texascavers Digest 9 Feb 2012 16:54:03 -0000 Issue 1492
Topics (messages 19505 through 19514):
Body Of Kevin Eve Found
19505 by: Don Cooper
Laos and Vietnam
19506 by: dirtdoc.comcast.net
19507 by: \"Squirrel\" Jess
O-9 Well trip report - February 4, 2012
19508 by: David Ochel
19509 by: Logan McNatt
19511 by: DON ARBURN
19512 by: germanyj.aol.com
Hang Son Doong
19510 by: dirtdoc.comcast.net
European Cave Spiders Produce Super-Stretchy Silk
19513 by: Bob West
Job posting for Senior Environmental Protection Officer - San Antonio, Texas
19514 by: Geary Schindel
Administrivia:
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Self Inflicted gun shot wound, deep in Breathing Hole Cave.
Cave had been closed off, but students who found the body were not charged.
http://www.wdrb.com/story/16694850/coroners-office-cave-explorer-died-of-self-inflicted-gunshot-wound
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I have corrected (edited) and added information I posted on Cave Chat about our
Laos and Vietnam Karst Reconnaissance trip last fall. One of the most
important things was to properly acknowledge Terry Bolger and Phaythoune
Somphilavong (Noi). Terry and Noi met us with a four-wheel drive truck which
gave us access to the Laotian cave country. Noi's ability to converse with the
local population cut through otherwise impenetrable confusion and provided a
wonderful bridge to Lao customs. I am enormously grateful to them both for
being able to spend the time with us.
I have also added images.
http://www.forums.caves.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=13148
We are returning with a group October 21 - November 9, 2012 (dates close, but
still approximate). If you might be interested in joining us, go to
http://www.focusedtours.com/seasiaitinerary.html
for a tentative itinerary.
DirtDoc
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I didn't see hang son doong on the list.
On Feb 7, 2012 6:30 PM, <dirt...@comcast.net> wrote:
I have corrected (edited) and added information I posted on Cave Chat about
our Laos and Vietnam Karst
Reconnaissance<http://www.forums.caves.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=13148#p113175>
trip
last fall. One of the most important things was to properly acknowledge Terry
Bolger and Phaythoune Somphilavong (Noi). Terry and Noi met us with a
four-wheel drive truck which gave us access to the Laotian cave country.
Noi's ability to converse with the local population cut through otherwise
impenetrable confusion and provided a wonderful bridge to Lao customs. I am
enormously grateful to them both for being able to spend the time with us.
**** **
I have also added images.
** **
*http://www.forums.caves.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=13148*
**
We are returning with a group October 21 - November 9, 2012 (dates close,
but still approximate). If you might be interested in joining us, go to *
http://www.focusedtours.com/seasiaitinerary.html*
for a tentative itinerary.
** **
DirtDoc
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This was a trip to continue the re-survey of the upstream passage of O-9
Well.
Out of 10 cavers originally signed up for the trip, 6 actually made it
to the cave (the others canceling for various reasons): Andrea Croskrey,
David Ochel, Sandi Calhoun, and Sean Lewis arrived from Austin about
half an hour before midnight, and Aubri Jenson and Lydia Hernandez an
hour later. While the actual outside temperatures weren't that cold that
weekend, it was very windy at night and in the mornings.
Two survey teams went into the cave Saturday, all entering by noon.
David (sketcher), Lydia, and Sandi set out to make it to the upstream
end of the cave and survey back towards the entrance. Rather, they ran
into a junction about half-way into the cave. One passage continued
without any survey stations visible, various types of (flagged or
written in mud) station markers had been present on and off before that.
The other passage soon became very tight and had survey markers with
station names that were not on the line plot of the 90's survey that the
surveyors had brought along. It was decided to start surveying the
unmarked passage from the junction on towards the end of the cave, and
to tie into the unknown survey markers. Up to that point, no
water-filled passage had been passed, and those wearing wet suits felt
pretty warm while moving swiftly through the cave. The team surveyed for
about 5 hours in muddy, stoop-walking and hands-and-knees-crawl passage,
until reaching stream passage with water about knee-deep. The survey was
ended here, and the onward passage explored for a few minutes before
returning to the entrance - water continues to be present (up to the
terminal sump, maybe??). Continuation of the survey requires wet suits,
laying in the water frequently will likely be required. 164 meters were
surveyed.
