*Pack Patching Party!* Tentatively set for Jan 8th, Tuesday evening at 300 W Mockingburd Ln, Austin TX. We have 30+ large group packs to repair for the Honey Creek Tank Haul. Those who help patch group packs are welcome to bring your own personal pack to patch for free. Please let me know if you can come out and if you have an Awl/Speedy Stitch we can borrow.
In just 3 weekends we will be embarking on the Honey Creek Tank Haul Extravaganza-January 19th and January 26th and we still need cavers to haul group gear to the sump. We currently have 30 people signed up for the haul-in and the haul-out but are trying to recruit 50+ cavers for each weekend. Thank you to all who have already volunteered. Cavers will be contributing to original cave exploration to some of the most remote cave passages in Texas. We not only need cavers to haul gear in the cave but can use surface support to guide things along as cavers are lowered into and out of the cave on a tractor. Invite friends...this is a great trip and a true *EXTRAVAGANZA*! TRIP DETAILS On January 19th, cavers will haul gear to Sump 1 for Dr. Jean Krejca and James to begin their 4-day underground camp/exploration. The divers will split up their gear into individual loads on the surface, cavers will choose a load, and each person/team is responsible for taking their load to the sump. Once cavers get to the sump, they can abandon their gear and head back to the surface for an evening of reverie. Jean and James will then begin prepping for their dive/diving with Lydia Hernandez and Ellie Watson to hold down camp. On January 26th, cavers will go to Sump 1 and haul gear out of the cave. Honey Creek is a water cave and you will need a wetsuit and harness with d-ring to be lowered on cable down a man-made shaft. I recommend flotation and water-tight food containers. Don't let lack of gear hold you back, ask your local grotto to help you find the necessary gear so you don't miss out on this trip. An empty detergent jug with carabiner to hook to outside of pack works as a good flotation. Best to use group packs unless you are willing to leave it in for both weekends. The trip to the sump typically takes 6 hours and includes walking, salamandering, crawling, and "The Mud and The Crud". Estimate for 12 hour total trip-6 hours to sump and 6 hours back to man-made entrance. The trip is challenging but very fun. Camping is available both weekends and we will enter the cave around 9am. We are arranging group breakfasts and suppers for cavers both weekends. We have been asking individuals and grottos for donations to fund the tank-haul efforts and the Bexar Grotto and UT Grotto have already made generous donations. Donations will defray group meal costs, small trinkets for each participant, and consumables for each caver(drinks and snacks). Dr. Jean Krejca will be hosting a door-prize drawing on the second haul weekend, Jan 26th. Grand prize is a expedition size cave pack made by Ron Rutheford. Please bring any extra prizes you have for the prize pool. Please don't hesitate to ask questions, Ellie 509-899-0007 Jan 19 Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/277471285691023/ Jan 26 Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/188112567987494/
