texascavers Digest 25 Mar 2011 14:38:14 -0000 Issue 1273
Topics (messages 17427 through 17436):
Found on Craigslist: 1966 Dodge Power Wagon 4x4, 1 ton Dully - $2500
(Lakeway,78734)
17427 by: Dale Barnard
Punkin Cave trip report, 18-20 March
17428 by: Jim Kennedy
correction and Big Announcement!
17429 by: Jim Kennedy
17430 by: germanyj.aol.com
Punkin
17431 by: dlocklear01.gmail.com
Re: [SWR] Lincoln national forest cave tech position
17432 by: Diana Tomchick
Texas Site Confirms Pre-Clovis Settlement of the Americas
17433 by: Diana Tomchick
Re: NSS Headquarters Commission
17434 by: Preston Forsythe
Re: NSS Headquarters opinions
17435 by: Preston Forsythe
T Minus One Week! - Saturday, April 2nd at Fort Clark Springs, Brackettville,
TX
17436 by: Mark.Alman.L-3com.com
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http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/2282831618.html
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Punkin Cave Survey Expedition #15, 18-20 March 2011
reported by Jim "Crash" Kennedy, expedition leader
[For general background on Punkin Cave and previous survey expeditions, please
refer to past postings on CaveTex. Feel free to re-distribute or print in
caving publications with appropriate credit.]
Introduction: Punkin Cave lies near the tiny community of Carta Valley in
Edwards County, Texas, and is currently the 14th longest cave in the state. It
is rapidly growing due to the dedicated efforts of a fairly small group of
cavers. We estimate that at least 1km passages remain unsurveyed, which, when
eventually completed, will place the cave firmly in the top 10 list of longest
caves in Texas. That is not bad for a long-neglected cave previously thought
to just be a large entrance room and some crawls! Following is a brief report
of the most recent trip.
After the wildly successful multi-day survey trip this past winter (28 December
through 1 January), it was clear to me that the massive 5-6 team survey
expeditions were no longer as effective as smaller trips with people intimately
familiar with certain parts of the cave. I planned this trip for a maximum of
12 surveyors, but in the end only had 10. This worked out fine, with three
teams tackling different areas of the cave, mopping up leads, and surveying
into virgin passage. I would still like to plan another multi-day expedition,
and am currently looking at the Easter weekend. The March expedition was made
up of 5 Punkin Cave veterans and 5 cavers new to the project, a nice mix. We
saw 3 species of bats hibernating in the cave, tri-colored bats (Perimyotis
subflavus), cave myotis (Myotis velifer), and Townsends big-eared bat
(Corynorhinus townsendii). I estimate probably 400-500 cave myotis, a few
dozen big-eared bats, and upwards of a thousand or so trikes in the entire cave
during the winter months.
As everyone was arriving Friday evening, I led a short trip to Deep Cave to the
Forest of Columns and Helictite Room. We got there right at dusk, and briefly
admired the bat emergence before rushing through the cave. We got to see at
least one tri-colored bat and a black scorpion up close before exiting.
Joining me were Yaz Avila, Lydia Hernandez, and Aubri Jenson. The next morning
we got up, had a fabulous breakfast, and broke into survey teams.
The first team, TEAM SUPERSTITION, went back to some leads left since 2006 near
the beginning of Superstition Maze. Some of these were obvious leads,
unsurveyed and passed up by many teams over the years heading deeper into the
cave. Matt Zappitello, a veteran of many Superstition surveys, ably led the
team to various leads, interpreting the old survey notes and setting stations.
David Ochel admirably sketched this complicated section, and Aubri Jenson
logged time with the Suuntos. There are still more leads to map in this area,
and everyone on the team indicated that they want to return some day. They put
in an eight-hour day, and made 21 survey shots, gaining an additional 61.11m of
passage (average of 2.91m per shot).
The second team, TEAM WEST MAZE, headed off to the large and growing section of
cave on the western side of the Entrance Room. Team leader Lee Jay Graves has
been working in this part of the cave for about 4 trips now, and continues to
discover large rooms and a butt-load of passages. This time he was assisted by
Justin Shaw in his first time at keeping survey book in Punkin, and Galen
Falgout and Angela Edwards scouting and setting stations. It was the first
Punkin survey trip for all three. They placed 23 stations in a remarkable 10
hour trip, adding 72.38m to the length of the cave. This is an average of
3.15m per shot. They extended the survey downwards a lot, to the new fourth
deepest point in the cave. There is a heck of lot more to do in this area, and
everyone is fired up for the next trip.
