by Troy J. Simpson
Let me re-introduce myself. I am Troy J. Simpson and I am the current President
of the Near Normal Grotto. I figure I might have to do that, considering I've
missed the last two meetings because of coaching obligations. I seriously want
to thank the Executive Board and members of the Grotto for being so patient
with me these past two months. When track season hits, pretty much everything
else takes a backburner. (Ugh!)
First a couple news of notes. John Schirle is preparing the ISS report from
the Near Normal Grotto and if you have done anything during the last 12 months
regarding cave conservation, education, survey, etc… in Illinois, it is
important that we share that with the ISS. Also along the lines of conservation,
we have the opportunity to assist in the continual clean-up of Equality Cave
here in Illinois and the never ending task of cleaning of Buckner's Cave in
Indiana. It would great to work one of these in sometime this summer. I have
been in contact with the Illinois DNR and they are looking into the volunteering
possibilities at Illinois Caverns. As many of you know, Gov. Ryan is planning
some serious cuts with State Park and lands and this would have drastic effects
for us.
Some other news of note… The National NSS Convention is in Camden, Maine,
June 24-28. Before that is MVOR on May 17-19 in Camden County, MO. Also the
31st Speleofest in Kentucky is May 24-27. Contact info is in the NSS NEWS. Check
out the NSS site if you get a free moment. The discussion board has been pretty
lively lately with great discussion of topics of interest. Locally, Marc Tiritilli
has secured the ISU Rappelling Tower for Vertical Practice on June 15. We'll
try to coordinate the June Program with that. I look forward to seeing firsthand
the progress with the T-shirt committee. The designs posted on the website were
outstanding!! Len has done a great job with updating the trip announcements
on the website also. I would encourage you to check it out. I also want to continue
to encourage you to make submissions to the Near Normal News. This is a great
way to share experiences and is also a great help for our fearless editors!!
o[;)>
With summer quickly approaching, I'm looking forward to getting underground
a bit more often. I will be starting things off to a good start by heading to
Maquoketa with a bunch of junior higher's by the time you read this. I look
forward to seeing you all at the May Meeting, its been a long time (at least
for me!).
Your Prodigal President
Troy
by Jim Jacobs
Writing that sentence is as close as I've gotten to a hole in the ground in
quite some time. I will cure that problem this summer, for sure!
As many of you know, NNG member Larry Bird has a new and interesting job at
Starved Rock State Park. He drives a tour bus, (The Big Green Trolley) and conducts
historical tours of the area. There are usually three tours a day, and they
leave and return to the main Lodge. Larry has been involved in the local historical
society for a long time, and gives a fascinating tour. Since we spent so much
time in that area during the BlackBall Mine project, Marty and I became quite
interested in the area history. From the French exploration, to the Indian wars
that led to the naming of the rock, to the development of the I & M Canal,
there is a lot to know, and Larry paints some very interesting pictures as you
pass the various points of interest. There might just be a surprise or two!
If you want to spend a fine afternoon, go to the Starved Rock Lodge and sign
up for a trip on the Trolley. It takes a little more than an hour, and you'll
really enjoy yourselves. A word of warning! This tour just started last fall.
As word spreads and the popularity of the tour increases, it may fill up in
advance. It might be a good idea to give Larry a call in advance to see how
things are running. He might just save you a seat! (See! Being an NNG'r has
some perks!)
This is going to be a rather short issue. Thanks to President Troy Simpson for
saving the day with two articles, and to Earl Neller and Marc Tiritilli for
providing a thought-provoking question and answer. Perhaps we can have some
more of these in the future.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
MARC TIRITILLI - I have secured two dates for the rappelling tower this year--Sat.
June 15, and Sat. Aug 24. Please mark your calendars? I will pull together more
information and send out a general e-mail in the near future. Please let me
know if there are any questions or conflicts.
NORM ROGERS - Make plans now to attend the May 4-5 weekend camp. All the details
can be found at www.restorationcamp.org Click on "Upcoming Events &
Participation". Make sure to read the new FAQ. Just send me an E-mail with
your intent to attend, and show up for a great time. Also, it's not too late
to register for the summer camp in August. Even if you can't spend the entire
week, a few days are fine. Remember, extra cave trips are planned for participants.
