texascavers Digest 19 Feb 2012 20:31:37 -0000 Issue 1500

Topics (messages 19589 through 19604):

Re: Fwd:Good, used caver wetsuits
        19589 by: Preston Forsythe

Re: Cave Diving on PBS
        19590 by: Jim Evatt

Re: Feb 12 See My Shovel Cave (CM Cave) trip report
        19591 by: Bill Bentley

TCMA Auction at TSA Spring Convention
        19592 by: Saj Zappitello

LightSquared Denied Permit
        19593 by: Mark Minton

Google Streetview goes underground
        19594 by: Randy Baker
        19595 by: Andy Edwards

Endangered species get protected habitat
        19596 by: Mark Minton
        19597 by: Preston Forsythe

Texas Highways magazine March 2012
        19598 by: Logan McNatt
        19600 by: Louise Power
        19603 by: Fritz Holt

USFWS Whitenose Webinars
        19599 by: Mark Minton

cave-diving video
        19601 by: Mixon Bill

2012 UT Grotto Program Schedule
        19602 by: Gary Franklin

Any speleo-illustrators?
        19604 by: R D Milhollin

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--- Begin Message ---
My first wetsuit was used from an Austin dive shop. Now on my 5th wetsuit.

Preston
-----------------------------------------------------------
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: germa...@aol.com 
  To: Texascavers@texascavers.com ; greater_houston_gro...@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 5:24 PM
  Subject: [Texascavers] Fwd:Good, used caver wetsuits


  http://tomsscuba.com/component/content/article/148




                    Kristina Hager posted in The UT Grotto.
                         Kristina Hager 5:01pm Feb 15  
                          Tom's used equipment sale usually has some good 
cave-ready wetsuits for ya'll 
                   

             
              View Post on Facebook · Edit Email Settings · Reply to this email 
to add a comment.
             
       

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- Note that this is a repeat showing of the documentary that originally aired in 2010.

Jim Evatt

-----Original Message----- From: Mark Minton
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 2:20 PM
To: Texascavers
Subject: [Texascavers] FW: Cave Diving on PBS

-----Original Message-----
From: varlist Discussion List [mailto:varl...@listserv.vt.edu] On
Behalf Of Walt Pirie
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 11:16 AM
To: varl...@listserv.vt.edu
Subject: [VARLIST] Cave Diving on PBS

There's a great program about blue hole diving in the Bahamas,
scheduled to air on PBS this evening.

Extreme Cave Diving on NOVA

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/extreme-cave-diving.html

Airs February 15, 2012 on PBS

A team of intrepid scientists journey into one of Earth's most
dangerous and beautiful underwater frontiers.

Follow a fearless team of scientists as they venture into blue
holesunderwater caves that formed during the last ice age, when sea
level was nearly 400 feet below what it is today. These caves, little-
known treasures of the Bahamas, are one of Earth's least explored and
most dangerous frontiers. The interdisciplinary team of biologists,
climatologists, and anthropologists discover intriguing evidence of
the earliest human inhabitants of the islands, find animals seen
nowhere else on Earth, and recover a remarkable record of the
planet's climate.

WEB FEATURES
Watch the entire program online now.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/extreme-cave-diving.html

Walt

Please reply to mmin...@caver.net
Permanent email address is mmin...@illinoisalumni.org


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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Ben Hutchins 
To: texascav...@caver.net 
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 7:09 PM
Subject: [Texascavers] Feb 12 See My Shovel Cave (CM Cave) trip report


