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NSS NewsJanuary2010

Volume68Number1

President’s Message .................... 28Society News ................................29Calendar ........................................30Classified Ads ...............................30

Spelean Spotlight .........................20Underground Update .................... 23Reading .........................................25Letters............................................25

Front cover: Nikki Green traverses a handline in the Jungle Series near Camp 2A in J2 Cave, Mexico. Photo by David Ochel.

Back cover: Left: Logo image by Jose Morales.Right: The dive platform at El Sifon de Los Piratas in J2. Photo by Bill Stone.Bottom: Matt Covington climbs rope above a deep pool in the wet canyon above Camp 3 near the -1000m depth. Photo by Marcin Gala.

Inside Cover:Matt Covington climbs rope in the wet canyons above Camp 2A. Photo by Marcin Gala.

MexicoMisbehaving Sumps and Lost Tadpoles: A Tale of the US Deep Caving Team’s 2009 J2 Expedition ............................................... 4

Jon LillestolenMexicoJ2: The Journey to Camp 4—Beyond the Sump .......................... 11

Matt CovingtonSalon GalleryMulu 2009 Expedition Images .................................................... 16

Robbie ShoneSpelean SpotlightAn Interview with Doug Soroka .................................................. 20

Ron ZuberSocietyThe 2010 NSS Convention–A Cool Convention ............................ 26

Peter YoungbaerPresident’s MessageBoard of Governors Meeting Birmingham, Alabama .................. 28

Gordon BirkhimerSociety NewsCharter of the National Speleological Society Headquarters Commission ................................................................................. 29

4 NSS NewS,January2010

Misbehaving Sumps and Lost TadpolesA Tale of the US Deep Caving Team’s 2009 J2 Expedition

Jon Lillestolen

The2009J2expeditionisthelatestendeavorintheAguacateValleyareaoftheCheveKarstinMexico’ssouthernstateofOaxaca.Athreeyearblitzofactivityendingin2006,yieldedMexicoanew1200mdeepcave,onlytobestoppedbyashort,shallow200mlongsumpandnotenoughtimeorequipmenttocontinueexplorationthatyear.In the threeexpedition-lessyearswhichfollowed,dreamsaboundedofexploringkilometersofvirginboreholeinJ2.Plansforthisexpeditionweretocontinuetopushthedrypassagebeyondthesumpatthebottomofthecave,El Sifon de Los Piratas.Theexpeditiondevelopednewtechnologyandbroughtwiththemthedeterminationtomeetthecaveonitsowntermstoaccomplishthegoalofdiscoveringwhatcouldbethedeepestcaveintheworld.

HistoryDuring the1970sandearly1980s,

mostAmericanexpeditioncavers,whofocusedonworld-classdeepcaving,spenttheireffortsonthecavesof theHuautlaplateau.Discoveredinthe1960s,Sistema Huautlawasaprovinggroundforcaversoftheera.ItwasinthisplaceandtimethatmanyAmerican-styleexpeditioncavingtechniqueswerebornandestablished.WiththeconnectionofLi NitatoSotano San Agustin theHuautlaSystembroke theelusive1000mdepthmark,becomingthedeepestcaveintheWesternHemisphereandthefirst1000mdeepcaveoutsideofEurope(1).ItremainedthedeepestMexicancaveuntil2003,whenitwassurpassedbySistema Cheve.

ThediscoveryofCueva Cheve in1986byCarolVeselyandBillFarrledtotheformationofanewMexicodeepcaving

effort,ProyectoCheve.ThisdiscoveryandsubsequentexplorationwouldultimatelyshiftfocusfromtheHuautlaPlateausouthwardacrosstheSantoDomingoCanyontotheCheveareaasMexico’spremierdeepcavingproject.By1993,cavershadpushedtheChevesystemtoworld-classdepthsalongwiththeworld’sdeepestprovenpotential.Beliefinamajortrunkhiddendeepinthemountainhaskeptcaverscomingbackyearafteryeartofulfill thepromiseofdeepercavedespiteminimaldepthgainssincetheearly1990s(4).

TheChevekarstlieswithintheSierraJuárez,partof thegreaterSierraMadreOrientaldeOaxaca,inthenorthernpartofthestateofOaxaca.Thehighestelevationentrances intheChevekarstare locatednear the townofConcepciónPápaloatapproximately2850mabovesealevel.ThishighestsegmentofSistemaCheveincludesCueva Cheve,themainentrance,andCueva Escondida,thehighestknownentrancetotheSistema,inadditiontoseveralothernicecavesinthegeneralareareferredtoastheCheveupperkarst.Theupperkarstswallowsthesurfacedrainagefromthehighlandsanddischargesitwithall itsinfeedersintotheSantoDomingoCanyon19kilometerstothenorth.TheresurgencekarstincludingalltheentrancesnearandintheSantoDomingoCanyonhavebeenexploredsincebeforethediscoveryofCueva Cheveandincludeovertwokilometersofunderwatersurveyandatotalofmorethan10kilometerstodate.Everythinginbetweentheupperandresurgencekarstsisconsideredthemiddlekarst.This includesanareaofover60squarekilometersbetweenthesouthernedgeofthehighlandplateauandthevillageofSantaAnaCuauhtémoc,twelvekilometers

tothenorth.Surfacewaterinthemiddlekarsttendstodisappearintostreamgravelfarfromanyobviousentrances,makingitsomewhatdifficulttofindcaves.However,withapproximatelyfifteenlinearkilometersofunknownpassagebetweentheupperkarstandresurgencekarstexplorations,themiddlekarstmayholdthebackdoortotheboomingconduithiddensomewhereinthemountain(4).

In2003,twomajorexpeditionswereundertakenintheChevekarst.OnewouldpushthelastoftheleadsinthebottomofSistema CheveandtheotherwouldpushonwardintheconfinedcanyonsofCueva Charco.Beforetheexpeditions,Chevewastheseconddeepestcave in theWesternHemisphere.Charco,thebest leadinthemiddlekarst,washopedtocontinuetowardsaconnectionwiththeelusivesubterraneanconduitthatconnectsChevewithitsresur-gence.Unfortunately,bothcavesended.Charcodiedwithasmallsumpattheendofaverylongandmiserablecave,andChevediedinanimpassiblerockpileontheothersideoftwosumps(whichincidentallymadeitthedeepestcaveintheWesternHemisphere).Topushevenfurtherwouldrequiremonthsofpreparationandsignificantrisksjusttoreturntothelimitofexploration(5).

AfterCharco,ProyectoChevecaverswentbacktotheproverbialdrawingboardtobeginsearchinganewforareastofindnewcave.Theeffort in2004focusedonuntappedareasinthemiddleCheveKarst.ItwasthisyearthatproducedMexico’snewestdeepcave,J2.After10weeksofeffortbyamulti-nationalteamfrom9nationsorganizedbytheUSDCTinamiserable,unendingrainstormonthemountain,theteamcatalogedalonglistofpotentialcavesbygrid-searching

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Michael Denneborg helps reload the basecamp propane cylinder back onto a mule The kitchen in its full glory as dusk approaches

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theareaaroundwhatwouldbecometheJ2basecamp.Mostneverprovedtobeworthpushing,butJ2eventuallyswallowedeverypieceofunusedropethattheexpeditionbroughtthatyear.AreturnthefollowingyearwouldleaveJ2at-1101mandagapingboreholethatwouldbeckonathirdexpedi-tionin2006.The2006expeditionledtothediscoveryoftheSifondeLosPiratas(Sump2).Sump2wasfoundtobe200mlong.Itsurfacedintodry60meterdiameterchamberthatendedinSump3.ThedivethroughtheSLPestablishedJ2atadepthof-1209m.(3).

ExpEdition objEctivEsThe2009expeditionsetoffwiththe

objectiveofdivingtheSifon de Los Piratastothedrypassageontheothersideandexploringbeyond.Thedive teamwouldconsistofseveralexperiencedexplorationdiversandahandfuloflogisticaldiversthatwouldtransportequipmentthroughthesumpfordeepercamps.Logisticaldiverswouldbeexperiencedexpeditioncaversgivenacrashcourseintheoverheaddivingenvironment,givingthemtheabilitytodivewithredundantairsuppliesandfollowadivelinethroughtheSifon. Theplanwasforlogisticaldiverstoswapleadswiththeexplorationdiverstoputthebestteamattheleadingedge.Thiswouldpushtheexplorationforwardatareasonablepaceandprovidethesafestwaytomapthecave.

Additionalgoalswouldincludeexploringthebarelypushed30mdeep“LastBash”/La Cueva Hija Putathatblowsenoughairtobeadecent-sizedcaveaswellasconcentratingonreconnaissanceofareasslightlyfurtherfrombasecampandintounknownterritoryintheElOcotalCloudForest.

prEparing for tHE ExpEditionToprepareforthedivingpushatthe

endofJ2,acoreteamofexperiencedJ2caversassembledatBillStone’scompoundinAustin,TXforaweekinOctoberof2008totrainandplanfortheexpedition.PoseidonDivingSystemshadgraciouslysponsoredthe

expeditionwithahandfuloftheirsoon-to-bereleasedMk-6rebreathers.TheyhadbeendesignedtobecapableofbeingcarriedintoacavewithconstrictedpassagessuchasJ2.Thecompactsizeandrangeoftheclosedcircuitrebreatherwouldallowformoredivingthanwithanequalamountofweight inopen-circuitdivinggear.Thistrainingwouldallowboththemoreexperiencedexplorationdiversandthelogisticaldiversenoughtrain-ingtofeelcomfortableusingthisnewMk-6rebreather.Thetrainingadditionallyallowedthedivers,experiencedandinexperienced,tobecomefamiliarwiththeredundantdivingsetupthatwouldbeusedinthesumpsofJ2.

OverthecourseoftheweekinTexas,theteamlearnedtoworkwitheachothermorecloselywhilelearningtheintricaciesofdivingwithaclosed-circuitdivingsystem.Thesettingwasacomfortableone,divetrainingstartedinthe8-footdeeptesttankthatStonehadbuiltforhisNASAprojects.Fromthere,divetrainingmovedtoalocalcaver’sbackyardpool,completewithhot-tub,15-footdeepend,andaduck-undertoaman-madecavecompletewithskylight.TheweekroundedoutwithdivetripstoaSCUBAparkonLakeTravis,whichfeaturedaplethoraofdiveobstaclesincludingametalprofileofasharkthatswallowedthedivelinemorethanonce.

Withtheweekof intensedivingandexpeditionplanningcomplete,theteamwasworkinglikeafine-tunedmachine.Everyoneleftfortheirrespectivehomestocontinuedivetraininguntil itwastimetoleavefortheexpedition.

soutHward boundAswithmostAmerican-ledcavingexpe-

ditionstoMexico,the2009J2ExpeditionstartedinAustin,Texas.Austinisatownwithasizablegrottothathasnoequal init’ssupportnetworkforexpeditioncaverstravelingabroad.WiththehelpofthelocalTexansandasmallgatheringofJ2partici-pants,heapsofexpeditiongearwereloadedintothecaravanoftrucksforthelongtriptoOaxaca.

ThefirstwaveofJ2caversdepartedAustinwiththeircaravanoftrucksonMarch12th.ThreelongdaysoftravelacrosstheruggedMexicanhighwayslandedtheminthesmalltownofSanFranciscoChapulapareadytostartnegotiationswiththelocalpoli-ticiansforpermissiontovisitandcontinueexploration in thearea.Since the2006expedition,Chapulapahadelectedanewpresidenteandhadelectedanewboardofmembersforthebienes comunales.ThispresentedsomechallengesbecausealthoughwecamebearingpermissiondirectlyfromthestateofOaxacatobethere,thelocalswerealwayseager todemonstrate theirpower. Inanattempttogainfriendsandconvincethelocalsthatwewerethereforourstatedaims,wearrangedtoshareaslideshowoncaveexplorationandwithsomebasicinformationonkarstgeology.Theslideshowwasfollowedbyaquestionandanswersessiontoallowthelocalstoairanyconcerns.

Thanks to theassistanceof severalexpeditionmembers thatwere fluent inSpanishandhadathoroughunderstand-ingoftheculture,thelocals,althoughnotfullyconvinced,lefttheslideshowwithanimproved impressionof thecavers.Thenegotiationswiththelocalpoliticiansdrugonastheytendedtobebothstubbornanddisorganized.Whilewaitingforthepresi-denteandbienes comunales,theexpeditionsetupcampinthefieldbehindthehouseofourdearfriendFaustinoNavaretteRubio,whohadbeenhelpingwithJ2expeditionssincetheverybeginningin2004.

tHE fun bEginsAfteraweekof tediousdiscussions,

negotiationsandpolitics,permissionwasfinallygrantedandtheexpeditionproceeded.Gear, foodandpersonalequipmentwasorganizedonSeñorFaustino’sfieldtobearrangedintopacksforthelongtrekupthemountain.Muletrains thenhauledthesepacksupthemountaininorderofimpor-tance.Theprocesstookseveraldaysasthelocalshadonlyafinitenumberofmulesand


thefive-hourroundtriplimitedthemtoamaximumoftwotripsperday.

Withgearsteadilyarriving,basecampwasassembledinshortorder.Massivetarpsweresetupfirsttocoverthekitchenandexpeditiongearareas.Makeshifttableswerebuilttokeepdiveequipment,Michiephonesandtheexpeditionlogoutofthedirt.Thekitchenwouldhaveitsownlargetablewithtwosetsofdouble-burnerpropanestoves.Thestove-top tablewas surroundedbyhangingpotsandpansandgroupfoodwasstrewnacrossthegroundbehindit.Thebulkoftheexpeditionfoodwasneatlypackedinlargegrocerybagsonthegroundbehindthestoveswithdatestoindicatewheneachwastobeavailableforuse.Thebagshadtobelabeledbyweekinthiswaytomakesurethatthefoodwouldlasttheentireexpedition.

The camp fire ring frompreviousexpeditionswasonceagainsurroundedwithsitting logstobecomeanaturalcollectorforcavers.Acrossthecampfireringfromthekitchenwas theclimbing tree.This30metertalltreeservedasthesiteoftherebelaycourse.Before long, theproctorof therebelaycoursecompletedriggingthechallengingcourseforexpeditionerstoprovethat theycouldcompetently travelthroughthecomplexropeworkinthecave.J2wasnoeasycave,andthiswouldassurethatwewerenotallowingcavers toputthemselvesindangerthroughlackofskillsorover-confidence.

Thegrouparea/kitchenwaswedgedbetweentheedgeoftheridgeasitdroppedoffintotheJ2valleyandalargesteep-walledsinkholegivingtheappearancetothecampofbeingnestledaroundtherimofavolcano.Tentsfilledinaroundtheremainderofthevolcanocrater,withthetraildowntoSeñorFaustino’sbeingonthesideofthecrateroppositethekitchen.

Onceall the toilofsettingupbase-camphadsettled,thefocusstartedtowards

J2.Athreeyeargapinexpeditionstotheareamadeitnecessarytochecktheriggingthathadbeenleft inthecave.Thecableladders,usedinthefirsthundredmetersoftheentrancesection,werebroughtbacktoeasetravelthroughthehardestandtightestsectionofthecave.Largesectionsofropeintheverticalshaftseriesataround-250mwerereplacedwithbrand-newrope,gettingridofthemuchabusedropesthathadbeenlefthangingsince2004.Inadditiontotheropes, thephone line thatallowedeasycommunicationsbetweenbasecampandtheundergroundcampswascheckedandanybadlywornsectionsreplaced.TheexpeditionquicklyreachedCamp1at-555m,wheretheyrestockedsupplies,checkedthecondi-tionofstagedgearfrom2006andspentthenightbeforetheirquestonward.

sumpEd!WakingupfromCamp1,theEx-Sump

andtheformerCamp2,areonlyaneasytwo-hourtripdeeperintothecave.Camp2isinalargechamberwithanicesetofshortrebelaystakingyoudownthefarsideofa20mhighcascade.Nearthebottomofthecascadeisasmallflatspot,whereasmalltentcanbesetuptokeepthesprayoffthecamp’ssleepingbagsandcookgear.Goingdeeperinthischamberanddownseveralmoresetsofshortcascades,theroomstartsto taperdownintoa1.5mwidecanyonwithadeeppoolofwaterinthebottomofit.Thissteadily-narrowingcanyoniswhatisreferredtoastheEx-Sump.TheEx-Sump,formerlyknownasSump1,isthepartofthecavethattemporarilystoppedexplorationin2005,whenthewaterwas2metershigherbecauseofadamonthedownstreamendofthecanyon.Whatrequireddive-gearandthegutstopassanunderwaterbody-tightsqueezein2005,nowrequiresaneck-deepbathinwhatremainsofthesump-pool.

