ha s beco me a t o ur is t t r ap
o f so rt s.
On t he fl ip s ide, it mig ht prot ect t hat cave
a bit mo r e inst ead o f t he fr ee - fo r - all it was,
but I can o nly ho pe t hat t hese t o ur co mp anie s
inve st in co nser vat io n e ffo r t s and a lso co nt r ibut e t o t he co nser vat io n e ffo r t s t hat a lot
13
o f ca ve s in P uer t o Rico desper at ely ne ed in

o r der prot ect t hese e nvir o nme nt s.
F ina l l y, we met up wit h Bro and fo llo w ed
hi m t o t he la ndo wner s pr o pert y w her e P er d ida was lo cat ed. We got a chance t o t a lk
w it h t he la ndo w ner , and it appear s t hat t her e
ar e hu ndr eds o f ca ve s in his ar ea inc l ud ing
o ne cave w it h T a ino art ifact s.
We s et o ut fo r P er dida a nd fo llo wed t he
GP S unt il it st ar t ed t aking us in a bit o f a d iffer e nt dir ect io n t han we needed t o go . Car lo s
ye l led fo r us t o do uble back, as t her e is a
t r ail t hat lead s r ig ht t o t he ent r ance o f P erd ida, and we wer e go ing in t he wro ng d ir ect io n. . . . nice !! We go t t o t he ent r ance o f P er d ida a nd we wer e abo ut 50ft o ff fr o m t he wa y
po int t hat I had fo r it , whic h is no t t oo bad.
P er ro is near t he ent r ance but we did nt
ha ve a ny r o pes t o r ap int o t he s ink ho le ent r ance, so we ent er ed P er dida a nd cr aw led
t hr o ugh a passage unt il we got t o t he ma in
st r eam pas sage.
T his ca ve r e minded me o f
Do ghil l Ca ve, but t his cave was a lo t mo r e
f lut ed inst ead o f ju st o ne sect io n.
We st art ed t o go upst r ea m a nd I snapp ed a
few p ics o f Car lo s o n a be nc h ar ea fo r mat io n
r oo m. We co nt inued o n, pass ing by so me
f lo wst o ne fo r mat io ns and int er est ing and well
- define d dugo n fo ss i ls, whic h appear ed t o me
t o be a ver t ebr ae and so me r ib bo ne s in a
c lu st er . We went up and ar o und so me fo r mat io ns in t he r iver passag e and wa lked t hr o ugh
a few r o o ms u nt il w e got t o a lo wer sect io n
o f t he cave w her e we had t o cr awl in t he wat er a bit . It fe lt pr et t y goo d t o be in t his wat er, since t he ca ve t e mp is ar o und 75 degr ees
and 100 per cent humid it y, so t he wat er
coo led m y bo d y o ff a bit a nd kept us in a
gr eat co nd it io n.
Car lo s bega n t o t alk abo ut a roo m t hat is
just up ahead and a bo ut ho w t his r oo m is
co mp let e ly w hit e.
T he y ca l l it t he Whit e
A bi g - room, mul t i pl e-f l ash shot i n Cueva

E vaporada. Phot o by A dam Haydock.
14
Roo m, and t her e ar e a lo t o f fo r mat io ns in

t his r oo m. We cr aw led up and po ked t hr o ugh
so me s ma l ler pass ages unt il w e saw a windo w
w it h so me w hit e fo r mat io ns. We a l l c li mbed
up aro und 10 - 15ft and got int o t his bea ut ifu l
r oo m w it h t he se impr e ss ive w hit e dr aper y a nd
st alact it e fo r mat io ns ha ng ing fr o m t he wa lls.
I was r ea ll y i mpr ess ed w it h t his and befo r e I got my ca mer a o ut , Car lo s t o ld me t o
go aro und int o t he ne xt roo m, so I wa lked
l ig ht ly o ver a nd int o t he fo llo w ing r o om a nd
no t iced t hat t his r oo m is 4 t ime s t he siz e wit h
pur e whit e fo r mat io ns co ver ing t he wa ll s and
ce il ing. I n my o pinio n, t he cent er p ie ce t o
t his r oo m was a skinny st a lag m it e t hat st oo d
7+ feet t all a nd t he w idt h was no mo r e t ha n 2
inc he s acr o ss. It was amaz ing t o see t her e
was o ne in ea c h r oo m. I set up so me p i ct ur es
fo r Car lo s and ot her s, as I had never seen
p ict ur es o f t his Whit e Ro o m in Cu e va P e r d ida
be fo r e, so I am g lad t o be shar ing t he m wit h
t he wo r ld. T he beaut y o f t he Ca ves in P uert o
R ico ne ver st o ps t o amaze me e ve n as I spo il
m ys e lf w it h vis it ing t hese fa sc inat ing and
exo t ic geo lo g ica l k ar st envir o nme nt s.
Aft er a while we st art ed t o head o ut o f
t he cave a nd backt r ack t he wa y we ca me in.
We st o pped t o check o ut a sid e passag e but
e it her we wer e su mped o ut o r t he passa ge or
ano t her sect io n mig ht ha ve co llapsed.
I t is a lso po ssible we wer e no t in t he r ig ht
p lace t o find a no t her ext ens io n t o t his ca ve as
it wa s qu it e maz y, he nce t he na me P er d i da or
Lo st Cave, but we had a blast vis it in g t his
cave and get t ing a cha nc e t o cave w it h Car lo s
Br o , and a chance t o shar e t he exper ie nce
in o ne o f his fa vo r it e caves was a gr eat t i me.
T he co nne ct io n t o P er ro is ano t her mu st
do t r aver se and go ing o ut t he do wns t r eam
exit was ano t her o pt io n but we wer e r unning
o ut o f t ime so we le ft and we nt back t o t he
ho t el fo r anot her nig ht s s leep and pr e p fo r
t he gr and fina le, Juan N ie ve s! !
Jan u ary 18: Cu eva Ju an Ni eves
T he fina l da y o f ca ving her e in P uer t o
R ico had co me, and w hat a gr eat way t o finis h t his t r ip w it h a vis it t o Juan N ie ves ! T his
cave is a par t o f t he R io E nca nt ada syst e m
near F lo r ida, P uer t o Rico , and ha s a bea ut ifu l
p it ent r ance t hat leads t o a t all ca nyo n passage t hat event ua ll y lead s caver s t o so me impr ess ive wat er fa l ls whi le wad ing in cr yst a l
c lear war m w at er . T he last few wat er fa l ls ar e
ar o und 15ft in he ig ht and all o f t he wat er
r ages t hr o ugh so me nat ur a l ar che s and cascades do wn int o t he lo wer le ve ls. T his made
fo r so me gr eat cave c li mb ing !
One o f t he mo st impr es s ive kar st feat ur es
in t his ca ve was t he kar st sho wer fa ucet s.
One in par t icu lar had t r ia ngu lar cr yst a ls
gr o wing t o war ds t he midd le, and t he bu lk o f
t his feat ur e was s ma l l ca lc it e t ube s t hat
lo o ked like t w ist ed so da st r aws t hat act ed as
Vo l . 5 5
a pip ing s yst e m fo r t he wat er t o flo w o ut like

