Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
NEST TRIP REPORT
Locust Creek Trip Report 28 Aug 99
The Northeast Sump Exploration Team, NEST, returned and continued its
exploratory work in Locust Creek Cave on 28 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.
As I crawled forward the crust that formed the bottom of the passage
crumbled beneath me and I sank about three inches into the floor. If it had
not been the lure of the next turn I would have stopped out of concern for
the damage my presence was causing. This is one of the dilemmas of virgin
cave exploration, does one explore and push a passage altering it for ever,
from our point of reference, or stop to prevent damage leaving a possible
going lead. In this case the lack of formations and the possibility that
this crawlway might lead to larger cave were the deciding factors and we
pushed on. The lead was located on top of a short climb off the left wall
of the large breakdown filled passage above the Ledges of Doom. Eric had
sniffed it out on our return from capturing digital video at Gravity Pit.
At first it had seemed like a small alcove but to both our surprises it
continued into the wall of the room as a distinct freatic tube filled with
gypsum encrusted fill. My hopes were beginning to rise as I went around
the fourth curve when it abruptly ended after almost 75 feet in a round
cavity with several small formations at its end. With another section of
cave to add to the survey we turned and crawled out. Once again Locust was
being coy with us and was not going to give up her secrets easily.
So far it had been a very successful trip. I had captured Eric
traversing gravity pit on a Sony DCR 8 digital cam corder and shot numerous
other scenes as we worked our way back toward the entrance. The Sony was
much smaller than the Hi 8 that I had been using for our earlier
documentation efforts in the cave. The camera fit inside a padded Pelican
Box which in turn fit inside of a 30 cal ammo can with additional padding.
For illumination I used a light weight array that I had constructed out of 4
50 watt MR 16 bulbs held in a row between two knitting needles. For large
passage shots I used all four bulbs and for formation close ups a single
bulb. It was the perfect tool for the job, light simple and inexpensive.
After traversing the ledges of Doom we did the climb down into the large
walking trunk at the beginning of the new section and Eric retrieved the 150
watt Neutra Light that we had left here on our inward journey. While he
walked down this beautiful section of passage illuminating it I shot several
minutes of video. Despite being on the trail you can still hear the
crunching sound as he takes each step. We worked our way slowly back to the
entrance capturing video as we went with some great images at the twin water
falls at the end of the large breakdown room. The exit dive through the
sump proved relaxing and uneventful with the walk between the first and
second sumps being incredibly grim with the added gear. We finally exited
the cave after some 10 hours to a beautiful West Virginia sunset with over
35 minutes of footage. As we relaxed on Hanks deck over looking Droop
Mountain we laid out our plans for next weeks trip, a push with a four man
team to the very end of the new section and hopefully beyond the pit complex
that had stopped us thus far.
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, Adrew Kipe of Maryland Reproductions, and Robert
Carmichael of Brownies Third Lung and HALCYON, 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
Eric Tesnau
..
JOSEPH
KAFFL
SUMPDIVER@MS*.CO*
NEST
Navigate by Author:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Subject Search Index]
[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]
[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]