texascavers Digest 17 Mar 2011 22:43:20 -0000 Issue 1268
Topics (messages 17386 through 17392):
PNG Caves on Google Earth
17386 by: John P Brooks
NSS Headquarters Commission
17387 by: R D Milhollin
17392 by: Rod Goke
Slightly off topic: REI Job Opportunities
17388 by: Matt Turner
Re: NSS Headquarters opinions
17389 by: David
Re: permanent Biologist position open at Carlsbad Caverns NP
17390 by: Diana Tomchick
March trip report from the TSA Colorado Bend State Park karst project -- ENJOY!
17391 by: Jim Kennedy
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>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
--- Begin Message ---
After seeing "Sanctum"...I was interested in the real story of cave exploration
in Papua New Guinea. And I have been reading "Beneath the Cloud Forests" by
Howard Beck. It is a history of cave exploration in Papua New Guinea. Numerous
expeditions were lured to PNG after seeing large "mega dolines" on aerial
photographs taken by companies doing oil and mineral explorations.
I wondered if these "mega dolines" would be visible on Google Earth...and sure
enough...have found a few. Most of the aerials used by Google Earth for PNG are
too low resolution (or the mountains are too obscured by cloud cover) to be of
much use. But some of the mega dolines show up anyway.
I have been looking for Nare. But the resolution appears to low to see the
entrance.
Here are a few that I have found:
Minye:
Latitude: 5°14'35.30"S
Longitude:151°30'16.50"E
Kururu:
Latitude: 5°49'7.41"S
Longitude:151° 3'59.44"E
Unidentified Hole?:
Latitude: 4°59'2.04"S
Longitude:142°30'24.14"E
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Forwarded from the VAR list. Carol Tiderman is an NSS director.
Hello Cavers,
The "discussion" regarding the future location of the NSS Headquarters is
getting serious. I believe that the new Headquarters will not only enhance
the services to the membership but will facilitate public outreach and,
hopefully, public funding of our activities to preserve & conserve caves, karst
& their contents.
It's important that you let the Directors and NSS Executives know what you
want.
Please do not hesitate to contact them (and me) and let us know how you feel.
We're coming up on the next BOG Meeting the first weekend in
April, in Albuquerque... and any specific comments you send will help with this
contentious issue.
b...@caves.org
Locations the HQ Commission is looking at:
Huntsville, Alabama
1. Cahaba Shrine Temple
2. University Office Park
Mammoth Cave, Kentucky Area
3. Indian Cave
4. Cedar Hill
5. I-65 Interchange at Cave City Exit
Bowling Green, Kentucky
6. Lost River Cave
All the info you may (or may not) wish to know ...
http://caves.org/commission/hq/files/Download/ReportToBOGApril2011.pdf
Thanks
Carol Tiderman NSS 10604 OS, FE, RL
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
That's an interesting document comparing several alternatives for "the future location of the NSS Headquarters", but it doesn't mention the most obvious option of all, namely leaving the NSS Headquarters where it is. Perhaps this option is unrealistic for reasons that have been explained elsewhere, but if that is the case, the document comparing alternatives should at least summarize why the Headquarters has to move and, if appropriate, should reference any other documents explaining the necessity of this Headquarters move in more detail.
Recently, there has been discussion about declining membership and limited financial resources of the NSS. If that's true, I would think that the NSS should be very careful about spending more than we can afford on a move that might be more expensive than necessary.
I think that David's message on this subject made a valid point in that most NSS members and potential members will rarely, if ever, visit the NSS Headquarters. The country is simply too large for any one location to be practically accessible to more than a tiny fraction of American cavers. For most of us, contact with the NSS is limited to what we can do remotely by mail, by Internet, by attending conventions, etc. Consequently, for us, the primary value of the NSS Headquarters is its ability to support these remote services.
Rod
-----Original Message-----
>From: R D Milhollin
>Sent: Mar 17, 2011 12:48 PM
>To: Texascavers List
>Subject: [Texascavers] NSS Headquarters Commission
>
>Forwarded from the VAR list. Carol Tiderman is an NSS director.
>
>Hello Cavers,
>
>The "discussion" regarding the future location of the NSS Headquarters is
>getting serious. I believe that the new Headquarters will not only enhance
>the services to the membership but will facilitate public outreach and,
>hopefully, public funding of our activities to preserve & conserve caves, karst & their contents.
>
>It's important that you let the Directors and NSS Executives know what you want.
