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January/February
1996
At
the beginning of January, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 77.65 miles. By
the end of February, Wind Cave's length was increased to 78.0 miles. The total
amount of new survey accumulated during this two month period was 0.35 miles.
A total of 0.4 miles of previously surveyed cave was inventoried. In addition
0.35 miles was inventoried in conjunction with the new survey.
The January Wind Cave weekend
was canceled due to the recent government shutdown.
The February weekend was on
the tenth. Rich Wolfort led June Golaz, Emma Rainforth and Nancy Ortolani out
to the Xerox Room where they inventoried 12 stations in the AD and ADA surveys.
Tim Moreland led Ted Lappin, Vi Schweiker and Dan Benner to the southern end of
the Club Room. They surveyed 449.5 feet in the BBF and ZBB surveys. In addition
they inventoried 7 previously surveyed stations. Rene Singer led Sherry McClure
and Todd Durham out to the BV and BW surveys where they inventoried 19 stations.
Mike Wiles led Kelly Mathis and Noah Daniels out to the BW survey where they inventoried
20 stations. Jim Wilson led Walt Pickett, Sandy Kraemer and Skip Withrow to the
Half-Mile Hall Zone where they surveyed 440 feet along the KEG survey. Evan Anderson
led Hazel Barton and Paul Burger out to the Lunatic Fringe where they surveyed
238 feet in the WFD26, WFF4 and WFK surveys. Kevin Smith led Steve Smith and Robert
Phillips out near the Elks Room where they inventoried 22 stations in the UY survey.
Mike Hanson led Chad Bowman and Steve Baldwin out to the Blue Bayou Avenue where
they surveyed 261 feet in the AZB survey. Jim Clark led Veronica Stahl and Bruce
Albright out to the Dreamland area where they oriented themselves for future trips
and pushed leads.
On February 24, Myk Coughlin led Mike Wiles, Virgil Armijo and Noah Daniels out
to the north end of Half-Mile Hall. They surveyed 467 feet in the KK58 survey.
Near the end of their survey they found a room that was 40 feet wide, 20 feet
high and 170 feet long. It has excellent popcorn and frostwork up to 3 inches
thick! March/April
1996 At
the beginning of March, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 78.0 miles. By the
end of April, Wind Cave's length was increased to 78.2 miles. The total amount
of new survey accumulated during this two month period was 0.2 miles. A total
of 0.6 miles of previously surveyed cave was inventoried. In addition 0.2 miles
was inventoried in conjunction with the new survey.
The March Wind Cave weekend
was the ninth. Kathy Petty led Sandy Kraemer, Jamie and Ron Sherer out to the
Pub. They inventoried 73 stations in the AQ, NV, NVG, NVF, NVD, and NVE. Rich
Wolfert led Dave Lester, Emma Rainforth and Bob Stucklen out to the Xerox Room
where they surveyed 345 feet in the EM survey. Clarence Williams led Jim Wilson
and Skip Withrow out to the KEG survey. As two members of the party could not
fit through a tight squeeze they were unable to make their destination. Jim Clark
led Vee Stahl and Amy Bernard out to the Cakewalk where they surveyed 94 feet
in the DIB survey. In addition they located a blowing 6 inch lead in the Pink
Slug.
On
April 1, Jim Nepstad and Stan Allison went out to the Pink Slug to check out the
blowing lead found in March. The amount of airflow from this 6 inch hole led them
to believe that it had a high potential for leading to more cave.
The April Wind Cave weekend
was the 13th. Jim Clark led Vee Stahl, Bruce Albright and Jim Nepstad back to
the Pink Slug. After enlarging the 6 inch hole they followed the air 30 feet farther
to where the passage became a 5 inch high bedding plane, with no hope of further
exploration. Robert Phillips led Linda Gentile, Dan Benner and Steve Smith to
the SCB, GW, DS and XX' surveys. They inventoried 36 stations. Evan Anderson led
Hazel Barton and Mark McVey out to the KF, KK and KB surveys where they inventoried
18 stations. They also surveyed 465.5 feet in the KRP and KKM surveys.
On April 16 and 17 there were
3 NOLS trips with 13 students in the Rainbow Falls area. These trips were for
the purpose of education. May/June
1996 At
the beginning of May, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 78.2 miles. By the
end of June, Wind Cave's length was increased to 78.5 miles. The total amount
of new survey accumulated during this two month period was 0.3 miles. A total
of 0.4 miles of previously surveyed cave was inventoried. In addition 0.3 miles
was inventoried in conjunction with the new survey.
May 11 was the Wind Cave weekend.
Ed LaRock led Mike Behn and Chuck Hoffman to the JD survey were they surveyed
281 feet. At the end of their survey the cave still continues. Rich Wolfert led
Linda Gentile, Jamie and Ron Sherer out to the City Sewers area where they surveyed
174 feet in the EMA survey. Evan Anderson led Hazel Barton and Shawn Kramer to
the north end of Half-Mile Hall where they surveyed 561 feet in the SIK and UM
surveys. This area had numerous gypsum formations in it.
On May 23, Abby Wines led
an after work trip consisting of Sarah Billig, Don Frankfort and Marcy Morgan.
They inventoried 12 stations along the BI survey.
On May 30, Abby Wines led
Dawn Cardace and Dennis Shreves to the BI survey where they inventoried 10 stations.
On June 7, Abby Wines led Mike Bray to the BI survey where they inventoried 4
stations.