The other team continued surveying upstream from where Bev Shade�s
survey team had concluded on a previous trip. Aubri sketched, getting
tips from Sean, and Andrea set point. They surveyed for about six hours,
which yielded another 164 meters. Both teams happened to meet a little
after 7 pm at the bottom of the entrance pit. Andrea, Aubri, David, and
Sean went on a downstream tourist trip for about 2 hours while Lydia and
Sandi decided to exit the cave. The downstream trip, even more so than
just being close to the entrance pit, involved battling the intensifying
odors of what smelt like a decomposing skunk just downstream of the
entrance shaft. David de-rigged the cave on the way out, and everyone
was out sometime between 9 and 10 pm. After another windy night
camping, everybody started their way homeward around 9 am on Sunday.
--
David Ochel, mailto:d...@ochel.net
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Now that's caving, Texas style! Thanks to David for the trip report and to everyone else on the trip. I've never been to 0-9 Well, but one of
my most favorite photos of what Texas caving was like appeared on the cover of The Texas Caver in November 1976. It was taken by James Reddell
in 1962 from the top of the 0-9 windmill, and shows A. Richard's Smith 1953 Plymouth parked by a fence gate, with the fence and a power line
stretching as far as the eye can see across the west Texas desert until they meet on the horizon. If you're fortunate enough to have a copy of
the book 50 Years of Texas Caving, the photo is on page 58. Logan
On 2/7/2012 9:20 PM, David Ochel wrote:
This was a trip to continue the re-survey of the upstream passage of O-9
Well.
Out of 10 cavers originally signed up for the trip, 6 actually made it
to the cave (the others canceling for various reasons): Andrea Croskrey,
David Ochel, Sandi Calhoun, and Sean Lewis arrived from Austin about
half an hour before midnight, and Aubri Jenson and Lydia Hernandez an
hour later. While the actual outside temperatures weren't that cold that
weekend, it was very windy at night and in the mornings.
Two survey teams went into the cave Saturday, all entering by noon.
David (sketcher), Lydia, and Sandi set out to make it to the upstream
end of the cave and survey back towards the entrance. Rather, they ran
into a junction about half-way into the cave. One passage continued
without any survey stations visible, various types of (flagged or
written in mud) station markers had been present on and off before that.
The other passage soon became very tight and had survey markers with
station names that were not on the line plot of the 90's survey that the
surveyors had brought along. It was decided to start surveying the
unmarked passage from the junction on towards the end of the cave, and
to tie into the unknown survey markers. Up to that point, no
water-filled passage had been passed, and those wearing wet suits felt
pretty warm while moving swiftly through the cave. The team surveyed for
about 5 hours in muddy, stoop-walking and hands-and-knees-crawl passage,
until reaching stream passage with water about knee-deep. The survey was
ended here, and the onward passage explored for a few minutes before
returning to the entrance - water continues to be present (up to the
terminal sump, maybe??). Continuation of the survey requires wet suits,
laying in the water frequently will likely be required. 164 meters were
surveyed.
The other team continued surveying upstream from where Bev Shade�s
survey team had concluded on a previous trip. Aubri sketched, getting
tips from Sean, and Andrea set point. They surveyed for about six hours,
which yielded another 164 meters. Both teams happened to meet a little
after 7 pm at the bottom of the entrance pit. Andrea, Aubri, David, and
Sean went on a downstream tourist trip for about 2 hours while Lydia and
Sandi decided to exit the cave. The downstream trip, even more so than
just being close to the entrance pit, involved battling the intensifying
odors of what smelt like a decomposing skunk just downstream of the
entrance shaft. David de-rigged the cave on the way out, and everyone
was out sometime between 9 and 10 pm. After another windy night
camping, everybody started their way homeward around 9 am on Sunday.
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Most excellent!! Thanks!
Sent cellularly.
-Don
On Feb 7, 2012, at 10:28 PM, Logan McNatt <lmcn...@austin.rr.com> wrote:
> Now that's caving, Texas style! Thanks to David for the trip report and to
> everyone else on the trip. I've never been to 0-9 Well, but one of my most
> favorite photos of what Texas caving was like appeared on the cover of
> The Texas Caver in November 1976. It was taken by James Reddell in 1962 from
> the top of the 0-9 windmill, and shows A. Richard's Smith 1953 Plymouth
> parked by a fence gate, with the fence and a power line stretching as far as
> the eye can see across the west Texas desert until they meet on the horizon.
