[Texascavers] The next generation of digital topographic maps
The next generation of digital topographic maps I may have missed a post, if so, I apologize in advance for the duplication. However, I did not know about this previously and find it quite useful. DirtDoc From the web site: http://nationalmap.gov/ustopo/ US Topo is the next generation of digital topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey . Arranged in the traditional 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps are designed to look and feel like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known. At the same time, US Topo maps provide modern technical advantages that support wider and faster public distribution and enable basic, on-screen geographic analysis for all users. US Topo maps are available free on the Web. Each map quadrangle is constructed in GeoPDF® format from key layers of geographic data – orthoimagery , roads , geographic names , contours and hydrographic features - found in The National Map , which is a nationwide collection of integrated data from local, State, Federal, and other sources.
[SWR] Fwd: The next generation of digital topographic maps
- Forwarded Message - From: dirt...@comcast.net To: Cave NM nmca...@caver.net, Cave Texas Texascavers@texascavers.com Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 11:29:38 AM Subject: The next generation of digital topographic maps The next generation of digital topographic maps I may have missed a post, if so, I apologize in advance for the duplication. However, I did not know about this previously and find it quite useful. DirtDoc From the web site: http://nationalmap.gov/ustopo/ US Topo is the next generation of digital topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey . Arranged in the traditional 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps are designed to look and feel like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known. At the same time, US Topo maps provide modern technical advantages that support wider and faster public distribution and enable basic, on-screen geographic analysis for all users. US Topo maps are available free on the Web. Each map quadrangle is constructed in GeoPDF® format from key layers of geographic data – orthoimagery , roads , geographic names , contours and hydrographic features - found in The National Map , which is a nationwide collection of integrated data from local, State, Federal, and other sources. ___ SWR mailing list s...@caver.net http://caver.net/mailman/listinfo/swr_caver.net
[Texascavers] Greater Houston Grotto Christmas Party
The Greater Houston Grotto's annual Christmas party is scheduled for this Saturday at the home of Don and Sid Formanek off FM 1960 in far north Houston (near the Intercontinental Airport). Any cavers that might find themselves in Houston this weekend are invited to attend. Here is the invitation from Don and Sid. Merry Christmas It is time, once again, for the annual grotto party at the formanek’s You may come as early as 6:30pm on Saturday the 18th and leave as late as 10:30 am, Sunday . Please bring some kind of edible goodie to share, and you may bring guests, by all means. We will provide some beer, wine, soft drinks and water and some food. Parking may be a little tight as our neighbor is also having a party. Our address: 2115 Briarcreek Blvd. Houston TX 77073 It's the 3rd house of the 2nd block on the right – but you can park at the club house [unless there is a function there] and walk down the street to our house [trees in yard have multi colored lights] If you have questions, call 281-821-9876 Don Sid
[Texascavers] world famous pits
Pictures: Guatemala Sinkhole Adds to World's Famous Pits Not sure that I would place all these on the list but they are impressive none the less. From the NGS web page. Geary http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/06/photogalleries/100604-sinkhole-pictures-around-the-world-guatemala-city/#/sinkholes-holes-ground-2007-guatemala-sinkhole_21282_600x450.jpg NGS photos of great sinkholes from around the world. Not sure I would call these the greatest sinkholes in the world, but impressive. Geary
Re: [Texascavers] Cascade Caverns sump dive report
