PROJECT REPORT
Colorado Bend State Park Project
Project Date: 10-11-97
Reported by: Terry Holsinger
Person-hours: 70.4
Personnel: (17 folks) Team one: Jennifer Sobin, Chris Sobin, Victor Villafaua, Jermey Nues
Team Two: Terry Holsinger, Christie Rogers, Dale Barnard, Mark Allman, Andrew Allman.
Team Three: Kevin Stafford, Charlie Savvas, Jody Horton, Russ Johnson, Eric Flint, Alissa Chambers, Melanie Alpusgh, ? Tinsdale.
Team One (Waco F.D.) left camp around 11:50 to try and finish the map for Lone Bat 2. After getting more direction from Ed Young while on the trail to the cave, they spent 3.5 hours looking unsuccessfully for the entrance. They then headed up hill and back to the truck looking for new entrances as they went. They found two unmarked entrances that need to be pushed past tight spots to see if they are as deep as the falling rocks sound. They then took the Beginners (Victor, & Jermery) over to Cicurina Cave to get them underground, They said the cave had Bad Air, This is a new thing for Cicurina,and was a indication of things in the other caves. Team back at camp at 5:30 out for 5.6 hours. team total hours: 22.4.
Team Two after stopping at the River Office to drop of the release form and the trip report for the Sept trip, headed to Icebox Cave. Mark's son Andrew is planning a cleanup at Icebox to fulfill some of his Eagle scout criteria. The cave had bad air in Sept so they came out to check out the air quality, and see what all will be needed. The air was even worst this month then it was last trip. Due to everyone's prior plans it looks as though they will try for a cleanup in February 98. The team then drove back to Caver Camp, where we left the trucks and proceeded to Gorman Spring to try and get some information for Christie's Undergrad Thesis. After seeing the spring and helping with a couple of photos, Dale and the Allmans headed back to camp. Terry and Christie "scoured" the area just downstream looking for any major indications of faults &/or Fractures that might help explain why Gorman spring out flows where it does. A number of interesting features were located and trends were measured. They then headed upstream to look for any Geology that might help with her research. They hiked almost all the way to the Main Park road, before heading up the south ridge, towards camp, about 5:00 after noting a large number of features. After a walk by of Psycho and Beginners Luck caves, they made it back to camp about 6:30. Team of four was out for 2 hours, and the team of two for 6 hours. Team total hours: 20.
Team four headed to Gorman Creek Crevice to continue the survey. At the entrance they split into two teams. As soon as they entered the entrance room below the chimney they encountered Bad air. This is the first time that bad air has been encountered at this level in the cave. Normally the bad air does not start until the first junction, ~500 feet in. The surface weather is most likely to blame for this. Most of the crew left the cave, while K.S. C.S. E.F. headed on in to try and see if something could be done. they made it to the first junction before deciding the air was to bad for an extended trip. They noted that the gravel crawl had not been "closed" by the spring rains. this should allow better times to the back when the air becomes better. Team was out for 4 Hours. Teams total hours: 28