a r ain s ho wer faucet ! Abso lut e ly a maz in g!
T her e wer e also so me upper passages w i t h
so me wa lk ing t r unk pas sage w it h int er est ing
fo r mat io ns t hat led r ig ht back t o t he bot t o m
o f t he p it ent r ance. T he do wnst r ea m se ct io n
end s in a su mp t hat has a lr ead y be e n pushed
by mu lt ip le ca ve d ive o per at io ns. T hese d ive s
r esu lt ed in pa ssage be yo nd t he su mp, and t he
hydr o lo gica l co nnect io n t o t he r ema inin g E ncant ada s yst e m is t hr o ugh t his su mp. T he
R io E nca nt ado s yst e m ha s mu lt ip le caves
co nne ct ed t o t his u nder gr o und r iver , inc luding E sca lar a, E nca nt ada, Zumbo , Yuyu , and
ot her lo ca ll y k no wn ca ves. T he upst r eam r esur genc e su mp is co nnect ed t o Cueva Agua s
Fr ias, and mu lt ip le d ives ha ve bee n per fo r med in her e fr o m mu lt ip le e xped it io ns and
lo ca l ca ve d iver s t hat co nnect ed Jua n N ie ve s
t o Aguas Fr ias. T her e is a lso a s ide pa ssage
t hat mig ht co nnect t o Vie nt o s whic h ha s bee n
hydr o lo gica l l y co nnect ed but cave d iver s
ha ve no t been a ble t o make a co nnect io n t o
dat e.
T he R io E nca nt ado syst e m is ar o und 17km
o f r iver cave pa ssage t hat has so me of t he
mo st a maz ing sect io ns o f ca ve t hat I ha ve
ever see n! ! Last year I went t o vis it Cue va
Zu mbo , whic h was like wa lk ing t hr o ugh an
a lie n c a nyo n pas sage o f 3D t a lo ns t hat we
had t o cli mb a nd wa lk o ver in o r der t o co nt inue do wn t he passage. T he c ir cu lar sc a llo ping and t he way t he ro ck was cut by t he wat er
is so met hing t hat I have ne ver see n a nywher e
in t he wo r ld.
T her e ha ve bee n pr e vio us e xped it io n co nnect io ns wher e ca ver s ha ve co nnect ed so me
o f t he cave s descr ibed in o t her public at io ns
and vid eo s, but t his t r ip was t o enjo y t he
beaut y o f t his fa sc inat ing p lace a nd s nap a
few pho t o s alo ng t he wa y. S o me o f t hese
pr evio us e xp ed it io ns ar e mo r e publ i c ized
t han ot her s but , no do ubt , t he Rio E ncant ado
s yst e m ha s bee n an ar ea o f int er est fo r t he
wo r ld s cave exp lo r er s, inc lud ing Wes S k iles.
We s pus hed Agua s Fr ia s a nd ca me up int o
Jua n N ie ves a nd de scr ibed t he ca ve t o so me
lo ca ls a s a beaut ifu l s yst e m w it h i mpr ess ive
wat er fa l ls a nd beaut ifu l fo r mat io ns. He co nt inued t o descr ibe t he r iver pass age o f Juan
N ie ve s as ha ving a o pening in t he c e il ing
abo ut t wo ho ur s do wn t he passage fr o m
wher e he ca me up int o air pass age. This is
t he pit ent r ance t o Juan N ie ve s wher e we ent er ed t he cave o n t his da y.
We got t o t he par king spot and hik ed int o
t he fo r est not t o far fr o m w her e we par ked
and t he ent r ance p it t o t he cave was r ig ht
t her e. It is a s ma ll cr ack in t he hi l ls id e t hat
dr o ps 20 - 30ft t o a ledge. T he dro p co nt inue s
t o a st eep slo p ing ledge t hat leads t o t he ma in
dr o p whic h is ar o und 100 - 120ft t o t he bo t t o m.
Vo l . 5 5
We r igged a t ens io nles s t o a t r ee and set

up a r e - dir ect int o t he ent r ance p it . I set up
ano t her r e - dir ect and a r e - be la y t o ma ke it
eas ier fo r ever yo ne e lse t o get o n and o ff
r o pe. I padded t he ma in dr o p and we wer e
goo d t o go . One at a t ime, we r apped do wn
t o t he ledge a nd co nt inu ed t o r appel t o t he
bo t t o m o f t his fissur e cr ack in t he mo got e. It
was qu it e impr es s ive fr o m t he bo t t o m lo o king
up, as we co uld s ee t he sk yl ig ht ent r anc e, and
wher e Wes me nt io ned he saw an ent r ance
fr o m t he ce il ing wa s wher e we wer e ent er ing.
One o f t he fir st t hings I no t iced was ho w
war m t he cr yst a l c lear t he wat er was!! S o
aweso me t o be in cr yst a l c lear war m wat er
ins ide o f a ho t cave s yst e m t o coo l off in.
We st art ed do wn t he st r ea m a bit t o see what
was do wn t her e and qu ick l y t ur ned ba ck t o
wa it fo r ever yo ne e ls e t o get do wn so we
co uld st ar t o ur jo ur ne y upst r ea m.
We st ar t ed o ff by wad ing t hr o ugh t he
hea vi l y flut ed ca nyo n pass age upst r ea m whi le
no t ic ing ho w deep t he wat er got in par t s
wher e t he wat er co ur se r ipped int o t he l i mest o ne.
As w e t oo k o ur t ime wa lk in g upst r eam, we passed so me s id e passage s and
no t iced ho w t he ce iling wa s st ar t ing t o dro p
do wn a bit . T her e wo u ld be t ime s w he n we
wer e sw im m ing, and at ot her t ime s, we wer e
in p lace s wher e we co uld st and and wa lk.
E ve nt ua ll y we ca me up o nt o so me int er est ing
fo r mat io n r o o ms, a nd t hat is w he n we st ar t ed
t o hear t ur bule nt wat er echo ing do wn t he passage ju st ahead o f u s. We wer e ho ping t his
was no t a flas h flo o d as we swa m c lo s er t o
t he so ur ce, but as we co nt inued upst r eam, we
co uld hear a mo r e dist inct so und o f a wat er fa l l. T his wa s t he fir st o f ma ny wat er fa ll
passage s. . . he lls ye a!
T he wat er was mo ving lik e a wat er par k
and r o pes wer e r igged int o t he wa ll fo r a
t r aver se line in c ase t her e was wat er pr essur e
t oo st ro ng t o t r ave l in. We gr ipped t he wa lls
and cr o ssed t he pa ssag e w it h lit t le u se o f t he
r o pes in ca se t he y br o ke under o ur we ig ht .
We t oo k a br eak her e as T o m t est ed t he CO 2
le ve l w hic h he fo und t o be a co ns ist ent 0.7
per cent . T hat s a bit hig h fo r a cave pas sage,
and he po nder ed if t he wat er was br ing i ng in
t his CO 2 fr o m a no t her cave.
I snapped up a co uple p ict ur es while we
hu ng o ut her e admir ing t he fo r mat io ns on t he
wa lls a nd t he wat er flo w ing o ff o f t he f lo wst o nes a bo ve us. T her e was a lso an upper
passage w her e r o pe was r igged t o but we d id
no t pur sue t hat lead. We co nt inued t o t r ave l
upst r eam, a nd t he wat er passage got a bit
deeper , while t he ce il ing st at ed t o lo wer
do wn. T his g a ve us a bo ut 8 - 10ft o f c lea r ance
inst ead o f t he 30 - 50ft o f c lear a nce w e had
be fo r e t he fir st wat er fa l l. T he sce ner y a lso
cha ng ed, and t he wa l ls wer e co ver ed w it h
15
f lo wst o ne and st a lact it e fo r mat io ns, whi le t he