Hi George, I'm interested in surveying Raccoon Ramada. I'd also be happy to work on the Spider System. Everyone else, I'm sure I can borrow some survey gear, but I will need a couple of volunteers to help survey. If anyone is interested, let me know. We'll get it done in January/February. Also, I'll be bringing vertical gear so we can hopefully check out Cascade and Fisher sinks for fun next time. Andy Z On Sun, Dec 12, 2010 at 11:34 PM, George Veni gv...@warpdriveonline.comwrote: *My congratulations to James and the team which made this discovery possible. I dove the sump in 1982 and found it ended in mud fill at a depth of 5 m. It seems that floods since then washed out that plug. I admit to not having had much hope for the sump and am glad to be proven wrong!* * * *As for Raccoon Ramada, it was discovered and explored by Randy Waters about 30 years. He never got around to surveying it. He did survey and draw a pencil draft of the nearby Spider System. If anyone is interested in finalizing that map let me know. It would be a simple matter to digitally trace his draft. Unfortunately, Randy is no longer with us to complete the map himself.* * * *George* * * *From:* Charles Goldsmith [mailto:wo...@justfamily.org] *Sent:* Sunday, December 12, 2010 19:25 *To:* Cavetex; Scott Kyle *Subject:* [Texascavers] Cascade Caverns sump dive report A big thanks to all of the help for the tank haul to the sump in Cascade Caverns on Saturday. James Brown dove the sump, starting at 10:36am and resurfanced approximately 40 minutes later. James extended the cave by 366 feet until he ran out of guideline. Per his report, Start of Sump dive is the smallest at 6 feet wide and 2 feet high. Underwater passage after air bell averages 12 feet wide and 6 feet high. Maximum depth is 31 feet. We'll be going back at the end of January or beginning of February to push this further. Thanks go out to the following people: Tom Sims Gerry Geletzke David Serafine Layne Hedrick Ian Riddington Brandon Cook Andy Zenker Lyndon Tiu Peter Druschke Gerry and Andy also explored Raccoon Ramada cave that is on the property, but did not get a survey yet. We'll be returning to do that as well. The entrance to this is a very tight squeeze and I don't know anyone else that has squeezed into it. I'd be curious if there are any records of this. Charles
Re: [Texascavers] Cascade Caverns sump dive report
Charles, Keep in mind there will be a Honey Creek trip Jan 29 so let's try to work around that. Although, I'd be okay with doing Cascade on Sunday Jan 30 since I'd be in the area. Andy On Sun, Dec 12, 2010 at 8:25 PM, Charles Goldsmith wo...@justfamily.orgwrote: A big thanks to all of the help for the tank haul to the sump in Cascade Caverns on Saturday. James Brown dove the sump, starting at 10:36am and resurfanced approximately 40 minutes later. James extended the cave by 366 feet until he ran out of guideline. Per his report, Start of Sump dive is the smallest at 6 feet wide and 2 feet high. Underwater passage after air bell averages 12 feet wide and 6 feet high. Maximum depth is 31 feet. We'll be going back at the end of January or beginning of February to push this further. Thanks go out to the following people: Tom Sims Gerry Geletzke David Serafine Layne Hedrick Ian Riddington Brandon Cook Andy Zenker Lyndon Tiu Peter Druschke Gerry and Andy also explored Raccoon Ramada cave that is on the property, but did not get a survey yet. We'll be returning to do that as well. The entrance to this is a very tight squeeze and I don't know anyone else that has squeezed into it. I'd be curious if there are any records of this. Charles
Re: [Texascavers] Cascade Caverns sump dive report
yeah, I'm interested. Not sure if I can squeeze in to Raccoon Ramada, but I'll find something to do. My shoulder is ready to try caving again. -Vivian Loftin From: Andy Zenker rockhugg...@gmail.com To: George Veni gv...@warpdriveonline.com Cc: Charles Goldsmith wo...@justfamily.org; Cavetex texascavers@texascavers.com; Scott Kyle sk...@cascadecaverns.com Sent: Tue, December 14, 2010 7:17:59 AM Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Cascade Caverns sump dive report Hi George, I'm interested in surveying Raccoon Ramada. I'd also be happy to work on the Spider System. Everyone else, I'm sure I can borrow some survey gear, but I will need a couple of volunteers to help survey. If anyone is interested, let me know. We'll get it done in January/February. Also, I'll be bringing vertical gear so we can hopefully check out Cascade and Fisher sinks for fun next time. Andy Z On Sun, Dec 12, 2010 at 11:34 PM, George Veni gv...@warpdriveonline.com wrote: My congratulations to James and the team which made this discovery possible. I dove the sump in 1982 and found it ended in mud fill at a depth of 5 m. It seems that floods since then washed out that plug. I admit to not having had much hope for the sump and am glad to be proven wrong! As for Raccoon Ramada, it was discovered and explored by Randy Waters about 30 years. He never got around to surveying it. He did survey and draw a pencil draft of the nearby Spider System. If anyone is interested in finalizing that map let me know. It would be a simple matter to digitally trace his draft. Unfortunately, Randy is no longer with us to complete the map himself. George From:Charles Goldsmith [mailto:wo...