TopasstheEx-Sumpnowrequiresslid-

ingdownashortTyroleanlinethatdropsintothesump-pool.AfterashortswimwiththeaidoftheTyroleanline,thecanyontapersdownintoabody-tightsqueezethatrequireshelmetremovaltopassthrough.Fortunately,thesqueezeisshortandadrenalinehelpswiththeexcitingclimboutofthewater.Windripsthroughthesamecanyonpassageasitheadsforthelargerpassagesbeyondandquicklycoolsanyonefoolishenoughtowaitherefortoolong.

Asthefirstteamin2009passedtheEx-Sump, theyprepared themselves topassthewider,butdeeperpoolofwaterjustbeyond.AsmallhillofbreakdownseparatesthispoolfromtheEx-Sumpandastheyreachedthetopofthishill,theyweresurprisedtoseethatthepoolwasnowfullallthewaytotheceilingwheretherehadprevi-ouslybeenatleasttwometersofairspace.Theyhadjustdiscoveredwhatwouldbecomeknownas theSurpriseSump.ExpectinganeasytriptoCamp2A,thecaverswereamazedthatonceagainJ2wouldrequireashortsumpdivetocontinue.Apparentlythelargepileofcleanwashedbreakdownonthefarsideofthepoolhadshiftedsince2006holdingbackmoreofthewaterthaninpreviousyears.

Withadelayintheplanstocontinueonwardintothecave,theexpeditionreestab-lishedtheoldCamp2inthelargechamberbeforetheEx-Sump.Fromhere,divegearwasquicklyassembledtodivetheSurpriseSumpandaplanwashatchedtoseeifthefeatfrom2005couldberepeated.Asthefirstdiverpreparedtodivethesump,anothercheckedthesumpandcouldfeelairflow.Withonlyafewcentimetersofairspace,theSurpriseSumphaddrainedenoughtobecomepassable. It thenbecameevidentthattheSurpriseSumpwasdrainingataconstantrateandthatlargerainpulseswouldimpedetraveltoanyonewithoutdivegearuntilitcoulddrain.

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James “Jaime Hot Tub” Brown organizes dive gear at the Sifon de Los Piratas in preparation for establishing Camp 4 beyond the sump.

Marcin Gala and Matt Covington use the cave board to keep track of gear in the cave.


Duringthetwomonthsofthe2006expedition,thisSurpriseSumphadnevergivenanyindicationthatitwouldriseduringraineventsandsoitwasneverthoughtofasathreat.Topreventanyfurtherproblems,asetofdivegearwasstagedonthefarsideoftheSurpriseSumpintheeventthatheavyrainswouldrequirethecaverstodivetoexitthecave.

moving EquipmEntWiththeproblemoftheSurpriseSump

temporarily solved, teamspushedeverdeeperinthecave,reestablishingCamps2Aand3and repairing thephone lineonthewaytotheSifon de Los Piratas.As if therehadn’talreadybeenenoughtroublewithsumpsandpolitics,aninfluenzamini-epidemicstartedtospreadacrossthebasecamp.Ithitsomeofthecaversharderthanothers,makingsomeunabletoworkforup to10daysata time.Dueto thecombinationofcomplications thatcameoutofpolitics,theSurpriseSumpandnowthefluoutbreak,theexpeditionwaswaybehindscheduleandstillhadahugepileofdivegeardestinedforthe Sifonthathadnotleftbasecamp.1

Finally,freshcaversbegantoarriveinbasecamp,andteamsofcaverswereabletobeginmovingbagafterbagintothecave.Severaldedicatedcaversofferedtomakesurfaceruns,carryingbags intothecavetothebottomof theverticalshaftseriesandexitinginthesameday,experiencingtheworstthatJ2hadtooffertwiceinthesameday.

Thecavestartsoutinabeautifulheavily-vegetatedsteepsinkhole.Itcanbehardtoseethesunfromtheentranceduringmostofthedayduetothebigdepressionandthetalltreesthatseemtoflourishinthevicinity

1 It was later discovered that the H1N1 flu had started its spread a month prior less than 100 miles away in the neighboring state of Puebla. It’s assumed that this basecamp flu epidemic is related, although hard to prove.

oftheentrance.JustabovethemainpartoftheentranceisaclassicMexicancavehead-wallofsmoothlimestone,onlyonasmallerscalethanthebigwell-knownMexicancaves.Just insidetheentrance,thecavequicklydescendsintodown-climbafterdown-climbintoabody-tightcanyon.Severalofthesedown-climbsarepermanentlyriggedwithbothcable laddersandropes,becauseoftheirtightnature,itiseasiertodescendonropeandascendoncableladderswhereitcanbeverydifficulttouseascenders.Afterabout200mofbody-tightcanyon,thecaveopensupintoitsfirstsmallchamber.Thereliefofunrestrictedpassageonly lastsashortwhileascaversarethenforcedintotheBarbieSqueeze,asupertightpitch-headthatrequiredmanydaysofrock-shavingtoallowpassageforeveryonewhenthecavewasbeingexploredin2005.

BeyondtheBarbieSqueeze,thepassagebecomesmoremanageableandsteeperasthecavebeginsdroppingshortpitaftershortpit.Finally, thewater fromtheentranceseriesdisappearsintoasmallcrackintheflooratthebottomofanicecascade.Fromhereashortropetraversethroughanarrowcanyonleadstothetopoftheverticalshaftseries.Onehundredandfiftymetersofdepthandanever-endingseriesofrebelaysleavesteamsat thebottomoftheverticalshaftserieswhichstillhasaboltplacedinthefloormarkingtheendofthefinalsurveyof2004,theyearthecavewasfound.

Thisiswherethesurfacecrewsdepos-itedtheirbagsbeforereturningthroughthemiseryoftheentranceseries.ThebagswerelaterpickedupbycrewsbasingthemselvesoutofCamp1.Fromhere it isashort,mostly-horizontaltriptoCamp1sloshingthroughtheever-growingstream,asJ2picksupnewinfeedersalongtheway.Fromthere,theCamp1teamscarriedbagsthroughtheirowncampandintothenextshortstreamsectiontoleavetheirbagsatthenear-sideoftheEx-SumpatthesiteoftheoldCamp2.TheywouldthenreturntoCamp1tosleep

thatnightandwouldrepeattheprocessaslongasbagswerebeinghauledinfromthesurface.

While the tankhauling effortwasunderway,anadvanceteampushedonwardtoensure that therigging in thedeepersectionsofthecavewerestillintact.Intheprocess,theyreestablishedCamp3atthesamecomfortablelocationasin2006andranphone lineall thewaytotheSifon. Later,whenenoughbagswerehauledintothestagingareaatCamp2,amassiveeffortwasmadetomovetheapproximately20bagsthroughtheEx-Sump,SurpriseSumpandJungleSeriestoarriveatCamp2AandintothedryboreholeoftheWonderland.Theentireefforttookaboutamonthandrequiredonecrewtospendatotalof17daysundergrounddoingnothingbuthaulingthebigyellowbagsdeeperintothecave.

camp 4Withenoughofthegearbagscloseto

thesump,andfoodsuppliesdwindlingforthelargecontingentoperatingoutofCamp3, thedecisionwasmade toprune thebottom-crewtoonlyfour.TwodiverswouldremainandbegintheirmovetoabivouacattheSifon del Los Piratas, whileanothertwosupportcaverswouldmovetheremainingbags,rigthedivingplatformatthesump,andassistthediverswithanyneedstheymighthave.Aftertwolongdaysofsettinguphammocks,arrangingthediveplatform,riggingaslopingTyroleantoaccess theplatformonthefarsideofthesump,buildingrebreathers,andgawkingattadpolesswim-mingintheSifon,thediverswerefinallyreadytogetintothewater.ThankstotheMk-6rebreathers,graciouslyprovidedbyPoseidonDivingSystems,thediverswereoffontheirmissiontopreparethesumpforapushbeyond.Althoughrebreathersarearguablymorecomplexandmoodythanopen-circuitdivegear,theyprovideduswithanopportunitytoexplorebeyondthesumpthatwassaferandrequiredlessequipment

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Bill Stone, Jose Morales, Jim Castelaz, and Matt Covington cooking in Camp 2

Matt Covington at the spacious and comfortable Camp 1

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overall.Toexplorethroughthesumpintowhat

wewerehopingwouldbelargesectionofdrycave,ithadbeendecidedthatthebestguidelinewouldbea10mmcavingrope.Thiswouldallowdiverstopullthemselvesthroughthe200meterlongsumpinsteadoffinningwhichwouldultimatelysaveenergyandourpreciousdivegas,meanwhileprovid-ingahigherlevelofsafety.Thepushdiversriggedthisguidelineandthetelephonelinethencarriedthecampgearforcamp4.Theydepositeditallonthefarshoreofthedrychamber,whichhadonlybeenvisitedbyasinglediverin2006.ThediversmadeaquickreconnaissanceofthemassivedrychamberonthefarsideofEl Sifon de Los PiratasanddiscoveredadrybypasstoSump3,thepreviousknownendtothecave.ThroughasmallcanyonaboveSump3theypoppedintoanotherlargechamber,whichledtothebeliefthatdiveoperationswereatanendandlargesectionsofboreholewerewaitingtobesketched.Withconfirmationofgoingpassage,thediversreturnedtothesafetyofCamp3.

On theirwayoutof the cave, thebottom-crewswappedplaceswithafreshsetofdiversthatwouldestablishCamp4andbegintheexplorationintotheunknownterri-torybeyond.Thesixcaversswappedstoriesandadvicealike.Ontheirway intooneofthemostremotereachesoftheplanet,jokeswerelightlytossedaroundaboutwhattodoincaseofillnessorinjury.Everyoneinvolvedknewthattherewasnoreasonablerescuebeyondthesumpplatform,noteventheworld’sbestcaverescueresourcescouldmanagetopullaninjuredcaveroutofthebottomofJ2alive. Itwouldbeatoss-up

whetheritcouldbedonefromsomewhereashighinthecaveasCamp2A.

ThetwolonelysoulsdestinedforCamp4pushedonwardandinshorttimewerephoningthesurfacefromtheirnewhome.Becauseof their remoteness, thenewbottom-crewphonedintwicedailytogiveprogressreportsontheirexplorationandtocheckinwithfamilyandfriends.TheysurveyedfromthefarendofEl Sifon de Los PiratasdownwardintothetunnelthatrunspastSump3,intoadiminishingpassagebeyondCamp4,andthendivingintoLake41,alsoreferredtoasSump4.FromherethesumpcontinuedonthesamegeneraltrendastherestofthecaveasalakewithaslowlydescendingceilingandtheonlydrypassagesshotnortheastandawayfromtheknowntrendofSistemaCheve.Thesedrypassageswereshort,narrow,miserablecanyonsthatlednowhere.

InfourdaysbasedoutofCamp4,thefirstpushteamhadmappedaboutakilo-meterofpassageeliminatingallpossibilityofadrycontinuationinthisfarsectionofthecave.Aheroiceffort,nodoubt,butitwouldhavetocometoanunfortunateendbecausetheteamwasoutofbothleadsandsupplies.Whilethiscrewplannedtheirexit,thesurfacecrewmadeplansforasecondcrewtomakeCamp4ahome,butthistimewithacrewofseasonedcavedivers.

Last basHJ2 is an inter-

estingcaveandhadahabitofconsumingevery last resourceon the mounta in ,but there aremanyothergreat leads topursue.Short ridge-walksfrombasecampcouldconsistentlyyieldnewcavesandmoresurveyedpassage.

OneofthebetterleadstopursueoutsideofJ2isthe30mdeepLa Cueva Hija Puta, commonlycalled“LastBash”.LastBashblowsasmuchairasJ2 intheentrancepitchesand seems destinedtoconnectas it laysdirectly on the lineplotofJ2.SteeringacrewawayfromJ2toexploreLBwasalmostaseasyasacquiringropeearmarkedforthemaincave.Throughthepersistenceofa

handfulof theJ2cavers, theexpeditionassembledthreeseparatepushesonthecave,eachdiscoveringmorenewcavethanthelast.Intheendofthepushes,onlyahalfkilometerofpassageseparatestheendofLastBashatit’scurrentdepthof-500mandthemostlikelyconnectionspotnearCamp2A.Anothergoodsolidpushcouldpossiblyhave linkedthecavestogether,assumingthatstreampassageinLBcontinuesalongitscurrenttrendofeasywalkingpassage.

finaL pusHThespiritoftheexpeditiondiminished

slightlywiththenewsofafourthsumpblock-ingthelong-soughtconnectiontoSistemaCheve.All thedreamsof runningdownkilometersofboreholetrailinga100mtapeinstantlyvanishedandtheeffortconcen-tratedonsendingmoreequipmenttothesumpforasecondCamp4crew.Timewasrunningout,andtheteamremaininginbase-campwasgettingsmaller,ascaversstartedreturningtoreal-lifeindrovestoattendtofamilyandcareerneeds.

Freshdivetanksandrebreatherpartsfilteredintothecaveastrashandpersonalgearwerecarriedoutwards.Thesump-divercrewswamthroughthesecondsumpwithaweek’sworthofequipmenttolayseigetothefourthsump,andtrytosalvagewhatwasleftofthedreamofa2009Cheveconnection.

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Jon Lillestolen assists Jose Morales into the new Poseidon Mk6 rebreather at the Sifon de Los Piratas in preparation to dive the sump.

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La Boca Del Bigoton in the borehole beyond Camp 2A


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Whilethediverstoiledawayatthedivingleadsattheendofthecave,ateamofaidclimbersbeganworkingonhighleadsbeyondthe InternationalShallowCavingTeamBoreholeinthehopeofrediscoveringthelostairflow.Withlightweightlithiumbatter-ies,asmallhammerdrillandtheabilitytorechargebatteriesatthebaseofeachclimb,theCamp3teammadeshortworkofthehighleads,whilenotassistingthedivecrew.

Meanwhile, theCamp4crewdoveeverypossibleunderwater leadthat theycouldfind,pushinganygoingleadineitherSumps3or4.Despiteafewgearmisbehav-iors,theteampersistedandfoundalikelyconnectiontunnelleadingwestwardtowardtheChevetrunk.Dwindlinggassuppliesandalackoftimeturnedtheteamaroundassoonastheyhadfoundthelikelypath

tosuccess.

dErig and LEaving mExicoThesump-divercrewdovethroughthe

Sifon de Los PiratasforthelasttimetorejointherestofthedeepteamatCamp3.Noteswerecomparedandplansweremadetostartthelonghaulofgearoutofthecave.Withasmallteamandlessthantenpeopleintotalonthemountain,thetaskofderiggingthecaveseemedadauntingone.Discussionscenteredaroundprioritizingwhichgearwouldgetcarriedoutfirstandwhatcouldlastanotheryearortwoofremaininginthecave.Intheend,onlytheimportantpiecesoftherebreathersandotherdivegearandpersonalbelongingswerepulledoutofthecave.Alargeamountofcampinggear,food,andlesscriticaldivegearwouldonceagainbeleftinJ2duringtheoff-season.

MovingfromCamp3backtoCamp2A,thecrewspentanightandloadedupforthetrekthroughthewettestpartofthecave,includingtheexcitingswimthroughtheEx-Sump.Theteammadegoodprogressthroughthejunglesseriesandthenintothepaleotubesabovethestreampassageandontothesump-poolattheSurpriseSump.Therainyseasonappearedtohavearrivedearlyonthesurfaceasithadrainednon-stopforaboutaweek.Unawareoftheseverityofrainstormsonthesurface,thederiggingcaversweresurprisedtofindtheSurpriseSumpnotonlyfilledtotheceilingwithwater,butwaterlevelswererising.Anxioustoexitthecave,asmallcrewestablishedasmallbivouacnearattheSurpriseSumptokeeptrackofthewaterlevels.

ThedivebottlesthathadoriginallybeenleftatthissumpforsafetyhadlongsincebeenmoveddeeperintothecavetoserveasbailoutbottlesforthepushdiversinCamp4.Thesafetybottleswereoneofmanypiecesofgearthathadn’tmadethe listofgeardestinedforthesurface.Thesafetybottles

weresentforandinshorttimeenoughequip-mentwasassembledattheSurpriseSumptoshuttlethetrappedcaversthroughthesumpandtowardsthesafetyofbasecamp.

When the teamwas ready to leaveandwithdivebottlesintow,theyshuttledpersonnelandbagsthroughtheSurpriseSumpandcontinuedtheirexitoutofthecave.Exceptitwasn’tthateasy,notallthecaverswerecapableoforcomfortablewithdivingthroughthesump.Althoughtherewereseveralattemptstoencourageeveryonetopassthrough,itwasfinallydecidedthatalonelycrewoftwowouldhavetoremaininCamp2Auntiltherewasanotherbreakintheweatherandthesumpwouldloweritselfenoughtopassthroughwithairspace.