ce il ing had a ser ie s o f kar st sho wer fa ucet s
t hat we had t o pass under (o h dar n!!) , a lo ng
w it h act ive l y f lo w ing flo wst o ne fa l ls t r ickl ing do wn o n us! ! What a beaut ifu l p lac e t his
ha s beco me.
At o ne po int we wer e sur r o unded by mu lt ip le kar st sho wer s and o ne in
par t icu lar was unl ike a nyt hing I ha ve ever
see n be fo r e.
We co nt inued past t hese be aut ifu l fo r m at io ns and ca me up t o t he next wat er fa l l. T his
o ne was a bit bigger , whic h a lso had r o pes
r igged int o t he wa lls t o ass ist dir ect io na l r appe ls and t r aver se l ines aw a y fr o m t he fa l ls.
We ju st c limbe d t he wa l ls a nd sca led t his
r ag ing wat er fa l l a nd ca me up upo n anot her
wat er fa l l t hat was abo ut 15 - 20 ft in he ig ht
and pus hing a ll o f t he ca ve wat er under a
nat ur a l ar ch and do wn t o wher e we wer e
ho ld ing o n t o t he wa lls. AWE S O ME !! ! !
It was an aweso me s ig ht t o see, and we
a ll s ca led t his wat er fa l l w it h ver y l it t le cha lle nge. Once at t he t o p, we r egro uped sho r t ly
a ft er . We wer e surro unded by faucet s and
f lo wst o nes flo w ing wat er and t his rag ing
deep wat er co ur se. We kept go ing upst r ea m,
and t he ce il ing got clo ser t o t he wat er line.
We pas sed a few mo r e wat er fa lls a nd t he
gr o up st o pped t o check t he t ime a nd t ake a
br eak. I swa m o ver a no t her wat er fa ll a nd
co nt inued upst r ea m t o see what was ahead o f
us o nly t o t ur n aro und aga in and co me back
t o t he gro up t o decide if we s ho u ld co nt inue
o r t ur n aro und due t o t ime. We made t he dec is io n t o t ur n ar o und so we co uld get t ime t o
get o ut o f t he cave and get dinner be f o r e it
was t oo lat e
We st art ed o ur wa y o ut and do wn - c li mb ed
t he fa l ls, and I set up a seco ndar y ha nd li ne as
a backup t o he lp a few ot her s c li mb do wn.
T he r o pes lo o ked pr et t y go o d, so so me ut ilized t ho se, but o ver a ll we wo r ked t oget her t o
pass t hese c ha lle nges as qu ick l y as po s s ible.
We go t do wn t he fa l ls a nd co nt inued pa st t he
faucet s and do wn int o t he ma in t r unk passage
o f t he cave. T her e wer e a sid e passag e t hat
we hiked up t o and fo llo wed, whic h t ur ned
o ut t o be pr et t y int er est ing a nd beau t ifu l !
We f ina l l y made it o ut o f t he upper passage
and back t o t he ent r ance p it , wher e I snapped
a few s ho t s and as ce nded o ut o f t he cave i n
pr et t y goo d t ime.
I want t o t hank D ia na a nd T o m M il le r ,
Je ff Kr use, P ipo , Car lo s Ar t iguez, Ju l i e Dut il, Ro lf V iet en, Jo r ge Ace vedo , t he la ndo wner s and ever yo ne w ho was invo lved t o make
t his t r ip a succe ss a nd s a fe e xper ie nce. Aft er
5 year s o f vis it ing P uer t o Rico I can fe e l t he
t ug t o co me back yet aga in in t he fut ur e, as
t he caves a nd t he t o po gr aphy ar e s i mp l y
a maz ing ! !!
16
Vo l . 5 5
B INKLEY C AVE T RIP , J ANUARY 10, 2015

B Y C LAUDIA D AVIS , P AT B URNS , S HANE M YLES , T IM P RIDE ,
AND D AVE E VERTON
In t rod u ct i on b y Dave Evert on
T his dat e had been set as ide fo r wo r king
in I nd ia na Ca ver ns in t he s ide pa ssage at t he
lo cat io n in t he ma in pas sage t he y ca l l Cr a yf is h Cur ve. T im P r ide was co or dinat ing t hat
e ffo r t , and I t o ld hi m I d be o n st and by t o
po ss ibl y he lp w it h t hat if needed. I f no t
need ed, I was pla nning t o t ake Claud ia Davis
o n what was fo r her a lo ng awa it ed t r ip int o
M il ler Ca ve. ( We had vis it ed o n 21 Dece mber
2013 aft er a differ e nt o bject ive had bee n
scr ubbed due t o hig h wat er , but becaus e wat er was flo w ing in t he ca ve e nt r ance t hat da y,
I decided aga inst go ing ins ide t o do passage
i mpr o ve me nt . )
S ha ne M yle s and P at Bur ns p la nned t o
wo r k in Ma nho le o n t his da y. Br ad B ar co m
met me at my ho use and dr o ve us t o Co rydo n;
we ar r ived at Fr eder ick s Ca f ar o und 10 t o
f ind Gar y Ro ber so n, Claud ia, and P at alr ead y
seat ed. T im a nd S ha ne so o n ar r ived, a lt ho ugh
I lear ned t he yd dr o ve s epar at e ly du e t o t he
po ss ible t ime d if fer e nce in t he ir t r ip le ngt hs.
Aft er br eak fast , I t r ans fer r ed my ge ar t o
C laud ia s ve hic le, and ga ve so me it e ms t o t he
T im & Br ad t ea m. I d o ne week ear lier l e ft an
o r ange s led o ut s ide t he base me nt e nt r ance t o
t he Caver ns, whic h I d pu l led o ut o f P les s
Ca ve ear lier in t he year ( it had bee n br o ught
in t her e t o wor k a pro ject so me t ime ago ),
be l ie ving it wo uld be o f use in t he d ig effo r t .
C laud ia a nd I bade far ewe l l t o t he ot her s and
head ed t o o ur dest inat io n.
M i lle r Cave I mp rove men t b y Clau d i a Davi s
Dave E ver t o n and I headed o ut t o M il l er
Ca ve t o wor k o n fur t her ing pass age imp r o veme nt fo r all w ho wil l be us ing t he t r ail i n t he
fut ur e. He gr acio us ly g a ve me a n o ppo rt unit y
t o wr it e t his r epo rt , so yo u ma y be t hink ing
w hat s t her e t o wr it e abo ut ? We l l, I am
go ing t o t ell yo u a bo ut t his l it t le wo rk t r ip
fr o m t he per spect ive o f a ca ver who ha s had
t o beco me a co uch pot at o , due t o a lo ng
st and ing injur y a nd fa m i l y r espo ns ibi l it y! As
yo u r ead t his r epo rt , ple ase r e me mbe r t he
phr ase co uch pot at o and it s imp l icat io ns o f
no t us ing mu sc les o n a r egu lar ba s is !
Dave had t aken me t o Mil ler t he year befo r e, albe it I had o nly go t t en t o see t he lit t le
ent r y r oo m, a nd we had t o le a ve due t o t he
fact t hat it was r aining and t he cha nce o f
f lo o ding was po ss ible. Fo r a who le year , I
wo nder ed what la y be yo nd. I imag ined t ig ht
quar t er s, mudd y pa ss ages, a nd e xt r eme l y lo w
be l l y cr aw ls. T he po ss ibi l it ie s wer e abo ut as
end le ss as m y i mag inat io n, and t he n t o war d
t he end o f De ce mber 2014 I got Dave s e ma i l

