January/February 1991
On December 31, 1990, Wind Cave had a surveyed length of 55.4 miles. By February 28, 1991, the surveyed length has increased to 57.0 miles. During this time, additional 5525 feet of inventory of the "old cave" was accomplished, in addition to the 1.6 miles inventoried during the above survey work.
01/01/1991
Stan Allison, Bob Kobza and Jim Nepstad
Stan Allison, Bob Kobza and Jim Nepstad led a reconnaissance trip to the northwestern part of the cave. The plan was to head to KY205 and push leads on the way out. The first lead checked kept the crew busy for the remainder of the day. A number of nice rooms, some with tree roots up to 2 feet long descending from the ceiling, were discovered. Survey data, along with data concerning the maximum root depth of Ponderosa Pine, indicate a depth of less than 20 feet in this area.
01/05/1991
Dave Springhetti, Rick Bogue, Jim Wilson, Reed Wilson, John Scheltens, Jan Harms and Janine Fitzner
Smembers of the Paha Sapa Grotto, including Dave Springhetti, Rick Bogue, Jim Wilson, Reed Wilson, John Scheltens, Jan Harms and Janine Fitzner, headed to the PC survey area off the Coke Room route. PC1-15 was inventoried and an additional 272 feet of passage was added to the PC survey. Limited travel to the PC survey area was recommended due to fragile floors.
Steve Baldwin, Devin Hachmeister and Sarge Preston
Steve Baldwin, Devin Hachmeister and Sarge Preston surveyed the area that Rachel Cox was found in during her (and our) ordeal in the cave in October 1989. The exact route Rachel used to enter this area eludes us to this day. But it seems she must have traveled through some phenomenally tight crawls. The room she was eventually found in was named "Duncan", in honor of a psychic who called during the rescue operation to report that Rachel would be found in a room called "Duncan". A prophesy fulfilled! 224 feet of cave was surveyed.
Wind Cave Weekend 01/12-13/1991
Bob Stucklen, Sandy Kraemer and Margo Butner
Bob Stucklen, Sandy Kraemer and Margo Butner inventoried the Overland Trail area from UI1-39.
Kevin Reynolds, Carl Pagano and Dan Hanley
Kevin Reynolds, Carl Pagano and Dan Hanley went to the Blue Bayou Avenue area to investigate earlier reports of breezes in the area, but found nothing promising.
Ed LaRock, Mike Behn, Ted Lappin, Ned Messler and Barry Berry
Ed LaRock, Mike Behn, Ted Lappin, Ned Messler and Barry Berry took part in a through trip from the Snake Pit Entrance to the elevator via the Coke Room. Along the way, they flagged a path through Santa's Frosted Forest, surveyed 106 feet near Bush Gardens, and flagged a temporary (possibly permanent) route from the Coke Room to Archimedes' Pool. It was also determined that a 42 inch chest would fit in the Snake Pit.
Kevin and Steve Smith, Bill Hawn, Vern Carlson and Jerry Hassemer
Kevin and Steve Smith, Bill Hawn, Vern Carlson and Jerry Hassemer led a trip to the John Wayne Room. A total of 33 stations were inventoried, and 235 feet of passage surveyed, including a shortcut from the Coke Room route to the John Wayne area.
Jim Clark, Veronica Stahl, Kirk Haley and Bill Yett
Jim Clark, Veronica Stahl, Kirk Haley and Bill Yett heading to the Egg Hatchery area and surveyed about 120 feet of additional passage.
Pat Jablonsky, Greg Glasner and Clarence Williams
Pat Jablonsky, Greg Glasner and Clarence Williams returned to the E and D survey areas of the northeastern part of the cave. A connection between the two surveys was found.
Jim Wilson, Bethany Jablonsky, Skip Withrow, Dough Kent and Greg Glasner
Jim Wilson, Bethany Jablonsky, Skip Withrow, Dough Kent and Greg Glasner surveyed 342 feet of new cave in the Chimera Room area. A nice flowstone area was discovered, along with what appears to be the first rabbit skeleton found in Wind Cave.
Jim Clark, Veronica Stahl, Jerry Hassemer and Dan Hanley
On January 13, Jim Clark, Veronica Stahl, Jerry Hassemer and Dan Hanley went to Shelob's Lair and inventoried the last 15 stations in the area. No good leads were found.
John Scheltens, Marc Lamphere, Dave Springhetti and Lon Sharp
Also on January 13, John Scheltens, Marc Lamphere, Dave Springhetti and Lon Sharp returned to a lead off the Coke Room route they had noted on January 5. A new upper level area was discovered and 1187 feet of cave was surveyed, with more remaining.
