1096



	PROJECT REPORT Colorado Bend State Park Project Project Date: October 11-13, 1996 Reported by: Dale Barnard Person-hours: 215 Personnel: (36 folks) Aimee Beveridge, David Turner, Randy Brown, Kevin W. Stafford, John Geiselbrecht, Eric Flint, Melanie Alspaugh, Pete Baron, Tina Schmid, Christine Gutierrez, Justin Teague, Christopher Jagge, Stephen Storey, Kelly Hartline, Patty Kennedy, Marcus Barksdale, Michelle Karle, Blake Hendrickson, Ed Hendrickson, Debbie Blackburn, Derek Nash, John Pipes, Brad Smith, Jim Kennedy, Ed Hendrickson, Blake Hendrickson, Dylan Hendrickson, Dale Barnard, Mark Garrett, Carolyn Poh, Daniel Brown, John Case, Chris Hutton, Terry Holsinger, Sara Dierk, Ruth D'Englere Our first project weekend of the 96-97 season was one of the largest yet. The weather was beautiful and everyone managed to get some work done in one way or another. Special thanks go to Jim Kennedy who took the initiative to earn money for a new set of survey gear since we typically run short on these trips. At the Texas Cavers' Reunion, he sold raffle tickets all day and raffled off 1/2 of the pot, using the other half of it to buy a Suunto compass that is designated for use on TSA survey projects (mostly CBSP and Powell's Cave). Thanks a bunch, Jim! We will earn more money on other occasions to finish off the set of survey gear. The above-ground crew (Dale, Mark, Carolyn, Daniel, John Case, Chris Hutton, Terry, Sara, and Ruth) spent 5.5 hours systematically relocating caves and making note of whether they need to be surveyed. We photographed several of the entrances to increase our chances of finding them again. Terry and I have been making a "to do" list of all unfinished cave projects at the park. We used this list to tidy up the following loose ends: ·, SAB 202, Too tight for Chris, and probably too tight for a tiny person. We might need to downgrade this is a "Karst Feature" rather than a cave. ·, SAB 179, Daniel and Chris determined that it was a 20' chimney to one horizontal passage and possibly a second. Then, there is a 40 - 50' pit that needs to be rigged. Later in the day, Debbie Blackburn rappelled into this pit and encountered very bad air at the bottom. This cave definitely needs to be surveyed. ·, SAB 201, Mark determined that this is a small hole about 6' long, 6" tall, and 1' wide. Total cave goes about 8' down. This could use a quick survey. ·, SAB 201(B), We need to tag this cave with a new number (201B is fine). We called this cave Lonely Toadstool Cave because it had a single mushroom growing at the bottom. Chris determined that this is a 15' chimney into a 30' x 30' room 18" tall. Then, there is a 20' pit 2' x 2' around that is probably climbable. Some minor digging could push this cave. It needs to be surveyed. ·, SAB _____, While looking for SAB200, we walked downstream from near the dam (might be a different creek, though) and I found a 7 - 8' horizontal hole in a rock outcropping in the river bank. This might be diggable, but it is VERY unlikely to go far. Probably just a shallow drainage into the stream. This cave does not have a number, but could use one (maybe just a "karst feature" tag rather than a cave tag). ·, SAB 200, This cave is next to the road on the downhill side. Terry dug some rocks out. I poked my head in, finding a pit about 6' deep, but impossible to fit into. This cave took water during the recent rains because the grass if flattened into a channel that leads to the cave. ·, SAB 199, This is a few hundred feet south of the road. Daniel encountered very bad air down about 10' in the chimney. His lighter worked at 9', but would consistently go out by 10'. We were not able to determine whether this cave goes any deeper. It needs to be surveyed, though. ·, SAB 195, I determined that this cave could use some digging and maybe a quick survey, but it is mostly a small chamber under a pile of broken surface karst. ·, SAB 198, John determined that after a 12-15' drop, it leads into a 18' x 9' by 4' high room. There is a small lead remaining and a loose dirt dig. This needs to be surveyed. , Aimee's crew (David and Randy) spent 5.5 hours surveying in Cenote de Carne. They located an old survey marker Z1 and continued from there. The survey should resume at marker Z6. Kevin's crew (John Geiselbrecht, Eric, and Melanie) spent 9 hours surveying in Gorman Creek Crevice. They started at the downstream junction of Gorman Creek Crevice (junction #1) and began surveying the passage to the left (upstream). They completed 140 meters through 23 stations! Whew! The survey should continue with station 22, which is located about 1 hour into the cave. They flagged the station and scratched #22 on the ceiling (I hope not permanently!). Pete's crew (Tina, Christine, and Justin) spent 5 hours finishing their survey of Lone Bat II. This time, they sketched the entrance and drew the profile view. Now, they just need to draft the map. Christopher's crew (Stephen, Kelly, and Patty) spent 2.75 hours locating and surveying Beginner's Luck Cave. They said that this might be a good cave for doing some photography. Marcus' crew (Michelle, Blake, and Ed) spent 8.5 hours away from camp. First, they spent an embarrassing 2.5 hours walking in circles instead of finding Horseshoe Crevasse (you could probably fit a 737 in the entrance). However, without relent, they returned to camp and found Jim Kennedy who was able to lead them to Fern Cave. They found no tag on the cave, but they completed the survey. The suggested that this cave be tied into the overland survey or a GPS location taken. They said that this cave and three others that were surveyed today appear to be in a line along a series of joints. When Marcus talked about finding Horseshoe Crevasse next time, he showed the "eye of the tiger" determined look. Debbie's crew (John Pipes, Derek, and Brad) spent 7 hours surveying all of Space Heater Cave (SAB 203). Then, they decided to survey Sore Toe Cave (SAB 179). At the bottom of the 40' pit, Debbie encountered bad air and had to be pulled out of the cave by her friends. This was a good reminder to everyone involved in the project that CBSP caves can never be assumed to have good air, especially at the bottom of pits. We will probably try to squeeze in some practice vertical techniques on a future trip so that we can be ready to stop mid-rappel, turn around, and ascend the rope. Now, this crew needs to draft the map for Space Heater Cave. Jim's crew (Ed, Blake, and Dylan) spent 5 hours relentlessly pursuing hard work, yet somehow never living up to their own expectations. First, they sent the "oldest and fattest guy (Kennedy)" into Psycho as he reportedly was saying, "Where's the tight spot?" They determined that this cave needs to be surveyed, but the bad air stopped further work today. It seems that all of us are crossing our fingers for a cold, hard winter to "clean up" the air quality of these caves. After Psycho, they found Fern Cave, determined that it needed to be rigged with ropes, and then went and surveyed SAB 209, which they named Fence Wire Cave after the annoying artifact at the bottom of the entrance climb-down. They then went back to camp and joined up with Marcus' crew and went back to Fern Cave (see above for a description of Marcus' work). Jim and crew poked at several digs around Fern Cave, but none went anywhere. During the evening, a bunch of us hiked from camp to find Gorman Cave. We ended up walking past it along the river all the way down to the primitive camping area. We turned around, went back, and eventually found it. Only a couple of people were complaining; most of us enjoyed the extra hike. While in the cave, I decided (ahem!) to demonstrate what happens when we don't wear a helmet into a cave. Now, I have a pretty scar to look forward to when my hairline recedes.