Logisticalsetbackswerenotunfamiliartothecaversthatworkedonthe2009J2Expedition.Gettingsumpedintothecavewouldbethelastofthespeedbumpsthattheexpeditionwouldface.Finally,throughlotsofencouragementfromthesurfacethroughthephoneline,anddeterminationallround,thelastteamofcaverspassedtheSurpriseSumpandexitedJ2forthelasttimeduringtheexpedition.Witheveryoneonthesurfaceatlast,basecampwasslowlybrokendownandgearloadedontothemulestobesent

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Jose Morales dives the new Poseidon Mk6 rebreather in the sump

Luis “Wicho” Gabriel Diaz traversing a handline in Last Bash

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Matt Covington traverses a pool in the wet canyons between the ex-sump and Camp 2A

Will Heltsley sketches in Last Bash

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downthemountain.ThroughthegracioushelpofSeñor

Faustinoandhisfamily,thecaversmadetheirwaydownthemountainalongwithalltheirgear.Truckswereloaded,everyonesaidtheirgoodbyesandanothersuccessfulexpeditionwascompletedtotheElOcotalcloudforest.

j2 2010 ExpEdition – rEturn to tHE dEEp

Althoughthecavehadn’tdoneexactlywhathadbeenhoped,planswerelaidlateintheexpeditionforareturntotheJ2areain2010.TheCheveKarstdoesn’tgiveupitssecretseasilyandalthoughintensivesumpdivingexpeditionscouldcertainlydoalotmoretocrackthesecretsthatliebelow,thereisagrowingcrewofusthatbelievethereisplentytobeexploredintheCheveareathatdoesnotinvolveheinoustankhaulsfollowedbygrimdiving.

In2010,theexpeditionobjectiveswillinvolveentirelynon-divingleadsandalltheUSDCTdivegearwillbeleftsafelystowedaway inTexas.ThemaingoalwillbetocreateSistema J2byconnectingin“LastBash.”Althoughitwaspushedsomewhatonthisexpedition,theconnectionremainsonlyalongdayspushfromtyeingthesurveylinestogetherassumingthatthecavegodsaresmilinguponus.FromthisentrancethelowerreachesofJ2,theboreholebeyondCamp2A,will beeasier toaccessandthefewremainingleadsinthissectionofthecavewillgetagoodfinal look.Usingthe“LastBash”entrance to thesystemwillnotonlyallowtraveltothebottomofthecavewithoutpassing thedangerousSurpriseSumpbutalsomakeitpossibletouseabasecamploweronthemountainandmuchclosertoawatersource.OurfriendsinthevillageofElOcotalhavegraciouslyofferedtheuseoftheirranchhighintheAguacateCanyon.Thiswillputuswithinahalfhour’scasualhikeoftheentranceof

LastBashinsteadofthehour-longjunglebashdownsteepslopesfromthetraditionalJ2basecamp.

Thesecondobjectivewillbetogiveagoodfinalpushtoall theremainingsideleadsinthebottomofJ2.Althoughthemostpromisingleadshaveallbeenpushed,thereremainsseveralinfeedersandotherinterest-ingleadsthatcouldbethewaytodiscoveringtherouteoftheelusivegale-forceairflowthatislostatthe-700mlevelinJ2.

Thefinalobjectiveistoridgewalktheremoteupper reachesof theAguacateCanyon.TheAguacatecanyonhasbeenwalkedonseveraloccasions,butwithabasecampestablisheddirectlyinthecanyonitwillbepossibletofocusamoreintenseefforttofindthelessobviouscavesthatcouldbecomeMexico’snext1000mdeepcaveorthesecrettofindingthemassiveCheveConduitthatliessomewherebelow.

ExpEdition mEmbErs and sponsors:MarcinDerlatka,Luis“Wicho”Gabriel

Diaz,YvonneDroms,TonyDwyer,MarcinGala,NikkiGreen,WillHeltsley,HeatherLevy,JonLillestolen,MarkMinton,JoseMorales,NinaMuller,DavidOchel,PaulinaOlinkiewicz,MichaelPugliese,YuriSchwartz,VickieSiegel,SethSpoelman,BillStone(ExpeditionLeader),SergeyTkachenko,MagdaAksman,KasiaBiernacka,Zuzia,LucynaCieslik.

MembersoftheexpeditionwouldliketothankthesponsorsandmanywillingcaverswhomadethisanothersuccessfulUSDCTexpedition.FirstandforemostisPoseidonDivingSystems,whichwithouttheirassis-tancewithequipmentanddevelopmentoftheMk6rebreather,thisexpeditioncouldnothavehappened.NalgeNuncProducts,DirectFastnerSystemsandCancordRopeagainmadegracious donations to theUSDCT.Stenlightagainprovidedexcellentlights,chargersandunderwaterbatteriesforthedivingeffort.ExpeditionSponsorsalso

includeAnalyticalIndustries,theAssociationforMexicanCaveStudies,CavesofTabasco,CortlandCordandFilament,DeepOutdoors,DSSDeepSeaSupply,DiveRite,Google,MolecularProducts,Niterider,Patagonia,PMI,PuertoRicoTechnicalDivingCenter,Santi,ScienceArtandMagic,SeaPearls,StoneAerospace,StructuralComposites,ThermoValves,UnderwaterKinetics,WholeEarthProvisionCo.,WindyPointPark,andXSScuba.SpecialthanksgotoBillStone,JoseMorales,James“JaimeHottub”Brown,MarkMinton,YvonneDroms,Luis“Wicho”GabrielDiaz,JoseAntonioSoriano,FofoGonzalesandthemanyotherswhospentcountlesshoursorganizingtheexpedition.Wearealsograteful for thecontinuedassistanceofProteccionCivilOaxaca,TheDistritodeCuicatlan,andtheMunicipiodeChapulapaoverthepast20years.

bibLiograpHy(1)Atkinson,Gerald(1980),“Sistema

Huautla”:Association for Mexican Cave Studies (AMCS) Activities Newsletter,v.11,p.13-17

(2)Hose,LouiseD.(1993),“SistemaCheve–World’sDeepestKarstConduitSystem”:Association for Mexican Cave Studies (AMCS) Activities Newsletter,v.20,p.44-45

(3)Lillestolen,JonandWarild,Al,“ThreeyearsintheElOcotalCloudForest”:NSS News, v.65,no.6,p.4-10

(4)Pistole,Nancy (1994),Proyecto Cheve 1986-1993

(5) Stone,Bill,Droms,Yvonne&Pistole,Nancy (2005), “Cheve2003”:Association for Mexican Cave Studies (AMCS) Activities Newsletter, v.28,p.109-118

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Paulina Olinkiewicz climbs a pitch in the entrance series of Last Bash.

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Tony Dwyer, Tony Castro, Marcin Gala and Michael Denneborg prepare to leave basecamp for a short trip into J2.


OnApril23,2009,adozencaverssatinthecloudforestatoparemotemountaininMexico,entrancedbytheconstantcrack-lingofthecavephone.At4:07pmJoseMoralesandJamesBrownhadenteredthesumpatthebottomofJ2.Ithadtakenafullmonthbetweenthearrivaloftheteamandthefirstdive,amonththatwasfraughtwithsetbacks–politicalproblems,destroyedrigging,asurprisesump,swineflu,andmanyheavyloads.Today,wefinallyhaddiversinthewater,andweanxiouslyawaitednews.

In2006,J2explorationwashaltedbythediscoveryofasumpat-1200meters.Wehadenoughtimeandgearforasingleexploratorydive.JamesBrowndoveintothesumpandemergedfromthewateraftera150meter-longdivethatneverreachedmorethan10metersofdepth.Heclimbedupabreakdownslopeandintoalargechamber.Theroutethendescendeddowntoanothersumpthatseemedtobethemaincontinua-tion.Weknewatthispointthatanyreturnwouldrequireamajordivingexpedition.

Duringthenextthreeyears,wetookarestfromJ2whileBillStoneworkedwithPoseidontodevelopalighter,morecompact,andmore foolproof rebreather.Healsobegantoassembleateamofcaversinter-estedinworkingbeyondthesump.Findingcavediverswhoareinterestedinnegotiatingaseriousdeepcavehaslongtroubleddiveeffortsindeepcaves.Bill’stypicalapproachhasbeentotrainexpeditioncaverstodive.

Forthe2009J2expedition,Billassem-bledadiveteammadeupoftwotypesofcavers.Thereweretheexplorationdivers,whowereexperiencedcavediversandalsocapableofnegotiatingtherestofthecave.Thesecondarydiveteamwascomposedofexpeditioncaverswhohadtrainedspecifi-callyfordivingtherebreathersinJ2.Theywereexperiencedinriggingandotherskills

needed forabove-waterexplorationbuthadlimitedcavedivingexperience.Theexplorationdiverswouldcompleteallunder-waterexplorationandrig9-mmstaticropesthroughthesumps.Thesecondarydiverswouldpullalongonthestatic lines,haulingcampand rigginggeartopushthecavebeyond.The9-mmropeswouldgreatly increase travelspeedandsafety for those ‘commuting’throughthesumps.JamesandJoseweretheprimaryexplorationdiveteam.Iftheyweresuccessful,thenMarcinGala,aPolishcaver,andIwereslatedtofollowwiththefirstdrycavingpushonthefarsideofthesump.Wewereonedge.

At10pmBill’svoicebroughtthecavephonealive,“Basecamp,basecamp,thisisthesump.Doyoucopy?”

“Yes,Bill.Wecopy.Whatisthenews?”Marcinreplied.

“JamesandJosehavereturnedfromthesump.LetmegivethephonetoJosetorelaywhattheyfound.”

Joserecountedthenews.Afteremerg-ingfromthesump,Josehadclimbeduptothehighsideofthelargechamberanddiscoveredagoingdrypassage.Fortwohours,heandJamesexploredamazeofpassagesthatseemedtobypassthenextsump.ItwasclearlytimetosendinthenextteamtoestablishCamp4andcontinueexploration.JoseandJameswouldspendthenextdayriggingthe9-mmropeandthephonelinethroughthesump,andhaulingsomeofthecampgeartothefarside.MarcinandIweretoenterthecavethenextday.

Thenextmorningwepiledup the

gearrequiredforourtrip.Asthemorningprogressed,thepilegrew.Wewantedtohaveenoughfoodandrigginggearfornearlyaweekofexplorationonthefarside,butitwasclearthataheavyloadwasaccumulat-ing.Packsburstingattheseams,wesetofftothecave.Duringtheexpedition,MarcinandIhadendedupcavingasateamonalmosteverytrip.Asaresult,thetwoofushadgrownclosethroughlonghourstoilingtogetherandtalkingabouteverythingontheearth (andundertheearth)—thesortoffriendshipthatisoftenforgedinexpedi-tioncaving.Aswepausedattheentrance,wemusedaboutthetripwewereabouttoundertake.Afterallofthehardworkandlongwaitwewereprimedforwhatmightbeoneofthegreatestadventuresofourlives.Thisthrilledus,butwealsocouldn’tignoreourheavypacksandthedifficulttripthatlaybetweenusandtheprize.

Eighthourslater,wewereatCamp2a,tired,butnottrashed.Ournearlyweek-longrestonthesurfacehadpaidoff.Newscameviathecavephonethatthe9-mmropewasinplace,andtheinitialcamploadshadbeenhauledthroughthesump.Thenextday,wemetBill,Jose,James,andJonLillestolenontheirwayout,betweenCamp2aandCamp3.Westoppedforalongchataboutthedive

J2: The Journey to Camp 4—Beyond the SumpMatt Covington

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Fretting over the pile of dive gear at Camp 2A

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Climbing through the skeleton rock near -1000m


logistics.Initially,wehadplannedondivingthatday,butafteralatestart,andourlongchat,wedecidedthatitwouldbebettertogetagoodnight’srestatCamp3anddiveonthefollowingday.WearrivedforanearlyeveningatCamp3.NeedIsaythatit’shardtosleepthenightbeforeasumpdiveat-1200metersinoneofthedeepestknownkarsthydrologicalsystemsintheworld?Ihavesleptbetter.

Earlythenextmorningwearoseandheadedtothesump.Uponarrival,Marcinrappelledtothediveplatformandbeganreadying therigs for thedive.Once therebreatherswereready,Marcingotintohisdrysuitandintothewater,makingroomformeontheplatform.Iloadedmypackwithgearandweightstocounteritsbuoyancy.ThenIstruggledintotherebreatherontheawkwardplatform.Weneededthreebagstofitallofthegear,soMarcintooktwobagsandonebailouttank,whileItookonebagandtheothertwobailouttanks.Bythistime,Marcinhadbeeninthewaterawhileandwasalreadybecominghypothermic.Heclearlywantedtogetgoing.Islidintothewater,andweheadeddown.However,mybagwasstilltoobuoyant,andpoorlybalanced.Itdangledupsidedownfromitstetherlikeaballoononastring.RightasIsignaledtoMarcinthatitwastoobuoyant,someoftheleadfelloutanditbecameevenmorebuoyant.Islidbackuptheropetothesurfaceandrepackedthebag.Marcinwasnothavingagoodtime.

“Matt,pleasehurry.I’mverycold.”Marcinretrievedtheweights.Irepacked

thebag,addingmoreweightandjettisoninganalgenefullofcashewsthatreallydidn’tfit.Wedescendedagain,andafteramomenttocheckeverything,westartedpullingourselvesalongtheline.SinceMarcinwassocold,herocketedoutinfront.Ikeptupforafewofminutes,butthenbegantofallbehind.Forthemostpart,thelineranquiteclosetothefloor,whichwaslargelycomposedofsharpandjaggedhornsofrock.Everyminute

orsoIwouldfeelasharptugbackwardandrealizethatmypackhadsnaggedoneofthehorns.Itbecameautomatictoreachbackandscoopitfreewithmyhand.Inmanycavedives,draggingalongthebottomlikethiswouldbetheworstthingyoucoulddo.However,theonlysedimentonthefloorwaslarge-grainedsandthatquicklysettledafterbeingstirredup.Visibilitywashardlyaffectedbyourpassing.

Aboutsevenminutesintothedive,Iwasbecomingoutofbreathfromracingalongtheline.IpausedforamomenttoseeifIcouldslowmybreathing.After10or15secondsIstartedmovingagainataslowerpace,butIwasstillnotcatchingmybreath.

“Something doesn’t feel right. Issomethingwrongwiththerebreather?”Iwondered.

Inamomentofdoubtandpanic, Ireachedformybailoutgas,whereIknewIcouldgetgoodair. I triedtotakeabigbreathonlytofeeltheresistancebuildhalf-waythroughuntilIcoulddrawnomoreair.ThenIremembered.Thevalvewasturnedofftoavoidlossofairinthecaseofslowleaks.Igropedthroughthetangleofgearandrotatedthevalve,relievedtofeelairflow.Ipausedagainforafewseconds,toslowmybreathing.

“Okay.Ineedtogetoutofhere.”Therestof thedivewasacontinu-

ousstrugglebetweenkeepingacalmandmeasuredpaceand justwanting togetthrough, knowing that Iwas using uppreciousbailoutgas.Luckily,twominuteslater Isawthesurfaceofthewater,withMarcin’slightrefractingdownfromabove.Iwasgladtohavethatoverwith.

Thedivewasonly10minuteslong.Notmuch,really,butlongenough.

Wediscussedthediveforafewminutes.Ididn’tknowwhetherIwashavingagenu-ineproblemwiththerig,or if itwas justoverexertioncombinedw i th p sycho log i ca lstress. Ididknowonethingthough; thedivebackwould require aconcertedeffortatstay-ingcalm.Weclimbedout of thewater andstashedthedivegearupintheboulders.Marcinwasstillcold.Mydrysuithad leakedlikeasieve(I’mjusttooskinnyforastandardsize),and Ifoundmyselfknee-deepinwaterinside,andalsocoolingdownfast.Wefired up the stove tomakeahotdrink.

Afterhot teaanddrycampclothes,theworldstartedtoseemabitbetter.Afterall,wewerebeyondthesumpandabouttoexploreoneofthemostremoteplacesyetreachedunderground.OurfirsttaskwastofindagoodlocationforCamp4.Followingaquickrecon,wefoundaflatsandyspotthatJosehadmentioned,about5minutesawayfromthesump.Returningtothesump,wegrabbedthecampgear,surveyedourwaybacktocamp,andlaidthephoneline.Wereachedcamp,with170metersofsurvey,andcalleditanight.

Thatnightwewonderedaloudwhatwemightfindthenextday.Icouldfeeltheweightoftheexpeditiononourshoulders.Manypeoplehadworkedveryhardforustobehere,andmanyhadtrainedwithusfortheopportunitywenowhad.Thereweremanyotherswhocouldhavebeeninmyplace.Ihadbeenattherightplaceattherighttime,

Vickie Siegel passing a pack through the Donde Homek Breakdown at -1000 m

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Elizabeth Covington on one of the ladder pitches in the entrance series

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andbecauseofthat,Iwastheonehere.Itwastheultimateprivilege.AsMarcinputit,“Itnowseemsasifthewholeexpeditionhasbeenworking justforus.”Wewouldmakeitcount.