01/19/1991
Stan Allison, Bob Kobza and Jim Nepstad
Stan Allison, Bob Kobza and Jim Nepstad returned to the northwestern part of the cave to continue working on the area discovered January 1. After tying in to a number of known points in the cave, a new survey was begun of KY137. A recent stream channel, along with stream sediments and cobbles, was discovered below this area. This passage eventually led to a major new helictite bush area now known as "Bushed". Bushes up to 3.5 feet tall, some coated with dogtooth spar crystal, were found. 792 feet of passage was surveyed.
01/20/1991
John Scheltens, Marc Lamphere, Lon Sharp and Ben Sharp
John Scheltens, Marc Lamphere, Lon Sharp and Ben Sharp returned to the area they discovered the week before. An additional 737 feet of passage was surveyed, including a beautiful new flowstone area. Another shortcut between the Coke Room route and the John Wayne area was discovered.
01/22/1991
Stan Allison, Steve Baldwin and Kevin Hachmeister
Stan Allison, Steve Baldwin and Kevin Hachmeister took part in an after work trip this evening. 591 feet of passage, including some nice flowstone, was surveyed between the Loose Screw Room and the Club Room route. More leads remain in the area.
Wind Cave Weekend 02/08-09/1991
Bill Hawn, Bob Phillips, Steve Smith and Vern Carlson
Bill Hawn, Bob Phillips, Steve Smith and Vern Carlson showed up a day early to do some inventory in the Black Beauty area near the Lakes. On the way out, they flagged some of the calcite ice floored passages off the main route to avoid future accidents.
Bill Hawn, Bob Phillips, Steve Smith and Vern Carlson
On February 9, the same group went to the PR survey area in the historic part of the cave and surveyed 312 feet.
Jim Wilson, Skip Withrow, Doug Kent and Mike Frazier
Jim Wilson, Skip Withrow, Doug Kent and Mike Frazier inventoried the KX survey to the Chimera Room and surveyed 413 feet of passage southeast of KY30. The survey ended in a nice gypsum flower area.
Pat Jablonsky, Clarence Williams, Christ Bustos, John Peters-Campbell and Margo Butner
Pat Jablonsky, Clarence Williams, Christ Bustos, John Peters-Campbell and Margo Butner returned to the northeastern part of the cave.
Ted Lappin, Garry Petrie and Tim Moreland
Ted Lappin, Garry Petrie and Tim Moreland surveyed 597 feet of passage in the KY survey area west of Disappointment Chamber. No connection yet.
Mike Behn, Ed LaRock and Barry Berg
Mike Behn, Ed LaRock and Barry Berg were also in the KY survey area, and surveyed 364 feet of cave south of KY227. Ed reports the presence of granite boulders in a room at the end of their survey.
June Golaz, Sandy Kraemer, Bill Yett, Jason Miller and Carl Pagano
June Golaz, Sandy Kraemer, Bill Yett, Jason Miller and Carl Pagano surveyed 374 feet of passage north and east of the Pearly Gates in the historic part of the cave. The end of their survey plots out in a blank spot on the map.
Jim Clark, Dan Hanley, Pat Seiser, Bob Stuckland and Veronica Stahl
Jim Clark, Dan Hanley, Pat Seiser, Bob Stuckland and Veronica Stahl started a survey just past the Roadblock and wound up in the Loose Screw Room after 345 feet of survey. Lots of flowstone was found along the way.
Bob Kobza, Mike Paulick, Louise Hose and Jim Nepstad
Bob Kobza, Mike Paulick, Louise Hose and Jim Nepstad went back to the northwest corner of the cave and surveyed 849 feet of passage, most of it west of KY165. Many more leads remain in this part of the cave.
Despite all of this activity, the cave came up about 75 feet short of 57 miles.
02/23/1991
Bob Kobza, Mike Paulick, Warren Netherton and Jim Nepstad
Bob Kobza, Mike Paulick, Warren Netherton and Jim Nepstad surveyed 201 feet of cave on top of the Suburbia area, including a large room named "57 Mile Hall".
March/April 1991
During March and April 1991, a total of 1.2 miles of passage was surveyed at Wind Cave. This increased the length of the known cave from 57.0 miles to 58.2 miles. Roughly 2600 feet of previously surveyed passage was inventoried, in addition to the 1.2 miles inventoried as a part of the survey process.
