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January/February
1993
In
early January 1993, Wind Cave's surveyed mileage stood at 70.8 miles. By the end
of February, the length had been increased to 71.2 miles. The total amount of
survey accumulated for the two month period was 0.4 miles. The total amount of
inventory performed in previously known passage was 0.2 miles. In addition, 0.4
miles of inventory was done in conjunction with new survey.
The January Colorado Grotto trip was on the ninth. Bill Yett, Pat Jablonsky and
Sandy Kraemer surveyed 90 feet in the NO' survey in the Historic Zone. Kevin Smith,
Pat Malone and Jamie Meyers went out to the Silent Expressway to assist with the
hydrology project. Tim Moreland, Dan Hansen and Jim Myers also helped with the
water study by going to the area north of the Coke Room. Kirk Haley, Jim Erickson,
Ron Potter and Karen Murphy surveyed 53.1 feet in the UR5A-D survey. Jim climbed
the dome at CM'11 and found no going leads. Randy Macan, David Coles, Becky Ward
and Aaron Macan surveyed 500 feet from DY-11 to DY-36. The lower-level passage
they surveyed went to the south boundary of the cave. Stuart Marlatt, Rob Reichert
and Tom Ceier inventoried 23 stations, SA1-5, SA35-48. This area is in the Half-Mile
Hall Zone near the Cratework Crawl.
On January 23, Carol
Boyles, Charles Hubbeling and Mike Lilygren inventoried 8 stations in the Historic
Zone. The are they inventoried was E47-50, 53-55 and 64.
February 13 was the Colorado Grotto trip to Wind Cave. Rich Wolfert, Tim Moreland,
June Golaz and Bob Stucklen surveyed 158.9 feet in the NWA survey near the Wind
Tunnel. They found an historical Alvin McDonald signature dated Nov. 23, 1890.
Robert Phillips, Kevin Smith, Steve Lester and Fred Douglas surveyed 181.3 feet
in the VH survey as well as inventorying 3 stations. Dave Lester, Kirk Haley,
Randy Brown, Barry Berg and Cheryl Scifres surveyed 598 feet in the Snowdrift
Avenue area. Sandy Keaemer, Pat Jablonsky, Kathy Petty, Frank Leskinen and Clarence
Williams surveyed 102.2 feet in the ND2A-G survey. They also inventoried 6 stations
and noticed some leads in the Basement area. Bran Smith, Jim Meyers, Don Broeker,
Margo Butner and Carl Pagano surveyed 432.9 feet in the AG survey near the 3-way
stair on the Fairgrounds tour. Max Mazur, Mike Mazur and Wes Allen surveyed 120.7
feet in the THO survey. This survey is in the lower level cave area of the Half-Mile
Hall Zone. Jim Clark, Veronica Stahl, David Terry and Brad Stampa surveyed 73.5
feet in the DX survey off of the DY survey. Jim found a tight lead up above BWB6
that led to 150 feet of virgin cave but they did not survey it due to the tightness
of the initial squeeze. March/April
1993 At
the beginning of March, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 71.2 miles. By the
end of April, Wind Cave's length was increased to 72.0 miles. The total amount
of new survey accumulated during this two month period as 0.8 miles. Approximately
0.75 miles of previously surveyed passage was inventoried along with the 0.8 miles
of inventory accomplished in conjunction with the new survey.
March 13, was the Colorado Grotto weekend at Wind Cave. Jim Wilson, Eric Dutton,
Randy Brown and Kevin Reynolds surveyed 510 feet off of JX18. They found a nice
passage off of the Wine Cellar. Steve Lester, Bill Hawn and Robert Phillips inventoried
14 stations near the caving tour. Dave Lester, Becky Ward, Pat Malone and Kevin
Smith inventoried 65 stations in the New Lakes area. Bryan Smith, Jim Myers, Carl
Pagano, Jane Prendergast, Jamie Myers, Ingred Luszko and Carol Boyles surveyed
348 feet in the AJ and AP' surveys near the 3-way stairs. Paul Burger, Doug Kent
and Jim Erickson surveyed 551.4 feet off of the LTG, LTO and LTB surveys. They
mopped up leads in the Canyon and Northwest Territory sections of the Southern
Comfort Zone. Pat Jablonsky, Sandy Kraemer and Clarence Williams surveyed 180
feet in the NK survey in the Historic Zone.
On April 3,
Jim Nepstad, Bob Kobza, Paul Burger and Stan Allison made a trip to the New Lakes
area to look for leads. There were several things with air but the leads they
looked at were too tight.
