Jim Jacobs
Well, it looks like we're beginning to emerge from our short period of lethergy. Some trips have taken place recently, others are in the planning stage. Some of the NNG ladies (dubbed 'Cave Babes' by Linda Bundy) took a trip to Illinois Caverns, as did Brian and Bruce (with young people from their church). Jim got to break in his new caving boots when he and Marty decided to make an unplanned excursion to the back area of this cave. When you haven't had time to do any caving in a while, a visit to IC is a good way to "break in slowly", and get your caving legs back. It sure felt good to get back underground. Tim Shaffer is planning a trip to Camp's Gulf Cave and others in Tennessee over Memorial Day. Contact him if you're interested. We're going to help to gate the lower level and vertical shafts of Blackball Mine the end of May. John Marquart is in charge of this project, so please contact him to schedule a day of work. We'll need some warm bodies to help with the labor. This will the culmination of this long project, and a very important project it has been! It began as a mapping project, and most of the NNG'rs participated at one time or the other. From there, it developed into an important Indiana bat conservation movement, thanks to John's liaison work with Bat Conservation International and the Illinois Department of Conservation. We should be proud!
SOME OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS:
Kentucky Speleofest: May 24-27, Camp Carlson, KY
Keller Cave Cleanup: July 20-21, Campout weekend at Krueger Cave
Mammoth Cave Restoration Field Camp: Aug. 11-17. Projects to include lint removal along Broadway passage, Echo River restoration and gate replacement at the historic entrance. Fee is $50 (plus $7 for t-shirt). Spots limited! Contact Norm Rogers
NCRC EMERGENCY CAVE RESCUE PHONE NUMBER
(502) 564-7815
After some discussion at the meeting, we decided to hold THE NEXT MEETING ON MAY 24 (MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND), rather than to move it to the next week and collide with the Blackball gating project.
April 26
Called to order at 7:15 by Vice President Beth Reinke. (President John Marquart is still on tour.) Others present: Jim Jacobs, Marty Jacobs, Len Storm, Lara Storm, Brian Braye, Julie Angel, guest Mike Angel, Mark Belding, Kevin Rasmus, D.C. Young.
The minutes of the March 22 meeting were delivered by Jim Jacobs and approved with the correction that the next meeting will be on May 24, NOT May 31. The treasurer's report was given by Julie Angel and was accepted as read. Copies of a letter from Dan Taylor of BCI were distributed which contained information on the upcoming gating project at Blackball Mine. President John Marquart also sent summaries of his own reports on BBM and the ISS meeting (included later in this issue).
Marty Jacobs, Julie Angel and Tonja Frazer discussed the recent "all-girl" excursion to Illinois Caverns. (See "First Caving Trip" by Jo Myers, elswhere in this issue). Marty and Linda Bundy are planning another such trip in June to visit Buckner's and Clicks caves in Indiana.
Old Business: Brian Braye collected enough money at the meeting to get the order for grotto patches placed. He is ordering a few extras, so if you weren't able to place your order in time, you might still be able to get one. Brian also send a copy of our grotto logo to Tim Shaffer, who is investigating having window decals made. The Hoosier National Forest KARST Program was again mentioned. So far, no one from the NNG has expressed interest in participating. The financial difficulties created by the loss of our discount (which was approximately 40%) for printing the NEWS was discussed. Kathy O'Connell can get 20% as a Unit 5 teacher. Brian will check other printers. Tonja will check Hartland College, and volunteered to help assemble the NEWS.
New Business: Julie reported on the cave presentation that she gave at Robison School in Champaign. She included slides and let the kids go through our portable crawlway. Tonja told us about her presentation at Hammitt school, which featured helmets and dirty gear. (See article, elsewhere in this issue) Both went very well, indeed. We are very fortunate to have two more lecturers who can represent the NNG so capably. Brian and D.C. Young noted that they will lead a group of young people from their church to Illinois Caverns on May 24th. We discussed having a grotto meeting at the Upper Limits climbing gym in either July or August. Brian will coordinate. This meeting will consist of a short business meeting and a course in belaying a climber. There will be a fee for the course.
Adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Jacobs, secretary.
Mark Richardson
psy40008@frank.mtsu.edu
Dear Dr. Biner,
This past weekend I went to nerd hole paradise in the area below Speegle Point. We tried to locate Migraine Misery cave, Rat Hole, Hargiss Horror Hole Headache Hole, and Nose Well pit. We couldn't find any of them, so we ridgewalked around Speegle Point and I found something which did not match anything on the survey. Then I was so disgusted that I tried to locate Hargiss Cemetery Cave but failed. Then I tried to locate Hargiss Cemetary. I couldn't even find this! Any help please?? The next day I returned with Marion to check out a thing high up on the mountain. He said he didn't know what it was but a doctor could probably get rid of it with antibiotics. Nearby Marion found a tight tight tight thing that he is still struggling to get out of. It was 40 feet deep, but with Marion stuck in the bottom of it, it was only 35 feet deep. This would be hunky-dory if he could get out, but it's been a week and he's still down there cursing. Anyway, was just wondering what is everyone's perception of what qualifies a hole in the ground? I've heard varying opinions even in the same state. Is Alabama the only state where there's some question as to what can be turned in as a cave? Wouldn't it be nice if Marion could clean up his language so we could take him to eat at decent restaurants? Thanks for listening to my incessant dribble.
Pat S.
Dear Pat,
If one is going to listen to dribble, incessant dribble is the only way to go. What qualifies as a cave varies from place to place and really depends on how far you've ridge-walked, how well you can judge measurements, how much of a liar you are, and how likely it is that someone else will ever go back to that particular cave(?) to discover whether or not you are a liar. Dr. Biner Next time-Don't wear that hooded sweatjacket! and other things one should never do when going to purchase bang.
Internet discussion
Submitted as food for thought: I hate to see any cave damaged in any way, but I also do not like to see caves closed for purely preservation purposes. I would ask the question, 'What time period do we have in mind when planning to close a cave?' Several
months? A year? Several years? A century? Forever? Are we closing caves to prevent current generations of cavers, or even vandals, from destroying displays of fragile beauty so that future generations can have the opportunity to do so? Or, are we closing caves 'forever' to keep them safe from all human interactions? The wonder and beauty we encounter in caves is classified as such by us, the cavers of this world, because we are the ones who endure the hardships, and often dangers, to explore the netherworld that most people shun. Many of us devote much of our lives to caving, for a variety of reasons, but often so that we can simply have a chance to stand in
awe in front of a giant white flowstone column, or to gaze in wonder upon a tiny pool of cave pearls. These marvels of nature will still exist, for eons most likely, if we close the caves in which they lie hidden. But, like the old tree in the forest, if no one can look upon them and delight in their existance, what meaning do they have? Does that cave pearl have an intrinsic value because it lies hidden and undisturbed forever in the depths of the earth? Or should we strive to provide those willing to sacrifice their time, and sometimes their very lives, the opportunity to view the wonders that have been discovered? We can always take reasonable precautions to prevent the destruction of that which we seek to look upon. What it all comes down to in the end is that Mother Nature, the creator of all these wonders, will also be the inevitable destroyer of the same. Caves and the beauty they display, like all natural wonders on this planet, are purely transient. They are created and destroyed in the natural processes that are at work all around us, every day, every century, every millenia. If we are lucky enough to be granted an opportunity in our brief lives to enjoy these marvelous works, it seems a crime to turn our backs on such a chance, even if through our enjoyment process, we hasten the inevitable destruction of that which we seek to enjoy.
George Jaegers
NSS 12978
In a message dated 96-05-09 18:45:21 EDT, you write: George Jaegers' thoughts regarding cave closure can be summarized "If we are closing caves, for how long? For what reasons? To avoid destruction? Doesn't every cave trip cause some destruction? Don't we, as transient beings ourselves, have the right to partake of the transient wonders of the cave, even though it may hasten its distruction?" I hope this is a fair summary of his views.
Now my answer: Total closure of caves is justifiable only to protect the habitat of certain cave life, which would quite literally die and perhaps go extinct without that protection. Most endangered species only require seasonal closure, although some caves, because of multiple species, end up closed year round. Geologic resources, being somewhat more resilient, may require only partial closure, to limit traffic, and slow their destruction.