>
>Please do not hesitate to contact them (and me) and let us know how you feel. We're coming up on the next BOG Meeting the first weekend in
>April, in Albuquerque... and any specific comments you send will help with this contentious issue.
>
>b...@caves.org
>
>Locations the HQ Commission is looking at:
>
>Huntsville, Alabama
>1. Cahaba Shrine Temple
>2. University Office Park
>
>Mammoth Cave, Kentucky Area
>3. Indian Cave
>4. Cedar Hill
>5. I-65 Interchange at Cave City Exit
>
>Bowling Green, Kentucky
>6. Lost River Cave
>
>All the info you may (or may not) wish to know ...
>
>http://caves.org/commission/hq/files/Download/ReportToBOGApril2011.pdf
>
>Thanks
>Carol Tiderman NSS 10604 OS, FE, RL
>
>
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>Visit our website: http://texascavers.com
>To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com
>For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
>
|
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Not sure if anyone is looking for a part time job or not, but if you are REI
is
looking for you.
Matt Turner
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without
accepting it." - Aristotle
"Empty pockets never held anyone back.Only empty heads and empty hearts can do
that."- Norman Vincent Peale
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Retail Austin 32 Generic E-Mail Box <s...@rei.com>
To: "kat...@yahoo.com" <kat...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thu, March 17, 2011 10:22:06 AM
Subject: REI Job Opportunities
Hi Matt,
My name is Sarah Heath and I work at REI helping out with Outreach programs.
Right now we are looking to hire 10-15 folks part-time. While brain storming
good ways to get these job openings out into the community the Grotto came to
mind. Below I have copied the basics on the job and the company. If you have
a
listserv that you think would be interested in working here, please feel free
to
forward the information on. It’s a fun work environment, and all employees get
a sweet discount on gear!
Cheers,
Sarah
The Gateway REI is looking to hire a new class of trainees/employees for this
Spring!
We are looking for a talented and diverse group to support REI’s mission to,
“inspire, educate and outfit for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and
stewardship.” This year the company was ranked the 9th Best Company to Work
For
by Forbes Magazine.
*Part-time employees are eligible for health benefits and a fantastic discount**
Qualified candidates have some previous retail experience, good communication
skills, knowledge of the outdoor activities, and a positive outlook. Positions
to be filled include sales and cashier specialists and stockers.
To learn more about working at REI please visit:
http://www.rei.com/jobs/culture.html
To apply for one of these jobs today go to:
http://www.rei.com/jobs/retailhourlymanage.html
Job openings will be posted Friday, March 18th and applications will be
accepted
until March 25th.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
This is a highly opinionated post based on knowing absolutely zero
about the problem:
( surprised ? )
I am self-employed and have been operating a barely legitimate
business for 13 years.
My shoe-string budget is difficult, and I have to make choices every
single day that I despise.
I would love to put my business in the location that would bring in
more business and make
life easier and make the business look more legitimate. But that
is not reality.
The NSS needs to think outside the box and plan for worst case scenarios.
They need to find the least expensive place possible to operate their
office, and
that may be 500 miles from the nearest cave. Cavers will come to
it if it has
something interesting to offer.
Finding reliable staff to operate a business is a nightmare. I have
yet to find
anyone I can trust with my business. I came close one time, but the person
died of cancer.
Another issue I have, is my customers want something but are not
willing to pay for it.
They complain about crappy free service. If your customers ( NSS members or
potential members ) are not willing to pay for something, then you
have to politely
not offer that service to them, and in some instances, you might have
to get rude.
This facility sounds like it has overhead not related to caving.
You have to have
some kind of security when you operate an office. You have
maintenance cost, and
book-keeping cost. What good is it to have a business if your
cost are more
than your income?
I would visit the headquarters twice a year, if it were in Houston,
Texas, near Intercontinental Airport.
But the crime rate around that side of town would make this location
risky. I will most
likely never visit it at any of the proposed locations, and I bet the other 30
NSS members in the counties next to mine will never visit it, no
matter where you put it.
Maybe it needs to be a mobile business, like locksmiths. Bob & Bob
may have set a good
example on how to operate a caving business. Someone can correct
me on that, if I am
mistaken. But one of the fondest memories of going to a caving
event was seeing Bob & Bob's
van pull up and start unloading things.
If I were in charge of its location, I would put it half-way between
Austin and Houston, Texas. But
finding staff there to operate it, would be difficult. It would
have to be right on the highway so that
cavers travelling by, would be able to stop in and visit quickly.