The third team, TEAM AREA 51, consisted of trip leader Crash and veterans
Yazmin Avila and Lydia Hernandez. They began their survey slowly, mopping up a
couple of small leads left from the December surveys off of Superstition Maze.
They connected back to the room near the Woost Woom (now named the Widdle Woom)
and another room east of that one (now called the West Woom). Finally stopped
by too-tight leads and the lack of a hammer, they went back through the Widdle
Woom to finish another lead left by Jim, Tone Garot, Jen Foote, and Lydia in
December. It quickly connected back to previously surveyed portions of
Superstition Maze. Poking around this section, they soon found large
unsurveyed virgin leads. They took a 45 minute break to retrieve the Disto
which was accidentally dropped down an impenetrable fissure (enlarged by
pounding on it with big rocks), then cranked up the MP3 player and started
reeling out long shots. The survey took them way out into a complex
multi-level area of previously unknown cave heading southwest, although it was
not apparent at the time. They soon heard voices from other surveyors.
Thinking it was Team Superstition, they were totally surprised to learn it was
Team West Maze! A major connection was made, crossing under the floor of the
Entrance Room. The connection was made to station WM51, and the inclination of
that shot was +51°, so the new section has now been named Area 51. Mopping up
some more leads (and gaining more footage) resulted in another connection being
made, this time near WM43. Lots and lots of leads are left in this area,
filling in a large blank spot on the map and making the plan view even more
complicated that it was before. 117.76m was surveyed in a whopping 33 shots,
for an average of 3.57m per shot.
Altogether, the three teams made 77 survey shots, averaging 3.26m per shot, and
increased the length of the cave by 251.25m. Punkin Cave is still the 14th
longest cave in Texas, with a current surveyed length of 3232.9m. The depth
has not changed since the discovery of Fifty Fathoms (62.4m, 28th deepest in
Texas), but downtrending leads in the West Maze give us hope for greater depth.
The people on this trip were awesome, hardworking, and a lot of fun to be
around. We had Movie Night on Friday, and ate very well, despite the power
company having a region-wide blackout on Saturday afternoon, forcing us to cook
an entire meal over the charcoal grill. Nevertheless, it turned out great!
Don Arburn and Gill Ediger stayed at the cabin the entire weekend working on
the plumbing, and they were able to have the showers running for us by the time
we exited the cave, even if they were cold and the pump was powered by the
generator on Don's welder! Thanks to all who attended, and I hope to see you
back on the next trip.
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Yikes! In my haste to get out the Punkin Cave trip report, I
inadvertently forgot to add in the surveyed length from the December
expedition, which left the cave at 3303.13m. With the 251.25m of new
surveys from this past weekend, the length of Punkin Cave is now
3554.48m, making it the NEW 9th LONGEST CAVE IN TEXAS! We just passed
Spring Creek Cave (3315m), Natural Bridge Caverns (3354m), Caverns of
Sonora (3375m), Airmans Cave (3442m) and Sorcerers Cave (3510m). Woo
Hoo!!!! Cave without a Name (4306.8m), look out!!! We are coming to get
ya!
I apologize profusely to all the survey participants last weekend for
not catching this sooner. I owe you all a big celebratory party!
-- Crash, shamefaced (but elated) Punkin Survey Project coordinator
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FAR OUT! I haven't been there in waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long.
Let me know the next time y'all are surveying.....I would like to join Justin
or David's team......
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Kennedy <jkenn...@batcon.org>
To: CaveTex <texascavers@texascavers.com>
Sent: Thu, Mar 24, 2011 4:03 pm
Subject: [Texascavers] correction and Big Announcement!