      Feb 12, 2012 See My Shovel Cave (CM Cave) trip report

      By Ben Hutchins with contributions from Ben Tobin

      When it started to sleet on us as we drove to Spring Branch, things 
seemed grim.  But when the taco stand that we religiously visit before our CM 
cave trips was closed, the universe seemed downright cruel.  Resisting the 
temptation to turn around, Brett Gerard, Ben Tobin and I drove on to meet Roger 
Blodgett and Tom Rogers at just after 10:00AM.  We drove to Joe Eisenhauer’s 
ranch in Spring Branch and after brief hellos, we were driving through the 
field to the cave entrance.  As quick as possible (still sleeting), we unlocked 
the cave, rigged the first drop, suited up, and began rappelling the 2 entrance 
pits that would take us to Echo River, 90ft below.  The nasty crawlway leading 
off from the bottom of the 2nd drop was sucking cold air, chilling the water/ 
mud soup that we were slogging through.  To make matters even better, the cedar 
duff/ cricket guano/cow urine slurry that is perpetually pooled in the crawlway 
was smelling especially ripe.  Nevertheless, we were quickly in the main 
passage where we were greeted by warm air, warmer water, and definitely nicer 
passage dimensions.  Water in the main passage was at normal or even low 
levels, making the low airspaces a cinch.  With all the rain, however, the 
temperature of the water was noticeably colder.  We started heading upstream at 
noon.  We had 3 objectives for the day: continue survey in an infeeder sidelead 
that had been started back in August, aid climb to the high lead 10+m above the 
upstream sump, and in the process survey approximately 700 meters to rival 
Longhorn Caverns and Cave Without A Name in length.  Because of the increasing 
chances of rainfall that evening and due prior obligations in the real world, 
we had 6 hours (4 of which would be spent in travel).  It took us about 2 hours 
to wade, stoop walk, swim, salamander, stoopwalk, walk, crawl, and stoop walk 
upstream to the terminal sump.  We all went together so that the weight of the 
climbing equipment could be divided among us.  At the sump face, I donned a 
hoodie and goggles to get a better look at the unknown.  The water at the sump 
face is about 2.5m deep and the conduit is just over 1m wide.  In the sump, the 
ceiling levels off perhaps a foot below the water level but didn’t appear to 
rise again as far ahead as I could see (about 3m).  It will take divers to push 
this one.

                     In short order, Robert, Tom and I backtracked to our lead, 
leaving Brett and Ben T. to storm the castle.  Our lead was a north trending 
infeeder, about 200m from the upstream sump.  It started out with admirable 
dimensions (3-4m high, 2m wide) although travel was made difficult by the hills 
of slick mud that we had to crawl up and over.  It was not graceful, and this 
portion of the passage had been surveyed previously.  Where we picked up, the 
lead degraded into a 1.5-2m wide, 1m high oval shaped phreatic tube with mud 
banks and a trickle of water.  Watching Robert contort and wallow in the soup 
to read instruments made me thankful to be sketcher. The passage continued 
north with these dimensions, getting slightly lower but showing no signs of 
ending.  After 10 stations and 52m of survey, I checked my watch and we were 
already late.  So, we made SB23 a semi-permanent station and headed back out.  

      While the survey team backtracked and began surveying, Brett and Ben T. 
sorted through gear and began the climb. Starting up a wall that appeared to 
have numerous jugs and protrusions for slings, they quickly discovered that it 
was all an illusion. The mud and the rock had very similar consistency, with 
the mud possibly being more structurally sound. As each potential hold fell off 
in progressively larger chunks, both climber and belayer became progressively 
larger balls of mud. Finally, some nice, solid rock was found about 5 feet from 
the top. Looking at the time we realized we were approaching out turn around 
time, but shear stubbornness led us to finish the one bolt, leaving it at a 
nice starting point for the next trip. After quickly packing up, we made our 
way out.  Barring anything unexpected, the climb should be finished in short 
order on the next trip, with 1 or 2 more bolts.

                     When we got back to the glorious crawlway leading to the 
entrance pits, we were a bit dismayed that the cold breeze sucking in was 
causing steam above the warmer water in the main passage: it was going to be a 
cold exit!  But climbing rope is a great way to warm up and thankfully it 
wasn’t raining when we exited the cave, just as the last light of evening faded 
away.  Ben and Brett arrived moments later to the delight of good beer sitting 
at the cave entrance.  Although we didn’t 700meters of survey or discover 
booming upper level borehole, it was still a great trip.  After letting Joe 
know what we had accomplished, we warmed ourselves by his fire for a few 
moments before heading home.  See My Shovel currently stands at 4.45km with 
several leads remaining to be surveyed. 



