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NEST TRIP REPORT
Alexander�s Trip Report 7 Aug 99
The NEST, Northeast Sump Exploration Team, returned and continued its
exploratory work in Alexander�s Cave on 7 Aug 99. NEST is a formally
recognized Project of the NSS and consists of a team of sump divers and
dedicated support personnel who are pursuing original exploration efforts at
several caves in the PA, Virginia and West Virginia areas. The team
surveys and further documents these sites through the use of still and video
techniques as well as engaging in biological surveys and water sampling at
these locations. NEST is also available to support the NCRC in situations
involving flooded passage and beyond sump rescues. Below is an account of
the Teams most recent explorations.
It was a beautiful summer day as we pulled beneath the shade of the large
tree that stood near the man made entrance of Alexander�s cave. The
temperature and humidity levels were reasonable so I opted to don my DUI CF
200 dry suit on the surface to reduce the amount of equipment that we would
need to transport to the dive site. John, Jack and I headed into the cave
first carrying a digital video camera and assorted lights and set up along
the route of march to capture the rest of the team led by David Holick as
they moved gear into the cave. We were testing different types of bulbs
with this particular camera and this was a great location to accomplish
this. With our first objective completed we packed up the camera gear and
followed the rest of the team to the main river trunk. As we made our way
down the 40 foot high mud slope that leads to the old boat dock area the air
temperature shot up dramatically, influenced by the warm river temps. The
main river and the sumps that lie upstream are directly influenced by
surface run off. In the winter months river temps are down right frigid and
in the summer as warm as Florida. It was these warm conditions that had
brought us to the cave today for the main objective was to press upstream
past the sumps along the main trunk passage.
The effect of the drought on the water levels in the cave were
dramatic, at the boat landing large parts of new shore line were visible
and the run from the J series had been reduced to a trickle only an inch
wide. We decided to do a quick reckon to see if the E1 sump might be
passable to the non divers on the team. While I waded upstream the rest of
group followed in boats. Entering the sump feet first I used my fingers to
pole off the ceiling and with my nose pressed against its smooth surface
felt with my feet. It had been a while since I was in nose walking passage.
The passage continued to slope downward and although a significant part of
it was now passable it was still not even close to being open to non divers.
We returned to the staging area and after donning my side mounts we
headed back upstream. The shallow water made progress difficult and was
indicative of what I would find further on. After discussing my plan with
the team and reviewing emergency procedures with Brad Basson our rescue
coordinator I executed a final equipment check and entered the sump. The
reduced flows had increased visibility to over a foot which was the best I
had ever seen in this sump. The water was so warm, 62 degrees, that I did
not have to use gloves. I surfaced on the other side and was amazed how the
terrain had changed. On my first dive through this sump I had tied the
line off on the bottom of a large formation that hung from the ceiling. At
that time this had been at the water level. The tie off was now three feet
above me. After a short swim I was able to stand and remove my fins. I
placed these in a custom pack which I draped over my shoulder. Then began
the slog through the 1000 feet of passage that led to the next sump in the
series. In the past significant parts of this passage had contained several
point where one would have to swim and large sections were one could float.
The reduced water levels meant that this was now an almost completely dry
hike. Although our gear is designed to work well in dry passages, these
long traverses out of the water are never a fun experience. My enjoyment
was further enhanced by the sediment which in most places consisted of one
to two feet of thick sandy mud. It was a bit like walking through wet
concrete. At one or two points I lowered myself into small pools to cool
off. The end of this passage is marked by a room that we have named the
Land of the Straws. The ceiling is covered with hundreds of pure white soda
straws some several feet long. I paused for a moment to enjoy this
intricate and unspoiled collection of speleothems before donning my fins and
pressing on.
The next sump, E 2 was open and I floated through to a small room while
E3 which begins on the other side of this space was still well filled. Once
again the vis was spectacular and with almost two to three feet I was able
to see this sump for the first time. As I finned along several small fish
appeared on the bottom and disturbed by the light from my Meteor Four darted
away. These guys had eyes and pigmentation so did not appear to be true
cave fish. I surface on the other side to again find the line tie off well
above the water level. I was in the section of cave that Jim Brown and
John Schweyen had originally discovered and although I had been to this
point before I had not pressed on beyond it.
