texascavers Digest 30 Jun 2010 13:53:56 -0000 Issue 1090
Topics (messages 15224 through 15231):
Poolside fireworks party~ Saturday, July 3rd
15224 by: Terri Sprouse
a funny LED story
15225 by: David
Indian Creek Cave
15226 by: David
15227 by: Fritz Holt
15228 by: Mixon Bill
15229 by: Logan McNatt
Carl's 50-Years book
15230 by: Mixon Bill
Hurricane Alex and LdeS
15231 by: Michael Krell
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--- Begin Message ---
Peter and Terri Sprouse are having a pool party and fireworks viewing on
Saturday July 3, 6:00 to ? We'll have a keg of ale and a grill, you
bring some pot luck food and a lawn chair. We hope to see you! 600
Elliott Ranch Road, Buda 78610, (512) 415-2994.
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
One of my favorite cheap headlamps, the Argo HP, can be had
on-line for as low as $ 26.50. I bought one several years ago,
and would still be using it had the plastic cap to the battery compartment
held together.
Below is where the government goes to buy the headlamp:
http://www.capitolsupply.com/catalog/streamlight-inc-argo-hp-led-61302-cs10101358.html?cid=cse_ggl4
Note that the sale price, saves you $ 5,081.56
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I believe the owner of Indian Creek Cave has passed away.
That would be former Texas governor, Dolph Briscoe Jr.
I have no idea how many cavers have been in this cave in the past 25 years.
Not me.
I made many faithful attempts to get Mr. Briscoe to let me on his property,
back in the 80's and early 90's.
In those days, I didn't know anybody going to the cave, so I would drive
out there from College Station or Houston, and talk to nearby
ranchers. I hiked and ridgewalked on ranches adjacent to his, but
never saw any caves.
I went to both his houses many times and left notes. One of them was
on a Texas A&M letterhead from the student affairs office. His wife came
to the door, and was not sociable, but I handed her the note asking if I could
talk to him about the cave.
I went to his office and left a package showing all the info I had collected on
the cave, and gave it to his secretary asking for an appointment.
He never responded.
Shortly before the 94 NSS convention I gave up, as I had heard prominent
cavers were trying to contact him to set up a convention trip.
And by then, I was trying to gain access to the 3 Langtry caves for
the convention,
which seemed like a more productive thing to do.
After the convention, I focused my attention on trying to get access
to a deep pit
southwest of Candela, Coahuila, which I eventually did, and made friends
with the landowner. So in hindsight, I wish I had never wasted the
time and money
trying to get into Indian Creek Cave.
I believe a few cavers have been able to get into the cave via an easement.
Anybody been in the last year or 2 ?
David Locklear
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
David,
I have about eight old poor black and white pictures which I took at and in
Indian Creek Cave 1n 1961. At that time the previous owner was friendly towards
spelunkers. It was a most interesting water cave. Three to five years ago I
attempted to see Governor Briscoe in Uvalde for access but also had no success.
Geary Schindel had also sought to gain access to the cave in recent years. I
think that Orion Knox and Bill Russell visited the cave some years ago. I would
also like to see this cave again.
Fritz
-----Original Message-----
From: David [mailto:dlocklea...@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 4:04 PM
To: Cavers Texas
Subject: [Texascavers] Indian Creek Cave
I believe the owner of Indian Creek Cave has passed away.
That would be former Texas governor, Dolph Briscoe Jr.
I have no idea how many cavers have been in this cave in the past 25 years.
Not me.
I made many faithful attempts to get Mr. Briscoe to let me on his property,
back in the 80's and early 90's.
In those days, I didn't know anybody going to the cave, so I would drive
out there from College Station or Houston, and talk to nearby
ranchers. I hiked and ridgewalked on ranches adjacent to his, but
never saw any caves.
I went to both his houses many times and left notes. One of them was
on a Texas A&M letterhead from the student affairs office. His wife came
to the door, and was not sociable, but I handed her the note asking if I could
talk to him about the cave.
I went to his office and left a package showing all the info I had collected on
the cave, and gave it to his secretary asking for an appointment.
He never responded.
Shortly before the 94 NSS convention I gave up, as I had heard prominent
cavers were trying to contact him to set up a convention trip.
And by then, I was trying to gain access to the 3 Langtry caves for
the convention,
which seemed like a more productive thing to do.
After the convention, I focused my attention on trying to get access
to a deep pit
southwest of Candela, Coahuila, which I eventually did, and made friends
with the landowner. So in hindsight, I wish I had never wasted the
time and money
trying to get into Indian Creek Cave.
I believe a few cavers have been able to get into the cave via an easement.
Anybody been in the last year or 2 ?
David Locklear
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--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
About a zillion (well, half a zillion) cavers visited Indian Creek
Cave on a field trip during the 1964 NSS convention in New Braunfels.
I recall the water felt cold even to us cavers from the northlands. Of
course we were up to our necks in it. Bill Stephenson, the founder of
the NSS, got his Cadilac bit by a bump gate on the way to the cave. --
Mixon
----------------------------------------
You can live down anything but a good reputation.
----------------------------------------
You may "reply" to the address this message
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
Look in your copy of 50 Years of Texas Caving (pp 444-451), where Carl
Kunath includes Indian Creek in the "Texas' Greatest Caves" chapter. He
gives a detailed account of the very interesting history of the
discovery and exploration of the cave, including 16 photographs (11 in
color). At the 1964 NSS Convention in New Braunfels, approximately 125
cavers went into the cave in two days. That was a few years before I
started caving, but I went there several times in the late 1960s, and it
has always been one of my favorite Texas caves. Cavers had a good
relationship with the original owner Fred Mason, but after his death in
1969, the cave has essentially been closed since 1971.
Indian Creek Cave still ranks as 5th longest in Texas with 5,649.8
meters (18,536 feet) surveyed, and has potential for much more.
Don't have a copy of 50 Years? You need one! Go to the TSA webpage for
a preview and information on how to order one. In my opinion, it is by
far the most informative and highest quality book ever published on
Texas caves and cavers. If you consider yourself a Texas caver, you
need a copy of this book.
Logan
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
I agree with Logan that Carl Kunath's "50 Years of Texas Caving" is a
great book, and considering its size and the number of color photos,
it is even reasonably priced at $60. I have a stash of them in Austin,
if anyone wants one taken to a UT Grotto meeting.
--Mixon
----------------------------------------
You can live down anything but a good reputation.
----------------------------------------
You may "reply" to the address this message
came from, but for long-term use, save:
Personal: bmi...@alumni.uchicago.edu
AMCS: edi...@amcs-pubs.org or sa...@amcs-pubs.org
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
As a rule, I do not post to CaveTex, but I thought I'd bring this up.
Crash, Matt T, and others are currently down at Laguna de Sanchez. It
appears Hurricane Alex is making a good run at most of northern Mexico.
This storm's rain shield looks like it will go over LdeS. Do the trips have
any outside contact or are able to receive a weather radio signal that they
can check? I've never been down to Mexico for caving, so don't know how
storm runoff there can cause any local flooding that might strand the cavers
for any amount of time.
Does make me wonder - have any cavers ever gotten hit by a hurricane while
caving in Mex?
-Mike
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