Wind Cave Trip Reports - 1993

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.

Wind Cave Weekend 01/09/1993

Bill Yett, Pat Jablonsky, and Sandy Kraemer
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
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
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
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
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
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.

01/23/1993
Carol Boyles, Charles Hubbeling, and Mike Lilygren
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.

Wind Cave Weekend 02/13/1993

Rich Wolfert, Tim Moreland, June Galaz, and Bob Stucklen
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
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
Dave Lester, Kirk Haley, Randy Brown, Barry Berg and Cheryl Scifres surveyed 598 feet in the Snowdrift Avenue area.

Sandy Kraemer, Pat Jablonsky, Kathy Petty, Frank Leskinen, and Clarence Williams
Sandy Kraemer, 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
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
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 Clark
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.

Wind Cave Weekend 03/13/1993

Jim Wilson, Eric Dutton, Randy Brown, and Kevin Reyonds
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
Steve Lester, Bill Hawn and Robert Phillips inventoried 14 stations near the caving tour.

Dave Lester, Becky Ward, Pat Malone, and Kevein Smith
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
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
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
Pat Jablonsky, Sandy Kraemer and Clarence Williams surveyed 180 feet in the NK survey in the Historic Zone.

04/03/1993
Jim Nepstad, Bob Kobza, Paul Burger, and Stan Allison
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.

Wind Cave Weekend 04/10/1993

Max Mazur, Mike Mazur, and John Coyne
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
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
Tim Moreland, Paul Coulam and Jane Prendergast inventoried 35 stations north of the Coke Room.

Robert Phillips, Steve Smith, Steve Lester, and Evan Anderson
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
Jim Clark, Veronica Stahl and Sean Durram surveyed 315.6 feet and inventoried 24 stations in the Silent Expressway Zone.

04/16/1993
Bill Hawn, Bob Phillips, Steve Lester, Steve Smith, Jim Nepstad, and Bob Kobza
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.

04/24/1993
Stan Allison, Paul Burger, Myk Coughlin, and Mike Wiles
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.

Wind Cave Weekend 05/05/1003

Louise Hose, Al Hinman, and Bob Johnson
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 Hauck, Ed LaRock, and Alan Williams
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
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
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
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, Jan Prendergast, and John Campbel
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
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
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.

05/22/1993
John Scheltens, Dave Springhetti, and Andy Flurkey
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.

Wind Cave Weekend 06/12/1993

Robert Phillips, Kevin Smith, Steve Smith, and Karen Kurtak
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 Keaemer and Clarence Williams
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
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
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, Jon Bennett, Fred Crowle, Kathy Lankford, Dale Lankford, and Dan Wray III
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
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.

Wind Cave Weekend 07/10/1993

Sandy Kraemer, Kathy Petty, Bill Yett, and Pat Jablonsky
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
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 Than Moyes
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 Jan Prendergast
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.

07/14/1993
Stacy Smyth, Kim Dreyfuss, Bill ? and Deanna Harrell
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.

07/20/1993
Stacy Smyth, Sarah Spodek, Shawn Sanner and Andrew McMahn
Stacy Smyth, Sarah Spodek, Shawn Sanner and Andrew McMahn surveyed 156.4 feet in the JG.

07/22/1993
Stacy Smyth, Sarah Spodek, Donnie-Ann Burnett and Greg Sweitzer
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.

07/24/1993
Stacy Smyth, Jim Nepstad, Stan Allison, Bob Kobza and Bonnie-Ann Burnett
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.

07/27/1993
Stacy Smyth, Bonnie-Ann Burnett, Greg Sweitzer, Greg Finnoff and John Finnoff
Stacy Smyth, Bonnie-Ann Burnett, Greg Sweitzer, Greg Finnoff and John Finnoff surveyed 72.3 feet in the JG.

Wind Cave Weekend 08/14/1993

Vi Schweiker, Evan Anderson, and Sean Larmore
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
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
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.

Wind Cave Weekend 09/11/1993

Bruce Albright, Evan Anderson, and Steve Lester
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
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
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.

Wind Cave Weekend 10/09/1993

Steve Lester, T. Evan Anderson and Alex Fong
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
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
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
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
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
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.

Wind Cave Weekend 11/12-13/1993

Sandy Kraemer, Kathy Petty, and Pat Jablonsky
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.

Paul Fowler and Lee Blazek
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 Kathy Petty, Sandy Kraemer and Pat Jablonsky surveyed 99 feet from FB'4-10. They found some bat scratches in this area.

Wind Cave Weekend 12/11/1993

Randy Brown, Steve Lester and Dave Lester
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
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
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
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
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
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
Paul Fowler, Tim Moreland and Mark Blair surveyed 252.4 feet in the KKN, KKN3 and KKK5 surveys.