I moved upstream 50 feet until I reached a convenient mud bank and
removed my tanks. Unicumbered I began crawling upstream. The ceiling was
low and covered with pure while formations. I also detected a faint and
unwelcome odor, sewer gases. The realization of what I was swimming in
suddenly struck me and I decided that it was a little late to be concerned
about this so I pressed on. The passage continued for several hundred feet
and included walking sections at several points. In the distance I could
hear the rumble of a small water wall and as I turned the next bend I
discover that the water was tumbling over a small ledge. Above it and to
the right a side passage consisting of a wide slot 15 feet across and a
foot and a half high was dumping most of the flow into the cave. I climbed
over the fall and proceeded upstream, the first pool I encounter was
crystal clear and cold. The noxious smell also left me and I continued on
through another thousand of feet of walking and crawling passage about 20
feet wide. I finally reached a large break down area. According to the
maps that Brown had made several years ago this led to the terminal sump
which had stopped them. I opted to turn and exit at this point and spend my
remaining time looking at one of the leads marked on the map. This side
passage unfortunately ended after 50 feet so I returned to the river and
continued my exit.
Since the area in which I had dropped my tanks was only three feet high
the only way I could don my gear was gear by lying backward, fastening my
two waist belts and flipping over. I then floated and crawled to the line,
pulled on my fins, did a reg check and plunged in, managing to stay ahead
of my silt so I could enjoy the two feet of visibility on the way out. As
I exited from the Land of the Straws I found the one deep area left in the
cave and walked straight into a deep hole. As the water washed over my head
I hit the inflator on my suit and popped back to the surface, unfortunately
not before I got a good swallow of sump water. With memory of the lovely
smell still fresh in my mind I crawled up the bank and did some serious
throat clearing, definitely UN YUM. With this little episode over I
continued my slog down the passage. I took great care in my foot placements
since the cave in this almost virgin area is full of sharp limestone
projections protruding from the floor. I finally reached the first sump
and it felt good to be able to submerge in the cool water.
My support team met me in a boat and we headed back to the dock area
where I climbed out and did a dive of the J1 sump. What a change from the E
series, the water was 51 degrees and crystal clear, it shone back from my
primary light with a distinct blue tinge. Several crayfish provided me with
company waving their claws at me as I passed over head. Feeling invigorated
from this dive I exited and began the slog back to the surface. I opted to
wear my gear out, my work outs had definitely paid off especially on the
multiple step climb up out of the man made entrance. This walk adds a whole
new dimension to the concept of stair aerobics.
We would like to recognize our sponsors and all of the supporting cavers
who helped make our efforts possible. A special thanks to Arnold Jackson Of
American Underwater Lighting who supplied our exceptional primary lights,
meteor 4�s, and other critical gear and Jon Breazile of the Fifth Dimension
Dive Center who has provided us with other vital support. We would also
like to thank Terry Brady, of the Brass Anchor who has provided us with
generous audio visual support. Additional sponsors include Lamar Hires of
Dive Rite, Gene Weisheit of East Coast Divers, Alex Sproul of Inner
Mountain Outfitters, Brad Bason, of Bason Rescue Equipment, Adrew Kipe of
Maryland Reproductions, and Robert Carmichael of Brownies, The Doing It
Right Equipment Company, and our most recent sponsor, DUI for our
outstanding CF 200 series Dry Suits, Tim Walker, Hank and Jane Anderson,
and the Sovik and Mothes families without whose support none of our efforts
would have been possible.
Diver Explorers
Joseph Kaffl
Support Team Members
Dave Hollick, Pa Project Coordinator
Brad Basson Rescue Coordinator
Jack Rice
John Spostao
Ken Lipert and friends
..
JOSEPH
KAFFL
SUMPDIVER@MS*.CO*
NEST
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