Wind Cave Weekend 03/09-10/1991
Ted Lappin, Garry Petrie and Pat Seiser
On March 9, Ted Lappin, Garry Petrie and Pat Seiser headed back to the northwestern part of the cave near Disappointment Chamber. A total of 734 feet was surveyed, including a connection with the Ghost Rider's Gulch area.
Tim Moreland, Vi Allured and Mike Smith
Tim Moreland, Vi Allured and Mike Smith began the inventory of the Silent Expressway travel corridor. The area between Half Mile Hall and the BPH survey was completed.
Bill Yett, Lonny Haynes, Kevin Reynolds and Sandy Kraemer
Bill Yett, Lonny Haynes, Kevin Reynolds and Sandy Kraemer returned to the CM survey, north of the Pearly Gates, and surveyed an additional 90 feet of passage.
Kirk Haley, Jim Clark and Veronica Stahl
Kirk Haley, Jim Clark and Veronica Stahl surveyed 192 feet of passage south of Rainbow Falls, including a beautiful, flowstone filled dome.
Larry Coats, Dayna Gessler, Jim Erickson and Nizam Zawahir
Larry Coats, Dayna Gessler, Jim Erickson and Nizam Zawahir led a trip to the Chimera Room area and surveyed 235 feet of cave, some of it with nice aragonite.
Margo Butner and Katy Petty
Margo Butner and Katy Petty began the inventory of the route to the Artifact Room in the historic part of the cave.
Jim Wilson, Clarence Williams, Eric Dutton, Norm Thompson, Carl Pagano, Pet Jablonsky and Brian Small
Jim Wilson, Clarence Williams, Eric Dutton, Norm Thompson, Carl Pagano, Pet Jablonsky and Brian Small headed to the Lakes area. The RD survey, which leads to Rebel River, was inventoried and photographed. A visit to Rebel River, the first known since it initial discover in 1970, confirmed the presence of running water in Wind Cave! This "river" is about 3 inches wide and flows at a rate of roughly 1 gallon per minute. Wetsuits are not required.
Kevin and Steve Smith, Robert Phillips, Bill Hawn, Vern Carlson and Judy Carlson
Kevin and Steve Smith, Robert Phillips, Bill Hawn, Vern Carlson and Judy Carlson lead an inventory trip to the JW survey area, finishing the route from the Coke Room to the John Wayne Room.
Louise Hose, Donald Davis, Dave Lester, Todd Warren and John Peters-Campbell
Louise Hose, Donald Davis, Dave Lester, Todd Warren and John Peters-Campbell went to the northwestern part of the cave for survey and helictite bush observation. A total of 376 feet of survey was accomplished and the northern extent of the cave was extended by about 75 feet. In addition, a bone cave (possibly from a bird), and evidence of flowing water was found.
03/16/1991
John Scheltens, Greg Hanson and Jason Moran
John Scheltens, Greg Hanson and Jason Moran surveyed 378 feet of cave near the Multi-Purpose Room.
Dave Springhetti, Sarge Preston and Jan Harms
Dave Springhetti, Sarge Preston and Jan Harms led a trip to the Omnibus Hall area, surveying 202 feet.
Rick Bogue and Marc Lamphere
On the same day, Rick Bogue and Marc Lamphere led some Job Corps kids around the Club Room Loop.
03/22/1991
Tim Moreland, Dan Hanley and Wieslaw Klis
Tim Moreland and Wieslaw Klis, who had been performing volunteer work for the park that week, and Dan Hanley, led an inventory trip to the Land of 10,000 Lakes area. A total of 21 stations were inventoried. A significant observation: due to the recent decline in lake levels, the Land of 10,000 Lakes now has only one lake!
Ted Lappin and Vi Allured
Ted Lappin and Vi Allured, also volunteering for a weekend, led a trip to the Disappointment Chamber area on March 31. This area, where the eastern and western parts of the cave overlap in places, has eluded connection for more than a decade. Keeping with tradition, no connection was found, but 128 feet of cave was surveyed.
04/05/1991
Krishnan Kutty, Doug Pflugh, Tim Sulser, Mariana Kubicek and Tom Shields
Krishnan Kutty, Doug Pflugh, Tim Sulser, Mariana Kubicek and Tom Shields surveyed a connection between the Artifact Room and Bishop Fowler's Loop, for a total of 185 feet. Upon emerging from the cave, they were immediately thrown into a mass evacuation from the visitor center area as a massive wildfire bore down on the park. It had seemed so peaceful in the cave...