My only other thought about this is that having one centralized
national office doesn't sound like a
way to fairly serve the members or potential members that are spread
out over a large nation.
David Locklear
NSS Life Member 27639
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Subject: permanent Biologist position open at Carlsbad Caverns NP
The Biologist (GS-09/11) position at Carlsbad Caverns National Park was
posted on USAJOBS (Job Announcement# HRF 11-076 and HRF 11-077). It is open
to all U.S. citizens who qualify and closes on 4/5/2011.
The major duties of this position are to plan, organize, and implement
programs and projects dealing with a broad range of natural resources. At
the full performance level of this position (GS-11), the incumbent prepares
program goals and objectives, writes planning documents and project
proposals, develops monitoring plans, implements natural resource projects,
and leads the preparation of project reports. The incumbent plans,
coordinates, and conducts data collecting and processing. This is not a
research position.
Please pass this along to anyone who might be interested in applying.
Thank you,
Renée West
Supervisory Biologist & Research Coordinator
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
3225 National Parks Hwy.
Carlsbad, NM 88220
office: 575-785-3099
fax: 575-785-2317
-----------------------------------
HRF 11-076 (MPP)
Below is the link to the vacancy announcement HRF 11-076, with an opening
date of 3/16/11 and a closing date of 4/5/11. Here is a link to USA Jobs.
Click on the "What (keyword)" search box and type in the HRF 11-076 and
click on "Search Jobs".
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/?WT.svl=navsearch
HRF 11-077 (DEU)
Below is the link to your vacancy announcement HRF 11-077, with an opening
date of 3/16/11 and a closing date of 4/5/11. Here is a link to USA Jobs.
Click on the "What (keyword)" search box and type in the HRF 11-077 and
click on "Search Jobs".
http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/?WT.svl=navsearch
________________________________
UT Southwestern Medical Center
The future of medicine, today.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Project date: 11-13 March 2011
Reported by: Jim Kennedy
Report date: 17 March 2011
Person-hours: 295 hours (166.5 work, 128.5 travel)
Personnel: (28 folks) Tanya Backer, Laurie Culbert, Angela Edwards, Ryan
Fabich, Galen Falgout, Eric Flint, Lee Jay Graves, Lydia Hernandez, Aubri
Jenson, Sharon Kelly, Jim Kennedy, Karen Masters, Ryan Monjaras, Tony Olsen,
Kris Peña, William Quast, Matt Rasler, Isaac Schwartz, Kyley Schwartz, Matthew
Schwartz, Scott Serur, Justin Shaw, Tom Sims, John Tirums, Matt Turner, Tian
Yu, Matt Zaldivar, Andy Zenker
The lovely spring weather brought the first green grass of the season, and
thoroughly enjoyable mild evening temperatures. The recent fencing project
gave us a new temporary access to Caver Camp, which caused some minor anxiety
for participants without high ground clearance vehicles, but being cavers, all
adapted. The survey of Critical Moss Cave (SAB683) was finally completed, and
another handful of small caves in the back of Lively Pasture were mapped. More
caves were relocated with better coordinates, and karst features investigated
for their potential to become caves. The warm weather also is bringing out the
rattlesnakes, as two were seen on the surface, and one cave (Peps Pit - SAB315)
had at least 7 in it. We need to be cautious next month when mapping it.
Team 1 Karen Masters, Andy Zenker, Matt Zaldivar, Matt Rasler, Lydia
Hernandez, Tony Olsen
This team set off once again for Critical Moss Cave (SAB683) with instructions
to finally finish the map or not return! A minor problem with old cave
coordinates had them momentarily confused, but deja vu finally kicked in and
they were on the right track after the late arrival of Lydia and her GPS. The
cave was rigged and air quality checked. Lydia and Karen gave newbie Tony a
quick vertical caving lesson, and he picked it up very quickly. Matt Z. and
Andy hunted for invertebrates while the rest furthered Tony's vertical
education. The survey soon started, with six additional stations placed for
another 17m of passage. The cave is now about 42m long. The back room of the
cave contains extensive popcorn, flowstone, and tiny helictites hiding under
ledges. There is one lone soda straw stalactite at the very back. The floor
is mostly soil and angles down rather quickly. The squeeze to the back room
seems to trap bad air.