Summer camp is where the fun is! In case you didn't know, a crew from the Today
Show filmed the last week-end camp. The program hasn't been put together yet,
but I have been assured that we will know when it is to be aired. I'll send
a message out to everyone as soon as I get a time and date. See you in the cave
- Norm http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Restoration_Camp
JOHN SCHIRLE - The Near Normal Grotto is part of the Illinois Speleological
Survey (http://www.museum.state.il.us/iss/), and several of our members participate
in various capacities. As a part of the ISS, we need to submit a brief report
of any activities that the grotto or its individual members have participated
in during the past year which relate to the purposes of the ISS. The purpose
of the ISS is:
"The Illinois Speleological Survey is dedicated to protecting,
conserving, locating, recording, exploring and studying caves and karst
in Illinois."
So for anything that you have done during the past 12 months related to cave
education (classroom presentations, trips led, training received, etc.); cave
conservation (clean-ups participated in, gating projects,fund-raising projects
for cave conservation, etc.); cave exploration and study (helping with research
projects, mapping, etc.), please email a brief description to me, and I'll see
that the report is compiled and submitted. This would cover the calendar year
from April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2002.
Les Vaughn of the Little Egypt Grotto sent me the info below about an Equality
Cave clean-up they do each spring. Also, their grotto was interested in a joint
camping/caving trip some weekend with us last fall, but we couldn't coordinate
dates then. Anyone interested for spring? I'm happy to help coordinate, but
not sure when I'll be back to caving speed (though I'm healing up, and should
be out of the cast in a couple weeks or so, I hope)
SCOTT CUNDIFF (Speleofest Chairman 2002)- I wanted to let everyone know that
the Louisville Grotto's Speleofest 2002 Website is up and running. A Pre-Registration
form is included on the webpage that can be printed, filled out and mailed to
me (with check made out to "The Louisville Grotto" included). We have
added many new components to Speleofest this year and I hope to hear from you
all very soon. Pre-Registration ends May 11th. Go to:
http://www.caves.org/grotto/louisvillegrotto/speleofest/index.htm
CHRISTOPHER A GILBERT cagilber@INDIANA.EDU - Buckners Cave Cleanup. Monroe County,
Indiana. March 30, 2002. About sixteen people were on hand to help out with
trash removal from the entrance room, crawlway, and signature room of Buckners
Cave on Saturday, March 30th. The group of IUPUI medical students and local
cavers worked for six hours removing ten to twelve large bags of trash and about
two and a half gallons of old batteries. The trash, ranging from bubble gum
to beer cans and everything in between, was removed from high traffic areas
as well as many cracks, corners, and crevices normally over looked by other
cleaning crews. After the workday many crew members expressed that they were
happy that they could help out with the project and were eager to return again
in the near future. If you are interested in becoming involved with cleanups
and workdays at the Buckners cave property please contact Eric (subrat87@juno.com)
or myself (cagilber@indiana.edu) for more information.
Chris Gilbert
Indiana University Spelunking Club
Bloomington Indiana <jds217@juno.com>
MINUTES
OF THE MEETING
March 8, 2002
Called to order at 7:35 by Secretary Jim Jacobs. Present: Brett Bennett, Marc Tiritilli, Jeff Gosnell, Brian Braye, Bill Morrow.
REPORTS:
SECRETARY: The minutes of the February meeting were read and approved.
TREASURER: Treasurer Dave Carson was at Mammoth Cave. Report deferred until
next meeting.
OLD BUSINESS:
The grotto shirts with the classic design are in. Brian will send new designs
for webmaster Len Storm to post for all to see. We will vote later. Send comments
to Brian.
We noted that meeting attendance was very low since many members were participating
in the Mammoth Cave project this weekend.
The Indiana DNR is undergoing budget cuts. Exactly how this will effect caving
in the state is unknown at this time.
NEW BUSINESS:
Marc T. heard a dog lost in the sewer system. He reported it, but no one returned
his call. Fate of the dog is unknown.
Brett mentioned that he and another person were doing the cooking this year
at the August Mammoth Cave week-long field camp. They saved the day last year
and staved off a mutiny by taking over the duties after two days.
Brett is selling his vertical gear. Contact him for details.
TRIP REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Jeff G. and Ralph Sawyer did Wye Cave and Dance Hall Cave in Mequoketa Park.