> If you're fortunate enough to have a copy of the book 50 Years of Texas
> Caving, the photo is on page 58. Logan
>
> On 2/7/2012 9:20 PM, David Ochel wrote:
>>
>> This was a trip to continue the re-survey of the upstream passage of O-9
>> Well.
>>
>> Out of 10 cavers originally signed up for the trip, 6 actually made it
>> to the cave (the others canceling for various reasons): Andrea Croskrey,
>> David Ochel, Sandi Calhoun, and Sean Lewis arrived from Austin about
>> half an hour before midnight, and Aubri Jenson and Lydia Hernandez an
>> hour later. While the actual outside temperatures weren't that cold that
>> weekend, it was very windy at night and in the mornings.
>>
>> Two survey teams went into the cave Saturday, all entering by noon.
>> David (sketcher), Lydia, and Sandi set out to make it to the upstream
>> end of the cave and survey back towards the entrance. Rather, they ran
>> into a junction about half-way into the cave. One passage continued
>> without any survey stations visible, various types of (flagged or
>> written in mud) station markers had been present on and off before that.
>> The other passage soon became very tight and had survey markers with
>> station names that were not on the line plot of the 90's survey that the
>> surveyors had brought along. It was decided to start surveying the
>> unmarked passage from the junction on towards the end of the cave, and
>> to tie into the unknown survey markers. Up to that point, no
>> water-filled passage had been passed, and those wearing wet suits felt
>> pretty warm while moving swiftly through the cave. The team surveyed for
>> about 5 hours in muddy, stoop-walking and hands-and-knees-crawl passage,
>> until reaching stream passage with water about knee-deep. The survey was
>> ended here, and the onward passage explored for a few minutes before
>> returning to the entrance - water continues to be present (up to the
>> terminal sump, maybe??). Continuation of the survey requires wet suits,
>> laying in the water frequently will likely be required. 164 meters were
>> surveyed.
>>
>> The other team continued surveying upstream from where Bev Shade’s
>> survey team had concluded on a previous trip. Aubri sketched, getting
>> tips from Sean, and Andrea set point. They surveyed for about six hours,
>> which yielded another 164 meters. Both teams happened to meet a little
>> after 7 pm at the bottom of the entrance pit. Andrea, Aubri, David, and
>> Sean went on a downstream tourist trip for about 2 hours while Lydia and
>> Sandi decided to exit the cave. The downstream trip, even more so than
>> just being close to the entrance pit, involved battling the intensifying
>> odors of what smelt like a decomposing skunk just downstream of the
>> entrance shaft. David de-rigged the cave on the way out, and everyone
>> was out sometime between 9 and 10 pm. After another windy night
>> camping, everybody started their way homeward around 9 am on Sunday.
>>
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Outstanding!
Be sure to check out David's FaceBook pics from the trip. They had a slogging
good time!
julia
-----Original Message-----
From: David Ochel <li...@ochel.net>
To: Cave Tex <texascavers@texascavers.com>
Sent: Tue, Feb 7, 2012 9:20 pm
Subject: [Texascavers] O-9 Well trip report - February 4, 2012
This was a trip to continue the re-survey of the upstream passage of O-9
Well.
Out of 10 cavers originally signed up for the trip, 6 actually made it
to the cave (the others canceling for various reasons): Andrea Croskrey,
David Ochel, Sandi Calhoun, and Sean Lewis arrived from Austin about
half an hour before midnight, and Aubri Jenson and Lydia Hernandez an
hour later. While the actual outside temperatures weren't that cold that
weekend, it was very windy at night and in the mornings.
Two survey teams went into the cave Saturday, all entering by noon.
David (sketcher), Lydia, and Sandi set out to make it to the upstream
end of the cave and survey back towards the entrance. Rather, they ran
into a junction about half-way into the cave. One passage continued
without any survey stations visible, various types of (flagged or
written in mud) station markers had been present on and off before that.