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


_______________________________________________
Texascavers mailing list
texascav...@caver.net
http://caver.net/mailman/listinfo/texascavers_caver.net

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--- Begin Message ---
Howdy Cavers,

Start saving your awesome collectibles and useful items for the TCMA
auction at the TSA spring convention, March 31! Items will be
collected on site and the eloquent Crash Kennedy will be our MC again
this year.

Thanks!

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- Last year a company called LightSquared proposed to create a national wireless broadband network that many thought would interfere with GPS reception. After extensive testing those fears seem to have been borne out. As a result, LightSquared has been denied permission to proceed: <http://www.ntia.doc.gov/fcc-filing/2012/ntia-lightsquared-recommendation-fcc> <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/index.do?document=312479>

Mark Minton

Please reply to mmin...@caver.net
Permanent email address is mmin...@illinoisalumni.org
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Google StreetView cameras visited Japan's Okubo-mabu mineshaft at Omori, Ota 
City in the Shimane Prefecture of Japan.
 
From CNET.com:
 
"Last week, Google Japan took its popular Street View in a new direction: 
underground. The search giant commissioned a photography crew to explore a 
centuries-old mine and popular limestone cave in Japan. The result is a 
stunning 360-degree photo tour that gives people around the world the 
opportunity to visit sites they probably wouldn't see otherwise."
 
See the images here.
 
Randy
Bexar Grotto Webmaster

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--- Begin Message ---
Hmmm...it's feels kind of like MYST!  But there are no levers you can pull
or switches to flip.  Oh well.  Back to real caving...

On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 12:18 PM, Randy Baker <rjb...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Google StreetView cameras visited Japan's Okubo-mabu 
> mineshaft<http://g.co/maps/6um5x>at Omori, Ota City in the Shimane Prefecture 
> of Japan.
>
> From CNET.com:
>
> "Last week, Google Japan took its popular Street View in a new direction:
> underground. The search giant commissioned a photography crew to explore a
> centuries-old mine and popular limestone cave in Japan. The result is a
> stunning 360-degree photo tour that gives people around the world the
> opportunity to visit sites they probably wouldn't see otherwise."
>
> See the images here <http://news.cnet.com/2300-17938_105-10011303.html>.
>
> Randy
> Bexar Grotto Webmaster
>
>

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- Nine endangered, cave-dwelling species in Bexar County, Texas have received protected habitat: <http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2012/bexar-county-invertebrates-02-13-2012.html>

Mark

Please reply to mmin...@caver.net
Permanent email address is mmin...@illinoisalumni.org
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- How many of these "colorful species" did James name? And, thanks to the Center for Biodiversity. One of my favorite GREEN groups.

Preston
================
----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Minton" <mmin...@caver.net>
To: <texascavers@texascavers.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 3:01 PM
Subject: [Texascavers] Endangered species get protected habitat


Nine endangered, cave-dwelling species in Bexar County, Texas have received protected habitat: <http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2012/bexar-county-invertebrates-02-13-2012.html>

Mark

Please reply to mmin...@caver.net
Permanent email address is mmin...@illinoisalumni.org

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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- The March 2012 issue of Texas Highways has a feature article on Lower Pecos Rock Art, with a cover photo of Panther Cave. Should be on the newstands soon.


http://www.texashighways.com/index.php/component/content/article/38-outdoors/6390-panther-cave-rock-art-in-danger

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--- Begin Message ---
When I was TSA Conservation Chairman, I worked with the State of Texas while 
the Amistad Dam was being built on a mitigation plan for the Pecos/Rio Grande 
shelter caves and rock art. Apparently it's not possible to totally mitigate 
damage in the face of nature. However, I must say that as the rivers were 
rising and the rock art became more and more accessible by boat, we were 
already seeing damage by people. Some seemed to think their graffiti was better 
than the art.
 
Louise
 



Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:34:51 -0600
From: lmcn...@austin.rr.com
To: texascavers@texascavers.com
Subject: [Texascavers] Texas Highways magazine March 2012


The March 2012 issue of Texas Highways has a feature article on Lower Pecos 
Rock Art, with a cover photo of Panther Cave.  Should be on the newstands soon.


http://www.texashighways.com/index.php/component/content/article/38-outdoors/6390-panther-cave-rock-art-in-danger
                                          

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--- Begin Message ---
More proof that some people are idiots.