@justfamily.org] Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2010 19:25 To: Cavetex; Scott Kyle Subject: [Texascavers] Cascade Caverns sump dive report A big thanks to all of the help for the tank haul to the sump in Cascade Caverns on Saturday. James Brown dove the sump, starting at 10:36am and resurfanced approximately 40 minutes later. James extended the cave by 366 feet until he ran out of guideline. Per his report, Start of Sump dive is the smallest at 6 feet wide and 2 feet high. Underwater passage after air bell averages 12 feet wide and 6 feet high. Maximum depth is 31 feet. We'll be going back at the end of January or beginning of February to push this further. Thanks go out to the following people: Tom Sims Gerry Geletzke David Serafine Layne Hedrick Ian Riddington Brandon Cook Andy Zenker Lyndon Tiu Peter Druschke Gerry and Andy also explored Raccoon Ramada cave that is on the property, but did not get a survey yet. We'll be returning to do that as well. The entrance to this is a very tight squeeze and I don't know anyone else that has squeezed into it. I'd be curious if there are any records of this. Charles
Re: [Texascavers] Cascade Caverns sump dive report
I know there is a trip on 29th, but James usually picks the dates, since he's the diver. I'll try and push it to the following weekend if possible, or do a Sunday dive on the 30th On Tue, Dec 14, 2010 at 7:33 AM, Andy Zenker rockhugg...@gmail.com wrote: Charles, Keep in mind there will be a Honey Creek trip Jan 29 so let's try to work around that. Although, I'd be okay with doing Cascade on Sunday Jan 30 since I'd be in the area. Andy On Sun, Dec 12, 2010 at 8:25 PM, Charles Goldsmith wo...@justfamily.orgwrote: A big thanks to all of the help for the tank haul to the sump in Cascade Caverns on Saturday. James Brown dove the sump, starting at 10:36am and resurfanced approximately 40 minutes later. James extended the cave by 366 feet until he ran out of guideline. Per his report, Start of Sump dive is the smallest at 6 feet wide and 2 feet high. Underwater passage after air bell averages 12 feet wide and 6 feet high. Maximum depth is 31 feet. We'll be going back at the end of January or beginning of February to push this further. Thanks go out to the following people: Tom Sims Gerry Geletzke David Serafine Layne Hedrick Ian Riddington Brandon Cook Andy Zenker Lyndon Tiu Peter Druschke Gerry and Andy also explored Raccoon Ramada cave that is on the property, but did not get a survey yet. We'll be returning to do that as well. The entrance to this is a very tight squeeze and I don't know anyone else that has squeezed into it. I'd be curious if there are any records of this. Charles
Re: [Texascavers] Cascade Caverns sump dive report
Great! Thanks, Mark From: Charles Goldsmith wo...@justfamily.org To: Mark Alman texascav...@yahoo.com Sent: Tue, December 14, 2010 1:10:32 AM Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Cascade Caverns sump dive report I'm waiting on just that, pix, I didn't take any, was busy, but others did. As soon as I get pics and see what I have to work with, I will write up a blurb. On Mon, Dec 13, 2010 at 10:15 PM, Mark Alman texascav...@yahoo.com wrote: Sounds like a good trip, Charles! I need to get my lazy butt down there. Would you be interested in writing a trip report, if there are more pix to go with it? Let me know. Thanks! Mark From: Charles Goldsmith wo...@justfamily.org To: Cavetex texascavers@texascavers.com; Scott Kyle sk...@cascadecaverns.com Sent: Sun, December 12, 2010 8:25:09 PM Subject: [Texascavers] Cascade Caverns sump dive report A big thanks to all of the help for the tank haul to the sump in Cascade Caverns on Saturday. James Brown dove the sump, starting at 10:36am and resurfanced approximately 40 minutes later. James extended the cave by 366 feet until he ran out of guideline. Per his report, Start of Sump dive is the smallest at 6 feet wide and 2 feet high. Underwater passage after air bell averages 12 feet wide and 6 feet high. Maximum depth is 31 feet. We'll be going back at the end of January or beginning of February to push this further. Thanks go out to the following people: Tom Sims Gerry Geletzke David Serafine Layne Hedrick Ian Riddington Brandon Cook Andy Zenker Lyndon Tiu Peter Druschke Gerry and Andy also explored Raccoon Ramada cave that is on the property, but did not get a survey yet. We'll be returning to do that as well. The entrance to this is a very tight squeeze and I don't know anyone else that has squeezed into it. I'd be curious if there are any records of this. Charles