Yikes! In my haste to get out the Punkin Cave trip report, I inadvertently
forgot to add in the surveyed length from the December expedition, which left
the cave at 3303.13m. With the 251.25m of new surveys from this past weekend,
the length of Punkin Cave is now 3554.48m, making it the NEW 9th LONGEST CAVE
IN TEXAS! We just passed Spring Creek Cave (3315m), Natural Bridge Caverns
(3354m), Caverns of Sonora (3375m), Airmans Cave (3442m) and Sorcerers Cave
(3510m). Woo Hoo!!!! Cave without a Name (4306.8m), look out!!! We are coming
to get ya!
I apologize profusely to all the survey participants last weekend for not
catching this sooner. I owe you all a big celebratory party!
-- Crash, shamefaced (but elated) Punkin Survey Project coordinator
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Does this mean TCMA owns the 9th longest cave in Texas ?
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
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--- Begin Message ---
> From: <aaronjst...@hotmail.com>
> Date: March 24, 2011 6:25:29 PM CDT
> To: <s...@caver.net>
> Subject: [SWR] Lincoln national forest cave tech position
> Reply-To: <aaronjst...@hotmail.com>
>
> Howdy, I was informed today by Brad Bolton of the Lincoln National Forest
> that they will fly the Guadalupe Ranger District cave technician position for
> ten days starting tommorow (friday). Look for it on USAjobs.gov. It is open
> to both the public and current federal employees and is a permanent position.
> You need not be a biologist in order to apply. So, let's get some good
> applicants in there from the wide range of experience within the SWR!
>
> Aaron
> Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
> _______________________________________________
> SWR mailing list
> s...@caver.net
> http://caver.net/mailman/listinfo/swr_caver.net
________________________________
UT Southwestern Medical Center
The future of medicine, today.
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--- Begin Message ---
>From this week's Science magazine:
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/331/6024/1512.full.pdf
News article from Washington Post:
http://tinyurl.com/4nyjvrj
Diana
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Associate Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biochemistry
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214B
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: diana.tomch...@utsouthwestern.edu
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)
________________________________
UT Southwestern Medical Center
The future of medicine, today.
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Excellent work by the hdqrs committee. I vote for Indian Cave.
Preston in western KY
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----- Original Message -----
From: "R D Milhollin" <rdmilhol...@yahoo.com>
To: "Texascavers List" <texascavers@texascavers.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 12:48 PM
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
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David, you are right. You were highly opinionated on this one. The idea is
to locate the new NSS office in a high traffic caving area and in the USA
that is the Mammoth Cave corridor.
Personally, I like the Indian Cave site.
Preston, 65 miles west of MaCa.
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----- Original Message -----
From: "David" <dlocklea...@gmail.com>
To: "Cavers Texas" <texascavers@texascavers.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 1:59 PM
Subject: [Texascavers] Re: NSS Headquarters opinions
This is a highly opinionated post based on knowing absolutely zero
about the problem:
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It's only ONE WEEK until the best spring caving convention in Texas!
The weather looks great! http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USTX0145
The swimming hole looks excellent, the talks and food will be awesome,
the location is spectacular, and the TCMA auction will be a hoot and
hosted by the best looking game show host since Bob Barker, our own Jim
"Crash" Kennedy, assisted by his bevy of caving beauties!
Just a few reminders, updates, and detritus from the weekend for y'all:
1.) One new item has been added to the agenda for the riveting and
always exciting TSA Spring Business Meeting (immediately after the talks
Saturday at ~4:40:
2011 Spring Business Meeting, Spring Convention at Fort Clark Springs,
TX, Saturday, April 2nd, 2011, Texas Speleological Association
Agenda
* Welcome and Introductions
* Chairman's Report
* Vice Chairman's Report
* Secretary's Report - Minutes of 2011 Winter Business Meeting
held at the TSS Offices on the UT Campus, Sunday, January 23rd, 2011
* Treasurers Report
* TSA Projects - Jim Kennedy
* Gov't Canyon - Marvin Miller
* Colorado Bend State Park - Crash
* Longhorn Cavern Project (On hold - TPWD Approval) - Mark Alman
* Inner Space Caverns Project (Starting in September) - Gerry
Geletzke & Mark Alman
* Hill Country State Natural Area & Devils River - Rob Bissett and
Joe Ranzau
* Future Project Ideas
* Standing Committee Reports
o TSA Website - Butch Fralia
o Membership Chair - Ryan Monjaras
o Conservation Committee - Open and Jim Kennedy (WNS Update)
o Safety and Techniques - David Ochel
o Publications - Mark Alman
* The TEXAS CAVER and status of online access to back issues.
o TSA Store - Lee Jay Graves
* Old Business
o The 100th trip of the Government Canyon Karst Survey
Celebration, Saturday, March 5th
* New Business
o TSA Brochure
o Membership Drive
o Membership Directory Constitution Change (New Item)
o The Constitution states:
The Treasurer prepares a budget for the fiscal
year, maintains the membership database, and insures the database is
available electronically to the membership.
