3/15/03 Work Weekend
Hatches Placed and Ready for Concrete.

Crew:  Bryan Cook, Bill Copeland, Bill Gee, Patric Haggeman, Eric Hertzler, Rick Hines, Ken Long, Dave McCool, Bill Pfantz, Richard Thompson

The in-cave anchor for the cable is in, the ladder is attached at least every 20', the 8' tank and tripod are down and the stainless steel hatches are set and ready for concrete.

As I drove through Camdenton I picked up three bags of Portland at High Brothers and rolled on to the schoolhouse.  Bill, Bill and Bill had spent the night at the schoolhouse.  By 8:30 the four of us were unloading my welder, cutting torches, and Portland.  While Bill Gee suited up for in-cave work we cut a piece of plywood for a template.  We sent the plywood down and Bill hammered it on top of the three existing anchor bolts to mark their location and then marked the position for the cable anchor and a forth anchor bolt.  By the time we hauled up the template Richard Thompson arrived with steel for the anchor plate.  We cut the holes in the steel and welded an eye hook in place. 

Ken Long arrived with three cavers that were new to the Carroll project, Bryan Cook, Patric Haggeman and Eric Hertzler.  Bryan, Patric, and Eric signed a release and paid the dues to join the CCC.  We lowered the 3 bags of Portland to Bill Gee and then Ken and the three new members dropped in to help Bill Gee.  We lowered the steel plate with the eye that will be used for the bottom anchor of the ladder safety cable.  We were pleased to hear that the holes lined up.  While the in-cave crew bolted down the steel plate and buried it in concrete the surface crew cut down the tripod.  I was a little sad to see it go. 

Dave McCool arrived with the 8 new aluminum brackets to connect the ladder to the rock wall.  Richard Thompson made the brackets two weeks ago, Matt Goska machined a mounting slot and Dave McCool transported them from Matt's home in Rolla to the dig.  Richard provided more brackets this weekend and Dave planned to drop them off at Matt's on his way home in St. Louis.

When the in-cave crew finished their work and climbed out I headed down the ladder to place the new brackets.  Danny Schupbach had responded to my plea, after the prior work weekend, for a better hammer drill to drill the holes for the stainless steel anchor bolts.  His drill worked great.  We now have brackets at least every 20' and will double the number over the next month or two. 

When I got to the surface I found that the old windbreak silo area had been cleaned up and the silo sections neatly stacked with the others.

We finished cutting the top off the 8' steel tank and then cut two sheets of plywood to fit the 8' diameter opening.  The plywood was attached with bailing wire to the spokes of an 8' diameter spool end.  The spool end was tack welded in place at the top of the tank a few inches above ground level.  We cut out spokes as necessary to place the stainless steel hatches over the shaft and the mezzanine (now basement) ladder.  Additional steel and a second spool end were cut and welded in place to reinforce the concrete that will be poured.  Before pouring the concrete temporary posts will be set in the basement to support the plywood. 

By 4:30 with most of the work done Ken Long, the three new members and Bill Pfantz started a planned restoration trip.  Ken will report on that trip.

It was getting dark before we headed to the school house.  Bill Copeland, Dave and I drove into Richland for dinner to finish a very productive day. 

It was about 9:00 PM before the cavers made it back to camp. 

Sunday morning Bill Gee, Bill Copeland, Dave and I tacked a little more steel in place, cut a hole for electrical wires, put things up and headed home early. 

Brian Borton will direct the effort to form up and pour the 20' diameter pad.  Watch the web calendar (www.carrollcave.org) for the schedule.  We will not work the third weekend in April 19 since that is Easter weekend. 

I wish to welcome our three new members and thank them for their help with the concrete and steel.  And thanks to Danny Schupbach for once again providing equipment to make this effort possible. 

Attached photo by Bill Copeland

Rick   913 897 4258