After the survey, the team got on rope and exited uneventfully. On the surface
they ran into Matt Turner and John Tirums, who were heading to Spicewood
Springs for a quick swim (and bath). At the swimming hole, Andy realized he
left his camera at the cave, but decided to swim first. Some more GPS problems
were encountered on the return to the cave, but Z. Was finally able to figure
them out and the cave was relocated again. The camera was found, making Andy
very happy.
Team one's hours: 30.0
Team 2 Matt Turner, John Tirums
This team's objectives were to ground truth a cluster of caves near Peps Pit
(SAB315). After driving to Lively Pasture and parking near Marshmallow Cave
(SAB733), the duo took off across country towards their target area. John soon
found Cedar Pee Hole (no SAB number yet), a karst feature near Stump karst
feature (SAB713). It is a small hole, about 4 feet deep and 3 inches wide,
inside an Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei) grove. The next feature found was
called Other Dig (no SAB number yet), near New Sink to Dig karst feature (no
SAB number yet). They then walked toward Peps Pit checking out other likely
depressions, eventually finding PerCholla karst feature (no SAB number yet),
named for the Texas persimmons (Diospyros texana) and pencil cactus (Opuntia
leptocaulis - also called Pencil Cholla, Desert Christmas Cactus, Christmas
Cholla, Garambullo, Tasadijillo, Tasajillo, Tesage, Rat-tail Cactus, and
Slender Stem Cactus) around it. John found another karst feature, L Hole (no
SAB number yet), nearby. They stopped by Coon Scat Crevice (SAB273) and
recorded more accurate coordinates, reaching Peps Pit and breaking for lunch.
Tossing rocks into the cave to estimate its depth, they were surprised to hear
no fewer than seven rattlesnakes. Good thing they did not plan to enter that
cave that day! They tried to find Shrink to Fit Cave (SAB218), but it was
badly mislocated. [Note: this was fixed the previous month, but the Project
Coordinator forgot to update the GPS files. Sorry Matt!] They collected
improved coordinates for Hard Wedge Cave (SAB272) and LIVC01 (no SAB number
yet), a karst feature that looked promising. Afterwards they found yet another
karst feature, 283 Road karst feature (no SAB number yet), near Good 'n Tight
Cave (SAB283). They revisited and checked Arizona Cave (SAB282) and Nopalitos
Cave (SAB186) before hiking back to the truck and picking up Team 1 for a swim.
Team two's hours: 10.0
Team 3 Justin Shaw, Galen Falgout, Aubri Jenson, Angela Edwards
This team also headed out to a cluster of caves in the Lively Pasture, prepared
to survey as many as possible. They first stopped at Flying Log Sink (no SAB
number yet) and described it as not "temptingly diggable." A search for
unnamed cave (SAB195) was fruitless. Next up was Don't Fit Pit (SAB199).
There is still an unsurveyed room beyond a very tight restriction. Unsure
whether or not this cave was surveyed [Note: it was in 1997, and the map
drafted in 2004], they continued to a formerly unnamed cave, SAB193. It was
named Top Hat Cave for the large boulder covering most of the cave's entrance.
Three stations yielded 5.3m of passage, enough to make it legal. The same
could not be said for the next feature, Two Burnt Ropes karst feature (SAB718),
which only gave up 4.8m of passage before narrowing to an impenetrable fissure.
Still energetic, the team moved to another unnamed cave (SAB198). This area
has lots of exposed limestone pavement with upon joints and sinks everywhere.
This "cave" turned out to not go, but the entire area looks very promising and
deserves a lot more attention. While walking around and poking into holes,
Justin practically stepped on a rattlesnake. Both jumped and headed for the
same rock, Justin trying to be on top for safety and the snake underneath with
the same idea. [Note: see this month's report for Team 4. The "cave" really
does go. Team 3 just missed it in all the excitement.]
Galen then led the group to another unnamed cave, SAB187. Jim met up with them
there, gave them more GPS waypoints, and loaned them a small sledgehammer,
loppers, and a folding saw. Thus armed, they were able to clear the shrub that
was taking up the entire entrance and remove a few protruding ledges in order
to get into the cave. Expecting only another two-shot wonder, they were
pleasantly surprised to set 11 stations for a total of 29.78m. The 7m tight
vertical entrance opens to a short horizontal level with two climbable pits,
both dropping to a second level consisting of a 4m x 9m room. They estimate at
least 5 or 6 more shots to complete the survey. The cave was finally named
Radish Run Grotto in honor of the armadillo-chasing dog from the January trip.
Cave crickets, a toad, black widow spider, and centipede were all seen during
the survey.
