Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
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NEST TRIP REPORT
Buchanan Cave 14 Apr 2001
The Northeast Sump Exploration Team, NEST, conducted exploration =
efforts
In Buchanan Cave Resurgence in Virginia on 14 Apr 2001. 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.
I pulled up at Eric=92s home to discover that we had an unexpected =
support
team member joining us, his wife Tab, a skilled caver, climber and great
conversationalist, she helped to make the 6 hour ride to Paul=92s place =
seem
shorter than normal. After a good nights rest we got off to an early
start on Saturday and with Tab acting as our surface support Eric and I =
were
soon on our way.
Eric led with dual buoyancy compensated OMS 45 and alum 30 stages =
with a
500-foot push reel attached to the handle of the 30 cu ft stage with =
wire
ties. During his passage of sump 1 and the first section of sump 2 =
Eric
breathed the 45 dropping it 600 feet in and continued from there on his =
side
mounts. I followed breathing from my 30 and at the stage drop switched =
to
my 45, vis and water temps were excellent. We rallied at the top of =
the
second sump in the lake room before proceeding on through sumps 3 and 4.
This was the first time that I had seen another diver in the sumps and =
it
added a unique perspective to the experience. Watching Eric free fall =
down
the second Dome pit as his primary illuminated the chamber was breath
taking. Eric then dropped his gear and portaged the alum 30 stage and
attached reel through the 150 feet of dry walking passage that separates =
the
fourth and fifth sump head pools while I walked my 120 pounds of =
equipment
to this sump. While 120 pounds of side mount gear is not light our =
rigging
arrangement is designed to make it practical to wear the gear in dry
passages.
At the head pool I donned my fins, switched over to my argon =
inflation
bottle, fired up my AUL HID and finned forward breathing from the Alum =
30
stage that Eric had transported in for this push dive. Sump 5 is 51 =
feet
deep and over 500 feet long and my plan to navigate it on the 30 worked
well. I surfaced on the other side with untouched side mounts ready to =
lay
more line. On my last dive I had cracked this sump just as I ran out =
of #
72 line. Unable to execute an above water tie off I had given the area =
a
cursory look before planting the reel in the silt and turning to exit. =
My
brief inspection had disclosed an air filled lake room that appeared to
extend at least another 30 feet before submerging into what appeared to =
be
another sump.
I now finned forward on the surface till I was over my old reel, =
cut
the exploration reel free from the stage handle on the 30 and slipped =
the
wire ties into a hip pocket on my DUI CF 200. Now on my side mounts I
submerged and gently placed the 30 on the line before tying in my new =
reel.
After verifying I had a good connection I finned forwarded a few feet =
and
secured the new section with a Disler Spike for insurance. The bottom
gradually sloped upward and after 40 feet I was back on the surface =
moving
along in a sloppy swim crawl combination. By this point I had traveled =
60
feet and discovered that instead of submerging the passage made a hard =
turn
to the left. It was at least 15 to 20 feet wide and the ceiling was a =
good
6 feet high. My HID disclosed another 40 feet of air filled passage so =
I
continued crawling placing spikes ever 20 feet. With no signs of a new =
sump
I secured the line to a small mud bank on the right with a spike, =
removed my
fins and began walking. The bottom was fairly firm and this proved =
fairly
straightforward. After another 40 feet I thought I could hear a faint
sound. This was a new twist since thus far all of the passage we had
discovered had been perfectly still.
As I walked around the next corner dry land appeared in the form of =
a
broad mud bank so I took this opportunity to drop my side mounts and =
pull my
hood down. There was now no mistaking the sound of water running ever =
so
faintly in the distance. With my load lightened I splashed through
meandering passages which were 20 feet wide in places and in most cases =
of
walking height. As I moved forward the sound of running water became
gradually louder. Under ground in a cave water running over even a =
small
drop can sound very loud, the noise I heard was well beyond this and as =
I
moved closer to it became a dull roar. As I turned the next corner I =
could
see 40 feet to my front what appeared to be a 20-foot high water fall.