April 10 was the April Colorado
Grotto trip. Max Mazur, Mike Mazur and John Coyne surveyed 497.3 feet in the BUC,
BUA and BHA surveys. This area is in the Half-Mile Hall Zone. Bryan smith and
Steve Posey surveyed 402.6 feet in the CQA survey near the Fairgrounds Tour Route.
Tim Moreland, Paul Coulam and Jane Prendergast inventoried 35 stations north of
the Coke Room. Robert Phillips, Steve Smith, Steve Lester and Evan Anderson inventoried
20 stations near the Birthday Cake in the western section of Wind Cave. While
poking around they found a large virgin room, which they left going. Jim Clark,
Veronica Stahl and Sean Durram surveyed 315.6 feet and inventoried 24 stations
in the Silent Expressway Zone.
On April 16, Bill Hawn,
Bob Phillips, Steve Lester, Steve Smith, Jim Nepstad and Bob Kobza returned to
the new area found the week before. They surveyed 800 feet of new cave in the
WFS survey. One large room was approximately 200 feet long, up to 75 feet wide
and from 15 to 40 feet tall. A pool named Nice Ice was also discovered. There
does seem to be some airflow in this area.
On April 24,
Stan Allison, Paul Burger, Myk Coughlin and Mike Wiles surveyed 555 feet in the
LOL survey along Route 66. They checked out most of the leads along Route 66,
leaving only a high lead. May/June
1993 At
the beginning of May, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 72.0 miles. By the
end of June, Wind Cave's length was increased to 72.6 miles. The total amount
of new survey accumulated during this two month period was 0.6 miles. Approximately
0.2 miles of previously surveyed passage was inventoried along with the 0.6 miles
of inventory accomplished in conjunction with the new survey.
The May 5th Colorado Grotto weekend was well attended. Louise Hose, Al Hinman
and Bob Johnson surveyed 210 feet of cave in the KYH1-9 survey. They discovered
several wet areas and stalactites. Mike Behn, Dave Houck, Ed LaRock and Alan Williams
surveyed 333 feet in the KQA1-16 survey. This group was attempting to push leads
north-west and north-east of KQ84 into an area with no known cave. They were unable
to push into this area but did the KQA survey in upper levels near KQ84. Sandy
Kraemer, Kathy Petty, Pat Jablonsky and Clarence Williams surveyed 143.7 feet
in the NK6B1-6 survey. They noted heavily dripping water, a pool, and a fly in
their survey. Jim Clark, Stefan Scherer and V. Stahl surveyed 235.1 feet in the
SP1-10 survey. They originally intended to survey in the Off Ramp area, but upon
finding most leads choked off in silt fill, they decided to survey in the No Thru
Streets area. Dave Lester, Rich Wolfert, Randy Brown and Tim Moreland surveyed
694 feet in the NM22, NM26, NM32 and NMC surveys near the Wind Tunnel. Many historic
signatures were noted in this area. Kevin Smith, Jane Prendergast and John Campbell
inventoried 30 stations in the BC1-21 and Delta 1-9 surveys. The pool at Delta
1, which was used as a water source during the 1971 in-cave camps, was found to
be dry. Bryan Smith, Bill Yett, Kyle Flaming and Kirk Haley surveyed 173 feet
in the A24 survey. This survey is in the Blue Bayou area. Bill Hawn, Steve Lester,
Doug Kent, Evan Anderson and Steven Smith surveyed 279 feet in WFS14-15, and the
WFT survey. This survey is in the Western Fringe area.
On May 22, John Scheltens, Dave Springhetti and Andy Flurkey surveyed 408 feet
off of the WFT and WFS surveys noting much gypsum.
Over
the Memorial Day weekend of May 29-30, a total of 28 cavers traveled around the
Club Room Loop as a part of the Caver Classic occurring on John Scheltens Ranch
near Hot Springs.
The June Colorado Grotto weekend was
on June 12. Robert Phillips, Kevin Smith, Steve Smith and Karen Kurtak found a
tight passage going west across the Big Dark. Not all of the party was able to
fit through the passage, so it was not surveyed. Kathy Petty, Sandy Kraemer and
Clarence Williams surveyed 164.1 feet in the NK1 survey. Their survey tied in
to the Natural Entrance trail. Jim Clark, V. Stahl, Stefan Scherer and Dale Martin
traveled out to Martels' Madhouse. They pushed this area hard, and feel that it
has been thoroughly checked. (In Wind Cave it is hard to imagine anything 100%
checked, due to the amazing complexity of the cave). Jim Wilson, Bill Yett, Eric
Dutton and Skip Withrow surveyed 525 feet in the continuation of the JX survey.