inv it at io n t o go he lp hi m t her e ! Jo y o f jo ys
and br o ken he ar t s! I co uld nt make it due t o
pr io r o bligat io ns! Wo u ld I ever get t o see beyo nd t he e nt r ance ??? S o , I suggest ed Januar y
10t h as a go dat e, and happ il y, we wer e
bo t h fr ee !
Aft er a few e ma i ls a bo ut what t o br ing
and t he po ss ibi l it y o f a n a lt er nat e o bject ive
o f wo r king near Cr a yfis h Cur ve at I nd ia na
Ca ver ns ( whic h we did nt get t o do ) , I gear ed
up! I dr agged o ut my H ydr o sk ins, gr abbed my
sho r t y d ive su it , do nned m y po lypr o t o p, and
was r ead y fo r bear ! Fr o m last year s exper ienc e, I imag ined a n e xt r eme ly co ld, wet cave!
I even kept t r ack o f t he fo r ecast unt il t he da y
ar r ived! And due t o t he int ens e back pa i n my
in jur y has le ft me in, I lit er a l l y co ver e d my
back s ide in pa in pat ches, and do wned pain
p il ls a nd musc le r e la xer s. Not hing wa s go ing
t o keep me awa y fr o m M il ler a nd wor k ing
w it h my r espect ed caving fr ie nd.
Zo o m t o t he ca ve: t her e I st and, dr essed
as if I m go ing t o go diving, in 27 degr ee
weat her , mar c hing acr o ss a fie ld t o me et my
i mag inat io n head o n! And it was gr and ! T he
m inut e I ent er ed t he ma in p as sage, I got t he
sur pr ise o f my l i fe it was dr y and e xt re me l y
r oo my! No t at all w et o r cr amped, and I immed iat e ly beg a n w is hing I had my jea ns o n
inst ead o f lo o king like I was go ing t o wo r k
w it h Jacqu es Co ust eau. And t he n my su r pr ise
t ur ned t o amaze me nt as we began cr a w ling
t hr o ugh a ver y nice c ha nne l cut int o t he
f lo o r . Dave bega n e xp la in ing t o me ho w ma ny
ho ur s o f passage impr o ve me nt wo r k made
t his c ha nne l po ss ible, a nd t he fur t he r we
cr aw led a lo ng, I mar ve led at t he dist a nc e t he
passage i mpr o ve me nt co ver ed! I was so impr essed by t he wo r k o f I S S caver s a nd vo lu nt eer s, and t hr il led t hat my meager scr at chings
in t he d ir t wo uld be a mo ng a ll t his har d wor k
fr o m o t her s.
We cr aw led pa st t he p lace Da ve ca l ls t he
S it Up Do me s, past a lit t le bat o n t he wa ll,
and we nt ano t her few hu ndr ed feet o r so , unt il w e fina l l y ar r ived at a po int wher e Dave
dec ided t o co nt inu e impr o ving t he pas sage,
and I set t led in w it h a wo nder bar and ha nd
sho ve l. I ba ng ed my pa l ms aga inst t he bar
t r ying t o t ear up passage, t o ssed r o cks a nd
mud as ide, and dug like a mo le r at , and
t hr o ugh live l y co nver sat io n, got t o know my
fr ie nd s t ho ught s a nd o pinio ns a bo ut caving a
lo t bet t er. But as t he t ime wor e o n, I began t o
fee l t he e ffe ct s o f be ing st uck in a we t suit
Vo l . 5 5
t hat sucks o ut sweat like a va mp ir e bat sucks

o ut blo o d. I was beg inning t o get dehyd r at ed,
t ho ugh I did nt r ealize it at t he t ime . We
agr eed t o quit at 2: 30, and whe n I lo o ked at
what Dave had acco mp l is hed co mpar ed t o my
few feet (t ho ugh it fe lt like I had o nly go ne
t hr ee inc he s) , I was t hink ing ho w t r uly fo r t unat e t he ne xt caver wo uld fee l co ming t o t hat
sect io n and ha ving suc h a clea n pat h, per haps
o nly a ft er pro babl y fuss ing a bo ut cr aw ling
o ver t he r o cks I never got t o co mp let e ly
c lear ! At t hat mo me nt , I ho ped t hat t he ne xt
caver wo uld be me, and expr es sed my w is hes
t o co me ba ck.
S o we packed up and headed o ut , wit h m y
knee pad s t hat wer e so flu f f y go ing in no w
f lat t ened t o a pancake a nd g iving me fit s.
Fu nny ho w t he t r ip back se e ms t o do uble
whe n yo u r e in pa in, but it was wo rt h ever y
br u ise ! S o her e I a m t he fo llo w ing mo r ning,
t yp ing t his r epo rt , and in r egar d t o t he phr ase
co uc h pot at o , well, d id a nybo d y cat ch t he
nu mber o f t hat t r uck t hat hit me ? Ouc h. ( end
o f C laud ia r epo rt )
M an h ole Di g b y Pat B u rn s
S ha ne M yle s a nd I ar r ived at Manho le
ar o und no o n, but as we lo o ked do wn, we saw
t he r ungs wer e co ver ed in ice ! We r igged
r o pe and I went do wn us ing m y M it c he l l s yst em t o do wn c limb a nd t r y t o ha mmer off t he
ice. T hat pro ved t o be s lo w, plu s, we co uld
no t see t he o pening t o t he s ide at t he bot t o m
t o be sur e it was o pen. So , I went t o t he bo t t o m and br o ke t he ice blo ck ing t he s ide t ube.
T he n S ha ne lo wer ed t he gear and ca me do wn.
He t hen pr eceded int o t he cave, whi le I r emo ved t he ice fr o m t he r ung s, st art ing fr o m
t he bot t o m up us ing m y r o pe s yst e m as mo r e
o f a sa fet y de vice.
Whe n I jo ined hi m at t he fr o nt ier , he was
r ead y t o r emo ve t he sa me r imst o ne o bst r uct io n t hat had st o pped us t he last t ime we wer e
in t he ca ve. Aft er co ns ider a ble wo r k, bot h he
and I wer e able t o get int o t he s ma l l se ct io n
o f passage be yo nd t he blo ckage. I o nly bar e ly
f it , but o nce o n t he ot her s ide, I co mp let e ly
r e mo ved t he blo ckage w it h m y ha m me r and
cr o wbar .
We co u ld t he n st and up, and fo llo w ed t he
lar ger pass age a bo ut 12 feet up and t o t he
le ft , t her e wer e so me nice baco n fo r mat io ns
w it h pur e whit e t ips in t his dead e nd a l co ve,
whic h wa s a bo ut fo ur feet hig h a nd s i x feet
w ide. T her e is a dr ain w hic h ho ld s wat er
abo ut fo ur feet be lo w t he acce ss po int . I dug
abo ut t hr ee feet int o t he mud a nd s ma l l r o ck
m ixt ur e, ho ping t o r ele ase t he wat er and fo llo w t he dr a in, w hic h o f co ur se was under
dr ipp ing wat er . I did no t get t he wat er t o
dr a in, but ma ybe o n t he ne xt t r ip it wi l l be
lo wer .
T he a ir was no t go ing t hr o ugh t he lim it ed
passage t o t he le ft , but mo ving int o a ho le
17
t hat o pened int o a lo w ( abo ut six inc hes hig h)