Marc is taking a youth group to Illinois Caverns, and is attending a rescue
school in Eastern Kentucky in April. He also reports that John Schirle is now
in a walking cast.
Bill M. is going to try to do a trip to Shawnee this summer.
The next meeting is April 12.
Dates for the Mammoth Cave Restoration Camp are March 9-10, May 4-5, August
4-10, November 2-3.
ISS meeting April 13 at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield.
Patches are still available for $3.00 ea. Cougar print is $5.00
Adjourned. Pizza at Tobins.
MINUTES
OF THE MEETING
April 12, 2002
Called to order at 7:25 by Treasurer Dave Carson. Present: Don Coons, Angela Carson, Jim Jacobs, Julie Angel, Matt Angel, Ralph Sawyer, Kevin Rasmus, Bill Morrow, Brian Braye.
REPORTS:
SECRETARY: The minutes for the March meeting were read by Jim Jacobs. Approved.
TREASURER: The treasurer reports that we have $252.75, including due collected
at today's meeting. Approved.
OLD BUSINESS:
T-shirts. The discussion continues. We have a couple of neat new designs. Go
to the website to see them.
We voted to let Don Coons represent us at the ISS meeting tomorrow. There will
be discussions of the state of the database since Rick Toomey left. There will
also be discussions concerning the general mission of the ISS and the agenda
of the meeting.
TRIP REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The next meeting will be May 10.
Kentucky Speleofest, Memorial Day weekend. See,
-http://www.caves.org/grotto/louisvillegrotto/speleofest.index.htm
Dave C. and Julie A. did the Mammoth restoration camp. The Today Show filmed
all day Saturday. No word yet as to when the program will air. Norm Rogers will
send word. Norm and Chris Rogers and Larry Matiz also attended.
The Carson family went to Meramec Cavern in February.
Grotto President Troy Simpson's article "Top 10 Reasons to Hold the NSS
Convention in Illinois" was reprinted in the NSS News. You read it HERE,
first, folks.
Adjourned.
PROGRAM: Those who attended this meeting were lucky enough to see a world-class
slide show on Lava Tube Caves of Hawaii presented by Don Coons. Thanks, Don!
A
JOURNEY INTO DORSEY'S CAVE
Troy J. Simpson
This caving trip was my birthday present to myself this past November. My
little adventure in ridge-walking and hopefully finding the entrances to other
caves in Cave River Valley. My little adventure began (as with nearly all of
my caving trips!) at 3:00 am in the morning as I made some last minute additions
to my car. Three and a half hours later, I met up with John Schirle, Jeffery
Gosnell, and David Andrews at the Mitchell, IN McDonald's and soon we were off
to Cave River Valley.
Once we arrived and geared up, we walked up a tributary stream valley towards
Endless Cave, hoping that we might get a glimpse of other cave entrances. Our
thinking was, maybe we'll get lucky and stumble upon an entrance to Lamplighter's,
Dorsey's, or Frozen Waterfall. Considering I had no real clue where to look,
this was the best plan we had going so far. After about an hour of scouring
the various outcrops, we decided we wanted to go caving, so off to Endless Cave
we set out. Here is where I leave the story to be told by the others of the
group until we exit Endless.
We emerged from Endless Cave only be to be welcomed by a short rain shower.
We had a brief lunch and then decided to make an attempt at finding the elusive
cave entrances. We began our search by pairing up with two of us on one side
of the Clifty Creek Valley and the other two on the opposite side. Ridge-walking
at its best. Now to be honest I had some mixed feelings about this. Here I was
searching for known cave entrances, but it was exciting because, they were still
yet unknown to me. The next hour, the sound of excited shouts of "Hey,
I think I found something!" followed by "No, it's nothing" resounded
throughout the valley. Then came a discovery. I happened by a large cliff face
outcrop of limestone. I investigated and found nothing of significance, but
meandered my way along the ridge and found a small sink that was filled with
water. I poked my head in and found a very tight, water-filled passage that
appeared to have been dug open. I shouted back that I had found something and
was going to investigate another lead between this hole and the cliff. This
second lead is what I had been looking for. A small crawl-down entrance that
lead to a stoop-walk, water-filled passage. I had found a significant cave.
John, Jeffery, and David soon arrived and we decided to scout it out a bit.
I took an educated guess that it was probably Dorsey's Cave and we should see
where it went.