They finished the Whine Room area exploration and connected into the LL and BB
surveys. Pat Jablonsky led an orientation trip for Jon Bennett, Fred Crowle, Kathy
Lankford, Dale Lankford and Dan Wray III. Pat taught surveying and inventorying
on this trip. Vi Schweiker, Ted Lappin, Evan Anderson and Bruce Albright surveyed
138 feet in the GRA1-11 survey and inventoried GR15-19. They were unsuccessful
in looking for a connection to the Disappointment Chamber. July/August
1993 At
the beginning of July, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 72.6 miles. By the
end of August, Wind Cave's length was increased to 73.0 miles. The total amount
of new survey accumulated during this two month period was 0.4 miles. Approximately
0.8 miles of previously surveyed passage was inventoried along with the 0.4 miles
of inventory accomplished in conjunction with the new survey.
The Colorado Grotto weekend of July 10 was very successful in terms of inventory.
Sandy Kraemer, Kathy Petty, Bill Yett, and Pat Jablonsky inventoried 58 stations
in the NR1-9, NF1-10, NV1-7, UX1-22, A55 and A56-65 surveys. Kevin Smith, Jamie
Meyers, Paul Fowler and Myk Coughlin surveyed 276.5 feet in the NEW4 and NEW8
surveys. They were pushing for a connection between the Disappointment Chamber
and the Northwest section of the cave. They felt that a connection is unlikely
in this area. They also inventoried 76 stations in the NM24C1-9, NEW1-8, NWT1-54
and NWT54A-E. Steve Smith, Bill Hawn, Robert Phillips, Evan Anderson and Thane
Moyes surveyed 246.3 feet in the WFS survey. They found a gypsum needle that is
one foot long! They also began surveying down the tight, westerly trending passage
that they found in June. Stacy Smyth, Kyle Flaming, Jim Gaiser and Jane Prendergast
surveyed 350 feet in the JG1-14 survey. This area, located just east of the Attic
contains historic string and newspaper.
On July 14, Stacy
Smyth, Kim Dreyfuss, Bill ? and Deanna Harrell surveyed 120 feet in the continuation
of the JG survey. They found large amounts of gypsum in their survey. On July
20, Stacy Smyth, Sarah Spodek, Shawn Sanner and Andrew McMahn surveyed 156.4 feet
in the JG. On July 22, Stacy Smyth, Sarah Spodek, Donnie-Ann Burnett and Greg
Sweitzer continued the JG survey. At the end of the day Bonnie-Ann pushed through
a tight twisty lead with air. On July 24, Stacy Smyth, Jim Nepstad, Stan Allison,
Bob Kobza and Bonnie-Ann Burnett surveyed 89 feet in the JG survey. They surveyed
through the tight spot found by Bonnie-Ann. Eventually they found a connection
back to the Campfire Room, but did not survey it. Their survey went by a nice
patch of gypsum cotton. On July 27, Stacy Smyth, Bonnie-Ann Burnett, Greg Sweitzer,
Greg Finnoff and John Finnoff surveyed 72.3 feet in the JG.
August 14 was the C0lorado Grotto Trip at Wind Cave. Vi Schweiker, Evan Anderson
and Sean Larmore surveyed 255.6 feet in the KYK1-15 survey. Once again they were
looking for a connection to the Disappointment Chamber, and once again they were
disappointed. Tim Moreland, Aaron Macan and Paul Fowler surveyed 189.4 feet in
the CGA1-10 survey, as well as inventorying 34 stations in the CG1-23 and AN1-8
surveys. They were pushing west from the Colorado Grotto Zone but had on luck,
as all of the crawls they were pushing became too nasty. Dan Hansen, Steve Smith
and Robert Phillips surveyed 214.4 feet in the AIC1-11 survey. They were surveying
in nice upper level cave with flowstone, drapery, stalactites and helictites. September/October
1993 At
the beginning of September, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 73.0 miles. By
the end of October, Wind Cave's length was increased to 73.3 miles. The total
amount of new survey accumulated during this two month period was 0.4 miles. However
0.1 mile as subtracted from the total length by eliminating redundant survey shots
form old surveys. Approximately 125 feet of previously surveyed passage was inventoried
along with the 0.4 miles of inventory accomplished in conjunction with the new
survey.