Thenextmorning,wecontinuedoursurveydownthepassagefromcamp.Afterashortdistance,weenteredthemazethatJosehadexplored.Anumberofpassagesdivergedtotheright,butafewhoursofsurveyinglater,wecouldtelltheywerenotheadedtherightdirection.Asourmappingprogressed,wedecidedtopushagood-lookingleadtotheleftthat ledquicklytoafreeclimbuptoa ledgeoverlookingalargeborehole.Finally, itseemedwehadsomething.

Weriggedaropeandrappelledtoaledge.Fromtherewecouldtraverseoutintotheborehole.Thevastpassagewasflooredwithgiantbreakdownblocks.Wepickedourwayalongtheboulders,surveyingaswewent.Aboutanhourlater,westoodstaringataflowstonerampascendingahead.Wehadonlygoneabout150meters,butthisalreadylookedliketheend.Afteracoupleofattempts, Imanaged toclimbup theramp,usingtinyedgesintheflowstoneforfootholds.Theslopeeased,andIscamperedtothetop,onlytoconfirmatotalflowstoneblockage.Afterriggingadouble-roperappel,IdescendedbacktoMarcin.Wewouldhavetotrylow.Ashortwayback,wewereabletoclimbdownthroughtheboulderstoalower level.However, thispassagewasimmediatelyblockedbyalake.Enthusiasmwaning,wereturnedtocampearlierthanwehadanticipated.

MarcinhadaPalmpilotwithAuriga,andeachnightweenteredthesurveydata,inordertogetanideaofwherewehadgone.Wealsophonedupthesurveydatatothesurface,sothattheycouldtrackourprogressaswell.Thatdaywecameinwith380mofsurvey,butnotquitetheeasybootywehadhopedfor.Whiletalkingtobasecamp,welearnedoftheswinefluoutbreakinMexico.

Left to right, Vickie Siegel, Jose Morales, Nikki Green, and James Brown during the final haul of dive gear to the sump

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neThisexplainedthebadsicknessthathadgonethroughtheexpeditionweeksbefore,butnowwewonderedwhetherthereinforcementsthatwewereexpecting inthenextdayswouldactu-allyarrive.Wouldtheybe allowed to travel?Would they decide itwasunwisetocometoMexico?AmongthoseexpectedtoarrivesoontobasecampwereWillHeltsleyandmywife,Elizabeth, whoweretravellingtogetherfromCalifornia, aswell asYuriSchwartz,SergeyTkachenko,andDavidOchel,allstrongcaverswhosehelpwe coulduse. Ihadbeen look-ing forward to seeingElizabethwhenIgotoutofthecave,butnowallthatwasuncertain.Inhonorofthenews,wedubbedournewboreholepassagethe“PigsFlewPassage.”

The nextmorning we arose andretrievedourdrysuits fromthesump, inordertocheckout“Lake41,”namedafterthesurveystationatitsedge.Weswamoutintothelakeandaroundthecorner.Actually,itlookedprettygood;wecouldseeabout30metersahead.Afteraconstrictionthelakeopenedupintoseveralsmallchambers,allheavilydecorated.However,thelakeulti-matelysumped.Althoughthewaterwassodeepwecouldn’tseethebottom,theceilingbelowwaterwasstillcoveredinstalactites,suggestingthatthepassagewasonceair-filled.Somewhatdejected,wereturnedtocamptodropoffourdrysuitsandhaveahotdrink.Marcinthoughtthat thesumpwouldbethewayonandwonderedwhethertherewasanypointincontinuingsurveyin

themaze.Imaintainedsomeshredofhopeoffindingabypass,butmostly Iwas justenjoyingthesurveyanddreadingthereturndive.Acouplemoredaysofpushingleadsdidn’tsoundthatbad.Fortherestofthedaywemappedapassagethatgraduallybecametightandmuddy,dubbingit“WhatTiggersdotheBest.”After65metersofsmallpassageithitaT-junctionwithlargerpassage.However,onedirectionquicklyloopedbacktoknowncave,andtheotherterminatedingrimleadsheadedup-cave.

Back atCamp4,we learned thatElizabeth,Will,andWichoDiazhadarrivedinbasecamp.Theyhaddecidedtobravetheswineflu.“Someonewantstotalktoyou,Matt,”theytoldme.Itisstrangeindeedtotalkwithone’swife,whomonehasn’tseeninamonth,whilecampingbeyondasumpthreedaysintoacave.ShehadjustfinishedherPh.D.inCaliforniaandwascomingtoMexicotospendacoupleofweeksrelaxing

Marcin Gala and Matt Covington at Camp 4. Two lonely souls at one of the most remote reaches of our planet.

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Surveying in the Undertaker


The intersection between the Pigs Flew Passage and the Grim Reaper Loop, near the water source for Camp 4

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Looking out into the Pigs Flew Passage

andgenerallyenjoyinglife.Howelsecouldonebeginsuchaconversationthanwith,“Dr.Covington,Ipresume?”

Thenextdaywewere resigned topushingmoremazeleads.First,weheadedintoaleadthatwehadseenthepreviousdaynearthePigsFlewPassage.Itquicklyforkedandledtotwodifferent lakes.Ononesideitcontinuedandwentintoasharp,mud-coated,smallpassage.SomehowwehadgottenonaMontyPythonkick.IwasquotingeveryskitIcouldremember,whileMarcinlaughed.HehadseenalotofMontyPythoninPolish,butwasamusedtohearthelinesintheiroriginallanguage.Finally,heasked,“Whatisthenameofdeath?Theguywiththeblackcoatandblade.”

“Oh,wecallhimtheGrimReaper,”Ireplied.

“That iswhatwe should call thispassage,”Marcinexclaimed.Thuswas

bornthe“GrimReaperLoop.”Themaca-brethemecontinued,andlaterwesurveyed“TheUndertaker.”WethenspentacoupleofhourscombingthebreakdownandwallsinthePigsFlewPassagebutcameupempty.Finally,Marcinphotodocumented thepassageswehadexplored,andwecalleditaday.Thatdaywesurveyed200metersofpassage,bringingthetotalnewsurveyto837meters.Afterdinner,wetalkedwithBillonthephone.HeaskedwhetherwewouldconsiderareconnaissancediveinLake41.Marcinperkedup.Thatwaswhathereallywantedtodo.WecarefullyconsideredtheamountofremaininggasanddecidedthattherewasenoughbailoutgasforMarcintodoaquickandshallowopencircuitrecondive.

ThenextmorningwehauledthreebagsofdivegearfromthesumptoLake41.Weonlyhadagapreel,soweknewMarcinwouldn’tbeabletogofar.Heenteredthewaterat1pm.I turnedoffmy lightandsatinthedark,ponderingwhereIwasandwonderingwhathewasfinding.Nooneelsewasinthecavebutthetwoofus,andMarcinwasnowdoinganexplorationdive.Fifteenminuteslaterhereturned,wantingmoreline.Hecouldseeanairsurfacejust10metersahead,butcouldn’tquitereachit.Iranbacktocampandloadedabunchofphonelineontothedivereel.Hereturnedtothewaterat2:45pm.Thistimethewaitwaslonger.Maybehehadfoundsomething.Forty-fiveminuteslaterhereturnedtotellhisstory.Aftera25-meterdivehehademergedinanotherlake,thinkingthathehadcrackedthesump.However,a25-metersurfaceswim revealed thathewas inapocketblockedbyflowstone.Thereweresomehighleadsbutnowheretogetoutofthewater.However,onthewayin,hehadseensomeripplesonthesanddunesunderwater,indi-catingstrongflow.Thewayonwasprobably

there,deeperunderwater.Afterhaulingthedivegearback,we

returnedtoCamp4tophoneaninventoryuptobasecampandpackupourpersonalgear.Wewereheadedout,butafterafewmoredaysof rest,Bill andJosewouldreturntopushthenewsump.MarcinandIhadlearnedsomelessonsfromtheprevi-ousdive.Uponarrivingatthesump,Itookplentyoftimetofiddlewithmygear,makesureIknewwhereeverythingwas,andtestthattherebreatherwasworkingcorrectly.Igotinthewaterfirst,andMarcinfollowedafewminutesafter.Therelaxedpreparationpaidoff,eventhoughconditionsduringthedivewerequiteunpleasant.Theteamdivemasksfitmynarrowfacepoorly,andonthisdivemymaskleakedterribly.Itcompletelyfilledaboutevery15seconds. I resignedmyself todomostofthediveblind,onlyclearingthemaskwhenIneededtocheckmypartialpressureofoxygen.Despitethesedifficulties,Imanagedtoremaincool-headedthistime,andsoonIwasascendinguptheropetotheplatform.Afewminuteslater,Marcinarrived.WedroppedourbagsontheplatformandwentbackundersothatMarcincouldgetsomephotosandvideounderwater.Surfacingagain,andreturningtoCamp3,wefoundourmoodhadsignificantlylight-ened.WhileatCamp4,thereturndivehadhungoveruslikeadarkpallinthebackofourminds.Havingreturnedthroughthesump,wewerestillthreedaysfromthesurface...butwecouldsmellit.

Matt climbing through the sharp rock near Camp 3

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Next monthTheJ2storycontinueswithagrip-

pingpersonalaccountbyJoseMoraleson the finalpushofSump4.Teammemberswerepushedtoheroic limitsafterbeingtrappedbyrisingwatersandrunningoutoffood.ReaditnextmonthinourFebruaryissue.


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Matt Covington descends into the Jungle Series of J2. Kasia Biernacka descends a pit in the entrance series of J2.

Nikki Green traverses a handline in the Wonderland Borehole, J2.

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Paulina Olinkiewicz skirts a pool in the wet section between Camp 1 and Camp 2A.


Collecting sediment samples to establish the age of the cave passages

Pitted roof in Lower Borderline Passage, Whiterock Cave

1954, an area in Whiterock Cave

James Alker and Pom Pom formation, Whiterock Cave

A lone stal pairing in Hurricane Hole


Giant Caves of Mulu 2009 Story SerieS, Merit AwArd At iCS Photo SAlon

Photos and text by Robbie Shone

InBorneo,deepinSarawak’sGunungMuluNationalPark,liethemostspectacularcavesonearth.OvermillenniatheflowofwaterdrainingfromtheslopesofG.MulutowardstheseahascutdeepgorgesthroughthePark’slimestonemountainsand,withintherockitself,acomplexnetworkofvastcaveshasbeenformed.

Aswemoveintothe21stCentury,humanityappearstohaveexploredtothelimitsofourenvironment.Usingtechnologywecanphotographthesurfaceofdistantplanets,probetheimmensityofspace,scanthebedsofthedeepestoceans,imagetheinsideoflivingbodiesandpicturethesurfaceofstructurestomicroscopicdetail.Insuchaworld,itmightbeimaginedthatthereisnotrueexplorationlefttobedone.Butthiswouldbeuntrue.Underthesurfaceofourplanetliesaparallelworld;aworldofgreatbeautyandmysteryformedoverthousandsofyearsbythemostelementalofforces,thepassageofwaterthroughrock.Thisworld,thedomainofcaves,remainslargelyunexplored.InMulu,wearemakingprogressonthisjourneyofdiscovery.

(concluded on page 19)

The magnificent main river passage in Clearwater Cave

Ascending out of the latest discoveries in Whiterock River

Lower Borderline Passage, Whiterock Cave

Borderline Passage, Whiterock Cave

The shower bath in 1954 passage, Whiterock Cave


Vickie Siegel and Nikki Green swim in the frigid J2 waters at the start of the Jungle Series.

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Matt Covington climbs through the cascades of the Jungle Series

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R i g h t : M a g d a Aksman traverses one of the many Tyro leans jus t upstream of Camp 2A in J2

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Left: Marcin Gala prepares to dive in Lake 41. Photo by Matt Covington

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Left: John Swartz d e s c e n d s a pit high in the entrance series of J2


New, from acclaimed cave explorer and author

Roger W. Brucker (The Longest Cave and Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins)

Like most slaves in early America, Stephen Bishop dreamed of freedom. But when his owner brought him to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky in 1838, he found a new obsession—exploring what would one day be the world’s

longest cave. Based on a true story, Grand, Gloomy, and Peculiar: Stephen Bishop at Mammoth Cave is a skillful blend of history, adventure, humor and romance.

“...one of the best historical novels I have ever read. I loved it.”

Donald W. Murphy, Chief Executive Offi cerNational Underground Railroad Freedom Center

NoW AvAilABle from Cave Books, Speleobooks and the NSS Bookstore.

visit www.rogerbrucker.com.

Hardcover $21.95 iSBN: 978-0-939748-72-3Paperback $15.95 iSBN: 978-0-939748-71-6

Caves of Mulu 2009(continued from page 17)

ThegiantcavesofMuluarelocatedinthreemainblocksoflimestonethatveerupoutfromthejungleplateau.Holesintheclifffacesshowstrikingexamplesofwhat lieswithin.Muluishometothelargestunder-groundchamberintheworldandarguablytheworld’s largestundergroundpassage.EachtimethereisanexpeditiontoMuluover20kmofcavepassage isexplored,mapped,andphotographed,alwaysprovid-ingmorereasonstogoback.

Sincethe2003expedition,ithasbeenmyjobasaphotographertorecordallthediscoveries.Thiscollectionofphotographswasalltakenfromthe2009expeditionthattookplacethroughthemonthsofJanuarytoMarchearlierthisyear.Theyshowthetypically largediscoveriesmade,includingexamplesofextractingsedimentforanalyz-ingback in theUKfor research/datingpurposesbytheteam’syoungscientist.

Therearemanyissuesrequiringatten-tionwithintheartofcavephotography,butoneofthemostseriousinthispartoftheworldishumidity.Livingwithinthejungleforoveramonthplayshavocwithallformsofcameraequipment.Moldandfungicanbuildupontheinsideoflensesandcamerabodiescanceasetoworkthroughwaterresiduebuild-upontheinsidesofthemechanisms.

TopreventthisfromhappeningIalwayskeepallmycameraequipmentstoredawayinairtightcontainersfilledwith‘silicagel’crystals thatwickawaythemoistureandhumidityintheatmosphere.Ofcoursedeepundergroundinthecavesitissafetousethecamerasfreeofsilicagel.

The2009Muluexpeditiondiscovered27.3kmofcaveand the total lengthofClearwaterCaveSystemwasextendedto175.6km,confirmingitscurrentstatusaslongestcaveinAsiaand9thlongestcaveintheworld.ThemainareasofworkwereHoleintheMoonandHurricaneHolenorthoftheMelinauriver,andWhiterockCavetothesouth.TheexpeditionalsostartedaseriousscientificprogrammewithsamplingofdepositsandspeleothemswiththeaimsofunderstandingtheageandsequenceofcavedevelopmentsfromtheMelinauGorge.SamplesbroughtbacktotheUKwiththepermissionof thenationalparkandtheMalaysiangovernmentwillbeanalysedatBristolUniversityanditsfindingspublishedinduecourse.

For more information on the Mulu 2009 expedition, see Descent #209, Aug/Sept 2009

There is also a summary and more photos on the Mulu Cave Project’s website, at www.mulucaves.org/2009summary.php


Ron Zuber

A well traveled caver with lots of interesting experiences, our interviewee has found much to keep himself occupied throughout his life among cavers. RZ

Doug Soroka (17692rl) (Fe)

1. Please tell me a little about yourself.Istartedoutasanormalkidinanormal

middleclasssuburbofLongIsland,NewYork.Myparentswouldalwaysgosome-whereeveryyearonafamilyvacationsoIstartedearlytoenjoytheoutsideandexplorewhatwasthere.

2. How, where and with whom did you get started caving?

Istartedformalcavingin1974whenIwasanundergradat theUniversityofGeorgia. IgotspoiledquicklybystartingmycavingintheTAGregion.MyfirstcavewasTumblingRockandmyfirstpitwasNeversink.TheAthensSpeleologicalSocietywasjuststartingsoweweregoingthroughthegrowingpainsofanynewclub,butwewereoutcavingalmosteveryweekend.SinceIhadacaroncampusIwouldalwaysgetinvitedoutonsometrip.Iremembergettingstoppedbyalocalsheriffonceandthefirstthinghesaidtomewas,“Wedon’tgetmanyNewYouark (York)carsdownhere.” I’mgladIhadacarfulloflocalfolksthattime.I joinedtheNSSin1976aftergraduatingfromGeorgiaandbecauseIhadnoone’sNSS NewstoreadIhadtojointogetmyowncopy.IstartedcavingwithDanTwilley,CherylJones,andothers.Welostcontactforawhilebutre-metagainatthesecondSuwanneeconventionandcaughtuponallthethingswehadbeendoing.Thisisoneofthethingsthatmakesconventionssogreat,yougettomeetyour“other”familyagain.