June 8 was the Wind Cave weekend. Jim Wilson led Dan Wray, Danny Wray and John
McFarlin out towards the Half-Mile Hall Zone. The trip was aborted at the Chinese
Mushroom due to sickness. Tim Moreland led Dennis Laird, Leo Thompson and Bruce
Albright to the North Zone where they surveyed 406 feet in the KIE survey and
inventoried 15 stations along the KY survey. Marc Ohms led Kelly Mathis, Scott
Sievertson and Matt Reece to a lower level of the Club Room Zone. They surveyed
203 feet in the ZC survey. Mike Wiles led Rachel Bosch, Michelle Karle and Chris
Long to the ZC survey where they inventoried 23 stations of previously surveyed
cave.
On June 12, Abby Wines led Garnet Goodrich and Rachel Bosch to the BI survey where
they inventoried 22 stations. July/August
1996 At
the beginning of July, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 78.5 miles. By the
end of August, Wind Cave's length was increased to 78.5 miles. The total amount
of new survey accumulated during this two month period was .04 miles. A total
of .3 miles of previously surveyed cave was inventoried. In addition .04 miles
was inventoried in conjunction with the new survey.
On July 12, Abby Wines led
Don Frankfort and Linda Gentile on an inventory trip to the BG survey. They inventoried
10 stations including an area with beautiful gypsum needles.
The Wind Cave Weekend was July
13. Kevin Smith led Steve Smith, Carol Teckenbrock and Josh Kanaplue to the BD
survey where they inventoried 31 stations. Rich Wolfert led Susan Herpin, Libby
Overholt and Linda Gentile to the BGA survey where they surveyed 64.1 feet.
On
July 16, Abby Wines led Garnet Goodrich, Rachel Bosch and Sarah Wedge to the BL
survey where they surveyed 55 feet.
On
July 18, Abby Wines led Sarah Billig and Sarah Wedge to the KR survey where they
inventoried 21 stations.
Also
on July 18, a routine trip down to the Lakes area to check the water levels led
to the discovery of a new pool. This pool filled within the last month and is
located near RB7. It is triangular in shape, 8’x 8’ x 10’ and 18
inches deep in the middle. The source of the water is 50 feet upstream from the
pool, contributing a steady trickle of water.
On
July 26, Abby Wines led Sarah Wedge, Don Frankfort and Rachel Bosch out to the
TR survey where they surveyed 108.6 feet.
The
August Wind Cave Weekend was canceled due to the National Speleological Convention
being held in Colorado at the same time.
An
August 19 trip to the recently formed pool en route to the Lakes found it to have
a new south extension going an additional 50 feet past where it terminated last
month.
A
return trip to the new pool on August 29 found that the pool had risen 1 foot!
If it continues at this rate, it is possible that the route to the Lakes may sump
shut within a few months. September/October
1996 At
the beginning of September, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 78.5 miles. By
the end of October, Wind Cave's length was increased to 78.9 miles. The total
amount of new survey accumulated during this two month period was .4 miles. A
total of 0 miles of previously surveyed cave was inventoried. In addition .4 miles
was inventoried in conjunction with the new survey.
The September Wind Cave weekend
was the 14th. Jim Wilson led Hazel Barton, Evan Anderson and Tim Moreland to the
Half-Mile Hall Zone where they surveyed 745 feet in the KEG survey. Mike Wiles
led Marc Ohms, Noah Daniels and Kelly Mathis out to the Half-Mile Hall Zone where
they surveyed 408.5 feet in the BX61 survey.
The
October Wind Cave weekend was the 12th. Jim Wilson led Bruce Albright and Dennis
Laird out to the Half-Mile Hall Zone where they surveyed 725 feet in the KEG201
and KE55 surveys. Mike Wiles led Chris Long, Noah Daniels and Matt Reece out to
the Half-Mile Hall Zone. They surveyed 343.2 feet in the BV69 and BX37 surveys. November/December
1996 At
the beginning of November, the surveyed length of Wind Cave was 78.9 miles. By
the end of December, Wind Cave's length was increased to 79.3 miles. The total
amount of new survey accumulated during this two month period was .4 miles. A
total of .4 miles of previously surveyed cave was inventoried. In addition .4
miles was inventoried in conjunction with the new survey.
The November Wind Cave weekend
was the ninth. Skip Withrow led Evan Anderson out to the Bubble in the Historic
Zone where they surveyed 375 feet in the HB’ survey. Sandy Kraemer led Kathy
Petty, Jamie and Ron Sherer to the Fairgrounds in the Historic Zone. They inventoried
58 stations, mainly in the AT survey. Clarence Williams led Keith Smith and John
Allison to the Spillway vicinity. They inventoried 29 stations in the AI and UZ
surveys. Mike Wiles led Marc Ohms and Noah Daniels to the Elephant Trunk area
in the Half-Mile Hall Zone. They surveyed 384 feet in the BX37 survey.
On December 7, Stan Allison
led Mike Wiles, Noah Daniels and Kelly Mathis out to the Southern Comfort Zone.
They found a short-cut from Northwest Territory to The Other Side. This route
bypasses the old Playground route and should save approximately 20 to 30 minutes
round trip. A total of 420 feet of cave was surveyed in the LTE7, LTE43 and LTK3
surveys.
On the December 14th Wind Cave Weekend, Evan Anderson led Skip Withrow and Shawn
Kramer to the Half-Mile Hall Zone. They surveyed 547 feet in the KEG survey. 1996
Summary The
survey total for 1996 was 1.65 miles. 2.1 miles of previously surveyed cave was
inventoried in 1996.
Two
Wind Cave weekends were canceled in 1996, one due to the Federal Government shut
down in January and another due to a conflict with the National Speleological
Society Convention in August. Although the volume of survey and inventory has
slowed down in the past few years, the overall quality of survey and inventory
data is much improved over previous years. |
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