Robert A. Holt PO Box 625, Cobleskill, NY 12043 Executive Director Phone: 518-231-5420 Email: bob@cavern.com Website: cavern.com

March 2019

Jewel Cave Reaches 200 Miles

Cave explorers recently mapped the 200th mile in Jewel Cave National Monument. A team of six volunteer cavers entered the cave on Saturday, December 15 and surveyed 3,338.75 feet of passages. They reached the milestone moment on Sunday, briefly posing for a photo of the accomplishment. Upon exiting the cave on

Monday night, the cavers were greeted by park staff, family, and friends for an evening celebration and potluck, and to share their experiences.

Volunteer cave explorers recently mapped the 200th mile of Jewel Cave. From left to right, cavers Dan Austin, Adam Weaver, Rene Ohms, Chris Pelczarski, Garrett Jorgensen, and Stan Allison pose for a celebration picture. NPS Photo

Jan Conn also attended. She and her husband, Herb, were instrumental in demonstrating the significance of Jewel Cave. For years, Jewel Cave was thought to be a small cave, with only two miles mapped. That changed in 1959 when Herb and Jan Conn began exploring the cave in earnest. From 1959 through 1981, the Conns discovered more than 60 miles of cave passages. At 94, Jan remains a strong supporter of the Monument’s volunteer exploration program. Since 1981, two generations of cavers have followed in the Conn’s footsteps and have continued to discover new passages, unique formations, and even cave lakes.

A major breakthrough took place in March 2014 in the Splinter Section of Jewel Cave. Since its discovery, over 24 miles of passages have been

OFFICERS

President: John Graves

Luray Caverns, VA

Ph: 540-743-6551 john.graves@luraycaverns.com

Vice President: Al Mathis

DeSoto Caverns, AL

Ph: 256-872-6240 al@desotocaverns.com

Secretary Treasurer: Bob Holt

National Caves Association

Ph: 518-231-5420 bob@cavern.com

Past President: Patty Perlaky

Inner Space Cavern, TX

Ph: 512-931-2283 caveperl@yahoo.com

REGIONAL DIRECTORS

Region One:

(CT, DE, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT)

Greg Beckler –Natural Stone Bridge & Caves, NY

gbeckler@frontiernet.net Ph: 518-494-2283

Region Two:

(MD, VA, WV, KY)

Eric Helton – Diamond Caverns, KY

eric@diamondcaverns.com Ph: 270-749-2233

Region Three: (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Claudia Yundt - Squire Boone Caverns, IN

claudia@squireboone.com Ph: 812-732-4382

Region Four: (AR, IA, KS, MO, NE)

Dennis Boyer - War Eagle Cavern, AR

wareaglecavern@gmail.com Ph: 479-789-2909

Region Five: (MN, MT, ND, SD, WI)

Tom Hagen - Rushmore Cave, SD

tom@rushmorecave.com Ph: 605-255-4467

Region Six: (CA, ID, NV, OR, WA, AK, HI,

Barbados, Bermuda)

Matt Doyle – Lake Shasta Caverns, CA mdoyle@lakeshastacaverns.com Ph: 800-795-2283

Region Seven: (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY)

Kathy Miller – Glenwood Caverns, CO

kmiller@glenwoodcaverns.com Ph: 970-945-4228

Region Eight: (LA, OK, TX) Ed Mayfield – Caverns of Sonora, TX edmayfield@mac.com Ph: 325-387-3105

Region Nine: (AL, FL, GA, MS, NC, SC, TN)

Lisa McClung – Lost Sea, TN

lisa@thelostsea.com Ph: 423-337-6616

DIRECTOR AT LARGE Denise Bell – Seneca Caverns, OH

senecacaverns@hmcltd.net Ph: 419-483-6711

DIRECTOR EMERITUS Steve Runkle - Cave of the Winds, CO

rsr@caveofthewinds.com Ph: 719-685-5444

mapped, with hundreds of open “leads” that remain to be explored. Due to the remoteness of the area, cavers spend up to four days in the cave, resting each evening at a site called Deep Camp. It takes cavers about eight hours to reach Deep Camp from the visitor center elevators. From there, it takes another four hours to reach the “end” of the cave. Superintendent Michelle Wheatley states, “Caving is a difficult and demanding activity, and the Monument has been very fortunate to have such dedicated and skilled cave explorers, who love caving at Jewel Cave and keep finding more of this amazing underground resource.” At 200.29 miles, Jewel Cave is currently the second longest cave in the country and the third longest in the world.

The Monument is planning a 200-Mile Celebration on June 28 – 30, 2019 in Custer, South Dakota. Guest speakers, youth activities, and an array of presentations are being planned with the assistance of the Black Hills Parks and Forests Association. Registration materials and a complete listing of events will be available by February 1.