and ma ybe t en fo ot wide passag e w it h lot s o f
s ma ll st a lact it es. S hane wo r ked at dri l l ing
and r e mo ving so me r o ck blo ck ing acce ss t o
t his lead, whic h co nt inu es int o t he black
vo id, w it h at least e ig ht t o t en feet o f vis ib le
d igg ing ne ed ing t o be do ne.
I t was nice t o be able t o exit go ing fo r war d r at her t ha n back ing o ut , but t he ent ir e
cr aw l is st il l ver y t ig ht . T her e just is n t any
p lace t o put t he spo ils. We d id lea ve a s led in
t he ent r ance r oo m fo r fut ur e use. We le ft t he
cave at abo ut 8: 30 pm, o ur clo t hes fr eez i ng t o
us as we wa lked t o o ur t r ucks.
I t hink we made gr eat pro gr ess; S ha ne s
r o ck r emo va l sk i l ls a nd t oo ls wo r ked gr eat ,
and we ha ve a go ing lead mo ving gr eat a ir ! I t
was a no t her gr eat day u nder t he s inkho le
p la in! ( e nd o f P at Bur ns r eport )
M an h ole b y Sh an e M yles
P at Bur ns and I arr ived at t he cave aro und
no o n, t hen gear ed up t o st art o ur next assau lt
o n Manho le. We par ked at t he P ilgr im Ho line ss C hur c h ju st up t he r o ad fr o m t he cave,
lo aded m y t r uck up wit h a l l t he gear , and
dr o ve it do wn t o t he cave t o dro p it a ll o ff,
t hen I went back t o t he chur ch and dr o pped
t he t r uck o ff a nd wa lked back do wn t o t he
cave.
We lo o ked do wn t he ma nho le go ing in t he
cave and t he r ungs wer e co mp let e ly co ver ed
by ic e. Bot h o f us c li mbed do wn t he r ungs t o
see if we co u ld k no ck t he ice o ff, but t he y
wer e so lid, so t hank fu ll y we bo t h had br o ught
o ur ro pe gear and P at even had a co uple
r o pes. T he co unt y has be e n get t ing r ead y t o
do so me wo r k in t he ar ea, so all t he t r ees
wer e go ne, so t he o nly t hing we had t o t ie t he
r o pe t o was t he guar dr ail up by t he r o ad, so
P at did his be st t o r ig t he r o pe ( ne it her one o f
us had ever r igged o ne) . Aft er he got t he ro pe
r igged up, we t he n dec ided s inc e he co u ld use
his M it che ll s yst e m c l i mb ing gear t o e it her
wa lk up o r do wn t he r o pe, it wo uld be eas ier
fo r hi m t o go fir st , ho ping t o be able t o
kno ck t he ice o ff t he r ungs o n t he wa y do wn,
whic h t ur ned o ut t o be t aking t oo muc h t ime.
We t he n dec ided t hat he wo uld go ahe ad
do wn t o t he bot t o m o f t he ma nho le and make
sur e we co uld w he n get in, s ince fr o m t he t op
it lo o ked like t he bo t t o m was fi l led w it h ice
and t he ho r izo nt a l ho le go ing int o t he ma in
par t o f t he ca ve co u ld nt be see n. I t t ur ned
o ut t hat t he ho le wa s inde ed co mp let e ly iced
o ver , so P at had t o ha mmer t hr o ugh it . Anywa y, he got o ff r o pe so we co uld get t he gear
do wn, and t hen me, so I co uld go ahead t o t he
fr o nt ier and st art wor king, and he wo uld get
back o n ro pe and fin is h c lear ing t he ic e o ff
t he r ungs.
I went ahead t o check t he fr o nt ier t o see
i f I co uld fit t hr o ugh, s ince Ra nd had gone in
r ecent ly a nd wo r ked o n t he co nst r ict io n, but
18
whe n I got back t o t he o bst ac le, it was st ill

t oo s ma ll fo r me t o fit . So, I backed out t o
t he ma in r oo m, w her e I st art ed get t ing my
gear r eady t o st art my o wn as sau lt . I went
back t o t he fr o nt ier a nd bega n wo r king , and
a ft er abo ut a ha lf ho ur o f dr il l ing a nd ha mmer ing, I got t hro ugh. P at sho wed up soo n
a ft er and let me kno w we sho uld be able t o
c li mb t he r ungs o ut inst ead o f ha vi ng t o
c li mb t he r o pe, whic h was fa bu lo us news .
T he do me r oo m was no t near ly as r o om y
as I had r eme mber ed it , be ing abo ut fo ur feet
in he ig ht and ma ybe abo ut t en feet lo ng and
s ix feet w ide, a nd had a c ha nde l ier lo o king
fo r mat io n in t he m idd le. D iago na l l y t o t he
le ft acr o ss t he roo m was w hat lo o ked t o be a
canyo n pas sage, so I fo llo wed it up and o ver
so me br eakdo wn and co u ld see a s ma l l s t r eam
r unning under neat h, but it wo uld ha ve been a
lo t o f wo r k t o get t o it , so I kept go ing up
and r an int o anot her s ma l l do me r oo m wit h
so me r ea ll y nice poo ls and a fe w mo r e r ea ll y
pr et t y fo r mat io ns. I t see med t o be abo ut
t went y five feet lo ng, fi ft ee n feet wid e , and
fo ur fe et t all, but t her e was no air mo vi ng in
t he seco nd do me. I ye l led at P at , t ell in g him
he has got t o check t his o ut , but he had n't
made it t hr o ugh t he la st co nst r ict io n yet , so I
went back o ver t o t r y and he lp, and it d id n't
t ake muc h t o get him t hr o ugh, just a lit t le
mo r e per suas io n.
We t he n pr o ceeded t o t he ne xt s ma ll do me
and he agr eed t he air was n't go ing up in t his
ar ea, a lt ho ugh it was ver y nice. We st ar t ed
back do wn t o t he fir st do me a nd P at not iced a
lo w, dr y, gr im lo o k ing lead, and a lso r ea lized
t he air was wha l ing t hr o ugh it , and he t hen
pr o ceeded back t o what lo o ks like a dr a in in
t he flo o r and st art ed wor king. Mea nw hi le, I
was che ck ing t his gr im lo o king lead wher e
a ll t he a ir was go ing, and fr o m what it loo ked
l ike, t her e is abo ut fo ur t o five inc he s bet ween t he ce i ling a nd flo o r , and it is abo ut
se ve n feet w ide, w it h t he f lo o r be ing mud
w it h so me r o cks, and s im i lar t o t he o r ig ina l
d ig. I t lo o ked lik e a ft er abo ut t went y fe et t he
f lo o r st art ed t o dro p and t he ce il ing r o se up a
bit , t hen t he passage cur ved ar o und a corner .
S o, I dec ided t o pr epar e fo r bat t le and
r e mo ve so me ro cks at t he beg inning of t his
cr aw l, so next t ime we go back we co uld st art
in o n t he dig w it ho ut any o bst ac le s. Whi le I
was wo r king o n t he ro cks, P at had made qu it e
a ho le in t he f lo o r o f t he fir st do me r oo m,
t r ying t o lo wer t he wat er le ve l a nd ho p ing t o
get int o a dr ain, but unfo rt unat e ly it was
no t hing. Aft er abo ut an ho ur o r so o f wo r king, we dec ided t o ca ll it qu it s and st ar t ed
pack ing t he gear and headed o ut o f t he cave.
P at bro ught a sled a nd dec ided t o go ahe ad
and lea ve it fo r t he ne xt t r ip. Whe n w e got
back t o t he ma nho le, t he flo o r was like
cr aw ling acr o ss a fo ot deep o f lo o se ro ck, but
Vo l . 5 5
it was a ll ic e chu nk s fr o m t he r ungs ; P at had

