Mike Boon's epic 10 day solo trip is a must read. It included 2 days traversing a glacier with deep crevasses, and 8 days in a very challenging,
cold cave with about 1,000 ft of vertical extent. He went almost 6 miles to the back of the cave and bolted/free-climbed up a 30 ft lead to
explore virgin passage that ended in an ice plug. The trip created great controversy among the international community of cavers.
Inside Earth was a very creative, high quality caving magazine, but only four issues were published. One rumor is that the editor, Cave Carson,
is living as a recluse in California, wanted by authorities in Buda, Texas for subversive activities, including disturbing the peace. He is
rumored to show up incognito at some caver gatherings, and still caves in exotic places. Some say he never existed, and is merely a creation of
myth and legend. The truth may never be known.
Lowgun
On 9/13/2013 12:26 PM, Frank Binney wrote:
Solo caving in Castleguard: Mike Boon's epic trip I've always believed that those who regularly pursue solo caving either have a death wish or
suffer from mental illness. Case in point, back in 1970 Canadian caver---and frequent visitor to Austin on his way to deep caving expeditions
in Mexico---Mike Boon made an epic mid-winter solo trip to Castleguard Cave below the Columbia Ice Fields in Banff National Park. Mike was an
extraordinary exploration caver, a brilliant poet and---unfortunately---someone who needed to be repeatedly institutionalized for mental illness.
You can read Mike's captivating account of his solo trip in Inside Earth #3, available for free download via the link below. (Thank you Bill
Mixon for scanning all the long out-of-print Inside Earth issues!)
https://www.hightail.com/download/OGhmZXQ1TlF3TGhqQThUQw
Frank Binney
Frank Binney & Associates
Interpretive Planning and Media Development
P.O. Box 258
Woodacre, CA 94973
415.488.1200 Voice
415.488.1500 Fax
415.999.0556 Mobile
fr...@frankbinney.com