I could not believe my eyes and the though cross my mind this might =
be
the end of the road. As I moved closer I could see that instead of a
vertical waterfall I was actually looking at water cascading down a
40-degree slope. The passage beneath this white frothy flow was clean
limestone with excellent footholds so I was able to walk up it like a
staircase. This was the most beautiful water filled passage I had ever
seen and it continued for almost 80 feet. I now faced a section that
required me to stoop and a series of very small water falls a few inched
high. This in is turn led to more large water filled passage some of it
with waist deep pools where I could float and allow myself to cool off.
The passage then became square in cross section and at least 10 feet =
high.
I was now beginning to wonder if I might finally have found the big dry =
cave
that we though the valley had hidden for many years when I rounded a =
corner
only to discover another large pool of water with a lower ceiling. I =
waded
out into it and noticed that it was perfectly still. A quick check with =
my
light disclosed that the ceiling and water surfaces met in all =
directions
and that it appeared to sump. Since I had gained at least 20 feet of
elevation in climbing Montgomery Falls I suspected a possible duck =
under.
From long experience I had brought both my hood and mask along so I
donned them and gently floated out into the lake, took a deep breath and
floated to the other side of the pool. I could clearly see a =
continuation
of the passage proceeding underwater at least 12 feet wide and three =
feet
high. Fighting my positive buoyancy I forced myself under the ledge. It
sloped downward and truly appeared to be another sump. I bobbed back =
to
the surface and floated on my back like an otter while I contemplated my
discovery. I still could not believe it, a sixth sump on top of a
waterfall. This cave was truly full of surprises.
It was time to head back and I did a rough pace count on my return
journey. The total distance between sump 6 and 5 was at least 1200 =
feet.
My return swim through sump 5 was uneventful although I was glad I was =
now
operating on Argon since the exposure to the 51-degree temps was =
beginning
to lower my core temperature. I surfaced and joined Eric who had been
exploring the dry cave between the sump pools while he waited. We =
pulled up
a section of dry cave and I gave him a blow by blow of my discoveries.
After a granola bar and some Gatorade we set about surveying the dry
upper cut around between sump 4 and 5 and looked at a dry lead that Eric
found and I had missed on my initial exploration of the site. This lead
started out as walking passage before turning into a crawl. It appeared =
to
be parallel the dry loop we had surveyed but neither Eric nor I could
remember having seen a connecting point in the adjacent passage. Out of =
time
we decided to leave this lead for another day.
Our Exit proved uneventful and after packing up the gear and sharing =
our
discoveries with the landowner we head up to Friars Hole to join several
Friends at Tim Walker=92s place for a work weekend. We arrived just as =
dinner
was being served around the campfire. Timing in life is everything.
It had been a highly successful operation for the team with the cave
pushed to over 3000 feet from the spring entrance, additional cave =
surveyed,
an incredibly beautiful waterfall discovered, a new sump identified, and =
a
new possible dry lead located between sump 4 and 5.
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=92s and HIDs, as well as other critical gear and Tom and Jon 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 audiovisual support. Additional sponsors =
include
Lamar Hires of Dive Rite, 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 Explorer
Joseph Kaffl
Eric Tesnau
Support Team
Tab Tesnau
Stand By on call Divers and Support Team
Paul Montgomery Virginia Area Coordinator
Jeff Mott
Dave Nicholas
=
JOSEPH
KAFFL
SUMPDIVER@MS*.CO*
NEST
-----Original Message-----
From: erik tesnau <sumpcaver@wo*.at*.ne*>
To: Joseph Kaffl <sumpdiver@em*.ms*.co*>
Date: Sunday, June 24, 2001 6:29 PM
Subject: trip report
=20
=20
Alas
=20
I checked my deleted messages box and I could not find any trip =
reports for the last week worth of email.
