Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
NEST TRIP REPORT
Project Z Trip Report 7 Sep 99
The Northeast Sump Exploration Team, NEST, returned and continued its
exploratory work in Project Z Cave on 7 Sep 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 starred at the numbers on my slate I suddenly realized that I had
lost track of my knot count and could not be sure of where I was in the
survey. The clay disturbed by my exhaled bubbles percolated off the ceiling
wiping out the visibility and I moved forward a few feet while I tried to
sort out my error. Staring at the slate was not helping and turning to
verify the count was not an option since I was in a rather snug section of
the third sump in a space just large enough for me to pass without
contacting the floor. I realized that I had allowed myself to become task
loaded. Any attempt to press on with the survey was pointless and
potentially dangerous at this point. I stowed the slate, surpressed my
frustration over losing track of the count and considered my options. After
a moment I decided I could safely proceed to my second objective. I moved
forward following the line up a gentle slope until the passage became
snugger with both my back and stomach in contact with the cave at the same
time. I had reached the major restriction that would take me into the
fourth sump.
I squeezed through it and turned to the left following the line into a
sizable room.
Above me was a small airspace, but my destination lay down the steep slope
to my front. A check of my gauges reflected excellent gas reserves, I had
used a hand held alum 30 stage bottle when I passed the first and second
sumps. I now gently finned from my dept. of 10 feet back down to 23 feet
and the light from my AUL Meteor Four disclosed my last spike and the half
full reel where I had left it. In front of me lay a gravel filled
restriction that was far too tight to allow any further progress. The
presence of the gravel probably reflected that this was the low point in
this sump and it might be deep enough to allow my passage if I could remove
it. I was certain that more cave would lie past this point, the only
problem was getting to it. Grasping the line firmly in my left hand I
reached into the restriction with my right hand and began to dig. The
visibility immediately went to zero, unable to read my gauges at this point
I would have to estimate my remaining time by the number of digging cycles
that I performed. After reaching my preplaned point I stopped and felt
around in the restriction. It seemed a bit larger but was still far too
snug for me to pass through. I would have to wait until my next trip to see
if I had made any significant progress. Grasping the survey slate that I had
placed in the silt next to the PVC spike I following the line upward. The
Vis opened up briefly to revealed a spike on the top of the slope and I
followed the dog leg back through the restriction once again in zero
visibility. The glow from my primary surrounded me with a diffused light, it
was like being in a glass of chocolate milk The snug passage felt
comfortable since there was only one option. As I neared the bottom of the
third sump I could feel my ears pop from the pressure change. I followed the
line through the last major restriction as it made a hard right hand turn.
Next came two minor restrictions as the passage opened into small rooms and
then closed again. The first of these required me to cant my side mounts on
a slight angle to pass it while the second and last was barely perceptible
in the zero vis. I surface into the water filled trunk that lay beyond, the
complete and utter silence only broken my breathing.
This 200 foot section of passage that separates the third sump from the
second is walking size, or would be if it wasn�t for the one to two feet of
oatmeal like sediment that lines the floor. It would be wonderful passage if
it was full of water, unfortunately it was not. I recovered my fin pack
from a mud bank on my left and stowed my fins and slate in it. Than gasping
it at the top and with the handle sewn on the right side I began the slog
down the tube using the pack like a giant snow shoe. The surface area of my
pack prevented my arms from sinking into the fine clay. My knees were not
as fortunate and at on point as I moved forward my right knee pad was sucked
off. I passed for a moment and fished around for it but could not find it.
With my one knee pad I continued forward being extremely careful for at
several points in the passage limestone pinnacles protruded from the floor
like pungi sticks hidden by the sediment lying in wait for ones tender
knees.
As I rounded the final corner the head pool of the second sump lay
before me. The clay my passage had stirred up had of course turned it into
another glass of chocolate milk. At this point I removed my jet fins,
donned them and placed my stage bottle and remaining knee pad in my fin pack
with the slate to make this collection more manageable on my exit dive. I
left the stage on but would continue to use my sidemount gas so that I could
drop the pack if it became troublesome during this phase of the dive. After
a regulator check I dug around in the shallows of the pool until I found the
line and grasping it in my right and the pack in my left hand plunged in.
The second sump was considerably larger than the third and as I gently
finned from spike to spike I had to exercise great care so that I did not
strike my head on any of the limestone protrusions present in this passage.
At the end of the second sump I surfaced briefly and crawled a few feet in
the mostly water filled room, about the size of an overturned row boat,
before plunging head first down the 24 foot deep dome pit which led to a
minor restriction and the rest of the first sump. After several minutes I
surfaced to be greeted by Jeff Mott and Paul Mongomery. It had been another
worthwhile day for us in our continuing exploration of this incredible site.
Jeff had gotten his first orientation dive in and despite the failure of the
survey attempt we had made our first serious digging attempt at the end of
the fourth sump.
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, a special
thanks to Robert Carmichael of Brownies Third Lung and HALCYON, The Doing It
Right Equipment Company for the excellent compressor they recently shipped
to us, 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
Jeff Mott
Support Team
Paul Montgomery Virginia Area Project Coordinator
..
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]