do ne an e xce l le nt jo b o n c lear ing t he m. T he y
wer e st ill ver y s l ick, but ma nagea ble. I
c li mbed o ut fir st , so P at co uld ho o k t he gear
t o t he ro pe and I co uld pu ll it up t o t he t o p o f
t he ma nho le. Aft er we got all t he gear up, we
car r ied what we co uld t o t he t r ucks, cha nged,
and t he n dr o ve back a nd gr a bbed t he r est o f
o ur gear. We dec ided t o go gr ab so me fo o d at
Cu lver s and t a lk abo ut what we had fo und,
and a ft er war d went o ur separ at e ways.
Not es o n a ir flo w and t e mper at ur e: when
we got in t he pa ssage, t he a ir wa s be ing
sucked int o t he cave. I t was st r ange: when we
dr o pped in t he ma nho le, t he ent r ance was nt
mo ving any no t ic ea ble a ir , but as soo n as I
got int o t he dig I fe lt a ir a lmo st im med i at ely,
suck ing in, alt ho ugh no t as st ro ng as nor ma l,
and it did n't r eall y ha ve a chil l t o it lik e o ne
wo uld t hink it wo uld, be ing t hat clo se t o t he
ent r ance. But o n o ur way o ut , t he air in t he
cr aw l was qu it e co o ler t han no r ma l, a nd t he
ent r ance was inha l ing like cr az y, ca us ing
qu it e a bit o f fo g. P ro babl y ju st t he t emp
cha ng e o ut s ide o r so met hing, but I t ho ught it
was k ind o f st r ange. ( end o f S ha ne r epo rt )
In d i an a Cavern s Pa ssage Di g b y Ti m Pri d e
T his lead is t he fir st passage o n t he r ig ht
a ft er yo u r each t he ho r izo nt a l sect io n o f I nd iana Ca ver ns. T her e ha ve bee n a few t r ips t o
wo r k o n t his lead a lr ead y. S o me o f us bel ie ved it was a ver y go o d le ad. It mo ve s muc h
o f t he wat er in B lo w ing Ho le Bo ule var d t hat
dr a ins int o Blo w ing Ho le. Br ad Bar co m and I
dec ided t o wo r k o n it aga in, w it h Gar y
Ro ber so n s per mis s io n. T he passage st art s
o ut as a ha nds a nd k nee s cr aw l w it h a sho r t
sect io n o f st oo p walk ing in t he st r eam. I t
t hen t ur ns int o a lo w, wet cr awl o ver r imst o ne da ms. Tot al le ngt h is a bo ut 200 fe et . It
t hen go es int o a do me mo r e t ha n 13 fee t t all,
w it h t he wat er flo w ing fr o m a hig her lea d.
We ha ve an e xt ens io n ladder in t her e t hat
was bo r ro wed fr o m I nd ia na Ca ver ns. Br ad
c li mbed fir st t o st art wo r king and t he n I
c li mbed up, br ing ing t he c hise l dr il l and
ha m mer . He st art ed wit h t he ha mmer and t hen
t he dr il l a nd pas sed t he spo ils back t o me. He
d id n't wo r k lo ng be fo r e he r eport ed it loo ked
ver y gr i m. I t r aded spot s wit h hi m t o wor k
t he fr o nt ier fo r a while a nd ca me t o t he sa me
co nc lu s io n. T he passag e mo ve s no no t ic eable
a ir a nd wo u ld be a M AJO R min ing o per at io n.
Br ad and I bo t h co ns ider t his lead ver y l o w in
pr io r it y o n t he lead list . One t hing o f int er est
is we bo t h t ho ught we sme lled su lfur , po ss ibl y fr o m a s mo ke bo mb t hat Gar y had s et o ff
in t he t iny s ide pas sage near t he ent r ance t o
I nd ia na Ca ver ns.
I t was r eall y gr eat t o get back unde r gr o und wit h a go o d fr ie nd, t ho ugh. Aft er t he
t r ip we had a gr eat t ime go ing o ver t he big
Vo l . 5 5
map at I ndia na Ca ver ns a nd t alk ing abo ut

ot her le ads. ( end o f T im r epo r t )
Ad d i t i on al Commen t s b y Dave Evert on
T he last t ime C laud ia a nd I had caved
t o get her was o n S ept ember 13, 2014. Dur ing
t hat t r ip, we had agr eed t hat aft er we wer e
do ne, we wo uld head t o o ne o f her fa vo r it e
p lace s in t he wo r ld, whic h was o ne I hadnt
bee n t o since per hap s 2001 o r 2002: Squ ir e
Boo ne Caver ns. Ho wever , we had foo led
ar o und t oo lo ng a ft er fin is hing o ur t r ip t hat
da y, a nd d id nt ha ve t ime t o make t he la st
t o ur. So it came up dur ing o ur passag e impr o ve me nt o n t his da y, per haps w e co u ld vis it
t her e aft er we wer e do ne. I t ho ught wed le ft
t he cave in p le nt y o f t ime, but a ft er cha ng ing
c lo t hes a nd dr iving o ver t her e, o nly t wo ve hic le s r e ma ined in t he par k ing lo t , and t wo
yo u ng peo p le wer e just get t ing r ead y t o get in
t he m. We d isco ver ed t he yd just c lo sed!
S t r ike t wo ; o h, we ll ma ybe a not her t ime.
S he agr eed t o my r eque st t o ne xt st o p by
I nd ia na Ca ver ns. As we t ur ned o nt o Shi lo h
Ro ad, I was sur pr ised t hat t her e wer e no vehic le s in t he chur c h par k ing lo t , and was per p le xed w hy t he Ma nho le cr ew wo uld be o ut
o f t he cave a lr ead y ( we lat er fo und o ut t he y
par ked e lsew her e) . I did nt see Gar ys ve hic le at t he Caver ns par k ing lo t , but we went in
t o find o ut fr o m Laur a t hat Gar y had a lr ead y
le ft , and t he t wo o f t he m had an appo int me nt
t hat evening, and wo u ld no t be able t o meet
fo r supper . We t hen he aded t o Beef O
Br ad ys, w her e we met up wit h Br ad a nd T im,
who fi l led us in o n t he ir da y s act ivit ies.
C laud ia k ind l y pur c ha sed m y supp er and t he
fo ur o f us enjo yed vis it ing. Br ad and I
head ed ho me, ar r iving at a ver y r easo na ble
ho ur aft er yet ano t her gr eat da y und er neat h
t he s ink ho le p la in so ut h o f Co r ydo n.
S PENT C ARBIDE
1 0 Y E AR S A G O
IN T H E
SPELEONEW S
T his mo nt hs co ver p ho t o sho ws a lar ge

