Assembling the grain silo over the backdoor entrance (06/28/03).

June 28, 2003
Work weekend at the Backdoor

Workers:  Randy Bruegger, Greg Buckley, Bill Copeland, Dave McCool, Terry DeFraties, Marty Griffin, Peddgie Heinz, Rick Hines, Ron Lather, Teddy Marsan, Jeff Page, Eddie Simmons, Kathy Sumner, Carl Wagner

Prior to starting the work weekend, The CCC Board met at the schoolhouse Saturday morning.  The Board Meeting minutes will be published separately by Secretary, Teddy Marsan.

For most of us the work started after the meeting and after lunch.  Ron and Peddgie got an early start on the work by twice loading Ron's truck with ash and nails that remained in the fire ring after burning the trash from the schoolhouse roof.  The trash was taken to the local dump.

Jeff managed to avoid working on the silo by previously arranging to check out area sinkholes on Saturday with Greg Fry.  Peddgie went along to help on that project.  Kathy stayed behind and mowed the grass throughout the schoolhouse camp area.  On Sunday Jeff, Kathy and Peddgie checked out Perkins Cave in an effort to document historic graffiti.  None was found.

Dave McCool unloaded a truck load of launch tubes and material for the Fireworks show he is preparing for the Annual Breakthrough Celebration July 26.

The other work for the weekend consisted of erecting an 8 foot tall silo section on our new 20-foot diameter concrete pad over the backdoor.  We erected one complete ring consisting of nine 200 lb panels plus a door panel.  The panels were assembled with the original rubber gaskets and all the bolts so when finished we will have an airtight building.  Terry's air compressor and impact wrench made quick work of tightening down the bolts.  When we stopped Saturday night for dinner the 16 foot diameter 8 foot tall ring of steel was finished. 

On Sunday Ron, Greg Buckley, Terry, Bill and I cleaned out the storage silo and the trailer.  The amount of junk that had accumulated there in two years was incredible.  We trashed most of the junk, made little piles to return to others and took some stuff home.  The last of the stuff in the storage silo will get moved to the trailer on the next work weekend when we take down the storage silo.  The storage silo will make up the top half of the silo on the concrete pad. 

Carl Wagner is trying to arrange for a ladder truck to help with the assembly of the top half of the silo.  That is tentatively planned for July 19.  Please watch the web calendar for the date and come help if you can.

Hope to see you and all your caving friends at the First Annual Breakthrough Celebration July 26.  See www.carrollcave.org for details.


Rick