3. Where have you done your caving?AftermyTAGyears Imovedback

toNewYorkandspentmostofmytimeupstateinSchoharieCountyworkingalotinMcFail’sCave.WeopenedtheHallsHoleentrance,mostlybecausewecouldbypasstheAckShackcrawl,whicheveryonehated.IalsospentmanyweekendscavinginWestVirginia. In thosedayseveryonehad toleaveonFridaynightandbebackatworkonMondaymorning.Noonehadvacationtimesoeverythinghadtobedonewithinanallnightdrivingdistance.

AsIaccruedmorevacationtimemytripsgotlongerandfartherawayfromhome.

IbelieveIhavemadethelast30conventionsandatleastfourinternationalsovertheyears.Now,withmoreexpendabletime,it’sokaytotakethreeweeksoramonthoffworktogotoanInternationalCongressandparticipateinapreorposttrip.Mypassportisuptodatesowhenagoodinvitationcomesalong...

OneofmymostmemorabletripswasattheSwissCongresswherewedidahistoricalminingtourintheAlsaceLorraineregionandvisiteda16thcenturyminethatlookedexactlylikeacave.IalsodidasaltcaveinSpainthatlookedlikelimestonebutitwasallsalt.MylongestandmaybebesttripwastotheSultanateofOmanin2002.Iwasaskedtoserveastheexpeditionbiologistanddoaninventoryofcrittersandsurfaceplants.ThisiswhereI learnedclose-upphotography,spendinghourslookingfortinythingsunderrocks.NationalGeographicwassponsorandwhenthearticlewaspublishedIgotatwopagepicturespread.

4. What was it about caving that made you stick with it?

Myfirstcavingtripwas10hourslong.Thephilosophywastoweedoutthepeopleatthebeginning.Theyeitherstayedascaversforeverorleftquickly.Istayed.Climbingwasalsobecomingverypopularandbycontrastwithcavingyoudidnothavetowearbrightlycoloredtights,buyaclimbingticket,orstandinline.Alsothecavinggearwasrelativelycheap.Youdidnothavetospendalotofmoneytogounderground.

Therewerealsothecavers,theyjusthelpedyouwhenyouneededit.Everyonewaseagertoinviteyoutohisorherfavoritecavingarea.Carbidewasthelightofchoice.LEDswerenotinventedyetandflashlightswerejustthethirdorfourthbackup.VerticalcaversweremovingovertonylonropewithBlueWater1beingthepopularchoice.Wewerechangingsomethingalmosteverytrip.Myharnesswashandsewedaswaseveryoneelse’s.Wewereimprovingandexperiment-ingwithallthenewequipmentcomingonthemarket.Wewouldswapstuffbackandforthallthetime.Landownerrelationsweresomewhatdifferentthen.Youjustaskedandmostownerswerehappytohaveyouexploretheircave.Theliabilityissuewasnotthatbigofaproblem.

AtNSSConventionsgeologyfieldtripsenabledmetoseepartsof thecountry Iwouldneverhaveotherwiseseen.Idon’tthinkmanypeople realizewhatavaluetheNSSisandhowmuchgetsdonewithvolunteerlabor.

5. Certain people influenced your caving career. Who are they and why are you grateful to them?

BruRandall,JohnMylroie,andLouiseHosewouldbethosethatIwouldputonthetopofmylist.MyapologiestoalltheotherswhohelpedmeovertheyearsthatIhavenotincludedhere.

BruguidedmethroughmyearlyNewYorkyearswith theNortheastRegionalOrganizationandwitheastcoastcavers.Hislinkswithothercaverswerethestartofmymeetingandnetworkingwiththem.Tome,asthenewkidontheblock,heseemedtoknoweveryoneandheknewthelocationofeverycaveintheNortheast.

JohnMylroiemademerealizethattherewasaninternationalcavingcommunityoutthere.WewentovertotheInternationalinSpainanditwasprobablyoneofmybestlovedtrips.Johnintroducedmetosomanyinternationalcaversandcavingcommunities.Healsogotmetolearntofollowthewaterandlookattherockstofindcaves.Istartedreadingthehardcoregeologyandhydrologytextbooks.Ihadtobuildbiggerbookshelvesbecauseofhim.

LouiseHosegave apaperon theMexicancaveCuevadeVillaLuzatoneconvention.Iwasfascinatedwiththebiol-ogyinthishighpHenvironment.LouisementionedherproblemswithtinycollectingtubessomywifeLynnandIgottogethera“CarePackage”ofbigsterilecollectiontubes


andsentthemouttoheralongwithwhatwethoughtmightbesomeotherusefulstuff.Wejustsaidtossitatthebiologistsandseewhathappens.Well,the“what”thathappened,wasthatwegot invitedtogodownwithherthenextyear.Thisstarteda10-plusyearinvestigationofthebio-diversityofthiscave.ThisiswhenIalsobegantorealizetheenjoymentof“scienceexploration,”ratherthan“visitationexploration.”

I’dalsoliketorecognizeArtPortmore,whowillstillcavewithmeafter35+years.Art ismylongtimecavingfriendandwehaveputupwitheachotheralltheseyears.

6. Tell me about the flash cards, Doug.IproducedtheCaveCritterCardSeries

aftercavingwithHortonHobbsandDanFong.TheyhadmelookingforcrittersinstreamsandafterfindingsomanydifferentkindsIwonderedwhytherewasn’tsome-thingIcoulduselikeasetofflashcardsthatIcoulduseundergroundtoidentifywhatwasthere.Ihadnoclueaboutcavebiologyandthoughtthat if Ididn’tknowcavecritterstherewereprobablyothercaverswhoalsodidn’tknow.TheBiologySectionhelpedmegettheprojectofftheground(orratherunderground)and theNSSFoundationhelpedwith theprinting costs.All theproceedswenttotheBiologySection.TheNSSbookstorestillsellsafewpacksperyear.

7. Have you ever been injured caving?TheonlytwobonesIeverbrokewere

cavingrelated.MyfirstbrokenbonewasinaveryeasybeginnercavewhereItripped,putmyhandouttostopmyfallandmanagedtobreakmywrist.WhenthishappenedtherewasaweeklongNCRCtraininggoingonatthefirehalljustdownthestreet.HavingbeenthroughafewofthesetrainingcoursesIknewhowmuch“excitement”Iwouldcausewitharealrescuecloseby.Notwantingtobefreshroadkillforthesepeople,wejustsecuredthewrist,walkedoutanddroveawaytohaveitcast.

MyonlyotherbreakcountsascavingrelatedsinceIwasonmywaytoacave.WewerewiththeJapaneseBroadcastingCo.,(NHK),doingadocumentaryfilmonVillaLuzinMexico.Islippedandsnappedmyankleonthesurfacewhilewalkingtothecaveentrance. Iwasfortunatetodothis infrontoftwoguestsofthedirectorwhojusthappenedtobephysicians,oneofwhomwasanemergencyroomspecialist.Myrescueoutofthejunglewasinteresting.Thelanguages,Japanese,Spanish,Mayan,English,anda localdialect—Chol—werebeingspokenatthesametime.Somehowweallmanagedtounderstandeachother.Wegotbacktotheriver,ontoaboatandweheadedbacktotownforanklestabilizationandforaflightbacktotheUS.

8. You’ve had a hand in making cave documentary films.

DuringourtimeatVillaLuzwehadTheLearningChannel,JapaneseBroadcastingCo.(NHK),andotherdocumentaryfilmmak-ersthere.WetookfolksfromTheLearningChanneltotheItchyPassage.Thereisachemicalcompoundinthecavemudtherethatcausesskintoreactbyitchingandblister-ing.Thisrequiredeveryonetowearexposuresuitsforprotection.Thedirectorandcameramanfilmedonlyonetakeofmegoingintothecavepassagetocollectasample.Theyweresomiserablethattheysaidtheywerenever-evergoingbackinthatcavepassageagain.Surprisingly,Igotabouttenminutesoffinalfilmtimeforthattrip.

WiththeNHKfilm(beforetheanklebreak)wedidalotoffilmingjustgettingtothecave:walking,boatingupriver,followingthestream,allwithourhelmetson,lookinglikefilm-starcavers.Thedirectorhadmedoalotofpointinghereandthere.Iwasreallyimpressed,however,withtheamountofcarethisfilmcrewtooktoprotectthecave.Theywereextracarefulnottotouchorhavetheirequipmenttouchthecavewalls.Overall,ourVillaLuztripsresultedinmebeingincludedin twoNationalGeographicarticlesonextremophiles.

9. Villa Luz is certainly an interesting cave. Why is it important and what are the exploration hazards?

VillaLuz is biologically importantbecause itprovidesa richenvironmentforuniquecavelife.ThecaveislocatedinTabasco,Mexicoandithasanatmospherehigh inhydrogensulfidegas.HydrogensulfideorH2Sisaheavier-than-air,toxic,andflammablegasthatispartiallyrespon-sible foranaturallyoccurringrotteneggsmell.Lessthat10ppmisconsideredthemaximumunprotectedexposurelimit.Thelethalconcentrationis800ppmforafiveminuteexposure.Asinglebreathat1000ppmcausesimmediatecollapsewithlossofbreathingfollowedbydeath.Thisnaturallyoccurringgasisdangerousandpotentiallydeadly.Specificsafetyproceduresareneces-sarywhenworkingunderH2Sconditions.

Weroutinelymeasuredconcentrationsbetween100and300ppmwithhighread-ingsapproaching800ppm.WeprotectedourselvesbymonitoringtheatmosphericH2Sconcentrationwithelectronicgasdetectingequipment.Oursafetyprocedurerequiredtheuseofrespiratorswiththeappropriatefiltercartridges.Weexploredandworkedinteamsatnomorethanarmslengthdistancewithuninterruptedtalking.Byknowingtheconcentrations,exposurelimits,andteamlimitationsandbyusingappropriaterespi-ratoryprotectionandby followingstrictbehavioralprocedureswecanmanagetheriskofcavinginVillaLuz.

10. What’s it like caving in the Sultanate of Oman?

IthinktheOmanexpeditionwasoneofmybesttripsnotonlyforthereallybigcavepassagebutalsofortheremotenessofthearea.Bynomeanswerewethefirstcaverstherebutweweredoingoneof thefirstscientificinvestigationsontheplateau.IwasastonishedwhenIwasaskedtoserveasthebiologistonthetripsincetherearesomanygreatcavebiologistsoutthere.IwaspuzzledwhyIwasinvited.Everyoneonthetripwasworldclassintheirfieldandthentherewasme.TheNationalGeographicwriter,GregGrouch,askedLouisehowandwhyshepickedherteam.WhenitgottomeshesaidthatIwastheonlyverticalcavingbiologistsheknewsoIwasinvited.IknewthenthatI, justanaveragecaver,couldparticipateissomeworldclasscavingandspeleology.

11. How have you been recognized by the NSS?

IwaselectedFellowat theMissouriConvention.Receivingthisawardwasprob-ablyoneofmyhappiestmoments.

12. How does your sports car figure into your caving interests?

MyantiqueMorgansportscarwonbestofclasswithabatstickeronit.Stickersarearealno-noincarcompetitionsbutI’macaverandthisisacavercarsothebatstickerisamust.ThejudgeaskedmeifIreallywantedthecarjudgedwiththestickeronandIsaidyes.IstillwonbestinclasswiththestickersoI’mproudofmyawardplate.IhavetheMorganandmywifeLynndrivesa1967TriumphSpitfireinBritishRacingGreen.

13. How are you involved with the Explorers Club?

I’mChairmanof thePhiladelphiaChapteroftheExplorersClub,soIbringcaveexplorationtothisgroup.Theyhavehadmorecavingtalksandpresentationsinthelasttwoyearsthantheyeverhad.

14. Is it true that you’re working on what may be one of the world’s grand-est puzzles?

Yes.Backaround1998FloydCollinCrystalCaveinMammothCaveNationalParkwasheavily vandalized.TheParkServiceisnowallowingsomerestoration.

ValandJimWerkergotmeinvolvedinthisinterestingandunusualproject.Muchofthegypsumwall formationsandotherspeleothemswereheavilydamagedduringthevandalismandwerecartedoff tobesoldinlocalrockshops.TheParkServicerecovered someof the formationsandunfortunatelymanyoftheseformationswerecleanedandbleachedsoourcolormatchingdoesnotwork.Wearelookingataguessof


5,000piecesandweknowwedon’thaveallthepieces.Thisrestorationisprobablyoneoftheworld’sbiggest3Djigsawpuzzles.Iexpecttobedownthereafewweeksperyearoverthenextfiveyears.There’sagoodcrewofcaversworkingontheproject.

15. How do you go about restoring the cave?

Wefindpiecesthatfittheplacefromwhichtheywereremovedandthengluethembackinplace.Weepoxy,withcave-safeepoxy,thepiecestogetherandhavetoconstructelaboratescaffoldingofbungeecord,clampsandrocksupports toholdthepiecesinplaceuntil theepoxycures.Wecall thepieces“Clickers”becauseoftheperceivedsoundapiecemakeswhenit“clicks”backintoplace.Therearedayswhenwedon’tfindanythingthatfitsandthentherearesuccessfuldayswhenwegetseveral.It’ssurprisingtospendthreedaysinthesamepassagelookingatthesamewallandstillfindnewpiecestoreplace.Addingtotheinterestarethehistoricsignaturesondifferentformations.Ithasn’tgottenoldyet.

DeanSnyderisaregularandit’sgreatwhenhe’swithus. I’mamazedwithhisvastknowledgeofthehistoryofFloydandthesurroundingcavearea.BetweentheCaveWarsandwhowasexploringwhat

andwhen.HesharessomuchaboutFloydCollinswithus.

16. Aren’t you involved with some other commercial cave clean-up work?

OurlocalGrotto,theGreaterAllentownGrotto,doesclean-upsattwocommercialcavesinPennsylvania,LostRiverandCrystalCave.SinceWhiteNoseSyndromehasclosedalotofcavingareasthisisawayforustogetundergroundandactuallydoalotofgood.Notonlydoweremovelintfromformationsbutwegettotalkwithsomeoftheguidesthathelpus.Wetrytoprovideaccuratecaveinformationtheycanuseintheircommercialcavetourtalks.Theownersjustlovethatwedothis.Nowtheguidescanspinabitofcaveconservationintotheirvisi-tor’sexperience.Again,theseclean-upsareexamplesofthoseexperienceswhereeventhoughyoudon’tmovemorethaninchesperhourtherearealwaysnewthingstosee.Anotherbenefitisthatwegettogooff-trailandseethepartsofthecavethepayingpublicdoesnotsee.

17. Have you always been interested in cave photography?

Actuallyno,butIhavebeenlearninghowtotakebetterphotographsfromPeterJones.Wehavedonea fewphoto trips

together,includingonecommercialshoot.IkeepfindingbetterwaystoimprovethephotosItake.Ican’tdo18-hourgonzotripsanymorebutIcando10-hourphotographytrips,soIputsomeofmyeffortsthere.IstillenjoyagoodcavetripbutIcan’tcavelikeIdid20yearsago.

18. Some cavers may be envious of one special aspect of your caving life. Tell us a bit about your speleo-babe spouse, Lynn.

Ron,Idonotunderstandyourquestion.Doesn’teverycaverhavealovingspousewhoplans theannual vacationaroundConventionandcheerfullyagreesonwhatthecavebookbudgetisfortheyear?

19. What’s in your caving future, Doug?

Iwanttostayoutofspeleopolitics;tofindandreplacemore“Clicker”piecesatFloydCollinsCrystalCave;todrivemy1964DropHeadCoupeMorgantoConventionandOldTimersReunioninWestVirginia;topilotanairshipthroughThamKhounXe.(The huge river cave that John Pollack and team mapped in Laos, NSS News July 2009. RZ).AndIwanttomapthelongestcaveinAntarctica.


Kim GentryPassagesOctober 2009, Volume 4, Number 10Springfield Plateau Grotto

JonBeardgaveapresentationaboutcaveandgroundwaterconservationtotheMississippiValleyRegionof theGeneralFederationofWomen’sClubs.Healsohandedcopiesof“CaringforYourKarst”totheaudience.

JonBeard,BillHeim,andBonnieHeimwereamongagroupthatcleanedtheinterioroftheoldgiftshopoverOnyx Mountain CaveinPulaskiCounty,Missouri.Theyalsoremovedsometrasharoundthebackofthebuilding,alongwithmuchofanoldtrashdumpupthehillfromBoilingSpring.

RoyGold,BillHeim,BonnieHeim,JonBeard,Melvin Johnson, and JackRosenkoetterparticipatedinGreatOutdoorsDayatBoisD’ArcConservationArea.TheyguidedmembersofthegeneralpublicthroughWatkins CaveinGreeneCounty,Missouri,andoneducational toursaboutsafecavingandcaveconservation.Mostadultsweregivencopiesof“CaringforYourKarst,”whileyoungstersreceivedsomecave-fishitemsalongwithcopiesofRonKerbo’schildren’sbookaboutcaves.

