The weekend of September 12-14 marks the start of a new project season at Colorado Bend State Park (CBSP) in San Saba County, Texas. This TSA-sponsored Project is helping document information on the caves and karst of the Park to aid in management and future research. Currently there are approximately known 200 caves in the Park, but we find a new one every couple of trips or so. The Project is open to all cavers, dues-paying TSA members or not (although we STRONGLY urge you to join and support your state-wide caving organization!). Cavers of all experience levels are welcome, as there are a wide variety of caves at the Park and a large number of tasks to be done. There will be a specific set of objectives for this weekend, so make sure you see me and sign up for a team upon arrival. We will be camping in the plush Cavers Camp, at the end of the first dirt road (right-hand turn) IMMEDIATELY inside the Park entrance gate. Easy to find, even in the dark! Bring your own camping gear, including water, food, and a means to prepare it. There MAY be a group fire if there is no county-wide burn ban. Please camp in the grassy areas BEFORE you get to the campfire area. Feel free to drive right up to whatever spot you pick. There are a lot of nice ones a little further back in the trees if you like your privacy. All cavers should come prepared to work. Project weekend are not for tourist trips. We have a variety of tasks to be accomplished, including mapping, writing narrative descriptions, photodocumentation, digging, and biologizing. Bring your own gear, including vertical gear if you are vertically competent and plan to do any of the vertical caves in the Park. There is no need to sign up in advance, just show up at Caver Camp before 9 a.m. on Saturday (at the latest). I will be there early Friday to make sure everything is organized. Remember that $2 will be collected from every participant as a Project fee, as per TSA policy. There will be no other charges, including Park admission or camping fees. Dogs are tolerated if they are well-behaved and kept under control. Park rules indicate that they are to be on leash at all times. If teams complete their objectives early Saturday, there will be opportunities to swim at Spicewood Springs, and easy 1/2 mile or so walk from the developed area near Park headquarters. If not, plan to stay awhile Sunday and just relax! Let me know if there are specific questions. Otherwise, I hope to see you there! Jim "Crash" Kennedy TSA-CBSP Project Coordinator
