Mark and others, The downstream sump was dived about 20 years ago and it went to some additional passage with bad air to a second deeper sump of approximately 20 feet. The passage was about 800 feet long to the second sump which was not entered by either the divers or the recent explorers. The first sump in the cave is now open and we can get to what appears to be the second sump that stopped the divers last time. This is where we put in the downstream radio location. Landowner access is a problem as the cave is on private property and is being actively managed as a exotic game ranch.
Today, it looks like we're getting some heavy rain over the cave and the stream gauges are responding. Weather is always an issue. Watching a 150 foot deep pit sump out to the top of the sinkhole is always a humbling experience. Also, congratulations on the Lew Bicking Award. It is much deserved. Geary From: Mark Minton [mailto:mmin...@illinoisalumni.org] Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 2:58 PM To: Geary Schindel Cc: texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: RE: Valdina Farms Sinkhole Geary, >The drought has opened up the downstream sump which was only accessible by >cave diving. Has Valdina Farms Sinkhole been explored very far beyond the (ex)sump? I see a map in the 1994 NSS Convention Guidebook, Caves and Karst of Texas, that says it had not been surveyed, and it didn't say whether the second downstream sump had been dived or not. There is also an upstream sump. Seems like a good time to push the cave, while water is so low. Mark Minton.