fo r mat io n at t he ju nct io n o f t he R im st o ne
P assage w it h t he ma in pas sage in I ll ino is
Ca ver ns. T he phot o by Ra lp h E ar la nd so n was
t aken in t he ear ly 1980s. T his p ho t o r e pr esent s t he go lde n age o f WCG exp lo r at io n
and sur ve y in Mo nr o e Co unt y, I ll ino is. T his
co lo r co ver was pr int ed at a t r ade sho w
at t ended by Fr ed S chu ma nn.
He t ook an
e lect r o nic fi le o f t he pho t o and co ver t it le t o
t he sho w fo r pr int ing. Ma ny t ha nks t o Fr ed
fo r get t ing t his co ver made!
2 0 Y E AR S A G O
IN T H E
SPELEONEW S
On Dece mber 30, 1994, Henr y G ilsdo r f a nd

L il l ia n No ve la wer e mar r ied in O naga, Ka nsas, near Henr y s fa m i l y far m. S ever a l WCG
19
me mber s at t ended t he wedding. L ill ia n was

l iv ing in Co lu mb ia, M isso ur i, and has bee n
act ive in t he Cho ut eau Grot t o . Henr y a nd
L il l ia n we nt t o Mexico fo r t he ir ho ne ymo o n,
and ar e no w liv ing in t he west er n subu r b o f
E o la. Co ngr at ulat io ns t o Henr y a nd L i l l ia n.
3 0 Y E AR S A G O
IN T H E
SPELEONEW S
I llino is has f ive ca ve s o n t he list o f Lo ng

Ca ves o f t he Unit ed S t at es in t he Ja nuar y
1985 NSS Ne ws. T he y ar e, in desce nd in g o rder o f le ngt h: Fo ge lpo le Ca ve, I llino is Caver ns, t he Kr ueger S yst e m, E qua lit y Ca ve , and
Ke l l y S pr ing Ca ve. Al l e xcept E qua lit y ar e
lo cat ed in Mo nr o e Co unt y. Lo ng ca ves her e
ar e defined a s be ing 3000 met er s o r lo ng er .
*
Ver t ica l c a ving is a nd a lwa ys w i l l be p ot ent ia l l y da nger o us, in t hat we ar e dea ling w it h
gr avit y a nd ot her nat ur al fo r ces t hat ar e alwa ys at wo r k. Fr eez ing a nd t haw ing t emper at ur e chang es, and t he d is so lving o f ca lc iu m fr o m t he ro ck subst r at e, bot h co nt ribut e
t o t he co nst ant , unpr ed ict able sp a ll in g and
r o ckfa ll t hat we co nst ant ly see o n t he bot t o m
o f mo st pit s and ca ve s w it h ver t ica l e nt r ances. I n fact t hat is w hy t he e nt r ance p it
exist s. I f, aft er t hink ing abo ut and under st and ing t hese r isk s, yo u st ill c ho o se t o want
t o do vert ic a l ca ving, yo u ar e fo rt unat e t o
ha ve co me t o WCG. We ha ve a gr eat dea l o f
ver t ica l l y e xp er ie nc ed peo ple in o ur me mber ship w it h a goo d co mmo n - se nse sa fet y reco r d
t hat yo u can dr aw fr o m.
4 0 Y E AR S A G O
IN T H E
SPELEONEW S
Kar st is a la nd fo r m w hic h has bee n s hap ed by

act ual so lut io n o f bedr o ck. It is fo u nd wher e
g ypsu m o r car bo nat e ro cks lie at o r near t he
sur face. Ca ve s ar e a kar st fe at ur e. Ot her
char act er ist ic s o f kar st ar e nu mer o us c lo se
depr ess io ns a nd sca nt y o r unint egr at ed sur face dr a inage. Rece nt la va flo w s o ft en im it at e kar st .
Clo sed depr es s io ns o f ma ny
shapes and s ize s ar e caused by t he vagar ies
o f t he flo w o f t he visco us and har de ning la va,
and t her e ar e a lso t he le ss co mmo n but mo r e
co nsp icuo us co llapsed la va t ubes, co ll apsed
la va bu bbles, a nd ve nt s
5 0 Y E AR S A G O
IN T H E
SPELEONEW S
The
W i n d y C it y G r o t t o F i e l d ho u s e - a ffect io nat e ly ( a nd accur at e ly) k no wn as t he
bar n- - is pr o gr ess ing st ead il y. T his s t ur dy
and p ict ur esque o ak st r uct ur e, lo cat ed o n
D ick B le nz s Buck ner s Cave pr o pert y, no w
bo ast s a fu l l y e nc lo sed r oo m w it hin t he lo wer
f lo o r . L ig ht s and e le ct r ic o ut let s ha ve bee n
inst a lled ; heat is o n it s wa y.
20
Vo l . 5 5
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
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
(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
R E G U L AR M E M B E R S
60588
33810F
48856
17135L
32481L
13955L
15962
63220
30093
63653
62542
44822
18679
24739
23317L
41685
38557
61988
11168
36337
18887
18888
24220
51162
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
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 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
F uc h s, J e a n. 1 6 1 9 C l e m e n s R d . , D a r i e n , IL 6 0 5 6 1
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
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 e r o ua c , D o n . 6 3 1 1 E . F l o r a S t . , K a nk a k e e , IL 6 0 9 0 1
k9nr@daca.net
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
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 - 1 9 3 2
a l a nm e ye r s5 0 @ ho t 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
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
R e d e k e r , K e n . 2 3 0 9 E . O l i ve S t . , # 2 D , A r l i ng t o n H e i g ht s, IL 6 0 0 0 4
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 - 2 3 9 7
p a t t yr u b a c k @ ho t m a i l . c o m
(563) 321 -2838

