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NEST TRIP REPORT
Buchanan Cave 21 July 2001
The Northeast Sump Exploration Team, NEST, conducted exploration efforts
In Buchanan Cave Resurgence in Virginia on 21 July 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.
Jeff and I returned to Buchanan to continue with our survey efforts.
For this dive we were both using buoyancy compensated 80 stages to pass the
first four sumps. Despite fairly dry weather, conditions were far from
ideal with only about 5 feet of vis. Jeff was being to wonder if my
descriptions of 20 to 30 feet of vis was a bad joke since all of his dives
at the site thus far had corresponded with poor visibility.
Based on the conditions Jeff opted not to dive the 5 th sump so I
pressed on with my backup plan to finish the survey of this section of the
cave. With my 10 watt AUL HID hanging over my left shoulder providing
illumination I picked up where I had left off a few weeks ago surveying from
a depth of 25 feet up the sloping passage to the surface. I was pleasantly
surprised to discover that the vis in sump 5 was a decent 10 feet. After
surfacing I continued the survey to the end point of the line on a mud bank
on the left through about 120 feet of air filled passage.
Beyond the point where you leave the over head environment behind is a
wide passage with a high ceiling with 6 inches to three feet of water
covering the floor. The easiest way to traverse this is to float and crawl.
After 200 feet you reach dry land, a mud bank where I dropped my sidemounts.
I planted a Disler Spike in this bank and used this to secure the end of a
tape reel and surveyed from this point back to the line tie off point. I
was now wading through the shallow passage stirring up a vast amount of silt
that was flowing downstream into the sump. There was no way to avoid this
and by conducting this part of the survey solo I would not subject another
team member to the challenging visibility conditions I was generating for my
outbound dive. With this part of the survey completed I headed up stream
to enjoy Montgomery Falls and give the heavier silt time to settle. This
water fall or cascade is over 100 feet long and 20 feet high and is one of
the most surprising and beautiful features of the cave.
For my exploration efforts today I was wearing a DUI CF 200 front entry
dry suit. This is the standard configuration for NEST and has excellent
abrasion resistance, a must considering the abuse we subject our suits to.
The dry suit was equipped with two large Velcro closed bellows pockets on
either side, military length Kevlar knee pads and elbow pads, zipper guard
and warm neck collar. I was also wearing a pair of Halcyon Gaiters and a
pair of hard plastic knee pads with Velcro attachments. The Velcro holds
the pads reasonable secure but also allows them to be striped off if they
become wedged passing a restriction. My gloves were contoured ice fishing
gloves from Wallmart with the fingers cut off and the over board dump valve
was a stainless steel urinator from Dive Rite. The suit was also equipped
with rock boots. I have seen a number of less than positive remarks
regarding rock boots on various lists. For our environment they are an
absolute must since at most of our dry suit sites we are traversing dry cave
wearing over 120 pounds of gear. There is no comparison between the rock
boots and standard dry suit boots in this application. Standard dry suit
boots are like wearing a kids pajamas with attached feet that flop all over
the place. I can make this comparison since I have used both standard wet
suit boots and rock boots in the same cave, the performance advantages I
experienced first hand leave no doubt in my mind regarding this. I now use
them for all of my dry suit diving including some limited wreck and
recreational diving and love them.
Having made this statement it also important to realize that using rock
boots takes some getting used to as well as proper technique. Proper
sizing is vital in that the sock material should be large enough to accept
the foot and insulation but not too large so that the excess becomes
uncomfortable by being bunched up in the boot.. I wear a pair of wool socks
and thinsulate lined Seal Skinz socks over these for insulation. When
donning the boot you need to develop a technique to seat the excess fabric
correctly, not hard but it takes some practice. It is also vital that the
boot laces be snug but not overly tightened. The proper fin size is also
vital, I am fortunate in that my size 10 Rock Boots fit perfectly in my
extra large Jet fins with spring straps. Although it took me about four
dives to refine my technique to make effective use of my rock boots it was
well worth the effort.
After a look at the falls I headed back and donned my gear for the exit
swim. I was encouraged to discover that most of silt I had stirred up
during my survey had not fully migrated into the 5 th sump and I could
actually see the line, from about 4 inches that is. I rejoined Jeff and
after unpacking supplies, stocking the first base camp, and reballasting our
stages we exited. Another excellent day for the team with the 5th sump
survey completed and more supplies positioned for a future push.
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 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 audio visual 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
Jeff Mott
Stand By on call Divers and Support Team
Paul Montgomery Virginia Area Coordinator
Eric Tesnau
Dave Nicholas
Laura Kraus
JOSEPH
KAFFL
SUMPDIVER@MS*.CO*
NEST
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