=20
send it to me again
=20
Erik
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><BR></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>NEST TRIP=20
REPORT<BR><BR> =
;=20
Buchanan Cave 14 Apr 2001<BR><BR><BR> The =
Northeast Sump=20
Exploration Team, NEST, conducted exploration efforts<BR>In Buchanan =
Cave=20
Resurgence in Virginia on 14 Apr 2001. NEST is a=20
formally<BR>recognized Project of the NSS and consists of a team of sump =
divers=20
and<BR>dedicated support personnel who are pursuing original exploration =
efforts=20
at<BR>several caves in the PA, Virginia and West Virginia areas. =
The team=20
surveys<BR>and further documents these sites through the use of still =
and=20
video<BR>techniques as well as engaging in biological surveys and water =
sampling=20
at<BR>these locations. NEST is also available to support the NCRC =
in=20
situations<BR>involving flooded passage and beyond sump rescues. =
Below is=20
an account of<BR>the Teams most recent =
explorations.<BR> I=20
pulled up at Eric’s home to discover that we had an unexpected=20
support<BR>team member joining us, his wife Tab, a skilled caver, =
climber and=20
great<BR>conversationalist, she helped to make the 6 hour ride to =
Paul’s=20
place seem<BR>shorter than normal. After a good nights =
rest we=20
got off to an early<BR>start on Saturday and with Tab acting as our =
surface=20
support Eric and I were<BR>soon on our way.<BR> Eric led =
with dual=20
buoyancy compensated OMS 45 and alum 30 stages with a<BR>500-foot push =
reel=20
attached to the handle of the 30 cu ft stage with =
wire<BR>ties. =20
During his passage of sump 1 and the first section of sump 2 =
Eric<BR>breathed=20
the 45 dropping it 600 feet in and continued from there on his=20
side<BR>mounts. I followed breathing from my 30 and at the stage =
drop=20
switched to<BR>my 45, vis and water temps were =
excellent. We=20
rallied at the top of the<BR>second sump in the lake room before =
proceeding on=20
through sumps 3 and 4.<BR>This was the first time that I had seen =
another diver=20
in the sumps and it<BR>added a unique perspective to the =
experience. =20
Watching Eric free fall down<BR>the second Dome pit as his primary =
illuminated=20
the chamber was breath<BR>taking. Eric then dropped =
his gear=20
and portaged the alum 30 stage and<BR>attached reel through the 150 feet =
of dry=20
walking passage that separates the<BR>fourth and fifth sump head pools =
while I=20
walked my 120 pounds of equipment<BR>to this sump. While 120 =
pounds of=20
side mount gear is not light our rigging<BR>arrangement is designed to =
make it=20
practical to wear the gear in dry<BR>passages.<BR> At the =
head pool=20
I donned my fins, switched over to my argon inflation<BR>bottle, fired =
up my AUL=20
HID and finned forward breathing from the Alum 30<BR>stage that Eric had =
transported in for this push dive. Sump 5 is 51 feet<BR>deep =
and=20
over 500 feet long and my plan to navigate it on the 30=20
worked<BR>well. I surfaced on the other side with untouched =
side=20
mounts ready to lay<BR>more line. On my last dive I had =
cracked this=20
sump just as I ran out of #<BR>72 line. Unable to execute an =
above=20
water tie off I had given the area a<BR>cursory look before planting the =
reel in=20
the silt and turning to exit. My<BR>brief inspection had =
disclosed=20
an air filled lake room that appeared to<BR>extend at least another 30 =
feet=20
before submerging into what appeared to be<BR>another=20
sump.<BR> I now finned forward on the =
surface till=20
I was over my old reel, cut<BR>the exploration reel free from the stage =
handle=20
on the 30 and slipped the<BR>wire ties into a hip pocket on my DUI CF=20
200. Now on my side mounts I<BR>submerged and gently =
placed=20
the 30 on the line before tying in my new reel.<BR>After verifying I had =
a good=20
connection I finned forwarded a few feet and<BR>secured the new section =
with a=20
Disler Spike for insurance. The bottom<BR>gradually sloped upward =
and=20