Karst ChronicleSpring 2009, Volume 11, Number 4Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy

DeanSnydergaveanupdateabouttheformationrestorationinFloyd Collins Crystal Cave, inKentucky.Restorationworkhasbeengoingonsince1996byValHildreth-WerkerandJimWerker,aftervandalsbrokeintothecaveanddestroyedformationsinordertocarrythemoutandselltolocalrockshops.DeanmetwiththeWerkers inMay2009,alongwithDougSorokaandChrisNicolatohelpwiththerestoration.Recentworkhasincludedplac-inggypsumcrustbackontothewallsandrepairingformationsinthehelictitepassage.Thecovershowsadishearteningphotocomparisonofthe“BananaStalk”formationthatwastakenin1924,andthenaphotoofthesameformationtakenin2009afterithadbeenvandalized.

KenTaymanreported thatFranklinCountyGrottoisnowparticipatinginwaterlevel researchatCleversburg Sink inPennsylvania.TheywillbeworkingwithgradstudentsfromShippensburgUniversityonaprojecttheyareinvolvedin.Afterdoingsomepreliminaryworktoinstallthesensor,thesensorwashungand isnow taking

measurementsevery15minutes.Thesensorwillbecheckedinafewweekstomakesureitisstillworking.

The CIG NewsletterNovember 2009, Volume 53, Number 11Central Indiana Grotto

AnicearticlealongwithamapwassubmittedbyMarionO.Smith,withphotosbyElliotStahl,thatdetailedthemappingofIndianapolis CaveinTennessee.Duringthecourseofthesurvey,severalpitswerefound,thelargesttapingoutatabout146feet.Thefinalhorizontallengthsurveyedat3,485.9feet,withatotalverticalextentof236.2feet.

JerryBaileyincludednotesandmapsonprospectingcavesontheOoliticQuadrangleinLawrenceCounty,Indiana.Peters Cavehasatotalhorizontalcavelengthof20feetandatotaldepthof5feet.Thecaveendsinan8-foot-highstandingroom.Peters Room Cavewasdrywithgypsumlayersatcertainlevelsinthewalls.Thepassageendedin25feetandwasabout8feetwidemostofthetime,withafewformations.Juniors Copperhead Cavewasnamedafterthelandowner’sgrandson,whohadseenacopperheadnearthepit.Theentranceisa7-footclimb-down intoasmallcrawl-way.Intotalthecavehadabout35feetofpassagesanddroppedabout15feettotaldepth.Peters Pit Cavehasanopeningpitthatis10feetdeepfollowedbya10footdeepcanyonclimb-downtothefloor.Totalsurveyedlengthis80feetwithatotalverticaldepthof-30feet.

The Indiana Cave Survey NotebookSeptember 2009, Issue Number 78The Indiana Cave Survey, Inc.

RogerDanielsdescribesDaniels CaveandDaniels Pit,bothfoundonpropertyhepurchased in2005inOwenCounty,Indiana.Previousownershadused thesinkholestodumptrashandorganicdebrisinto.Rogerdecidedtoinvestigatefurtherwhenheobserved theamountofwateroneofthesinkholeswasswallowingafteraheavyrain.ThreeyearsafterRogerandhissonDilancleanedoutthetrashandorganicmaterial,theywerefinallyabletosurveybothsinkholes,alongwithacavelocatedonaneighbor’sproperty,withthehelpofKevinSmith.ThemapforDaniels Caveshowsasurveyedlengthof54.3feetandatotaldepthof13.5feet.Daniels Pitwassurveyedatalengthof19.8feetwithatotaldepthof5.5feet.Theneighbor’scave,Phil White Cave,wassurveyedtoalengthof39.6feet

withatotaldepthof17.2feet.

Hollow Earth NewsNovember 2009, Volume 16, Number 11 The Wisconsin Speleological Society

KaseyFiskesharesanicearticlewithseveralphotosdescribing the last caveactivityweekendof theyear inMaribel New Hope Cave, locatedinWisconsin,onanexcavationproject.Atotalof206volunteerhourswereputinonthisweekend.Accordingtotheoriginalsurveymapsofthecave,theyonlyhaveabout30morefeettocleartoreachtheFormationRoom.

The West Virginia CaverDecember 2009, Volume 27, Number 6 West Virginia Association for Cave Stud-ies

BillBalfour includesamapwithhisreportof thesurveyofThe Greenway Caves, located inWestVirginia. In thelowersectionofthecave,thecrewclimbedupintoawidebellycrawlthatcontinuedforabout50feetbeforeitbecametoogrim.Thecrawlwasfullofglassandothergarbagethatwasbeingwasheddownstreamfromtheupper,trash-filledentrance.Thelowersectionmappedouttoalengthof105feet.Theuppersectionwasmappedtoalengthof86feet.

BillalsogivesareportwithmapsonthesurveysofThe Pitt Caves,andBroad Run Cave,locatedinWestVirginia.Pitt Pot Cavehasalengthof43feet,withadepthof15feet.Pitt Pithasalengthof45feetandadepthof25feetandhadanoldceramicnightpotneartheentrance.Jon Pitt Cavesurveyedouttoalengthof56feetandadepthof20feet.Broad Run Cavehasa12-footpitentrancethatneededahandlineanddropsintoasmalltrashheap.Ononesideofthecanyontherewasarockshelfwheresomeonehadplacedassortedhouseholdtreasuresandtoys.Billandhisgroupaddedmoreitemstothecollectionforthefunofit.Thiscavesurveyedouttoalengthof155feetwithadepthof24feet.

The Hole NewsOctober 2009, Volume 24, Number 10 Permian Basin Speleological Society

JacquiThomasgivesare-capofthedigtripsinFive Mouth Cave inTexas.ThephotoonthefrontcoverbyKelThomasshowsaveryprettyroomheavilydecoratedwithsodastraws.

A reportonProjectWeekatFort Stanton-Snowy River Cave inNew


MexicowasgivenbyJacquiThomas.Partoftheprojectfocusedonreplacingthewoodwithsteel in theshaft fromDonSawyerMemorialHalltoMudTurtlePassage.Forthis togetaccomplished,awhole lotofconcretemixneededtogetfromthefieldhousetothetopoftheshaft.Theconcretemixwaspre-packagedinto10to12pound“bricks”ofheavyplasticandducttape.Thegroupalsohauledinepoxy-coatedrebar,tools,mixingtub,andothersupplies.Thebasefortheshaftwaspoured,andsomeresistivitystudiesweredone,bothsurfaceandin-cave.Hydrologicalstudies,batstudies,digging,andarchaeologicalstudiesroundedouttheSeptember/OctoberProject.

B.C. CaverSpring 2009, Volume 23 (1) British Columbia Speleological Federation

TrevorMoelaert andDaleChasereported on the second annualMadMappersCaveSurveyWorkshop,heldinBritishColumbia.TheparticipantsmappedVictoria Bridge Cave,whichhasatotalsurveyedlengthof234metresandatotalsurveyeddepthof12metres.Anicemapwasincludedwiththearticle.

B.C. CaverSummer 2009, Volume 23 (2) British Columbia Speleological Federation

Two impressivemaps andphotosaccompanythearticlebyNancyandTrevorMoelaerton themappingof “TheAntSeries;”Ant-Icipation Cave,Ant-T-Up Cave,andAnt Hill Cave,locatedinBritishColumbia.Ant-Icipation Cave’supperentranceisalargesinkholewhichitshareswithAnt-T-Up Cave.Ant-Icipation Cavehasatotalsurveyedlengthof122metreswithatotalsurveyeddepthof8metres.Ant-T-Up Cavesurveyedoutto35metreswithadepthof4metres.Approximately50metres furtherup the forest isAnt Hill Cave,whichdrainsundergroundintoAnt-T-Up Cave.Themapshowsseveralentrances,twoofwhicharepitentrances.Thiscavesurveyedouttoatotallengthof147metreswithadepthof9metres.

Subterranean JourneysOctober 2009, Volume 4 Issue 3Springfield Plateau Grotto

EricHertzlerprovidesanaccountofthesurveyofCrighton Natural BridgeandNatural Bridge Spring Cave,locatedinMissouri,alongwithaverydetailedmapandphotos.Thesurveyofthebridgerevealedthatitis51feetlongandaverages10½feettall.Natural Bridge Spring Cavehasasurveyedlengthof202.2feetandisahavenforcavesalamanderandcrayfish.

Includedinthissameissuewasareport

byJonathanBeardonthenewgateinstalledinRound Spring Cave,locatedinMissouri.Thenewgatereplacesanoldergatewhichwasconstructed intheearly1970s.Theplacementofthenewgatewaspositionedabout30feetclosertothedripline,wheretheoriginalgatefirststood.Aprefabricateddoorweighinginatslightlyover360poundswasinstalledwiththehelpofmanyworkers.

The Carbide FlashJuly-October 2009, Volume 34, Number 3Paha Sapa Grotto

AndyArmstrongdescribestheresurveyofSitting Bull Crystal CavernsinSouthDakota.Themapfrom1976wasmostlyaccurate,butitdidnotshowmuchdetail.In2005,aneffortwasbeguntoresurveyatahigherlevelofinternaldetail.Theimpressivemapthatwasincludedinthearticleshowsthesystem,whichincludesPackrat CaveandTwo Bear Cave,atasurveyedlengthof2,453.1feetandadepthof167.1feet.

Inanotherarticle,MarkOhmsreportsonaweeklongexpeditioninWyoming.Markandhiscrewsurveyedatotalof2,176feetin29cavesandstillhavewellover60cavesthattheyhavenotexploredyet.

Alsointhisissue,isthedescriptionofsurveyswithmapsof twosmallcaves inDakota,givenbyCarterHall.Lone Bat Cave,namedappropriatelyafterasinglelong-earedbatwasfoundinside,surveyedoutat25.1feetwithadepthof11.4feet.Deliverance Cavehasasurveyedlengthof31.8feetandadepthof9.6feet.

Hawaii Speleological SurveyFall 2009, Number 26Hawaii Speleological Survey

Thisissueisfullofspectacularphotosand several cavemaps.AnnandPeterBosteddescribeingreatdetailtheexplora-tionandsurveyofManu Nui Lava TubeinHawaii.Asofthedatethearticlewaswritten,severalleadsremain.Manytypesofboneswerefoundinthecavesystem, includingbonesfromalargeextinctHawaiiangoose.Themaptakesuptwopagesandshowsatotalsurveyedlengthof11,452feetwithatotalverticalextentof1,140feet.

NevinDavisprovidesanarticle,photo,andamapofTom’s Hole survey,locatedinHawaii,whichhasasurveyedlengthof329feet.

SeveralphotosandamapthattakesupthreepagesarealsoincludedinareportbyDougMedvilleofThe West Hawaii Landfill Cave System.Thesurveyendeduphaving13,875feetofsurveyedpassage

andjustover300feetofverticalrelief.

DonKoonsandMikeWarnergiveanupdateon thecontinuingefforts intheKipuka Kanohina Cave SysteminHawaii.Efforts leadprimarilybyMikeWarnerandEmilyDavishasbroughtthecurrentknownlengthuptoatotalof28.7surveyedmiles.

DougMedvilledescribesShallow Goat Dung Cave,locatedinHawaii,andincludesamap.Thecavewasnamedafterapassagethatcontainedmuchgoatdung.Althoughitwasnotthebigexcitingcavehehadhopedfor,itdidsurveyouttoatotalof511feet.

AnotherarticlebyDougMedvillewithmapsisgivenonRoadcut Cave #3andMilepost 83-3 Caves inHawaii.Thesecaveswere discovered by using aerialphotography.Roadcut Cave #3 isonlyacoupleofhundred feet fromtheroadand themapshows302feetofsurvey.ThemapforMilepost 83-3 Cave has436feetsurveyed,andapromisingleadtoanothercavewasfoundonthehikebacktothehighway.

NevinDavis supplies amapandadescriptionofDeidre’s Cave inHawaii.Theentranceispartiallycoveredbyanold,makeshift2x4andplywoodcoverwithaspaciousentranceroom.Thedepthofthecaveis145feetfromtheentrancestationtothelavaplugwherethecaveends.Thetotalsurveylengthis1,128feet.

SeveralmapsandphotosareincludedinanotherarticlebyDougMedvillewhichdescribesseveralcaves locatedonMaukaPu’uWa’awa’aBirdSanctuaryinHawaii.Lower Ambigua Cave is a shortbutspaciouscavethathas621surveyedfeet.Giant Cowskull Caveisnamedforseverallargeandoldcowskullsfoundbelowtheupperentrancewith478feetofsurveyedpassage.Petrel Caveisamoresubstantialcavewith1,345feetofpassage.Lower Owl Cave isabout100feetbelowtheboundaryfenceand1,600feetwestofthePetrel Caveentrance.Ithasoverahalfmileofpassageandisthemostcomplexofthecavesdescribedinhisreport.Therearemanymoreentrancesintheuplanddryforestbelowthecaveanditshouldbecomeafairlyextensivesystemshouldtheydecidetoreturntoit.Thiscavehas2,796feetsurveyed.

Moving? Pleasesendaddresschangestothe

NSSOffice:2813CaveAve.,Huntsville,AL35810-4431orlogontowww.caves.org/info/changeinfo.shtml.


ECOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL METHODS FOR THE STUDY OF BATS(2009) by Thomas H. Kunz and Stuart Parsons (eds.). 2nd Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Hardcover, 901 pages, 8½” x 11” format, ISBN 978-0-8018-9147-2. $100.00.

In thiswell-writtenandauthoritativetext,morethan80contributors,eachanexpertinhisorherrespectivefield,examinethemanytechnological innovations(bothobservationalandexperimental)availabletoresearchersstudyingbats.Primaryconsid-erationisgiventothestudyoffree-rangingbatsandcaptivespecimens,butlaboratory-basedchemicalanalyses(e.g.,determinationofhormoneandpesticidelevels,nutritionalassays,measuresofphysiologicalparam-eters,etc.)arealsoaddressed.Thechallengesfacedbyresearchersinterestedinmonitor-ing,collecting,housing,photographing,andotherwiseinvestigatingthesereclusivenight-flyinganimalsarelegion.

Thisextensivevolumecomprises43chaptersarrangedinto11majorsections:Monitoring andTracking;PopulationsandAssemblages; Reproduction andDevelopment;BehaviorofBatsinCaptivityandintheField;FunctionalMorphology,Activity,andMovement;SubstanceAnalysis;Diet andNutrition;Thermoregulation,Energetics,andWaterBalance;GeneticsandEvolution;ParasitesandDisease;andConservation.Individualchaptersexplorethemostup-to-datetechniquescurrentlyavailable toresearchers for investigatingamyriadof issues related to thenatu-ralhistoryandphysiologicalecologyofbats.Collectively,suchstudiesarehelpingresearchersunderstandthecomplexwaysinwhichbatsinteractwiththeirenvironment.Abroadoverviewofmoderntechnologiesispresentedanddiscussedinthecontextoftheirmajorstrengthsandprincipal limita-tions,suchaseaseofoperation,suitabilityforfieldwork,potentialforadverseimpactonanimalsbeingstudied,validityofassumptionsthatmustbemade,potentialbiases,useofdirectversusindirectindices,availabilityand

expenseofequipment,andthenatureandreliabilityofinformationobtainedinrelationtothespecificgoalsofaparticularresearchinitiative.Newlyemerging technologiesandrecommendationsforfutureavenuesofresearcharediscussedasappropriate.Importantconsiderationspertainingtothemaintenanceofbats incaptivity,relevantpublichealthconcernsassociatedwiththehandlingofbats,aspectsofdiseasesurveil-lanceinbatpopulations,andeducationaloutreacharealsoaddressed.Suitablerefer-encesdirect interested readers tomoredetailedinformation.Throughoutthetext,emphasisisplacedonminimizingdeleteri-ouseffectsonbatsbeingstudied,suchasdirectphysicalharmtoindividualscausedby improperlyplacedorpoorlydesignedbands,possiblemortalityassociatedwiththewidespreaddisturbanceofmaternityroostsorhibernatingcoloniesfollowinginap-propriatevisitation,ordisruptionofnormalbehaviorpatternsbyrepeateddisturbanceorcaptureefforts.

EcologicalandBehavioralMethodsfortheStudyofBats isapracticalguideforlaboratoryandfieldinvestigationsofawidearrayofquestionsrelatedtobatsandwillbeanenormouslyvaluableresourceforstudents,researchers,andwildlifebiologists.Althoughsectionsofmanychaptersarerela-tivelydetailedortechnical,alargeportionofthetextismoregeneralinnature,offeringahighlyreadableandfascinatingdiscus-sionthatwillhavebroadappealtoanyoneinterestedinthebiology,naturalhistory,andconservationofbats.