With the species exception in a few cases, I feel it is much more realistic to enforce restrictions, not total closure on sensitive caves, because that permits the opportunities which Mr. Jaegers so rightly says are part of our birthright as humans. Fewer people will break into a cave, if they know they can get into it legitimately, however limited that access may be. IMHO, it is not humans per se, but great quantities of them on a constant basis, which eventually erode the resources (both living, and not) of a cave.Allowing some (though not unlimited) access, makes a place *special* and most people will therefore take extra care, if they are allowed in. A cave has a "carrying capacity" just like any other ecosystem. Determining that number may be difficult, but it can be done.
With some forethought, cavers can leave their cave pearls be--and see them, too.
Jo Schaper
joschaper@aol.com
Jo Myers
My novice caving experience began early on Sunday, March 24th. I awoke early so I could shower and curl my hair--only to find out later that I would have a bad case of helmet hair! I rode with Marty Jacobs, Kathy O'Connell, Tonja Frazer, and Julie Angel to Illinois Cavern in southern Illinois. Upon our arrivel, I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Armon Krueger. I thought if the cave was only half as interesting as Armon, then I was in for a real adventure. Soon after leaving Armon, we donned our caving clothes. I am, to this day, forever indebted to the O'Connells for letting me use their caving gear. I had no idea how many times I would bump my head on the cave walls! My knees are also thankful for the knee pads. I learned quickly that it is important to use the bathroom facilities prior to getting into caving clothes. I'm sure that this helpful tip could only come from an experienced caver. After entering the cave, we experienced total darkness. We then popped wint-o-green lifesavers in our mouths and were able to see a miniature fourth of July! With our eyes now adjusted, we began our travels through the cave. We saw some cave creatures along the way including shrimp, a salamander, and the cutest little bats. We ate lunch in a room called the Lunch Room. Imagine that! Part of our adventure included a belly crawl to get behind a waterfall. That was really exciting. We continued to an area where we had to walk through water up to our waists. At first, I thought "there's no way I'm doing this...there must be another way." However, after watching all the others plunge fearlessly ahead, I overcame my wimpishness and got my feet wet, along with a few other bady parts. The end result was beautifyl. It was now time to head back to the entrance. My final thought while exiting the cave was, "I'm hooked--I'm a cave junkie!" The ending to such a wonderful time consisted of warm, dry clothes, and Pizza Hut. It doesn't get much better than this!
Tonja Fraser
I want to begin by thanking Jim Jacobs for thinking of me when he had to turn down this opportunity himself. I received a call from Bruce Anderson, who asked if I would be interested in giving a caving presentation for some children at Hammitt School,a division of the Baby Fold in Normal. I eagerly accepted.
Then I hung up... and thought..."what am I doing? I'm not qualified to do this!" What was I going to say? How was I going to remember all the names of all the minerals and formations? Then I remembered, These are kids! "I'm nothing but a big kid myself! I can do this!"
I knew right away that the most important thing to do to prepare was to get some nice cave mud on my coveralls (in order to give a complete presentation of course). So, I went to the 3/22 NNG meeting to round up some cavers to go with me. This is how the all girl, I mean all woman, trip came to be, what a blast!
Anyway, I got nice and messy for the presentation. I gathered my pack, photos, cave calendar, and an extra helmet, and went off to school. As I walked past the classroom in my high heels and skirt, a young student says, "That's a spelunker?!" Well! We do come in all shapes and sizes don't we?
I transformed in the rest room and waited until it was time to make a grand entrance. The "Oohs, Wows and Cools" were more than I expected. The children ranged in age from eight to eleven and all had some form of behavioral or learning disability. They were wonderful. They had written their questions in advance and each child got to ask me two of these questions. The only catch was that no one could speak unless they were holding the huge foam rubber microphone. Fun!