(773) 342 -6097
(773) 342-6097
(703) 437 -7881
(708) 524 -1215
(773) 342 -6097
(630) 963 -2416
(847) 632 -1290
(708) 485 -7113
(847) 542-4135
(708) 349 -3849
(815) 939 -7548
(630) 832 -0851
(630) 393 -2240
(773) 734 -4329
(630) 896 -3219
(630) 620 -7816
(815) 793-1410
(773) 467-8576
(630) 803-4884
(773) 283-6097
(773) 283-6097
(309) 787-1738
(630) 430-2045
Vo l . 5 5
16043L
64980
37597
58320
63971
13622
20719
14978L
9615L
24148L
64607L
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
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
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) 447 -6897
(630) 306 -6340
(708) 387 -0592
(931) 670 -8381
(931) 670 -8381
(309) 787 -1738
(773) 774 -0966
(630) 323 -3821
(708) 503 -1448
(773) 774 -7628
(815) 433 -2720
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
A g o st a , M i t z i . 7 8 2 0 A sb u r y C i r c l e S o u t h, H a no v e r P a r k , IL 6 0 1 3 3
i m l a t e @ a t t . ne t
Barrera, Jorg e. 17 02 S. M orga n St., Apt. 2R , Chica go, IL 606 08
bj or64@ gm ail.c om
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
TOM60 64@ ao l.com
F e s s i a , K e n. 4 2 6 4 G r e e n l e a f C t . , A p t . 3 0 3 , P a r k C i t y, I L 6 0 0 8 5
s yb e r p h i s h@ ya h o o . c o m
G e b ha r d t , S t e p h e n. 3 1 6 D e e R o a d , N o r t h A u r o r a , I L 6 0 5 4 2 - 1 2 1 7
g e b ha r d t 2 7 @ ya h o o . c o m
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
H u n s a k e r , B r i a n. 2 4 2 4 R e f l e c t i o n s D r . , A ur o r a , IL 6 0 5 0 2
g i ve m e so m e s ug a r @ s b c g l o b a l . ne t
L i p p o l d , B o b . 1 6 3 1 N . E ve r g r e e n A v e . , A r l i n g t o n H e i g h t s, IL 6 0 0 0 4
blip po ld01@ gm a il.com
M a n l e y, C i nd y . 4 8 5 L e s l i e C t . , D e s P l a i ne s, IL 6 0 0 1 6
m a n l e y. c i nd y@ g m a i l . c o m
M c N e a l , A nd y. 6 3 7 L a G r a n g e R o a d , L a G r a n g e P a r k , I l 6 0 5 2 6
a n d y. m c n e a l @ g m a i l . c o m
M e d i ng , D a vi d . 1 7 0 6 B u nk e r H i l l D r . , J o l i e t I L 6 0 4 3 5
j a b r i d a k a @ c o m c a st . ne t
N e w m a n, J a s o n, 5 2 5 w . H a w t h o r ne P l . , A p t . 3 0 3 , C h i c a g o , IL 6 0 6 5 7
c he f 1 0 4 @ a o l . c o m
O r r , A nd y. 2 0 2 5 P r e nt i s s D r . , A p t . B 3 0 3 , D o w ne r s G r o v e , IL 6 0 5 1 6
aorr@mac.com
P a l a r e no s, P a t r i c i a . 2 7 W i l d w o o d C t . , V e r no n H i l l s, IL 6 0 0 6 1
t r i s h i e - p o o h@ ho t m a i l . c o m
S a nd e r s, W o ut e r . 5 3 5 0 N . G l e nw o o d A ve . , A p t . 2 W , C hi c a g o , IL 6 0 6 4 0
d u t c hc o nt r a c t o r @ g m a i l . c o m
S c o ut a r i s, S t e ve . 5 8 0 1 L e e A ve n u e , D o w ne r s G r o ve , I L 6 0 5 1 6
s sc o u@ ya h o o . c o m
V i l l a r e a l , S e b a st i a n . 9 2 4 W . A i n s l i e S t . , C h i c a g o , IL 6 0 6 4 0
W o l t e r i n g , G e r r y. 3 1 8 C o r ne l l S t . , O t t a w a , I L 6 1 3 5 0
m ho m e s 1 @ ya h o o . c o m
(630) 370 -2775

(510) 367 -4059
(773) 485 -8555
(661) 916 -4703
(847) 632 -1290

(847) 632 -1290
(847) 632 -1290
(847) 632 -1290
(262) 537 -4726
(970) 292 -8431
(847) 421 -1631

(847) 852 -9668
(773) 316 -0602
(815) 254 -9347
(406) 600 -2697
(630) 737 -0890

(773) 789 -9890
(815) 433 -2720
22
Vo l . 5 5

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2

I N T HIS I SSUE ...

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

S PEL EONEWS ED IT OR-Ralph Earlandson

N EW MEM BE RS ACT I V IT IE S & P RO J ECT MG M T -Ad am Haydo ck

G ROT TO E LECT IONS

Meet ings o f t he Wind y C it y Gr o t t o o f t he

Our annua l Gr ot t o me mber s hip list sho ws

Ala n Me yer s se nt me t he fo llo w ing: On

As a su bscr iber t o A rchaeol ogy mag az in e,

Gr ave s P rot ect io n and Repat r iat io n Act . T his

P UERTO R ICO : J ANUARY 11-18, 2015

was go ing t o be like fo r Juan N ie ve s t he fo llo w ing da y. Cueva Jua n N ie ve s is a ver y w et

asce nded o ut o f t he cave t o go acro ss t he

we co uld ha ve r appe lled int o t his r o o m t o get

Kassi a T hormahal en i s si l houet t ed i n t he huge ent rance room of Cueva E vaporado.

Jan u ary 12: Pen ch o, Evap orad a an d Hu mo

p lace a nd int er est ing t o vis it w hi le we wer e

so und as t he y fle w in co lo nie s at t he t o p o f

sadd le and ca me t o a nar ro w canyo n wit h

ne xt dro p was lo cat ed. I mo ved so me r o cks

Jan u ary 15: Cu eva M ap an ch e

T his is a be aut ifu l c a ve s yst e m t hat I had

as t his is a po pular cave. We got a shot fr o m

r an int o t he st r eet , so I at t empt ed t o dr ive

o f ca ve s in P uer t o Rico desper at ely ne ed in

A bi g - room, mul t i pl e-f l ash shot i n Cueva

Roo m, and t her e ar e a lo t o f fo r mat io ns in

a pip ing s yst e m fo r t he wat er t o flo w o ut like

We r igged a t ens io nles s t o a t r ee and set

f lo wst o ne and st a lact it e fo r mat io ns, whi le t he

B INKLEY C AVE T RIP , J ANUARY 10, 2015

t he end o f De ce mber 2014 I got Dave s e ma i l

t hat sucks o ut sweat like a va mp ir e bat sucks

t hat o pened int o a lo w ( abo ut six inc hes hig h)

whe n I got back t o t he o bst ac le, it was st ill

it was a ll ic e chu nk s fr o m t he r ungs ; P at had

map at I ndia na Ca ver ns a nd t alk ing abo ut

T his mo nt hs co ver p ho t o sho ws a lar ge

On Dece mber 30, 1994, Henr y G ilsdo r f a nd

me mber s at t ended t he wedding. L ill ia n was

I llino is has f ive ca ve s o n t he list o f Lo ng

Kar st is a la nd fo r m w hic h has bee n s hap ed by

WCG M EMBERSHIP L IST

(812) 825 -2345

(563) 321 -2838

(630) 370 -2775

(847) 632 -1290

(847) 421 -1631

(406) 600 -2697

(630) 737 -0890

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