Re: [Texascavers] Cascade Caverns sump dive report
Andy, I'd be happy to assist and the Spider System sounds interesting also. Gerry 405-229-2477 - Original Message - From: Andy Zenker To: George Veni Cc: Charles Goldsmith ; Cavetex ; Scott Kyle Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 7:17 AM Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Cascade Caverns sump dive report Hi George, I'm interested in surveying Raccoon Ramada. I'd also be happy to work on the Spider System. Everyone else, I'm sure I can borrow some survey gear, but I will need a couple of volunteers to help survey. If anyone is interested, let me know. We'll get it done in January/February. Also, I'll be bringing vertical gear so we can hopefully check out Cascade and Fisher sinks for fun next time. Andy Z On Sun, Dec 12, 2010 at 11:34 PM, George Veni gv...@warpdriveonline.com wrote: My congratulations to James and the team which made this discovery possible. I dove the sump in 1982 and found it ended in mud fill at a depth of 5 m. It seems that floods since then washed out that plug. I admit to not having had much hope for the sump and am glad to be proven wrong! As for Raccoon Ramada, it was discovered and explored by Randy Waters about 30 years. He never got around to surveying it. He did survey and draw a pencil draft of the nearby Spider System. If anyone is interested in finalizing that map let me know. It would be a simple matter to digitally trace his draft. Unfortunately, Randy is no longer with us to complete the map himself. George From: Charles Goldsmith [mailto:wo...@justfamily.org] Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2010 19:25 To: Cavetex; Scott Kyle Subject: [Texascavers] Cascade Caverns sump dive report A big thanks to all of the help for the tank haul to the sump in Cascade Caverns on Saturday. James Brown dove the sump, starting at 10:36am and resurfanced approximately 40 minutes later. James extended the cave by 366 feet until he ran out of guideline. Per his report, Start of Sump dive is the smallest at 6 feet wide and 2 feet high. Underwater passage after air bell averages 12 feet wide and 6 feet high. Maximum depth is 31 feet. We'll be going back at the end of January or beginning of February to push this further. Thanks go out to the following people: Tom Sims Gerry Geletzke David Serafine Layne Hedrick Ian Riddington Brandon Cook Andy Zenker Lyndon Tiu Peter Druschke Gerry and Andy also explored Raccoon Ramada cave that is on the property, but did not get a survey yet. We'll be returning to do that as well. The entrance to this is a very tight squeeze and I don't know anyone else that has squeezed into it. I'd be curious if there are any records of this. Charles
texascavers Digest 15 Dec 2010 05:13:14 -0000 Issue 1210
texascavers Digest 15 Dec 2010 05:13:14 - Issue 1210 Topics (messages 16703 through 16716): Cascade Caverns sump dive report 16703 by: Charles Goldsmith 16705 by: George Veni 16712 by: Andy Zenker PBSS December Meeting 16704 by: J. LaRue Thomas rescue in Bulgaria 16706 by: Mixon Bill 16708 by: dlocklear01.gmail.com 16709 by: Geary Schindel Re: going to Mexico 16707 by: freddie poer Bexar Grotto Christmas Party! 16710 by: Joe Evelynn Mitchell New Zealand cavers to receive funds for deep cave exploraion : 16711 by: JerryAtkin.aol.com The next generation of digital topographic maps 16713 by: dirtdoc.comcast.net Greater Houston Grotto Christmas Party 16714 by: James McLane world famous pits 16715 by: Geary Schindel 1,609 meter deep pit found 16716 by: David Administrivia: To subscribe to the digest, e-mail: texascavers-digest-subscr...@texascavers.com To unsubscribe from the digest, e-mail: texascavers-digest-unsubscr...@texascavers.com To post to the list, e-mail: texascavers@texascavers.com -- ---BeginMessage--- A big thanks to all of the help for the tank haul to the sump in Cascade Caverns on Saturday. James Brown dove the sump, starting at 10:36am and resurfanced approximately 40 minutes later. James extended the cave by 366 feet until he ran out of guideline. Per his report, Start of Sump dive is the smallest at 6 feet wide and 2 feet high. Underwater passage after air bell averages 12 feet wide and 6 feet high. Maximum depth is 31 feet. We'll be going back at the end of January or beginning of February to push this further. Thanks go out to the following people: Tom Sims Gerry Geletzke David Serafine Layne Hedrick Ian Riddington Brandon Cook Andy Zenker Lyndon Tiu Peter Druschke Gerry and Andy also explored Raccoon Ramada cave that is on the property, but did not get a survey yet. We'll be