Fritz

________________________________
From: Louise Power [mailto:power_lou...@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 10:39 AM
To: Logan McNatt; Texas Cavers
Subject: RE: [Texascavers] Texas Highways magazine March 2012

When I was TSA Conservation Chairman, I worked with the State of Texas while 
the Amistad Dam was being built on a mitigation plan for the Pecos/Rio Grande 
shelter caves and rock art. Apparently it's not possible to totally mitigate 
damage in the face of nature. However, I must say that as the rivers were 
rising and the rock art became more and more accessible by boat, we were 
already seeing damage by people. Some seemed to think their graffiti was better 
than the art.

Louise

________________________________
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:34:51 -0600
From: lmcn...@austin.rr.com
To: texascavers@texascavers.com
Subject: [Texascavers] Texas Highways magazine March 2012

The March 2012 issue of Texas Highways has a feature article on Lower Pecos 
Rock Art, with a cover photo of Panther Cave.  Should be on the newstands soon.


http://www.texashighways.com/index.php/component/content/article/38-outdoors/6390-panther-cave-rock-art-in-danger

--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- USFWS webinars on Whitenose Syndrome: <http://nctc.fws.gov/CSP/Resources/white_nose_syndrome_webinar_series/home.html>. Click the Archive link.

Mark

Please reply to mmin...@caver.net
Permanent email address is mmin...@illinoisalumni.org
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message --- I finally got around to watching the cave-diving video that Mark Minton posted a link to a couple of days ago. Very nice videography by the late Wes Skiles. Narration is hokey in places and occasionally inaccurate, but nevertheless I urge you to take the time to watch it.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/extreme-cave-diving.html

-- Mixon
----------------------------------------
Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.
----------------------------------------
You may "reply" to the address this message
came from, but for long-term use, save:
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Howdy Caver !!!


The UT Grotto is looking for you to present or come out for a Program about
a Caving Trip, Hydrologic or Geologic Scientific Work, or just something
Really Cool.  See the calendar links for more information.
http://www.utgrotto.org/schedule.asp



Dig out those old slides or photos, get them scanned and preserved, then
share those caving trips from back in the day.  I guarantee it will bring
out cavers that you have not seen for a while as well as spark interest
with the current members.  Come see for yourself that nothing has changed
where I invite you to come share some fun in Austin Texas !!!

Contact me to get signed up for an open date listed below.



Gary Franklin

UT Grotto Vice Chair and Program Organizer

512-585-6057

www.utgrotto.org

v...@utgrotto.org



2012 UT Grotto Program Schedule – (Tentative)



Jan 4 – Ben Schwartz – Caving in China

Jan 18 – Logan McNatt – Discovery of el Sotano del Barro

Feb 1 – Bill Stone – Hell Hole Exploration,West Virginia

Feb 15 – Jean Krejca – Recent Sump Dives in Texas

Feb 29 - George Veni - Amazing Ice Caves of Austria

March 7 – Ernie Garza - Proyecto Sierra Mazateca

March 21 – Sean Lewis – Fisher Ridge Cave

April 4 – COA WQPL – Preserving Lands that Drain to Barton Springs

April 18 – Jim Kennedy – Gypsum Bat Caves of West Texas

May 2

May 16

May 30

June 6

June 20

July 4

July 18

Aug 1

Aug 15

Aug 29

Sept 5

Sept 19

Oct 3

Oct 17

Oct 31 – Halloween Meeting Underground

Nov 7

Nov 21

Dec 5

Dec 19

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There are several Texas cavers who are skilled in the graphic arts. This 
request for talent might be interesting for some of you ("fame and glory!")



  
I am working on updating the NCRC text book.  It needs many illustrations 
updated or created.  If anyone has skills and time I'd love to talk.  It's a 
project that could suck up weeks of time for anyone that wanted but small 
contributions are welcome.  There is no money for this but you would be 
eligible for fame, glory, and mention somewhere in the small print.

Roger Mortimer
NCRC Western Region Coordinator


kf6...@arrl.net

__._,_.___

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