after 40 feet I was back on the surface moving<BR>along in a sloppy swim =
crawl=20
combination. By this point I had traveled 60<BR>feet and =
discovered=20
that instead of submerging the passage made a hard turn<BR>to the =
left. It=20
was at least 15 to 20 feet wide and the ceiling was a good<BR>6 feet=20
high. My HID disclosed another 40 feet of air filled passage =
so=20
I<BR>continued crawling placing spikes ever 20 feet. With no signs =
of a=20
new sump<BR>I secured the line to a small mud bank on the right with a =
spike,=20
removed my<BR>fins and began walking. The bottom was fairly firm =
and this=20
proved fairly<BR>straightforward. After another 40 feet I thought =
I could=20
hear a faint<BR>sound. This was a new twist since thus far all of =
the=20
passage we had<BR>discovered had been perfectly =
still.<BR> As=20
I walked around the next corner dry land appeared in the form of =
a<BR>broad mud=20
bank so I took this opportunity to drop my side mounts and pull =
my<BR>hood=20
down. There was now no mistaking the sound of water running =
ever=20
so<BR>faintly in the distance. With my load lightened I =
splashed=20
through<BR>meandering passages which were 20 feet wide in places and in =
most=20
cases of<BR>walking height. As I moved forward the sound of =
running water=20
became<BR>gradually louder. Under ground in a cave water =
running=20
over even a small<BR>drop can sound very loud, the noise I heard was =
well beyond=20
this and as I<BR>moved closer to it became a dull roar. As I =
turned=20
the next corner I could<BR>see 40 feet to my front what appeared to be a =
20-foot=20
high water fall.<BR> I could not believe my eyes =
and the=20
though cross my mind this might be<BR>the end of the road. =
As I=20
moved closer I could see that instead of a<BR>vertical waterfall I was =
actually=20
looking at water cascading down a<BR>40-degree slope. The passage =
beneath=20
this white frothy flow was clean<BR>limestone with excellent footholds =
so I was=20
able to walk up it like a<BR>staircase. This was the most =
beautiful=20
water filled passage I had ever<BR>seen and it continued for almost 80=20
feet. I now faced a section that<BR>required me to stoop and =
a=20
series of very small water falls a few inched<BR>high. This in is =
turn led=20
to more large water filled passage some of it<BR>with waist deep pools =
where I=20
could float and allow myself to cool off.<BR>The passage then became =
square in=20
cross section and at least 10 feet high.<BR>I was now beginning to =
wonder if I=20
might finally have found the big dry cave<BR>that we though the valley =
had=20
hidden for many years when I rounded a corner<BR>only to discover =
another large=20
pool of water with a lower ceiling. I waded<BR>out into it and =
noticed=20
that it was perfectly still. A quick check with my<BR>light =
disclosed that=20
the ceiling and water surfaces met in all directions<BR>and that it =
appeared to=20
sump. Since I had gained at least 20 feet of<BR>elevation in =
climbing=20
Montgomery Falls I suspected a possible duck under.<BR> From =
long=20
experience I had brought both my hood and mask along so I<BR>donned them =
and=20
gently floated out into the lake, took a deep breath and<BR>floated to =
the other=20
side of the pool. I could clearly see a continuation<BR>of the =
passage=20
proceeding underwater at least 12 feet wide and three =
feet<BR>high. =20
Fighting my positive buoyancy I forced myself under the ledge. =
It<BR>sloped=20
downward and truly appeared to be another sump. I bobbed =
back=20
to<BR>the surface and floated on my back like an otter while I =
contemplated=20
my<BR>discovery. I still could not believe it, a sixth sump on top =
of=20
a<BR>waterfall. This cave was truly full of=20
surprises.<BR> It was time to head back and I did a =
rough pace=20
count on my return<BR>journey. The total distance between sump 6 =
and 5 was=20
at least 1200 feet.<BR>My return swim through sump 5 was uneventful =
although I=20
was glad I was now<BR>operating on Argon since the exposure to the =