The September Colorado Grotto trip occurred on
the 11th. Bruce Albright, Evan Anderson and Steve Lester surveyed 310.9 feet in
the North Zone. They closed two loops, between KY309 and KY369, and between KY371
to KY372. They also found a geode with 1 inch dogtooth spar. Dave Lester, Rich
Wolfert and Kirk Galey surveyed 269 feet in the AQ14A-F, NVA1-8 and NVA3A-F surveys.
These surveys are all in the vicinity of the Wind Tunnel. Tim Moreland, Paul Fowler
and Lee Blazek surveyed 214.5 feet in the KKK survey. The survey drops down into
lower level passage, several leads were noted, along with some with airflow.
The October Colorado Grotto trip to Wind Cave was on the 9th.
Steve Lester, T. Evan Anderson and Alex Fong, surveyed 506.8 feet in the AIV survey
leaving many leads unchecked. Carl Pagano, Simon Richards, Barbara Luke, Paul
Fowler and Mark Blair surveyed 87.1 feet in the FTD1-6 survey. Most of this survey
was crawly. Patricia Malone, Kevin Smith, Jim Gaiser and Mike Zawada surveyed
251.4 feet in the VHA1-16 and VHA9A-B. They left a couple of leads going in this
area. Dale Lankford, Kathy Lankford,Jim Wilson and Dan Wray surveyed approximately
150 feet in the ASA100-110 survey. Dina Y. Venesky, Frank Leskinen and Stephen
Hahn surveyed 243.4 feet in the QCD survey near the Chinese Mushroom. They left
several 20-40 foot pits unchecked in their survey. Steven Smith, Ben Gaiser, Dan
Hansen and Jo Van Hook continued the AIC survey for 140.4 feet. They also inventoried
AIB1-5 and found a shortcut to Janine's Pitfall via AI46 to AIA1 to AI55. November/December
1993 At
the beginning of November, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 73.3 miles. By
the end of December, Wind Cave's length was increased to 73.65 miles. The total
amount of new survey accumulated during this two month period was 0.35 miles.
Approximately 0.4 miles of previously surveyed passage was inventoried along with
the 0.35 miles of inventory accomplished in conjunction with the new survey.
The November Colorado Grotto trip occurred on the 12th and
13th. Due to a major snowstorm, few cavers braved the icy drive from Colorado
to Wind Cave National Park. On the 12th, Sandy Kraemer, Kathy Petty and Pat Jablonsky
surveyed 53.4 feet in the FB'1-5 survey. On the 13th, Paul Fowler and Lee Blazek
inventoried 11 stations from B*7 to B*17. This area is located under Guides Discovery.
Kathy Petty, Sandy Kraemer and Pat Jablonsky surveyed 99 feet from FB'4-10. They
found some bat scratches in this area.
The December Colorado
Grotto trip was well attended on the weekend of the 11th. Randy Brown, Steve Lester
and Dave Lester inventoried 54 stations in the New Lakes area. They also surveyed
210.5 feet in the WZA and WZ60 surveys for a very productive trip. Jim Wilson,
Steven Kumpf and Mike Zawada surveyed 415 feet in the QB survey. Their survey
was mostly in virgin upper level cave in the Half-Mile Hall Zone. Rob Horrocks,
Clair Call, Kevin Pippen, Joel Despain and Doug Kent surveyed 530 feet in the
BEG survey near Martel's Madhouse. They discovered two large rooms called the
Rainbow Rooms for the bright sediments found in them. Following an upper level
passage called the Flour Tube, they pushed the cave to its Northwest boundary.
Promising airflow and numerous leads make this an exciting area. Carl Pagano,
Bob Stucklen, Rich Wolfert, Pete Ruplinger and Deb Stucklen surveyed 94.5 feet
in the XER survey in the Colorado Grotto Zone. Pat Jablonsky, Bill Yett, Clarence
Williams and Greg Glasner surveyed 114 feet in the FB'12-23 survey. They also
inventoried 17 stations in the B* survey. Jim Nepstad, Bob Kobza, Mike Paulick
and Ed LaRock surveyed 325.1 feet in the KKL survey West of the Figure 8 Room.
They found a lead west of KK28 going to approximately 300 feet of walking cave
with crumbly climbs. Paul Fowler, Tim Moreland and Mark Blair surveyed 252.4 feet
in the KKN, KKN3 and KKK5 surveys. |
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