Danny A. Brass

nss Library spacE issuEsIhavebeenfollowingwithinterestand

concernthediscussionsaboutanewofficefor theSociety.All thealternativesareinterestingbutnonereallysolvetheproblemwhichwillre-occurwhateverwedo.

TheproblemisthattheNSShastoomuchstuff.No libraryandnomuseumcancontinuetoacquirestuff indefinitely.Howeverbigthefacility,spacewillbefinite.Thatiswhylibrariesputmanyoftheirhold-ingsontomicrofilmorintoelectronicmedia.

Rather thanget anewoffice at anewlocation,IbelievetheSocietyanditsmemberswouldbebestservedbyconvert-ingasignificantquantityofholdingssuchasperiodicalstosomethingotherthanpaper.Ifthisweretoadigitalformat,allthismaterialcouldbemadeavailabletoNSSMembersviatheinternet.(Theideaofacentralizedrepositoryisnowout-of-dateandaproductofarchaicthinking.)Theotheradvantagewouldbethatsuchmaterialcouldbeeasilyduplicatedandacatastrophiceventlikeafirewouldnotresultinatotalloss.

Also, Isuspectanumberof internalorganizationsalreadyproducedtheirpublica-tionselectronically.Mygrottodoes.

So,I’dliketorecommendthattheNSSshouldstopacquiringmostnewpublicationsinapaperformat,butshouldencouragedigitalsubmissions.Mostnewly-receivedhard-copypublicationsshouldbescannedandthensold,discarded,orstoredelsewherethantheNSSoffice.Weshouldthenstartworkingbackwardscanningmostpublica-tionsandthende-acquiringthemorstoringthemoff-site.Eventuallyroomwillbefreedupformuseumitems(whichcouldalsobedigitallyphotographedandmadeavailableforviewingbyallNSSmembers).

Irealizethereisanexpenseentailedwith this,but it is likely less thananewofficeormovingandwillprovideanewandmeaningfulresourcetoallNSSmembers.

Thom Engel [email protected]

NSS 13832 LFTHE LOG OF THE WOOKEY HOLE EXPLORATION EXPEDITION, 1935 Graham Balcombe and Penelope Powell. Cave Diving Group, Great Britain; reprint 2009. ISBN 978-0-901031-06-8. 6 by 9 inches, xviii+235+xix pages, hardbound. £25 plus postage (about $70 total) from http://www.cavedivinggroup.org.uk.

Areprintofthefirstcave-divingbook,nowextremelyrareinthe1936firstedition.Someadditionalmaterialonthebackgroundof thebookandmore recentdivingatWookey.


The2010NSSConventionwillbeheldAugust2ndthrough6th,2010, inEssexJunction,Vermont.After100-plusdegreeheatinTexas,andnotmuchlessinFlorida,wenortherncaversthoughtitwasabouttimefor“ACoolConvention.”

TheVermontCaversAssociationwillbeyourhostGrottoforthisyear’sevent,markingthefirsttimeevertheNSShasmetintheGreenMountainState.WeareveryexcitedtowelcomeyouandtosharewithyouVermont’sserenenaturalbeauty,agriculturalheritage,healthylifestyle,andartisticexcel-lence.Webelievethatwhenyouspendaweekhereinthesummer,you’llunderstandwhyweVermontersputupwithourharshwinters–itisworthit.

Onethingweareparticularlyproudofthisyearisour“all-in-one”Conventionsite:theChamplainValleyExposition,knownsimplyas theEXPO.Originallyahugeagriculturalfairground,thefacility isnowVermont’spremiereconventionandexhibi-tionfacility.AllConventionactivitieswilltakeplaceonsite,includingcamping.Socome,setupyourtentorRV,relaxandwalktoalltheweek’sevents.

TheEXPOisconvenientlylocatedjust10minutesfromBurlingtonInternationalAirport(BTV).Burlington,Vermont’slargestcity,isonly15minutesaway.PublictransitrunsrightbytheEXPOgate,offeringeasyaccesstoBurlingtonattractions,oryoucancycleyourwayaroundthisbike-friendlycity.

Burlington is abeautiful and livelytown,withitsfabulouswaterfrontonLakeChamplain,featuringgorgeousmountainviewsandeverywater-relatedactivityimag-inable.Youcanboat,swim,fish,orevendiveandexploreourunderwatershipwreckstatepark.

DowntownboaststheChurchStreetPedestrianMarketplace,avibrantsocialcenter,buzzingwithactivity.Itfeaturesanexceptional selectionof fineandcasualdining,pubsandmicrobreweries,uniqueshopsandboutiques,andalivelyandenter-tainingcultural,art,andmusicscene.

Burlingtonisacollegetown,anchored

bytheUniversityofVermont,butincludingChamplainCollege,BurlingtonCollege,andnearbySt.Michael’sCollege,too.It’salsoagreatfamilytown,withplentytodoforpeopleofallages,soplanonbringingthewholecrewtoenjoysummerinVermont.

Thereismuchmoretoseeanddointheregion—hiking,kayaking,waterfalltour-ing,cycling,climbing—andyou’llbehearingmoreaboutthatinfuturearticles.Butifyoucan’twait,youcanalwaysvisitthe2010ConventionWebsite:www.NSS2010.com.Thereyouwillfindmoredetaileddescrip-tionsofthearea,theConventionfacility,andpertinentinformationaboutregistration,fieldtrips,sessions,andmore.CheckbackfrequentlyasmoreprogramdetailsareaddedaswegetclosertoConvention.

ovEraLL scHEduLETheEXPOcampgroundandonsite

registrationopenSaturday,July31,atNoon.LimitedconventionstaffandvendorsmayarriveonFriday,andvendorscanbeginsettingupSaturdaymorning.VendorsandsalonsetupwillcontinueonSunday.RegistrationwillremainopenaroundtheclockthroughMonday.

Sundaywill of course feature theGeologyTour.Comfortable,air-conditionedtourbuseswill takeparticipantsonanextensive tourofVermont’sChamplainValley.Theworld’soldestfossilreef,ChazyReef,theextraordinaryChamplainThrustFault,Mt.Philo(withitsfineviewsoftheentireChamplainValley)andtheMiddleburyMarbleMine(samplediggingincluded)willhighlightthistour.Lunchisincluded,sobesuretocheckthisboxonyourregistrationform.

Monday wi l l br ing the OpeningCeremony,BoardofGovernorsmeetingand,ofcoursetheopeningsessionsandsalons.WatchcloselyandyoumayseeourshyConventionmascot,Champ(theLakeChamplainmonster).MondaynightistheHowdyParty,featuringVermontspecialtyfoods,microbrews,andentertainment.

Tuesday’s featurewillbe theNightontheTown,directingConventiongoerstosamplefromthemanyfinerestaurantsbothintheimmediateareaanddowntownBurlington.AspecialtalkonVermontbatsandWhiteNoseSyndromewilltakeplacewithVermont’sbatbiologistat theLakeChamplainECHOCenterandAquarium,featuringcocktailsandhorsd’oeuvres.Orsimplysitbackandtakea luxurious lakecruiseontheSpiritofEthanAllen,offeringdinneranddrinks.

Wednesday,thesessions,presentations,

andmeetingsfilltheday.Theeveningwillfeatureacampgroundactivity,includingtheannualNSSAuction.

Thursday,ofcourse,bringsthemuch-anticipatedAwardsSalon,withthefinestcavephotography,videography,finearts,t-shirts,publications, cartography,andsymbolicdevices–alwaysahighlightofanyConvention.Again,thistakesplacerightintheConventionCenter,justashortwalkfromthecampground.

Friday,weplansomespecialfarewelltreatsduringtheday,sothatyoucantakeapieceofVermontbackhomewithyou.TheConventioncomestoitsendFridaynightwiththetraditionalBanquet,againfeaturingatasteofVermont.

BynoononSaturday,we’llneedtoallclearouttomakeroomforthenextevent.Whetheryou’reheadingstraighthomeortoapost-conventioncavingtrip,wehopeyouwillleavewithfondmemoriesofyourstayinVermont.

accommodationsAswementionedbefore,campingis

rightattheEXPO.Thereisfarmoreflat,grassyareathanwewilleveruse,andmoreRVhookupsthanwewillneed.Tentingisincludedinyourregistration;RVswillneedtopayasmallfee.

TheConventionwebsite listsseveralnearbyhotels,motelsandsuites,justamileorsoawayandenroutefromtheairport.Therearemanymorefacilitiesinthedown-townBurlingtonarea,near thecolleges,andelsewhere.Forthoseseekingsomethingmorelikethecomfortsofhome,Vermontiswell-knownforitscozybedandbreakfastaccommodations.

The 2010 NSS Convention – A Cool ConventionPeter Youngbaer, VCA President

A cove along Lake Champlain, just a few minutes from the Convention site

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Lakeshore in Burlington

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mEaLsWearemakingarrangementsforalocal

foodvendortoprovidedailybreakfastandlunchoptions.Fordinner,justoutsidethefairgroundsisabusymainthoroughfare,withawidevarietyofrestaurantsrangingfromthetypicalfastfoodestablishmentstomoreupscalerestaurants.Therearealsomarketsforfoodshopping(aswellasotherstores,includingbanks,postoffice,copycenter,hardware,andmore).TheseareallliterallywalkingdistancefromtheEXPO.Forevenmorevariety,downtownBurlingtonandthenearbyareaprovidethewidestpossiblearrayofdiningopportunities.Wearealsoarrang-ingforanon-sitefarmer’smarkettoprovidethefinestfreshproduceforthosewishingtocookattheircampsite.

tHE Expo cEntEr and groundsTheEXPOCenter isa largemulti-

purposecomplex. It featuresthreemajorexhibitionhalls,numerousconferenceandmeeting rooms,anda largenumberofshowersandrestrooms.It ishandicappedaccessibleandair-conditioned,andWiFiisavailable.

Theverticalworkshopsandclimbingcontestswill takeplace in justaportionofoneofthelargehalls,thebanquetandThursdayaward salon inanother.The

vendors,NSSbookstore,andCaverCo-op(formerlyConsignmentSales)willoccupythethirdlargehall,withacoupleofvendorsimmediatelyoutdoors.

Mostofthesalonswillbeinanearbybuilding—amoreintimateandsecuresetting,perfectfordisplayandreception.TheJSShasitsownbuildingforitsbaseofoperations,andwill includeonsiteactivities, includingWiigames.

Entrytothegroundswillbethroughonegate,sosecuritywillbeeasy.Park,registerinthemainbuilding,thendrivejustafewfeetfurthertothecampingarea.Hottubswillbeinthewoodsimmediatelybehindthenoisycampingarea.

caving and wns Ofcourse, therewillbecaving.The

closestcavetotheConventionisjustamileaway.ThatareaofVermontisprimarilyintheDunhamDolomite,butmarblefeaturesarealsoexposed.Seacaves,taluscaves,andicecaves,areshortdaytripsaway.Guidedtripstosomeofourlargerandmoresensitivecaveswillbeprovided.Ourextensivemarblebeltisfurthertothesouth.

WNSisofcourseaprimeconcern,havingwipedoutmanyofourbats.Wewilltaketheutmostprecautions,generallyavoidingbatcavesentirely.Wewillhaveacompletecleaninganddecontaminationstationonsite,andweareworkingonaloanedequipmentandcaveclothingcachesothatthisgeardoesnotleavetheregionandriskcontaminatingotherdistantareas.HavingbeenatthefrontlineoftheWNSinvasion,wearekeenlyawareofitsdevasta-tionandwillcontinuetomonitorthesituationastheconventionapproaches.

otHEr attractionsInadditiontoenjoyingVermont’snatu-

ralbeauty—suchasaspecialwaterfalltourputtogetherespeciallyforthisConvention—youmaywishtotakesomedaytripstoseeotherVermontattractions.

OurStateHouse,withitsGoldenDome,intheCapitalCityofMontpelier,isagreatstoponthewaytoorfromBarre,theGraniteCapitoloftheWorld,withitshugeworkingquarries.Visitmaplesugaroperations,cidermills,BenandJerry’sIceCreamFactory,or

theVermontMarbleMuseum.Seeourmanycoveredbridges,round

barns,andother interestingarchitecture.Visittheworld-classShelburneMuseumortheUniversityofVermont’sFlemingMuseumofArtandAnthropology.TheVermontWildflowerFarm isamazinglybeautiful.TheLakeChamplainECHOCenterandAquariumprovidesascientificandhands-onlookattheChamplainBasin,perfectforchildrenandtheprofessionalresearcher.

Forfun,thereistheatre,dance,film,avibrantmusicscene,golfandindoormini-golf,andevenourownminorleaguebaseballteam,theLakeMonsters,affiliatedwiththeWashingtonNationals.

makE your pLans now!Asyouknow,NSSConventionsrequire

a lotofworkbymanyvolunteers.TheVermontCaversAssociationisbeingassistedbymanycaversthroughouttheNortheastandmanyconventionveteransfromacrossthecountry.Wecanalwaysusemorehelp–whetherforafewhours,aday,ortakingonalargerresponsibility.OurConventionCo-chairs,KenMooreandRickPingree,wouldlovetohearfromyouifyou’dliketohelp.GototheConventionwebsiteatwww.NSS2010.com,and let themknow.So,makeyourplansandreservationsnow.WelookforwardtowelcomingyoutoVermont!

Lake Champlain ECHO Center and AquariumEXPO Center, the Convention site

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A typical Vermont covered bridge

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Moss Glen Falls, near Stowe, VT

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WNS devastation in Mt. Aeolus Bat Cave

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Gordon Birkhimer

Board of Governors Meeting Birmingham, Alabama

Ifeelit’simportanttoreportthenewsfromtheFallBoardofGovernorsMeetinginBirmingham,Alabamaandreport thehistoricactionsyourDirectorsandOfficershave takenfor thegoodofourSociety.MotionsconcerningtheNSSHeadquarterstookcenterstageasBOGMembersstruggledtoresolvethisemotionallycharged issueinfrontofapackedhometownaudience.Lookingbackon theday, I can informyouyourofficialsshowedalotofconcern,compassion,andcarewhileputtingpersonalfeelingsasidetoconductourbusiness inthebestinterestoftheNSS.Thetonewasemotionalbuttherewerenoraisedvoices,onlypassionatedebateandmeaningfuldiscussionwasheardfromwithinthosewalls.Votingwasconductedappropriatelywitheachindividualvotingtheirconsciencetopromotethefutureofourorganization.BytheendofthedaytheworkoftheBoardhadbeencompletedinarespectfulandprofes-sionalmanner.

Whathappenedatthatmeetingandwhatdoesitmean?YourBoardmembershavemadeacommitmenttoestablishtheNSSasthenumberonecavingorganizationontheplanetaswemoveforwardintothefuture.Wehavetakenahugestepinourgrowthasweevolveintoaworldclassorga-nization.WeunderstandtheimportanceofhavingaHeadquartersshowplacewecanbeproudoftooperatefrom.Wehaveexhibitedthecouragetoleadthewayintothenextphaseofourdevelopment.Additionally,wearewillingtoentertaintheideaofmovingawayfromHuntsvilleifthatis inthebestinterestofourorganization.

Therewereatleastfivemotionsdirectly

pertainingtotheNSSHeadquarters.Agendaitemnumber 6 – “NSSHeadquartersCommission”waspassedtoestablishanNSSHeadquartersCommission“toenabletheNSS to fulfill its visionofhavingamodernheadquartersfacilitywhichbringstheadministrativeoffice,bookstore,library,andarchivestogetherinonelocation.”TheintentisthattheChairmanwillassemblethecommissionersthatwillpossesstheprofes-sionalexpertiseneededtoaccomplishthisundertaking.TheBoarddecidedthattheHeadquartersCommissionChairmanposi-tionshouldbeadvertisedpubliclyandIamcurrentlyconductingthestandardprocessofadvertisingandrecommendingaqualifiedHeadquartersCommissionChairman.TheBoardhastoapprovetheChairmanandhisfourcommissionerspriortotheirbeginningtheirduties.ThePositionDescriptionfortheChairmanisincludedinthisissueoftheNewsalongwiththeChartershouldyou,oranyoneyoucanthinkof,beinterested.

TheBoardalsopassedAgendaitem

number7–“NSSHeadquartersLocation”thatrecommendtotheCommissionaloca-tionatwhich“toconstructorpurchaseaheadquartersfacility.”Avotewasconductedandamajorityof theBoardselectedthelocationof theHeadquarters site toberecommendedasKentucky.Togive theCommissionlatitude,nospecificcitywasdesignated,althoughthesynergyofsouthcentralKentuckyspecificallytheMammothCavecorridorwascitedasexcitingandpotentiallyverybeneficial to theNSSofthefuture.ItshouldbenotedthatalthoughKentuckywastheBoard’sselection,itwasarecommendationonly,andtheCommissionwillhavetheresponsibilityforthoroughlyresearchingandrecommendingtheultimatesite.

