PROJECT REPORT

Colorado Bend State Park Project

Project Date: January 10-12, 1997 Reported by: Dale Barnard

Person-hours: 71

Personnel: (12 folks)

Jim Kennedy, Randy Brown, Eric Flint, Marcus Barksdale, Jennifer Palaez, Tom Kaler, Rebeca Lee, Terry Holsinger, Eric Reichenbaum, Dr. Lanny Brostein, Patty Kennedy, Christie Rogers

This was the coldest trip of the season so far. Robert Basse reported that it was 21 degrees on Saturday morning. Ice and sleet was predicted for later in the afternoon. After a full day of caving, everyone headed home to beat the storm.

Terry's crew (Eric, Lanny, Patty, and Christie) spent 6 hours on a variety of objectives, although Lanny and Eric left after 4 hours. First, they visited Mystery Hole, checking to see how the floods affected a dig lead and taking pictures. Then, they located Shari's Diet Cave, which should be downgraded to a karst feature because it is not enterable. Then, they located Be Snaky and found four large rattle snakes inside the entrance. Yikes! Then, they located Rabbit Run Grotto (SAB223). The cave is at the base of a cedar tree and has a rope drop that is about 40 feet deep. Then, they visited Gorman Creek Crevice to show Eric and Lanny a large cave entrance since this was their first caving trip. They found ice in the entrance and lots of cold air going into the cave. Eric and Lanny then left for Austin.

The remaining folks visited Little and Big Bad Air Holes to see if water level has dropped enough to permit exploration. Then, they visited a nameless cave (known as A.S.S. Hole) where Christie went down to check for leads. The floor disappeared and Christie decided that the climb was not worth doing alone. They checked the spring level on the way back to camp, finding that the flow was strong, but not too high.

Jim's crew (Randy and Eric) spent 6 hours in Lively Pasture. They first spent a lot of time touring the broad area surrounding Psycho Cave (they were lost). They rigged the entrance with a 35 foot rope and a 33 foot cable ladder. They surveyed for 11 stations to about 80 feet in depth before hitting bad air. They said that the cave was wet and definitely not for beginning caves. Then, they relocated Fern Pit, Beginner's Luck Cave, and Fence Wire Cave.

Marcus' crew (Jennifer, Tom, and Rebecca) spent 9 hours surveying Sore Toe Cave. They shot 8 survey stations for a total depth of about 20 meters. They said that the lead at the bottom needs some shoveling. They saw cave crickets and a family of mice (no tufts on tail). Jennifer and Rebecca learned how to use survey instruments.