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Carroll Cave Conservancy
Restoration / Conservation
Trip Report
September 26th, 2004
Permit # 0-49-4
Date of Trip: 09-18-04
Committee Chairman: Michael Hartley
Trip Leaders Name: Michael Hartley
Surface contact person and phone #: Carolyn Hartley (on site at school house).
Purpose of trip: To continue restoration work between the Back Door and the Water Barrier.
Other areas of the cave visited: No other areas of the cave were visited.
List the actual trip participants and there CCC numbers:
(1) Michael Hartley CCC # 9
(2) Colby Johnson CCC # 158
(3) Terry Sherman CCC # 29
(4) Eddie Simmons CCC # 3
(5) Bill Copeland CCC # 21
(6)
(7)
(8)
Time of entry: 6:45 pm 09-18-04
Time of exit: 2:15 am 09-19-04
Trip Report (use separate pages if necessary)
This trip was planed several months in advance with the purpose of going to the Paradise Passage area to set up an R/C work station and begin restoration efforts in this area. We had nine people signed up and committed for the trip. We had the equipment ready to go, and the logistics of the trip worked out so we could maximize the work force. Unfortunately at the last minute there were concerns raised about spooking the Bats in the lower Carroll passage before Lawrence Ireland, our resident Biologist, could do a Bio-count of the Bat populations. With this in mind, it was decided that we would reschedule this trip for next month. It was then decided that we would proceed to the Water Barrier and continue restoration work in this area. With this change of plans, some of the participants dropped off the list. The remaining participants expressed a desire to do an evening trip. Most of them had to work Saturday and would not be on site until after 4 pm.
Colby Johnson had arrived at the schoolhouse Friday afternoon with the hopes that someone else would show up Friday night, but no one did. When Carolyn and I arrived Saturday around 1:30 in the afternoon, Colby was just getting up from a late morning nap. I asked what he had been doing scene he arrived, he said, just catching up on his rest so he would be ready to go caving that night. Someone else had come in and left some camping gear, but Colby didn’t know whom it belonged to because he was sleeping. We assumed it was Bill Copeland’s because Eddie and Terry wouldn’t be there until after four, which really meant, they wouldn’t be there until about six. About an hour, later Bill drives through the gate and over to his camping gear. He had gone over to Toronto Springs to get some water samples for testing. He would also be taking water samples from Carroll River for testing, which was the main reason he signed up for the trip. The rest of the afternoon was spent sitting around talking about what we would be doing that night and waiting for the rest of the crew to show up. Sure enough, at six o’clock on the dot, Eddie and Terry pull up to the schoolhouse.
After a brief discussion about the logistics, we assembled our equipment and headed up to the silo. It was about 6:45 pm when we were down the hole and headed down Carroll passage to the Water Barrier, stopping here and there along the way to discuss possible R/C projects that would be needed in the future within this area. After arriving at the Water Barrier, Eddie, Colby, and Bill, proceeded to commence cleaning procedures on some really muddy formations along the trail. Terry began taking before, during, and after pictures of the work being done. This is a high traffic area and the only way to get to Carroll River. It cannot be traversed without some kind of impact to the formations on either side of the trail. While the rest of the crew was busy working on formations, I took an inventory of the equipment we had stored at the site. Most of the items were covered with mud and dirt. I spent about an hour just cleaning the equipment and making a list of things that needed to be replaced.
One of the objectives of anyone managing a restoration project is to try new and innovative ways of accomplishing their goals. On previous Resto trips, we have tested different types of brushes and large backpack sprayers. The sprayers are essential to this kind of work especially in areas where water has to be hauled in. Brushes of different sizes and shapes and tinsel strength have been used on different types of formations. Some of them work very well, and some don’t. It is a trial and err operation at best. On this trip, we brought a battery powered rotary scrub brush called the scum buster. It seemed to work very well and lasted quit awhile before the batteries would run down. The only drew back was, the more pressure you applied, the faster the batteries would drain. The scrubber is small, compact, and lightweight as are the rechargeable batteries that come with it and would work exceptionally well on light cleaning jobs. Another piece of equipment we tested was a small hand held portable pressure sprayer. This piece of equipment is also well suited for small cleaning jobs. Both items can be easily carried in your backpack or hanging from it. Access to water would not be a problem considering it is plentiful throughout the cave. A couple of large freezer bags, one inserted inside the other could be used as a portable bucket to collect dirty runoff water. Sponges could be hauled inside the freezer bags until needed. After several hours of cleaning formations, equipment, and taking before and after pictures of the work being done, we were ready to call it a night and head out. Before leaving the area we decided to flag off as much of this work site as possible. While Terry, Eddie, and Bill took pictures of the work site area for my photo doc file that I am developing, Colby and I proceeded with flagging a large portion of this area. Anyone traveling through this part of the cave will be able to follow the trail with relative ease. On the way out there were several other areas we flagged as well.
Upon exiting the cave we headed back to the schoolhouse to a warm fire and some hot food before bed. This turned out to be another good and productive Resto weekend even though we had a few minor setbacks in are plans. We cleaned formations, flagged off several areas of the cave, did photo documentation, and collected water samples. Another plus for this weekend was that the Rescue committee came down Sunday morning and gave everyone who spent the night, the Rescue Training Certification Course. I would like to thank everyone who helped with the R/C project this weekend and extend an invitation to come back and help on other project weekends in the future. Until next time.
Trip Leader
Michael Hartley