The key word is "electronically". And it later
states:
The Membership Committee shall consist of the
Database Manager, the TSA Secretary,
the TSA Treasurer, a representative of the
Publications Committee, and other appointed members.
b. The committee will develop data to be made
available to TSA officers, committees, member
organizations, affiliated organizations, and
members for conducting caving business.
The committee insures the membership database is
published annually and is not made available to the general public.
These two statements seem conflicting and
publishing a Members Directory is a small expense in the large scheme of
things but, nevertheless, still a waste of money.
The TSA Board of Officers is recommending that
the red line above be deleted from the Constitution and the Members
Directory be made available electronically in the Members Area of the
TSA webpage.
* Announcements?
* End of Meeting (Let's eat!)
2.) The Kickapoo Caverns trips will be Sunday, April 3rd.
Please meet at the gate to Kickapoo State Park at 10 AM and, after the
TCMA meeting, at 11 AM.
Cost is the standard TPWD entry fee of $3 per adult (12 YO and older).
Kids can cave for free. Fee will be waived if you have a Gold Passport.
Must furnish #.
The main room and Wishing Well areas will be open for visitation. The
Helectite Room and Graffiti Room are off limits, as is Stuart Bat Cave.
We will be collecting the fee at Registration and you must sign a waiver
form for you and yours there, as well.
Do not miss this opportunity to visit one of the state's largest and
most impressive caves (one of my favorites!) and behold the grandest and
most photographed set of columns in the state!
This is very easily accessible cave and is an excellent one for cavers,
young, old, new, and armchair!
3.) From Ellie:
TSA Spring Convention is almost here! You are invited to join the Texas
Speleological Society and fellow Texas cavers for a relaxing weekend in
the unique oasis and National Register Historic District of Fort Clark
Springs. The TSA, founded in 1956, has been bringing Texas cavers
together for over 50 years. Meet fellow cavers and project leaders from
around the state. This is a great chance to get involved with ongoing
projects and create future caving opportunities for all.
Registration has increased slightly to $15 per person plus $5 per person
per night camping (kids camp free). Family rate is $45.
On Saturday, April 2nd, you can fill your day with informative
presentations from cavers about developments in cave sciences, project
updates, national and international exploration, and much more. Roger
Moore and Mallory Mayeux have done an amazing job at lining up
presenters that will delight all audiences. The presentations will be
held at the Service Center which accommodates 300 people and has AC,
bathrooms, and a kitchen. Participate in the Photo & Map Salon by
entering your latest and greatest works for all to enjoy.
Stay for the evening group meal provided by Stefan and the Caver Cooking
Crew. After the meal, Map and Photo Salon winners and prizes will be
announced and then everyone will have a chance to participate in the
TCMA auction. Shiner will be providing adult beverages.
And just for the kids.... an Easter Egg Hunt first thing on Sunday
morning!
Spend the weekend lazing with friends in the lush Rendezvous Park
campground right next to the crystal clear, on million gallon spring-fed
pool. The campground is shaded, private, hugs the creek and is just a
few steps from the pool, Service Center, and motels. The pool area has
bathrooms, showers, and potable water Well behaved pets are welcome at
the campground. There is a motel on site. Please make your own
reservations at the Fort Clark Springs website-
http://99.139.198.182:1069/
Hope to see you there!
Ellie Watson
TSA Vice Chair
ellie.tho...@gmail.com
TSA Spring Convention site:
http://cavetexas.org/events/TSASC/tsasc2010.html
Fort Clark Springs site: http://99.139.198.182:1069/
For Facebook users: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118366598218649
Info at: http://www.cavetexas.org/events/TSASC/tsasc2011.html
4.) List o' Speakers
Hello Cavers!