The other passage soon became very tight and had survey markers with
station names that were not on the line plot of the 90's survey that the
surveyors had brought along. It was decided to start surveying the
unmarked passage from the junction on towards the end of the cave, and
to tie into the unknown survey markers. Up to that point, no
water-filled passage had been passed, and those wearing wet suits felt
pretty warm while moving swiftly through the cave. The team surveyed for
about 5 hours in muddy, stoop-walking and hands-and-knees-crawl passage,
until reaching stream passage with water about knee-deep. The survey was
ended here, and the onward passage explored for a few minutes before
returning to the entrance - water continues to be present (up to the
terminal sump, maybe??). Continuation of the survey requires wet suits,
laying in the water frequently will likely be required. 164 meters were
surveyed.
The other team continued surveying upstream from where Bev Shade’s
survey team had concluded on a previous trip. Aubri sketched, getting
tips from Sean, and Andrea set point. They surveyed for about six hours,
which yielded another 164 meters. Both teams happened to meet a little
after 7 pm at the bottom of the entrance pit. Andrea, Aubri, David, and
Sean went on a downstream tourist trip for about 2 hours while Lydia and
Sandi decided to exit the cave. The downstream trip, even more so than
just being close to the entrance pit, involved battling the intensifying
odors of what smelt like a decomposing skunk just downstream of the
entrance shaft. David de-rigged the cave on the way out, and everyone
was out sometime between 9 and 10 pm. After another windy night
camping, everybody started their way homeward around 9 am on Sunday.
--
David Ochel, mailto:d...@ochel.net
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Hang Son Doong
From: "\"Squirrel\" Jess" <squirre...@gmail.com>
To: dirt...@comcast.net
Cc: "Cave NM" <s...@caver.net>, "Cave Texas" <Texascavers@texascavers.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 7:15:12 PM
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Laos and Vietnam
I didn't see hang son doong on the list.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi Jess:
If you will look at the December 3, 2011 comments on Cave Chat, that's the top
of page 2:
http://www.forums.caves.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=13148&start=15
You will see that is because they are not allowing trips there unless you are
on an officially sanctioned expedition. At least that was the situation when
we were there in December.
>From that post:
We confirmed that in the dryer season (April) they offer three day treks to Son
Doong (the big one). It's about 15 km trek through the jungle to another big
cave (Hang En), where you sleep . Next day hike over to the entrance of Son
Doong and look in, but that requires pretty good rope work to enter (a 100
meter rappel) and is not yet permitted. Apparently an outfitter has offered a
5-day trip into the cave, but the authorities had not yet permitted that. Then
another night in the Hang En cave entrance (it's a big through cave with a
river, and you can go all the way if you want to -I suggest you have decent
lights). The next day hike out.
ADDED NOTE ON THE CAVE ENTRANCE. I was not able to talk with anyone who had
actually been to the entrance of Son Doong when we were there. The comment
about a 100 meter rappel was taken from the video. Yes, you CAN enter the cave
that way. However, a careful reading of Howard Limbert's description of their
taking the National Geographic crew into the cave reveals that they were able
to rig the entrance as a 60 meter down-climb without actually using SRT.
The behind the scenes discussion of caving and making the National Geographic
video and article of Son Doong from a caver's perspective has recently been
posted: http://www.vietnamcaves.com/report/report-2010-new
We will be right next to it however, and will get into one of the most
spectacular show caves on Earth.
>From the same post:
The highlight of our day was a visit to Dong Thien Duong (Paradise Cave). A
must see. Just opened - a world class cave with world class development. You
see 1.5 km of the 31.4 mapped, Huge passage 30-150 m wide, 40-100 m high,
straight sections 300-400 m at a shot. Extremely well decorated, a wet Carlsbad
and then some. Not as big as the big room, but it goes, and goes, and goes.
Excellent elevated walkway with good railings to contain the visitors and well
lit with state of the art LEDs. This was found in 2009 and developed before
destruction by casual visitors.
There are more links to information about Hang Son Doong posted in that Cave
Chat reference.
DirtDoc
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http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/02/stretchiest-spider-silk/
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The City of San Antonio currently has a natural resources position posted
(Senior Environmental Protection Officer)
http://agency.governmentjobs.com/sanantoniotx/default.cfm?&promotionaljobs=0&transfer=0
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