returning to do that as well. The entrance to this is a very tight squeeze and I don't know anyone else that has squeezed into it. I'd be curious if there are any records of this. Charles ---End Message--- ---BeginMessage--- My congratulations to James and the team which made this discovery possible. I dove the sump in 1982 and found it ended in mud fill at a depth of 5 m. It seems that floods since then washed out that plug. I admit to not having had much hope for the sump and am glad to be proven wrong! As for Raccoon Ramada, it was discovered and explored by Randy Waters about 30 years. He never got around to surveying it. He did survey and draw a pencil draft of the nearby Spider System. If anyone is interested in finalizing that map let me know. It would be a simple matter to digitally trace his draft. Unfortunately, Randy is no longer with us to complete the map himself. George From: Charles Goldsmith [mailto:wo...@justfamily.org] Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2010 19:25 To: Cavetex; Scott Kyle Subject: [Texascavers] Cascade Caverns sump dive report A big thanks to all of the help for the tank haul to the sump in Cascade Caverns on Saturday. James Brown dove the sump, starting at 10:36am and resurfanced approximately 40 minutes later. James extended the cave by 366 feet until he ran out of guideline. Per his report, Start of Sump dive is the smallest at 6 feet wide and 2 feet high. Underwater passage after air bell averages 12 feet wide and 6 feet high. Maximum depth is 31 feet. We'll be going back at the end of January or beginning of February to push this further. Thanks go out to the following people: Tom Sims Gerry Geletzke David Serafine Layne Hedrick Ian Riddington Brandon Cook Andy Zenker Lyndon Tiu Peter Druschke Gerry and Andy also explored Raccoon Ramada cave that is on the property, but did not get a survey yet. We'll be returning to do that as well. The entrance to this is a very tight squeeze and I don't know anyone else that has squeezed into it. I'd be curious if there are any records of this. Charles ---End Message--- ---BeginMessage--- Hi George, I'm interested in surveying Raccoon Ramada. I'd also be happy to work on the Spider System. Everyone else, I'm sure I can borrow some survey gear, but I will need a couple of volunteers to help survey. If anyone is interested, let me know. We'll get it done in January/February. Also, I'll be bringing vertical gear so we can hopefully check out Cascade and Fisher sinks for fun next time. Andy Z On Sun, Dec 12, 2010 at 11:34 PM, George Veni gv...@warpdriveonline.comwrote: *My congratulations to James and the team which made this discovery possible. I dove the sump in 1982 and found it ended in mud fill at a depth of 5 m. It seems that floods since then washed out that plug. I admit to not having had much hope for the sump and am glad to be proven wrong!* *
[Texascavers] Government Canyon karst project dates for 2011
Cavers, The following dates have been set for the Government Canyon Karst Project for the first part of next year: January: (NO PROJECT) February 5, 6 March 5, 6 April 9, 10 May 7, 8 The March date will be a milestone of the project, being the 100th trip since the very first one set up by George Veni in 1994. There will be a regularly scheduled project trip on the 5th with a party and campout being planned for that evening at the park. The party will include plenty of tasty eats and drinks and lots of caver fellowship. If you've ever helped out on the project, put it on your calendar and plan to show up. More details will emerge as the date approaches. -Marvin Miller
[Texascavers] 1,609 meter deep pit found
NASA claims to have found a deep pit on a moon of the planet Saturn. They claim to have an image of it taken by the Cassini spacecraft. They believe that a mountainous ice structure over 900 meters tall has a hole in the side of it that is 1,609 meters deep. The believe that a liquid spews from this hole, or maybe some kind of frozen dust made of whatever compound the mountain is made of. They have named this feature Sotra and the area around it as Sotra Facula. The moon is Titan. So what kind of caving gear do you rig the pit with?The rope would be too stiff at those temperatures, and might break from being too brittle. Do you wear a down-insulated suit, or some synthetic insulated suit? Do you mount a couple of Stenlights, or a 2 or 3 Scurion 1300's, on your helmet? All hypothetical of course as, the pit is closed until further notice, and cavers are asked to stay away.A study is being conducted to determine use policies and decontamination protocols. David Locklear - Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