The TSA Convention is sneaking up on us quick--two weeks! I can't wait
to see everyone in Brackettville!
Roger Moore and I have been lining up Saturday's speakers. We are going
for a mix of entertaining and informative talks, and I think we have
some great presentations in store. We've gotten some requests to
announce who will be speaking, so without further ado, here are the
speakers for TSA (times AND order of talks TBA)
David Ochel-O9 Well: Re-survey and exploration efforts
Jacqui Thomas-Five Mouth Project: More than a Dig
FoFo Gonzales-Caves of Mineral King, CA
Peter Drushcke--Discovery, gating and work at Kypet Cavern, Grand Canyon
Charles Perkins-Bats and Microclimate Monitoring of Gorman Cave,
Colorado Bend SP
Jean Krejca/Geoffrey Hoese-Caving in the Galapagos Islands
John Moses-Cave Hunting in West Texas
Dwight Deal-Wulong Karst World Heritage Site, China
Ron Ralph-50th Anniversary of the TSS AND Announcement of a new Project
Bill Steele-Caving non-fiction poetry AND DFW Grotto Project to map
Spring Creek Cave, Kendall Co.
And possibly a last minute surprise. :-)
Any questions/requests, let us know (we have a light schedule so if
there is something you'd really like to present, let me know--we could
accommodate one more speaker. Otherwise, we will have additional time
for questions, breaks, etc.)
See you all in two weeks!
-Mallory Mayeux & Roger Moore
5.) Gear adjustment and safety workshop
Howdy all you Texas vertical cavers,
Becky Jones and David Ochel will be hosting this excellent
workshop at the Spring Convention.
Saturday, 5 - 7 pm
This is for everybody who owns vertical gear.
Do you feel you are lacking efficiency when climbing on rope? Do
you have basic knowledge on how to get up and down a rope, but you never
learned (or have forgotten) about basic safety protocols and
precautions? Do you have particular questions about aspects of single
rope technique or pieces of your vertical kit?
This will be a loosely structured workshop, based on
participants' needs and interest. The objective is to review whatever
questions you might have, with the goal of improving the overall safety
awareness and competency of Texas' vertical caving community. Bring your
own gear - we will aim to have ropes set up for gear adjustment and
review of techniques, but this is *not* an introduction to vertical
caving for those who have never been on rope. (Ask your local Grotto for
such training opportunities.)
6.) Vendors and TCMA Auction
Cavers, don't forget that the usual vendors (Texas Speleological Survey,
Texas Speleological Association, and Association for Mexican Cave
Studies) will be set up just outside the Service Center at Fort Clark in
a week-and-a-half for the fabulous TSA Spring Convention! Bring cash or
checks! And as a preview, the TSS will have a new edition of the Map CD
ready just for this event! There are 144 new maps added since the last
edition (released in July 2009 for the ICS in Kerrville), and 1379 total
maps. It's still only $10!!! Of course, there are lots of other great
publications on Texas caves that will be for sale. To check 'em out in
advance, and see the prices, go to the TSS website and look at the list
at http://www.utexas.edu/tmm/sponsored_sites/tss/PDF/TSSprices.pdf.
Jim "Crash" Kennedy
TSS Office Manager
P.S. -. There will also be some real surprises and excitement at the
Saturday evening TCMA Auction, so be sure to attend! It's going to be a
real hoot!
If you have any last minute items to donate, BRING IT!
7.) Last and, certainly, not least - FOOD!
Stefan and The CCC (Caver Cooking Crew) are presenting this most
excellent offering of the Official State Food of Texas (c):
BBQ Brisket, BBQ Pork
Smoked chicken and sausage gumbo (coz Mallory missed it last time)
Rice & vegetable salad
Potato salad
BBQ fixin's
Dessert (?).
I'll need help beforehand and on the day, can I get some volunteers?
Also, can anyone give me a ride out there in a more suitable vehicle,
the RX-8 isn't really up to it.
Cheers,
Stefan
This will be the last announcement from me (About d*** time,
Mark!) and the TSA hopes to see you there in just ONE week!
See ya then!
Mark
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