The questions included: "What do you do in caves?" "What animals do you see in caves?" "Have you ever gotten lost in a cave?" and my personal favorite, "Have you ever found gold or treasure in a cave?" This was a great lead-in to the unfortunate things we do find, trash and spray paint. I passed around some pictures, and for the grand finale, I passed around the helmets for the kids to try on. They were almost as excited as I was when I first got my helmet! They even gave me a new sticker to add to the collection. Overall, the day was a great success. I plan to speak to more classrooms in the future so let me know if you have any suggestions. Thanks again to Jim and Bruce for giving me this opportunity. I think all of us learned something that day.
Jim Jacobs
As I was nearing Albany, NY in March, I passed by a sign touting "Howe Caverns". I was on my way to a bowling tournament, and caving was far from my mind. I had read about this cave in some brochures some time back, and thought that it might be neat to drop in on the return trip.
As it turned out, I didn't make the finals, and on the way home, the sign beckoned to me again and I couldn't resist. The car seemed to turn of its own accord, and I was headed to a cave!
Nestled in the rural New York hills, the tourist building looked very pleasant and rustic. I pulled in the parking lot and walked in. The middle of March is not exactly the height of tourist season, so I didn't expect to have to fight the crowds. I paid for my ticket ($11.50!), and the man at the window said that a tour had just left, and that he would call ahead and ask them to wait, so that I wouldn't have to wait 45 minutes for the next one.
It didn't take long to catch up with the tour group..er, I mean touring couple. With the guide and me, we made a cozy foursome.
It took a lot of work to commercialize this cave. The natural entrance was at the other end, but was owned by a cement company. They had to dig/enlarge a shaft over 200 feet to install two elevators and a set of stairs in order to show the cave from the other end. This must be Howe's Caverns main claim to fame, because there wasn't much else there. After viewing the cave, I wondered why they went to all the trouble of digging the shaft. It's not much more than a one way solution tube with a few meanders, a short length of zig-zagging narrow canyon, and a little boat ride at the end. If this cave were in Kentucky or Missouri, they wouldn't have messed with it. Since it's New York, it's all they have, so they show it. Since the cave has largely a clay floor, and floods occasionally, they BRICKED the entire cave floor and stairs. Said it drained better that way. Oo-kay! I saw very little in the way of flowstone. Some of it had an unusual grayish color which was pretty, but it was not plentiful. To give you an idea of how ordinary this cave is, two chest-high stalagmites that they show off in their literature were dragged out of the stream beyond the commercial section of the cave and GLUED TO THE FLOOR where tourists could see them! They even had names for each of them!
The topper was the "chapel" where numerous weddings have been held. In a room a bit above the stream level, they had cut a piece of thick, white calcite into a heart shape, and embedded it in the floor with a light bulb beneath it, so that the light shined through. This is where the happy couples stand when they are married. Farther down the cave, the guide showed me the spot where they had HACKED THE FLOWSTONE OUT OF THE CEILING to make the heart for the chapel!
The boat ride at the end of the commercial part of the cave took us to the spot where a dam had been built to make the boat ride possible. The boat was propelled by the guide, who stood up and pushed against the ceiling. Luckily, the boat was large and wide enough that he could do this without falling out or tipping us over.
The cement company who owned the natural entrance has long been out of business, but according to the guide, they mined over 200 feet of cave from that end before shutting down. I assumed that the composition of the rock must be somewhat the same sort of dolomitic limestone which was mined from the Blackball Mine.
Well, at least I had chance to get into the cool, damp underground for the first time in a while.
Last year, Marty and I had gone to Illinois Caverns with Pat O'Connell and his daughter, Alison for her first caving trip. Back in the cave, past the waterfall and the dragon is an area where the passage turn left around a corner, past the mushroom passage, there is another waterfall. Since the water seems to get deeper at this point, and the mud banks quite steep, this is a place where I've always stopped, even though it's clear that the cave still goes, and goes big. Usually, we're with a large group with a number of rookies, and since the going from here looks either very wet or difficult, this has always been a natural turn-around point. On the trip with the O'Connells, Pat and I had left Marty and Alison to explore beyond that point a little ways. We didn't go very far, since we knew that they would get cold while waiting for us. From time to time, Marty and I had discussed going back to try our luck beyond that point, and recently, on the spur of the moment, we decided to do it. We drove down during a weekday so that we wouldn't have to deal with a lot of "spelunkers". Imagine our dismay, when we turned into the lane to the cave, and saw--not one, but TWO buses. Visions of the time we had to follow a huge church group out danced in my head, but luckily they were just getting ready to leave.