51-degree=20
temps was beginning<BR>to lower my core temperature. I surfaced =
and joined=20
Eric who had been<BR>exploring the dry cave between the sump pools while =
he=20
waited. We pulled up<BR>a section of dry cave and I gave him a =
blow by=20
blow of my discoveries.<BR> After a granola bar and =
some=20
Gatorade we set about surveying the dry<BR>upper cut around between sump =
4 and 5=20
and looked at a dry lead that Eric<BR>found and I had missed on my =
initial=20
exploration of the site. This lead<BR>started out as walking =
passage=20
before turning into a crawl. It appeared to<BR>be parallel the dry =
loop we=20
had surveyed but neither Eric nor I could<BR>remember having seen a =
connecting=20
point in the adjacent passage. Out of time<BR>we decided to leave this =
lead for=20
another day.<BR> Our Exit proved uneventful and after =
packing up the=20
gear and sharing our<BR>discoveries with the landowner we head up to =
Friars Hole=20
to join several<BR>Friends at Tim Walker’s place for a work =
weekend. =20
We arrived just as dinner<BR>was being served around the campfire. =
Timing=20
in life is everything.<BR> It had been a highly =
successful=20
operation for the team with the cave<BR>pushed to over 3000 feet from =
the spring=20
entrance, additional cave surveyed,<BR>an incredibly beautiful waterfall =
discovered, a new sump identified, and a<BR>new possible dry lead =
located=20
between sump 4 and 5.<BR> We would like to recognize =
our=20
sponsors and all of the supporting cavers<BR>who helped make our efforts =
possible. A special thanks to Arnold Jackson Of<BR>American =
Underwater=20
Lighting who supplied our exceptional primary lights,<BR>Meteor =
4’s and=20
HIDs, as well as other critical gear and Tom and Jon of the<BR>Fifth =
Dimension=20
Dive Center who has provided us with other vital support.<BR>We would =
also like=20
to thank Terry Brady, of the Brass Anchor who has<BR>provided us with =
generous=20
audiovisual support. Additional sponsors include<BR>Lamar Hires of =
Dive=20
Rite, Alex Sproul of Inner Mountain Outfitters, Adrew<BR>Kipe of =
Maryland=20
Reproductions, and Robert Carmichael of Brownies Third Lung<BR>and =
HALCYON, The=20
Doing It Right Equipment Company, and our most recent<BR>sponsor, DUI =
for our=20
outstanding CF 200 series Dry Suits, Tim Walker, Hank<BR>and Jane =
Anderson, and=20
the Sovik and Mothes families without whose support<BR>none of our =
efforts would=20
have been possible.<BR><BR>Diver Explorer<BR>Joseph Kaffl<BR>Eric=20
Tesnau<BR><BR>Support Team<BR>Tab Tesnau<BR><BR>Stand By on call
Divers =
and=20
Support Team<BR>Paul Montgomery Virginia Area =
Coordinator<BR>Jeff=20
Mott<BR>Dave=20
Nicholas<BR><BR><BR> &nb
sp=
; =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; &nb=
sp; =20
JOSEPH<BR>KAFFL<BR><BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:SUMPDIVER@MS*.CO*">SUMPDIVER@MSN.COM</A><BR><BR>NEST<
BR><B=
R><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>&
lt;/DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: =
5px">
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><B>-----Original =
Message-----</B><BR><B>From:=20
</B>erik tesnau <<A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:sumpcaver@wo*.at*.ne*">sumpcaver@worldnet.att.net</A>=
><BR><B>To:=20
</B>Joseph Kaffl <<A=20
=
href=3D"mailto:sumpdiver@em*.ms*.co*">sumpdiver@email.msn.com</A>><B=
R><B>Date:=20
</B>Sunday, June 24, 2001 6:29 PM<BR><B>Subject: </B>trip=20
report<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>Alas</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>I checked my deleted messages =
box and I=20
could not find any trip reports for the last week worth of=20
email.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2>send it to me
again</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#000000 =
size=3D2>Erik</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
------=_NextPart_000_000E_01C0FD9E.E664CE00--
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