For more information about Jewel Cave, visit the Monument online at www.nps.gov/jeca or call the visitor center directly at (605) 673-8300. For additional information and images related to the 200th mile discovery, follow the Monument through social media at www.facebook.com/JewelCaveNPS or www.instagram.com/JewelCaveNPS. The Monument is currently open Wednesday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Due to a construction project within the cave, guided tours are not available until mid-April 2019.

Watch Video Here: https://www.kotatv.com/video/?vid=503101931

Thanks to Regional Director Tom Hagan who forwarded us this story from his region. Tom says “While they are

the third longest cave in the world, they are the first cave that has had the opportunity to record their 200th

mile.

The other two caves over 200 miles reached their length when they connected multiple cave systems which

instantly jumped their length. In Jewel Cave’s instance, each mile has come from one initial cave opening. Jewel

Cave is far and away the longest single entrance cave in the world. “

Natural Bridge Caverns Trail Runs

The only race in the world that starts in the belly of a Cave was held at Natural Bridge Caverns on February 3. The Registration Announced: “Enter into Texas largest Caverns and descend down to Pluto’s anteroom. Start one at a time every 8-15 seconds and run through wonderful and awesome spectacles of underground beauty.” The event featured a 5k, 10k and Half Marathon that ran on the private property of Natural Bridge Caverns. The 5k course was mainly on jeep

trails that made 1 loop and finished in the NBC Village. The 10k was an out and back with one nice hill that then merged onto the 5k course and finished in the NBC Village. The Half Marathon covered every type of terrain and the beauty of the stunning Hill Country.

Wind Cave Reaches 150 Miles

Cave explorers from Colorado recently surveyed 594 feet in Wind Cave, bringing the total length of surveyed passages to 150 miles, according to a news release from Wind Cave National Park.

The cavers — Randy Macan, Shawn Lamley, Emma Paul and Janis Mankovs — surveyed 10 hours recently in the Half Mile Hall area of the cave. Modern-day exploration began in the 1950s, with groups from the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, the Colorado Grotto and the National Speleological Society. Since then, hundreds of individuals have crawled, climbed and squeezed through passages while exploring Wind Cave, making it the sixth-longest cave in the world. “Cave exploration is a critical part of managing the cave because it’s hard to protect something you don’t know you have,” said Park Superintendent Vidal

Dávila. “We’d like to thank all the individuals who, over the years, donated their time exploring this massive cave system.”

Most of the current cave exploration is done by volunteer club members from either the local Paha Sapa Grotto or the Colorado Grotto in Denver. On average, 2 miles are surveyed annually, and it is estimated more than 3,000 leads, or unexplored openings, remain to be checked. Studies of airflow through the entrances reveal that potentially only 10 percent of the cave has been found. Over 500 feet beneath the surface lies a series of cave lakes. Part of the Madison Aquifer, the first lake was discovered by Herb Conn and David Schnute in 1968. Scientists from the University of Akron are studying the microbial life found in the lakes. Despite living in an environment with no sunlight or photosynthesis, the lakes contain a diverse bacterial community of more than 4,000 species, a large portion of which have never been identified and are unique to Wind Cave. Once again thanks to Regional Director Tom Hagan who passed along the news from Wind Cave who announced their additional surveyed passage. Two South Dakota NPS caves have been hard at work!

Get Well Wishes

Greg Beckler of Natural Stone Bridge and Caves informs us that his mom Janet Beckler recently fell and broke her left wrist and left ankle. She spent some time in the hospital and a nursing facility before returning home. We wish her all the best as she continues to heal and to be careful out there in the wintry Adirondacks! It has been reported that Larry McCarty one of the partners in Diamond Caverns was in a very serious automobile accident and required back surgery and hospitalized in Louisville. Recently he was transferred to a rehabilitation center in Bloomington where he will be recuperating for a period of time. We wish Larry a very speedy recovery.

Wind Cave’s 150 miles includes a series of lakes over 500 feet beneath the surface. Courtesy National Park Service

New GM at Cumberland Caverns

Cumberland Caverns, Tennessee’s largest show cave and premier adventure and entertainment destination, today announced Travis Young has been appointed General Manager of Operations. “Travis is an accomplished leader with significant caving knowledge and experience,” said Jim Herschend, President of Cumberland Caverns, Inc., “and we are pleased to welcome him to our management team. More impressive than Travis Young’s background, are his faith, dedication, and love of this cave and his family. He is the right fit to lead our organization into the next phase of growth and usher in a very bright future for our business and community.”