Team three's hours: 32.0
Team 4 Jim Kennedy, Lee Jay Graves, Kris Peña, William Quast, Tanya
Backer, Sharon Kelly, Tian Yu
Jim and LJ took a bunch of newbies to Lively Pasture to map some more small
caves and teach cave survey techniques. They first stopped to look at Space
Heater Cave (SAB203), Earth Day Delight Cave (SAB257), Sore Toe Cave (SAB179),
and Varmint Trap Cave (SAB178) to show the new folks more caves. It was
discovered that all four were mislocated 60-70m NNE of where they actually are,
probably a datum error. New, corrected coordinates were gathered, and the
group set off for new caves.
First up were caves previous labeled K08 (SAB732) and K10 (SAB731). Both
turned out to be real caves, 6.7 and 5.1m respectively. Jim took William and
Kris into the first for training, while Lee Jay took the other three to K10.
They were finally named Shark Den Cave and Cheesecake Cave. More work was done
in two nearby features, Freshhole karst feature (SAB730), which doesn't look
like it will go, and Dug karst feature (SAB724), which is a vertical drop of
5.5m. There may be leads at the bottom, but the survey team isn't sure because
the walls belled out enough that they could not climb the entire way down.
This cave needs a proper name once the survey is completed.
There was some more hiking around and caves looked at. Jim briefly helped
Justin's team at Rabbit Run Grotto and was distracted by the late arrival of
Team 6, Eric and Ryan. Eventually they settled on pushing leads at a couple of
karst features, Fissure 003 (SAB728) and Fissure 004 (no SAB number yet).
Fissure 004 is pretty hopeless, being mostly shallow surface fissures. Fissure
003 looks a little better after some rock removal, but still has a couple of
good-sized rocks that need removed before we can see what is going on in there.
Somewhere along the way another rattlesnake was spotted in a fissure.
Finally, Jim led the newbies to unnamed cave (SAB198) and Dog and Butterfly
Cave (SAB197) for some recreational fun. While waiting, he wandered off and
found two more new sinks with good dig potential Big Persimmon Sink, and what
turned out to be Matt and John's L Hole (no SAB numbers yet).
Team four's hours: 59.5
Team 5 Scott Serur, Laurie Culbert, Tom Sims, Ryan Fabich
This team was also enjoying the lovely spring weather by ridgewalking in Lively
Pasture. They first re-found Don't Fit Pit (SAB199). Tom tried to enter but
didn't fit. Laurie was able to get in. There is a remnant of one of the old
"No Entry" signs bolted to the entrance. They met up with Justin's team, and
found another sink which that team had just walked past. It was called Justin
Missed It Sink (no SAB number yet). It was dug on for about an hour, but
bigger tools (which were back at the truck) were needed. So back to the truck
they went, but when they got back to the sink, they decided it was too hot to
dig any more.
More hiking around Gorman Creek soon turned up another lead, a shallow
depression with large slabs of limestone tilted toward the center. Some random
hiking around the Lively Pasture (also known as being lost) took away valuable
digging time, but the group was soon reunited and dug on the sink for about an
hour. It is being called Tilted Rock Sink (no SAB number yet). Scott says a
little more work and it will be a real cave.
Another cave was found, also with at "No Entry"sign, but it was not previously
in the database. So fo now it is just another unnamed cave with no SAB number
assigned. But at least we have coordinates! The group finished out their day
with a quick bop into Gorman Creek Crevice Cave (SAB183a) via the Main
Entrance. A good time was had by all.
Team five's hours: 27.0
Team 6 Eric Flint, Ryan Monjaras
These guys showed up in mid-afternoon. They worked on Eric's long-term (eight
years and counting) dig, which we have been calling Freshdig karst feature
(SAB729), it lacking a better name. Some progress was made, but it is still
not a cave. No trip report was turned in by this team, so it is unknown if
anything else was accomplished by them.
Team six's hours: 8.0
Still to be done from the past few months:
* Re-tag Sharis Diet Cave (SAB205), which currently has a "K11" tag on it.
* Continue to enlarge Rebeccas Rift (SAB704), and survey it.
* Re-find MM Hole (SAB191) and Centennial Cave (SAB239), map MM Hole.
* Finish mapping Marshmallow Cave.
* Tag Great Gaspy Cave (SAB682).
* Dig on numerous more leads in Lively Pasture, and map more caves there.
Tag all new finds since November.
--- End Message ---