04/12/1991
Jim Nepstad, Bob Kobza, Martha Jakobek, Steve Smith and Rick Dressler
Jim Nepstad, Bob Kobza, Martha Jakobek, Steve Smith and Rick Dressler started "mopping up" leads off the main tour routes. Only the Garden of Eden Loop and Assembly Room areas were checked (about 10% of the tour routes) this day, but 1002 feet of passage was surveyed. Interesting finds included a passage just 50 feet from the Assembly Room which apparently floods to the ceiling!
Wind Cave Weekend 04/20/1991
Due to a major snowstorm, the Colorado Grotto visit to Wind Cave was delayed until April 20.
Stan Allison, Paul Burger and Stu Marlatt
Stan Allison, Paul Burger and Stu Marlatt led an exploration trip to the Silent Expressway. 823 feet of passage was surveyed, mostly in the Rocky Road area.
Doug Kent, Garry Petrie, Skip Withrow and Carl Pagano
Doug Kent, Garry Petrie, Skip Withrow and Carl Pagano headed to an area between the Chimera Room and Key Room, surveying 460 feet.
Mike Behn, Ed LaRock, Barry Berg and Ken Wright
Mike Behn, Ed LaRock, Barry Berg and Ken Wright headed back to the KYL survey area to continue exploration. An area with bad air (with a "petroliferous smell" according to the survey notes) was discovered just a few hundred feet southeast of Bush Gardens. The nearest fuel tanks up-dip are more than a mile and a half away-on private land. That, combined with the isolated nature of this bad air, lends us to speculate that it may somehow be a natural part of the cave. Additional work is needed in this area. 327 feet were surveyed.
Verne Carlson, Bill Hawn, Robert Phillips and Steve Smith
Verne Carlson, Bill Hawn, Robert Phillips and Steve Smith surveyed 584 feet of passage off the JJ survey just past the Frostline.
Tim Moreland, Bill Yett and Nizam Zawahir
Tim Moreland, Bill Yett and Nizam Zawahir headed to the PR survey in the historic part of the cave and surveyed 284 feet of passage, some with good airflow.
May/June 1991
For the duration of May and June, a total of 1.4 miles of cave was surveyed in Wind Cave. This increased the length form 58.2 miles to 59.6 miles. In addition, approximately 3550 feet of previously surveyed passage was inventoried, along with the 1.4 miles inventoried during the survey process.
05/04/1991
Chris Bondun, Dave Worthington, Dan Horkan, Eric Mayes and Ross Hart
Chris Bondun, Dave Worthington, Dan Horkan, Eric Mayes and Ross Hart inventoried 9 stations in the LB survey, which is located in the Lakes Zone.
05/05/1991
Dave Springhetti, Myk Coughlin, Sarge Preston, Dennis Maynard and Jan Harms
Dave Springhetti, Myk Coughlin, Sarge Preston, Dennis Maynard and Jan Harms continued the SPH survey off of Omnibus Hall for a total survey of 98.7 feet.
Wind Cave Weekend 05/11/1991
Sandy Kraemer, Bob Stucklen and Rich Wolfert Sandy Kraemer, Bob Stucklen and Rich Wolfert inventoried 15 stations along the red and white travel corridor, between the Club Room and Half Mile Hall.
Mike Frazier, Louise Hose, Ted Lappin and Vi Allured
A survey trip was made to the Deep Confusion area by Mike Frazier, Louise Hose, Ted Lappin and Vi Allured. They surveyed 512 feet in the BC', BCA, BJ and BJA surveys.
Steve Smith, Kevin Smith and Jerry Hassemer
A bypass to the Frostline was surveyed by Steve Smith, Kevin Smith and Jerry Hassemer. With a little maintenance, this bypass may provide a travel corridor that is less sensitive to traffic than the Frostline. A total of 386 feet was surveyed in this area.
Doug Kent, Ken Hedrick and Chris Wooley
Doug Kent, Ken Hedrick and Chris Wooley surveyed 426 feet in the LV survey near the Figure Eight Room.
Bill Hawn, Robert Phillips, Vern Carlson and Dave Lester
Bill Hawn, Robert Phillips, Vern Carlson and Dave Lester inventoried 31 stations near the Frostline.
Margo Butner and Kathy Peety
Margo Butner and Kathy Peety inventoried approximately 10 survey stations along the route to the Artifact Room, just off the Post Office.
Louise Hose, Dave Lester and Mike Frazier
On May 12, Louise Hose, Dave Lester and Mike Frazier inventoried 8 stations near Franks Beard in the Historic Zone.