Mr. Young is a lifelong resident and businessman of Warren County. Travis and his wife Olivia own Depot Bottom Country Store, a very popular eatery located in downtown McMinnville. Not to worry, the restaurant will continue to bring the same delicious food, served up with hometown hospitality, with Olivia Young at the helm. Travis Young grew up caving and had the pleasure of working with Cumberland Caverns founders Tank Gorin and Roy Davis in the 90’s. During that time, he fell in love with the cave and rose from tour guide to overnight manager. Since those days, he has remained involved with the cave, assisting when needed and exploring new passages. “Working with such extraordinary men as Roy and Tank, they instilled in me the importance of preservation of the cave and I am fully committed to continuing their legacy and keeping their dream, which is now my dream, alive for them and Warren County. My wife and children support me 100% and share in my love of the cave and this community. Growing the business of the cave, bringing new opportunities to my hometown, and strengthening the relationship with Warren County is my main goal,” stated Mr. Young. Travis Young will be stepping into the role as of January 28. The position became available after Robby Black, General Manager at the cave for 5 years, answered his calling to become a full-time minister at Bates Hill Presbyterian Church. Mr. Black had this to say about his successor: “Travis will be a wonderful manager for the cave. He is a great Christian man, who like me, has a love for Cumberland Caverns and the conservation of our area. I think he will be a fine leader for our business moving forward into 2019.”

Lake Shasta Caverns Kenzie Doyle of Lake

Shasta Caverns poses

with her snowcaver

friend. Seems like the

temperature is dropping

which means more snow

on the way? Perhaps this

lonely guy will have

company of more

snowcavers!

Scientists Discovered

What May Be Canada’s

Largest Cave - It Looks

Like the Sarlacc’s Pit

A helicopter team counting caribou in British

Columbia, Canada, recently made an unexpected

discovery during an aerial survey: Crewmembers

spied an opening to a massive cave that had never

been seen before and which might be the largest

cave in the country.

Found in April in an alpine valley in Wells Gray Provincial Park, the cave's mouth gapes 328 feet (100 meters) across — if the Statue of Liberty were tipped over on its side, it would just about span the opening. The width of the cave is similarly impressive, measuring 197 feet (60 m), and the cave extends at least 443 feet (135 m) straight down, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) A biologist with the helicopter crew that spotted the sizable opening dubbed it "Sarlacc's Pit," after the lair that housed the predatory sarlacc in the "Star Wars" movie "Return of the Jedi," according to the CBC. The deep and wide cave was probably hollowed out by glaciers over tens of thousands of years, and it gradually became exposed to the sky after the glaciers receded.

While researchers have yet to thoroughly explore the site, a preliminary investigation in September hinted that the cave was "of national significance," Canadian Geographic reported.

"The scale of this thing is just huge and about as big as they come in Canada," archaeological surveyor John Pollack, one of the researchers who explored the cave, told Canadian Geographic.

During that expedition, a breathtaking view of the vast cave was captured in aerial footage by geologist Catherine Hickson, an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, according to the National Post. The video was shared to YouTube on Nov. 30 by Canadian Geographic. Seen from the air, the cave resembles a giant bite taken out of the hillside. Steep, rocky walls plunge downward, and a waterfall cascades more than 525 feet (60 m) over the edge.

After rushing water tumbles over the precipice into the cave's depths, it likely flows into a subterranean river that emerges above ground 6,890 feet (2,100 m) away, at an elevation that's about 1,640 feet (500 m) lower than the water's entry point, Pollack told Canadian Geographic. This hints at the length of the underground chambers in the cave, he explained.

While the unofficial name "Sarlacc Pit" certainly holds appeal for "Star Wars" fans, British Columbia province representatives will be working closely with First Nations people in the region to find out if there is an existing indigenous name for the cave, Canadian Geographic reported. Further investigation of the cave will take place in 2020, Hickson told CBC.

A remote location in northwestern British Columbia is home to a huge, unexplored cave. Credit: Catherine Hickson

Insurance Column:

Dangerous Roads

Driving on Ice and Snow Whether your employees are on the road for long hauls or short

commutes, no one likes getting stuck in severe weather. Below,

find a few safety suggestions to help you and your staff stay safe

before and during travel, all year long.

Before travel:

Get a tuneup and be sure to check battery levels.

Check radiator coolant, and sturdiness of hoses and belts.

Ensure headlights, taillights and turn signals are working properly.

Check tire tread and wear — tread should be at least 1/16 of an inch.

Make sure brakes are in proper working order and the gas tank is filled to at least half.

Prepare a winter emergency kit for your vehicle including blankets, jumper cables, extra window washer fluid, sand or

non-clumping kitty litter for tire traction, and non-perishable snacks.

When on the road:

Plan your route, drive slower than normal and allow plenty of extra time to arrive.

If your vehicle begins to slide, remember to steer into the skid.

Never use cruise control in icy conditions.

Know your brakes — stomp on antilock brakes and pump non-antilock brakes.

Always buckle up!

Arriving at your destination:

Park in an area near the building to limit having to walk on snow and ice (beware of black ice!).

When exiting a vehicle, swivel both legs out and stand using both feet for better balance.

