Carroll Cave Conservancy
Restoration /Conservation
Project Weekend Trip Report
Trip Leaders: Eddie Simmons
Project Manager: Michael Hartley
Michael Hartley
Date of Trip: March 20, 2004
Purpose of Trip: To commence Restoration work in two separate locations of the cave.
(1) Cleaning and Restoration at the new entrance, at the bottom of the ladder.
(2) Cleaning Speleo-themes at the Water Barrier.
Other areas of the cave visited: UR-2 passage for site assessment and Photo Documentation.
Actual Participants:
(1) Eddie Simmons # 3
(2) Colby Johnson #158
(3) Terry Sherman #29
(4) Jamie Euliss #215
(5) Neil Soloman #233
(6) Noland Soloman # 232
(7) Mike Hartley #9
(8) Mike Cotter #208
(9) Pedggie Hinzes # 7
(10) Pam Rader # 122
(11) Lawrence Irland #26
(12) Carolyn Hartley # 10
(13) John Gallespie
Time Entered Cave: 1:00 pm Time Exited Cave: 10:30 pm
Trip Report:
On Saturday morning at 10:00 am, the members of the R/C Committee convened at the School House. Out of ten members who are on the Committee, only four members attended. , Mike Hartley, Pedggie Hinze, Colby Johnson, and Eddie Simmons. Other participants were Lawrence Ireland, and Carolyn Hartley. The meeting lasted about an hour and a half. We discussed Restoration priorities of two central locations within the cave. The area in and around the Water Barrier, and the area at the bottom of the ladder at the New Entrance. There was also discussion concerning the trail leading between the two areas. These two areas were chosen because they are high traffic areas and are in need Restoration work the most. It was also discussed with our Biologist, Lawrence Irland, different possibilities for developing trails going up Thunder River and over to Thunder Falls with the least amount of impact to the cave.
After the meeting, we took a short break, and then headed to the silo with the exception of Carolyn and Pedggie. They decided to stay at the School House and rake and burn leaves and just general cleanup. As we began rigging the rope and getting reading, the rest of the crew started rolling in. Terry Sherman and Pam Rader were coming later around 4pm to participate in a Photo Doc trip to UR-2. It was 1:00 pm when all of us were at the bottom of the hole. It was decided that we would split into two groups with most of the crew going to the Water Barrier with Eddie to learn how to clean Speleo-themes. The rest of the crew stayed and helped at the entrance. After about three hours of hard work, we decided to stop for the day. It was a little after 4:00 pm by this time, and Eddie and his crew would be returning soon. Terry and Pam would be coming down the hole at any time as well.
It wasn't long and everyone was back at the entrance right on schedule. That’s a first. Terry and Pam had just dropped in and we spent the next half hour or so exchanging information about what work we had done at both locations. It turned out to be a very productive day as Restoration work go's. Eddie and his crew had cleaned a flowstone formation along the trail that was totally mud stained, and the results were spectacular. All of the mud came off and revealed an almost pure white formation. At the entrance, we got a good start on preparing this area to be leveled off and become a staging area. As we worked we also collected allot of trash to be removed from the cave. (Note): to everyone entering the cave. There is a pile of long boards piled to one side of the mound. Do not remove these boards. Lawrence said they are covered with Bio-Life and need to be left alone.
By now, it was getting late and we needed to get going up river to do the Photo Doc of the UR-2 passage. It was decided before hand to take the minimum number of people because of the pristine condition of this passage. After some debate, it was decided that Myself, Terry, Colby, and Pam would be going. Eddie and the rest of the crew were going to do a little more work at the entrance and then head out. The rest of us got our things organized and headed up river. It took an hour and a half or so to get past Convention hall and reach our destination. Terry wanted to stop and take some pictures of the Shower Heads on the way in. At the entrance to what we thought was UR-2 we became a little confused. The survey marker outside the passage was marked UR-2-1, but the marker just inside the entrance was marked UL-1. I don't think we were in the wrong passage, but its possible. The passage was on the right side of the main trunk section, going up river, just before we reached the second Waterfalls, and had an elevated entrance that needed to be climbed into. I don't know if we were in the wrong passage or the marker was misplaced, but the next time someone from Survey goes up that way, they need to check these markers.
Instead of going any further up river on the chance that we were at the wrong side, we decided to Photo doc this passage and then head back. As we moved into this side, we passed a few nice formation areas. At about 200ft into the passage it began to squeeze off and get smaller. At this point none of us wanted to go any further, we were to tired and wanted to head back. As we headed out we photographed what we had already passed on are way in. After another hour of picture taking, we packed up our gear and did an express run for the ladder and home. It took us a little under an hour to reach the ladder. It took less then 30 minutes for everyone to get up the ladder, with two people at a time climbing out.
Upon returning to the School House, it was a welcome site to have a hot meal waiting for us. Carolyn had fixed a Chili dinner for everyone and Pedggie had fixed some side dishes to go along with it. Overall, this was one of the best Project Weekends we've had so far.
I would like to thank all the CCC members who participated and helped this Project Weekend. In addition, I would like to give a special thanks to Carolyn and Pedggie for the excellent job they did cleaning up around the School House, and for the great dinner they prepared. Hope to see you all at the next R/C Project Weekend.
Restoration / Conservation
Committee Chairman
Michael Hartley