05/17/1991
Bob Kobza, Jim Nepstad, Stan Allison and Mike Paulick
On this day, a large, 200' long, 20-40' wide and 10-20' tall upper level room was discovered! This room, named Wakantanka was discovered by Bob Kobza, Jim Nepstad, Stan Allison and Mike Paulick. Wakantanka lies directly over the Club Room and in several places connects to the Club Room via 30-40' unclimbable pits. Nice flowstone and frostwork was also discovered in this area. The LSU survey done in this area accounted for 1059.7 feet of new cave.
05/25/1991
Paul Burger, Dina Venezky, Stan Allison and Bob Younger
Paul Burger, Dina Venezky, Stan Allison and Bob Younger managed to push a tight, blowing lead from the Snake Pit Entrance 70 feet to the north. This lead continues as a very tight passage into an area with no known cave.
05/26/1991
Bob Younger, Stan Allison, Dina Venezky and Paul Burger
Bob Younger, Stan Allison, Dina Venezky and Paul Burger surveyed 1072.8 feet of cave off of Wakantanka in the LSS and LST surveys. A climbable connection was made between Wakantanka and the southern end of the Club Room.
05/31/1991
Stan Allison and Dina Venezky
After two floods in late May, the cave was extraordinarily wet. Flowing water was noticed in several area of the cave that are usually dry. On May 31, Stan Allison and Dina Venezky observed a flowing stream in Monument Hall below Devils Lookout.
06/02/1991
Jim Nepstad, Dina Venezky and Stan Allison
Jim Nepstad, Dina Venezky and Stan Allison surveyed 952 feet of cave off of the Natural Entrance and Fairgrounds tour routes. Some walking-size passages were surveyed right off of the trail!
Wind Cave Weekend 06/07-09/1991
Kevin Reynolds, Skip Withrow and Bill Yett
On June 7, Kevin Reynolds, Skip Withrow and Bill Yett inventoried 22 stations along the red and white travel corridor near Half Mile Hall. They also surveyed 145.3 feet on the KSA survey.
Doug Kent, Garry Petrie, Dave Steinman and Tim Nuce
On June 8, Doug Kent, Garry Petrie, Dave Steinman and Tim Nuce surveyed 570.2 feet on the CS survey near Deep Confusion. They discovered a nice room 80' long, 30' wide and 15' tall.
Jim Wilson, Aaron Birenboim, Lisa Shertz and Steve Shertz
Jim Wilson, Aaron Birenboim, Lisa Shertz and Steve Shertz inventoried 13 stations on the red and white travel corridor near Half Mile Hall. A mouse was seen the Roadblock which is approximately 1500 feet away form the elevator, and further from the Natural Entrance.
Bill Hawn, Robert Phillips and Vern Carlson
Bill Hawn, Robert Phillips and Vern Carlson surveyed 404 feet of cave in the VA and VB surveys near the Frostline. A room filled with various gypsum formations was named the "Cotton Field".
Mike Frazier, Marty Smith and Randy Brown
34 stations were inventoried along the green travel corridor from Half Mile Hall to the Wind Gate by Mike Frazier, Marty Smith and Randy Brown.
Paul Burger, Harry Burgess and Stan Allison
Paul Burger, Harry Burgess and Stan Allison surveyed 988.5 feet near the end of the Silent Expressway. An extremely large, 2' diameter by 1' thick, disc shaped coral fossil was discovered. This is possibly the largest known fossil in the cave!
06/14/1991
Kevin Smith and Stan Allison
Kevin Smith and Stan Allison photographed "zebra rock" near the Muddle Room to aid the Colorado Grotto in the inventory process.
06/18/1991
Brad Stephenson, Anne Bohnet, Joelle Selk, Jennifer Cullen, Bob Younger and Stan Allison
Brad Stephenson, Anne Bohnet, Joelle Selk, Jennifer Cullen, Bob Younger and Stan Allison surveyed 84.2 feet of cave off of the Fairgrounds.
06/22/1991
Anne Bohnet and Stan Allison
Ten members of the Pennington County Search and Rescue group made the Club Room Loop with Anne Bohnet and Stan Allison. This trip was made for the purpose of orienting the group to the difficulties of cave rescue at Wind Cave.
06/29/1991
Paul Burger, Jim Nepstad and Stan Allison
Paul Burger, Jim Nepstad and Stan Allison surveyed 790.4 feet of cave near Mystery Lake and the Elephant Trunk. Highlights of this survey in the BWB, BXB and BXC included the infamous Big Butt Canyon.