There had been a lot of rain in the area recently, so we were unsure whether the stream at the turnaround point would be too deep. As we headed back there, it was clear that the water level was up, but not quite as high as it had been on our trip a couple of years ago.
When we reached the waterfall, it was time to have a little snack and consider our possibilities. When Pat and I had passed that point, we had each tried one of the mud banks, Pat, the right, and I the left side. Pat had ended up losing his friction and sliding down the bank into the stream. Luckily, he was well past the pool under the waterfall, and the stream was only a few inches deep where he hit. He hit the ground runnin', but his momentum carried him into the opposite bank. He was able to slow his progress so that he didn't hit hard enough to injure anything, anyway. On the opposite mud bank, I had reached a point where it had become too slick and steep for me to go any farther. I dug my heels in, and inched my way down toward the stream. Pat got beneath me, secured my boot heels, and helped me over the edge.
I knew that Marty and I were not about to get past the waterfall the same way Pat and I had. Too dangerous and unpredictable. We had to find an alternative. We took the right bank, the side Pat had taken, since he had gotten farther downstream than I had, and with greater ease. We didn't try to go as far as he did, just far enough to get past the waterfall pool. We sidled along the bank until we found a place where we could slip into the stream without danger, in a place where it wasn't too deep. Of course, looking back I realized that we couldn't climb back up that same spot. Too slick and too steep. Hmmm! We would also have to come up with an imaginative exit plan!
The passage is quite large at this point, and is impressive. There are more formations to be seen in ten feet of Illinois Caverns than in the whole of Howe's Cavern.
Three very striking features are to be found downstream:
THE THREE SENTINELS. After a walk/wade of about 20 minutes, the stream and banks widen out, and before you, about 50 feet ahead, is a place where the stream is flanked by mighty pillars, two on one side, one on the other. They remind me of the great statues of the kings, which guarded the banks of the river gate of the Anduin in "Lord of the Rings", so I call them "The Sentinels".
THE HIPPO. Marty found this one. It is a large, long rock that is partially submerged in the stream. One end clearly seems to outline the ears, eye and large mouth of a hippo. The body of the rock completes the picture.
THE BIG MUDDY DOME. The largest dome in Illinois Caverns. Still going downstream, there is a wide opening on the right where you can climb up some very muddy rock banks to enter into a huge dome, approximately 15 x 20 feet, with a 30 foot ceiling. It's quite a sight! We just walked around craning our necks for a while, trying to believe our eyes. Impressive!
A ways past this area, we notice that the ceiling had begun to lower and was now flat. Although we didn't yet have to stoop, we were clearly entering into a different section of the cave. It wasn't until the ceiling was within a foot or two of our head that we noticed that the flecks of light colored material stuck to it was vegetation. When we had to stoop, it became clear that in times of very high water, that the cave bottlenecks at this area and sumps! Since it had been raining, and we were unsure if more rain were in the offing, we became cautious, and decided not to go much further. We went another hundred feet or so to a point where the main passage ends, and divides into a very low ceiling streamway, and a passage which goes low past some breakdown. This seemed like a good point to turn around, since we had reached our main objective, and explored the cave to the point where the main trunk passage ends, and another type of cave continues.
When we reached the waterfall, it again became time to think. The banks were too steep and slick to climb, so we tested out this place and that. I finally started wading toward the waterfall to see just how deep it really got. I got to chest deep, when I found a ledge that I could step up on and wade just a few feet to the waterfall, which is only about two to three feet high, and not a difficult climb at all. We did it!
Usually, on the way back, we stop at the Pizza Hut in Waterloo, but this time we decided to try the Lincoln Trail restaurant, which we pass on every trip to the cave, but had never tried. Well, I'm sorry it took so long! Great salad bar, and very good food! We'll stop there again!