I scrambled down the entrance first and was immediately welcomed by cold, waist-high
water. The passage wasn't much more than 4 feet high and appeared to wind around
short bends. I turned back and informed the other guys that I wanted to check
things out a bit further. The other three soon joined me, and we started to
explore this intriguing "new" cave. It wound around and with each
bend I stopped to see if anyone was still following. As soon as they caught
up I told them I wanted to check out what was around the next bend. I wasn't
really sure if the passage would continue to be water-filled, but I had hope
that it would. After about 20 minutes, I came upon a dry section, which I would
best describe as a point-bar of a stream. It was a muddy bank that curved around
and then dived into yet another water-filled section. I decided it was best
to wait here as I had gotten a bit ahead of the rest of the group. I knew the
rest of the group was ready to go and even though I wanted to check out more,
it was probably the best decision to head out. Just as I was about to head back,
I checked out the stream beyond the mud bank. There in the water, were several
blind crawdads! There they were, minding their own business, scouring the sediment
for food. I called back to the others to come up here just to get a glimpse
of the subterranean creatures. They hurried to my position and we were soon
admiring the creatures crawling around the muddy bank. A salamander appeared
and after several photos, we decided it was best to be on our way. On our way
out, we moved a bit quicker than going in, as we became more aware of the fact
that this cave as a tendency to flood. Especially considering we knew of rain
in the forecast. Once out, we were glad that we found the cave and even though
we didn't spend much time in Dorsey's, we felt it was worth the visit.
Later that afternoon, we went on to find and explore, Crystal Springs Cave,
Green's Crawl, Frozen Waterfall, and Lamplighter's Cave, but that is another
story. Once back to the cars, we checked out the maps of Cave River Valley and
figured out where we had visited. Looking more closely at Dorsey's, we had only
scratched the tip of the iceberg. I figured we only covered about 200 ft of
a 2450 ft long, low ceiling passage. We had mixed feelings about reading names
such as "The Easy Part," "The Terrible Part," The Bad Part,"
and the "The Boring Part," that lined the long passage. Hmm…
Perhaps in the future, I'll find out exactly what those names really mean.
ASK
MR. WIZARD
by Marc Tiritilli
Mr, Wizard,
Yesterday I was at a science fair in La Verkin. One of the boys had three flashlights.
Each flashlight had different types of "D" batteries in them. Two
of the flashlights were out of light in about four hours. The third was still
shining after 11 hours. It had some new variety of Duracell batteries in it.
Could you ask the grotto members if there is anyone who could bring me up-to-date
on this new kind of battery? Thanks.
Earl Neller
NNG
Earl,
As far as I know, there have been no major breakthroughs in the commercial
battery business as of late. Usually, "New and Improved" means a slightly
thinner skin or cap to allow a bit more energy producing material to fit into
the package. While the premium brands may possess a slight edge in capacity,
in practice this usually amounts to a few more minutes of light at best. My
experience has been that all alkalines are pretty much the same except for price.
I'm guessing that the Duracells went up against some non-alkaline competitors.
For example, my AA headlamps burn for 2-1/2 hours on alkalines, but last only
one hour on standard or even "Heavy-Duty" batteries. They simply do
not have enough capacity to be useful.
Another possibility is that the Duracells were Lithium based. These batteries
do have one-and-a-half to two times the power capacity of alkalines, but they
usually cost four times as much. My headlamps usually go on 6-hour trips, so
the extra money spent on lithiums still wouldn't eliminate the need for a costly
extra set. As a side note, Energizer Titaniums have only a marginal increase
in capacity over alkalines despite their higher price tag.
Still another possibility is that the flashlights had different bulbs in them.
For a given voltage, bulbs can have many different current loads. As an example,
I replace the bulbs that come with my 4-AA headlamps with ones that are rated
at a slightly lower voltage and current. The result is a brighter light that
burns about 25% longer. However, both bulbs are listed as 4-AA Kryptons. The
tradeoff, of course, is shorter bulb life, but I have yet to have one burn out,
even after dozens of trips.
To sum it all up, the El Dorado of batteries has not yet been found. The most
practical solution is to find the best deal you can on alkalines of any brand.
If you simply must have higher capacity, lithiums are the only ones which will
provide a noticeable advantage. When in doubt, carbide! Hope this helps. See
you underground.
--Marc