Agendaitemnumber8–“CommercialStorageSpaceforNSSOffice”waspassedinordertotemporarilyresolvethelackofspaceandstorageproblemsattheNSSOfficeinHuntsville,Alabama.Rentingorpurchas-ingasmallcommercialclimatecontrolledbuildingforstoragewouldallowustosafelystoreourinventory,easetheworkloadoftheBookstoreManager,andprovidepotentiallibraryandarchivestorage.

Agendaitemnumber21–“NSSOfficetoRemaininHuntsville,”whichstates,“TheNSSwillmaintain itsoffice inHuntsvilleuntilsuchtimeasanewheadquartersfacil-ityhasbeencompleted.”AndAgendaitemnumber22–“HeadquartersCommissionFunding,”allocates$5000.00,tobetakenfromtheHeadquartersFund,tobeusedforstart-upexpensesfortheNSSHeadquartersCommission. Thisallocationshouldcovertravelexpenses(followingNSSguidelines),costofdocumentfees,andotherincidentalexpenses.

AsyoucanseeyourBoardofGovernorshadanactionpackedweekendinoneofthemost importantsessionseverconducted.TheimpactofthedecisionsmadeonthatdaywillhavefarreachingimplicationinthelongtermfutureoftheNSS.Now,itwillbetheworkoftheCommissiontofigureoutthebestformulaforus.Thankfully,theyhavebeengivenafreehandtomoveforward.IwillleaveyounowwithtwoclassicquotesbyAbrahamLincolnthatIhavealwaysadmiredandwhichIbelievesumsupourendeavortoexcel.

“I am for those means which will give the greatest good to the greatest number,” and “With malice toward none, with char-ity for all ...let us strive on to finish the work we are in.”

convEntion Hosts nEEdEd!Don’tyouloveattendingNSSConventions?Seeingoldfriendsandmakingnewones,

learningnewthingsandseeingtheresultsofothersexplorations.Cavinginnewplaces.Checkingoutplacesyouhaveneverbeenbefore.

Ifyouhaveenjoyedtheresultsoftheconventionshostedinvariousplaces,maybeitistimetoinvitethemtocomeandenjoyyourhomestate.OurdesireddatesareJune21toAugust21,althoughschooldatesseemtobeencroachingonbothends.

Therearesomegreatplacesthatwehaveneverbeeninvitedto,yetwewouldlovetovisit-AK,AZ,GA,OH,MT,NC,ND,NV,SC,UTANDWI.Iwouldliketohearfromyouifyouareinterestedornot.Therearealsoalotofgreatplaceswehavenotbeenbacktoinaverylongtime.IfyouareinterestedIwillvisitandcheckoutyourproposedsite.Mystaff&Iwillassistyoualongtheway.Ifyouarenot,[email protected].

Carol TidermanConventions Division Chief


Charter of the National Speleological Society

Headquarters Commission(AS PASSed At 11/7/2009 BoG MeetinG,

unAPProved verSion By Peri FrAntz)

A.TheNationalSpeleologicalSocietyHeadquartersCommission (HQComm)is located in thePresident’sDepartmentand isestablishedtoenabletheNationalSpeleologicalSociety (NSS) to fulfill itsvisionofhavingamodernheadquartersfacilitywhichbringstheadministrativeoffice,bookstore,library,andarchivestogetherinonelocation.

TheHQComm’sresponsibilitiesshallinclude:•Creationofwrittenoperatingpoliciesandprocedures

•Siteselectionandacquisition•Facilitiesspecificationsanddesign•Developmentofprojectschedule•Obtainingpermitsandzoningchanges•Selectionandsupervisionofcontractors•Financing•Fundraising•StatusreportsateachBoardofGovernorsMeeting

B.TheHQCommwillplaceahighpriorityontheprotectionandpreservationoftheenvironmentingeneral,andofcavesandkarstsspecifically,andconductthisprojectasademonstrationofappropriatetechniquesfordevelopingonkarstlands.

C. TheHQCommshall consistofaChairman, theOVP, and fourothermembers.ThePresident shall appointtheChairman,subjecttoapprovalbytheNSSBoardofGovernors.TheChairmanwillappointtheothermembers,subjecttoapprovalbytheNSSBoardofGovernors.

D.TheHQCommwillcreateageneralprojectscheduleanddevelopapreliminarybudget,tobeapprovedbytheBoard,beforebeginningotherplanningandwillkeepthePresidentapprisedofanychangestothescheduleorbudget.

E. TheHQCommshalloperate inaccordancewithabudgetdevelopedbytheCommissionandapprovedbytheBoardofGovernors.TheHQCommshallappointaFinancialOfficertomonitorallfinancialactiv-ityandtomakeregularreportstotheNSSSecretary-Treasurer.AllfinancialaccountinganddisbursementsfortheHQCommshall

behandledinaccordancewiththeActsoftheBoardofGovernorsandNSSfinancialprocessesandreportingrequirements.

F.TheHQCommmayengage theservicesofarchitects,designers,grantwrit-ers,contractors,andsimilarprofessionalsasneeded.

G. TheHQCommwillobtainBoardapproval,priortoproceeding,atthefollow-ingmajorcheckpoints.•Priortopurchasingrealestate•Uponcompletionofconceptualdesign•Uponnearcompletionofarchitecturalplans

•Priortoengagingcontractorsandbegin-ningconstruction

H. AtanypointwheretheHQCommrequiresBoardapproval,itmayrequestane-mailvoteif itdeterminesthattimelinessisimportant.Suche-mailvotewillproceedaccordingtotheNSSstandardprotocol.

I.TheHQCommisauthorizedtosolicitcontributionsandgrantstotheSociety,andtoengageinfundraisingactivities.Allcontri-butionsandgrantsreceivedbytheHQCommarethepropertyoftheNSS,andshallbeused inaccordancewithanystipulationsattachedtothem.TheHQCommFinancialOfficershallprovideadetailedaccountingoftheiruse.

BackgroundAttheNovember7,2009,NSSBoard

ofGovernorsMeeting, theBoardestab-lishedanNSSHeadquartersCommission(HQComm)tooverseethecreationofanewNSSheadquartersfacility,andadoptedanNSSHeadquartersCommissionCharter(Charter).TheNSSisnowsolicitingapplica-tionsfortheChairmanofthisCommission.Thisisavolunteerposition,whichwillentailconsiderablework,andisexpectedtotakeuptosevenyearstocomplete.

1) TheChairmanoftheHQCommwillmanageandcoordinateallactivitiesoftheHQComm,inaccordancewiththe goals andprocedures definedin theCharter. TheChairmanwillberesponsible forallphasesof theHQCommProject,includingplananddesigndevelopment,scheduleandcost

management,constructionoversight,andreportingtothePresidentandtheBoard.

2) TheChairmanwillappointfourothermemberstotheCommission,subjecttoapprovalbytheBoard.Memberswillbeselectedtoprovideavarietyofskillsandexperienceinsuchdiverseareasas realestate,design,construction,finance,andfundraising.Collectively,theChairman, theNSSOperationsVice-President,andthefourcommis-sionerswillberesponsibleforfulfillingtheobjectivesoftheHQComm.

3) TheCommissionChairmanshouldhaveexperience inthemanagementofconstruction (orofficerelocation)projects ranging from$1,000,000to$5,000,000.Thecandidatemustexhibitgoodcommunication,writing,andcomputerskills,aswellasexperienceworkingwithvolunteers.TheChairmanshould have experience using theDesign-build(D-B)constructionprojectdeliverysystemconcept.ABachelor’sDegreeinConstructionManagement,Architecture,Engineering,orarelatedfield ishighlydesirable. ALicensedProfessionalEngineerorArchitect ispreferred.Thecandidatemustbewillingtotravelasneeded.

4) TheChairmanwillensurethatallprojectgoalsareapprovedbytheBoard,andareaccomplishedaccordingtospecifica-tions,ontime,andwithintheapprovedbudgets.

5) TheChairmanwillcommunicatedirectlywitharchitects,builders,andothercontractors to ensureprompt andaccurateperformance,andnegotiatewithvendors,government,andpublicentitiestorepresentthebest interestoftheNSS.

Submittal GuidelinesInterestedpartiesshouldsubmittheir

resumes,references,andother informa-tionto:

GordonBirkhimer,NSSPresident2807HoganCourtFallsChurch,[email protected]

Submissionsmustincludealistofproj-ectexperienceand3-4references.Thisjobdescriptionoutlinesthegeneralnatureofwork tobeperformed,and isnotanexhaustivelistofallresponsibilities,duties,andskills.

Headquarters Commission Chairman Job Description CloSinG dAte JAnuAry 31, 2010


AD RATES:50centsperword,witha10%discount forprepaidadsrunning threemonthsorlonger.Thefollowingcountasonewordeach:P.O.box#;streetaddress;city;state&zip;phonenumber.E-mailorwebaddressesexceeding10characterscountas twowords.Paymentmustprecedepublication,butcopyshouldbee-mailedtotheeditor ([email protected]),toreservespace.Copyshouldbereceivedsixweekspriortopublicationdate (e.g.,byMay15forJuly issue).MakecheckspayabletotheNationalSpeleologicalSocietyandsendto:NSSNewS AdvertiSiNg,107AvonbrookRoad,Wallingford,PA,19086.

Firefly Slaves for cave photography: FF 2 ($75) and FF 3 ($110) for digital. CD “On Three: An intro to digital photography for cavers” ($15). New: Cave Cards! individual ($3.50) or sets of six cards ($18) with stunning cave photos, envelopes. See newly updated website: www.pjcaver.com. V/MC/AMEX/Check. SITDCP, 80 Mountain St, Camden, ME 04843. 207-236-6112. [email protected] KARST NEEDS ACQUISITION? Grant money is available from the National Speleological Foundation.www.speleofoundation.org

karst information portaLThoselookingforbackissuesofpromi-

nentcavingpublicationshaveanexcellentresourceinTheKarst InformationPortalwebsite(www.karstportal.org).Theirpublica-tionsmenu,accessedthroughtheResourcestab,shows15publications,includingNSSBulletinsandtheNSS Newsfrom1990to2004.PlansaretoeventuallyincludeallNSS News issues.TheyhavescannedthemtoPDFformatandwhilenotasgoodaqualityasPDFsmadedirectfromthelayout,arequitereadable.Thetext inthesePDFsissearchable.

Otherpublications in thecollectionincludethoseoftheAMCSandavarietyofkarstresearchjournalsfromtheUS,UK,Australia,andtheUIS.

nEw matEriaL on tHE ics wEbsitEThewebsiteforthe15thInternational

CongressofSpeleology (ICS)hasbeenrevised.Mostoftheearlierinformationhasbeenremoved.Youwillnowfindatwww.ics2009.us-• SpecialissueoftheNSS Newsonthe

ICS(Nov2009)inPDFformat.• TheICSPrograminPDFformat.• PhotographsfromtheICS.Seeifyou

canfindyourselfandyourfriendsinthe198photographsinaPowerPointfile.Youdon’thavePowerPoint?Nota

USAMay 21-23, 2010—Spring VAR at the WV State Fairgrounds in Lewisburg, WV. Contact John E. Pearson at [email protected] or go to the VAR website at http://www.varegion.org/ for details.Memorial Day Weekend 2010—The 25th Annual Ennis Cave Blowout, Mt. View Arkansas. Live music, catered dinner on Saturday night, games, raffles, hiking, caving, and relaxation. Something for everyone. See www.Enniscave.net in future months for registration information.June 17-20, 2010—59th Annual SERA Summer Cave Carnival hosted by the Sewanee Mountain Grotto in Monteagle, TN. Stay tuned for more info!August 2-6, 2010—NSS Convention in Essex Junction, Vermont.Chairman: Ken Moore, [email protected] 18-22, 2011—NSS Convention in Glenwood Springs, ColoradoJune 25-29, 2012—NSS Convention in the Greenbrier Valley of West Virginia

INTERNATIONALApril 27- 30, 2010—Fourth International Symposium on Karst, Málaga, Spain; Centre of Hydrogeology at University of Málaga and Spanish Geological Survey. Emphasis on karst hydrogeology, protection of water resources and ecosystems, karst landscapes, engineering geology. Contact: A.I. Marin ([email protected]). Web site: http://www/cehiuma.uma.es. August 4-8, 2010—Cuban Speleological Society 70th anniversary and congress in Matanzas, Cuba. The VI Congress of the Speleological Federation of Latin America and the Caribbean (FEALC) will take place at the same time. Contact [email protected] or [email protected] 12-17, 2010 —4th International S y m p o s i u m o n Vu l c a n o s p e l e o l o g y, U n d a r a , A u s t r a l i a . P r e - s y m p o s i u m excursion to Western Victoria 7-10 August. Info: [email protected] 2011—2nd Central American Congress of Speleology. Coban, Guatemala. Organized by ICEKE, hosted by ASOKARST and sponsored by the Anthros Costa Rica Grotto. Cavers who have explored caves in Central America are invited to present their work, maps, surveys, and studies. E-mail contacts: [email protected], [email protected] For details http://proiceke.blogspot.com/ or www.anthros.org

Send items for the calendar to [email protected] at least 6 weeks before desired month of publication (i.e., by March 15 for the May issue).

nationaL spELEoLogicaL foundation grants program

AttheOctober17thmeetingof theNationalSpeleologicalFoundation,areviewwasmadeofapplications forgrants for2009.ThegrantsaremadeeachfallfromtheVehslageGrantsFundwhichwasestab-lishedwithabequesttotheFoundationfromtheestateofEugeneVehslage,whoservedasatrusteeoftheFoundationformanyyears.GenealsoservedaspresidentoftheNationalSpeleologicalSocietyandreceiveditsWilliamJ.StephensonOutstandingServiceAward.

Thegrantsaregivenforspeleologicalresearchandexploration,caveandkarstresourceconservation,educationandpublicawarenessaboutcavesandkarst,andsignifi-cantpropertyacquisitions.ThisyeartheVehslageGrantstotaled$9,700.

Thesuccessfulgranteesare:Ohio University, Dr. Gregory S.

Springer, for“QuantifyingandRelativeContributionsofCorrosion,Abrasion,andCavitationtoCavePassageEnlargementanda3-DScanninglabfortheStudyandConservationofCaves.”ThisgrantisbeingmadecontingentontheirreceiptofapprovalofanothergrantfromtheNationalScienceFoundation.

KarstPartnershipForum,MeridethA.Hildreth,fordisplaymaterialsforaboothinconnectionwithanNSSConservationCommitteedisplayattheNationalPlanningAssociationconvention.

NortheasternCaveConservancy,Inc.,RobertAddis,fortheacquisitionofMerlinsCave,ColumbiaCounty,NewYork.

MiddleTennesseeStateUniversityFoundation,Dr.AlbertOgden,toupdateavideoentitled:“HollowGround:TheLandofCaverns,Sinkholes,andSprings.”

For information about the grantsprogramandapplicationforms,pleaseseewww.speleofoundation.org.

TheNSFGrantsCommittee:BertAshbrook,ChairmanJeanneGurnee,LarrySoutham

problem.WeprovideyoualinkwhereyoucandownloadafreeprogramtoviewPowerPoints.

• Thefinal listofwhoregisteredandfromwhichcountriesandU.S.states.

• The full ICSProceedings inPDFformat.

• ThenewslettersthatwereprintedeverydayduringtheICS.

• Amedicalsurveyoncavinginjuries.Evenifyoudidn’tgocavingduringtheICSorwerenotinjured,pleasetakeafewminutesandcompletethissurvey.Itwillhelpan important researchproject.

• Information on the Organiz ingCommitteeandhowtocontactus.

Ihopeyouenjoythisinformationandyourmemoriesofthe15thICS.

George Veni, Ph.D.Chairman, 15th International Congress

of Speleology Vice President of Administration, International Union of Speleology

Executive Director, U.S. National Cave and Karst Research Institute


Ice column in Butters Cave, WA, by Richard YostEncrusted stalagmite in Rumbling Falls Cave, TN., by Ken Headrick

“King’s Curtain” formation of Sumaging Cave, Municipality of Sagada, Mountain Province, Philippines. This unusual rimstone dam is approximately 8 meters wide by 20 meters long. Illuminated by two kerosene lanterns and a slaved flash. (Exposure: 6 sec., f/2.8, ISO100, F/28mm). Taken by Jerry “Pub” Rendon, (Balincaguin Conservancy Grotto, Mabini, Pangasinan, Philippines.) assisted by (L-R): Rawen Balmaña, Edwin Zipagan, Rodysseus Reyes

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S-XL, XXL · 2013. 12. 19. · Michael Pugliese. NSS N. ewS, January 2010 5 the area around what...

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Transcript of S-XL, XXL · 2013. 12. 19. · Michael Pugliese. NSS N. ewS, January 2010 5 the area around what...