If exiting a large truck, use hand holds and steps, keeping three points-of-contact during the descent to the ground.

Lower your center of gravity by using a cart to pull heavier belongings.

When walking indoors, remove snow and water from footwear to reduce slippery condition

WNS Report Lincoln Caverns held the 12th annual Batfest on February 9th. Three species of bats in Pennsylvania were moved from the state's threatened list to the endangered list: the little brown, the northern long-eared and the tri-colored bat.

Patty Perlaky WNS Chair

2019 Safety Webinars –

Mark Your Calendar

Webinar 1 - March 7th 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM CST

“Protecting Your Assets By Helping Honest People Stay Honest”

In this webinar, you will learn:

1. The magnitude of the fast growing problem of fraud

2. The “whys” behind the problem

3. Action steps to reduce your exposure to employee fraud

Format: Core content 60 minutes, optional bonus session for Q/A 15 minutes

PHONE IN: 1-877-668-4493 Join Webex meeting Meeting number (access code): 282 562 990 Meeting password: kJjPycG7

Webinar 2 - March 21st 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM CST

“Developing an Effective Fraud Prevention Training Program”

o Tone at the Top – Management and Leadership

o Employee Training

o Develop a Fraud Hotline

PHONE IN: 1-877-668-4493 Join Webex meeting Meeting number (access code): 287 273 327

Meeting password: M4fj6cbw

Webinar 3 – April 4th 10 AM CST (NOTE: This is a date change from previous notice)

“Risk Management Center offered by Assurance”

o Format: plan for 60 minutes to do a review of the RMC

PHONE IN: 1-877-668-4493 Join Webex meeting Meeting number (access code): 805 178 250

Meeting password: DW4PpfjY

Webinar 4-

The Webinar would be on the site visit inspections (for those who are in the Insurance Program) with a date to be

determined in the fall or possibly sooner

A New Generation for Niagara Cave The Niagara Cave family is is happy to announce the arrival of Alexander James Bishop. He was

born on December 22, 2018 to Ryan and Holly. Grandparents are Mark and Jenny Bishop.

Congratulations to everyone!

Educational Note One of the Convention 2018 Presentations by Nancy Heard is available on our

website or you may check it out by clicking here:

Amusement Device Considerations & Safety Regulations, By Nancy Heard

2018

No Excuse

Not Knowing

Your Bat

Anatomy

Courtesy of Bats for Life

Mid-Winter

Board Meeting

The NCA Board of Directors returned home February 28 after

spending a couple days in Orlando, Florida for their annual mid-

winter meeting. The Insurance Committee also gathered as

well.

A full report will be available in the April Edition of Cave Talk.

Calendar of Events

Safety Webinar - “Review of Risk Management Center,” April 4, 2019, 10AM CST National Cave and Karst Day, June 6, 2019

NSS Convention, June 17 – 21, 2019, Cookeville, TN

NCA Convention 2019, Host: Ruby Falls, Chattanooga, Tennessee, September 30 – October 4, 2019

International Gift Exposition in the Smokies 2019 Sevierville, Tennessee, November 5 – 8, 2019 & Pigeon Forge,

Tennessee, November 6 – 9, 2019

IAAPA 2019, Orlando, Florida, November 18 - 22, 2019

National Cave and Karst Day, June 6, 2020

NSS Convention, July 27 – 31, 2020, Elkins, West Virginia

NCA Convention 2020, Host: Lake Shasta Caverns, Redding, California, (September 24 – September 27, 2020)

International Gift Exposition in the Smokies 2020, Sevierville, Tennessee, (Dates TBD), & Pigeon Forge, Tennessee,

(Dates TBD)

IAAPA 2020, Orlando, Florida, (Dates TBD)

National Cave and Karst Day, June 6, 2021 NSS Convention, (Dates & Location TBD)

18th International Congress of Speleology, Lyon, France, July 23 – 29, 2021

NCA Convention 2021, Host: Luray Caverns, Virginia, (Dates TBD)

International Gift Exposition in the Smokies 2021, Sevierville, Tennessee, (Dates TBD), & Pigeon Forge, Tennessee,

(Dates TBD)

IAAPA 2021, Orlando, Florida, (Dates TBD)

NSS Convention, (Dates & Location TBD)

NSS Convention, (Dates & Location TBD)

NCA Conventiom 2022, Host: Natural Bridge Caverns, San Antonio, Texas, (Dates TBD)

ISCA 9th

Congress 2022, San Antonio, Texas, (Dates TBD)

Got News? Please make sure you let Bob Holt know when you have news to share with the membership regarding you and your

cave. It is the goal of the NCA office to continue producing monthly issues of Cave Talk and this can only happen when

you help with the sharing of your news. Please send your articles, photographs to bob@cavern.com.

April 2019 Cave Talk Deadline

Please have all articles to Bob Holt no later than March 15. Thank you!