Speleo-Ed 2017

Lodgepole Campgroundat Sequoia & Kings Canyon

National ParksMay 12-14, 2017

Three Rivers, CaliforniaProduced by the San Joaquin Valley Grotto on behalf of the Western Region of the NSS!

Focusing on the archaeology and geologic studies of modern caving.The Western Region of the National Speleological Society is pleased to present Speleo-Ed 2017 at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks near Three Rivers, California from May 12 to 14. This year’s offerings focus on a wide range of cave science across many disciplines. With many new speakers and lots of field trips, this seminar should offer something for everyone. We hope you can join us! About the SeminarSpeleo-Ed seminars are an outstanding way to learn more about cave exploration and science while enjoying a fun and social weekend with friends from across the western states. This year’s seminar is roughly divided into two tracks - Physical Sciences and Canyoneering Techniques. With the gracious assistance of many volunteers and organizations, we have worked together to deliver a great spring weekend to kick off your summer caving season.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National ParksThese parks are home to giants: immense mountains, deep canyons, and huge trees. Thanks to their huge elevational range, 1,500’ to 14,491’, these parks protect stunningly diverse habitats. The Generals Highway climbs over 5000 feet from chaparral and oak-studded foothills to the awe-inspiring sequoia groves. From there, trails lead to the high-alpine wilderness which makes up most of these parks. Beneath the surface lie over 200 fascinating caverns.

Camping & AccommodationsWith the gracious assistance of Sequoia National Park, we have reserved space in Lodgepole Campground for the 2017 Speleo-Ed seminar. Recent warm weather has definitely helped clear the heavy snow from this past season! There is ample space at each site, so cavers will be asked to share sites depending on attendance. We will have pit toilets available in the campground, but no shower facilities.Depending on how warm it gets, there is a possibility of wet or muddy conditions so you may want to bring a ground tarp for your tent. Be prepared for cool or cold evening temperatures.All camping and park entrance fees are included in your registration. Sessions will be held at the Beetle Rock Education Center - about a 10-minute drive from the campground. Please carpool from the campground to the sessions! Parking will be limited at the education center. There is no electrical power at the campground. Day use rates are available but do not include camping, Sunday’s field trips or evening activities.

Meal Plan & NCRCThe National Cave Rescue Commission will provide an optional meal plan on Saturday. The plan includes breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday only. This optional event helps support the many programs the NCRC offers to provide cave rescue training in the western states.

Western Region Business MeetingThe executive board of the Western Region will hold a business meeting on Saturday evening following dinner.

The Western Region is an Internal Organization of the National Speleological Society. Please visit us at www.caves.org/region/western

Speleo-Ed 2017May 12-14, 2017 - Lodgepole Campground, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Education Center before setting up your campsite. ALL campers must be registered participants in the Speleo-Ed seminar. Limited RV parking may be available, but there are no utility hook-ups. Please plan ahead for your own needs. What to Bring Lodgepole Campground offers semi-improved camping facilities. Standard gear should suffice. A ground tarp under your tent would be a good idea. Sierra weather can be cold during this time of year, but daytime averages are typically pleasant. Be prepared for possible inclement weather. Each campsite features a fire pit, but there is no wood collection in the area. The Lodgepole Village store is located 1/4 mile away from the campground. Canyoneering Course One of our new offerings this year is a canyoneering training course geared to cavers. This track will offer an in-depth look at the similarities and differences of the techniques used in canyon exploring. Classes and exercises will be specifically designed for cavers. Morning sessions will be held on the outside deck at Beetle Rock Education Center. If you wish to participate in the afternoon field trip, bring your vertical gear! Nature Journaling Course NSS caver Elizabeth Rousseau is offering this course to teach cavers how to paint natural scenes in watercolor. This session will be held on the back deck at Beetle Rock on Saturday afternoon followed by an in-cave workshop on Sunday. Art materials will be provided.

Black bears (Ursus americanus) are an integral part of the Sierra ecosystem and one of the many wildlife species the National Park Service is mandated to protect. Black bears range throughout the parks - where they forage for natural foods - digging up roots in meadows, ripping apart logs, and peering into tree cavities for food.Lodgepole Campground may be visited by black bears. If these usually shy animals learn to seek human food, they may damage cars, coolers, and tents. If a bear gets very destructive, it must be killed. To prevent this, you MUST follow the park’s strict requirements to properly store items like food, toothpaste and deodorants during the seminar. Bear-proof storage boxes are provided at each campsite. You WILL be fined by the park rangers for failure to use these boxes!

Be Bear Aware! Getting There From the intersection of Highway 99 and California 198 near Visalia, head east on CA-198 toward the town of Three Rivers (about 35 miles). Stay on 198 through Three Rivers until you come to the park entrance station. When you arrive at the entrance station, please identify yourself as a participant in the Speleo-Ed seminar at Beetlerock Education Center. Speleo-Ed participants will be registered as park volunteers upon arrival at Lodgepole Campground allowing free access to the parks for this event.From the entrance station, continue up the Generals Highway. Lodgepole Campground is located 2 miles from the Giant Forest sequoia grove and 21 miles from the Sequoia National Park entrance. The campground is located 1/4 mile from Lodgepole village along the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River.It is very important that we minimize our footprint in the campground. At this early part of the summer season, not all camping spaces will be open. Cavers will be asked to share camp sites! Kaweah River Massive snow fall from this past winter will cause the Kaweah River to be running swiftly during our seminar. The cold water can pose a significant danger to children and pets. Please be careful. Field Trips & Cave Trips Several trips have been arranged for Friday and Sunday to accommodate all skill levels. To sign up for a trip, please contact Julie Booker at rekoobeiluj@gmail.com or (540) 922-2093. Sign-up sheets will be available at registration. If you would like to lead a trip, please contact the registration table on your arrival. Currently, the park does not allow any gear that has been used in any caves in White Nose Syndrome states. Please plan ahead if you intend to join any cave trips during the seminar. When you Arrive If you arrive at the park before midnight, please stop at the Beetle Rock Education Center to register before proceeding to the campground. The building is located across the street from the Giant Forest Museum. On GPS units, it is found at 47050 Generals Highway, Three Rivers, CA. Lodgepole Campground is located another 10 minutes past the education center. Registration will open at 6pm on Friday, May 12. If you arrive Saturday morning, please come to the Beetle Rock For more information: www.caves.org/region/ western/se2017/

The Beetle Rock Education Center will be the site of our Speleo-Ed sessions. It is located a short 10-minute drive away from our campground.

F r i d a y10AM-5PM Cavetripswillbeofferedasavailable.Checkwiththetripscoordinatorforavailablespaces.AllgearmustbeWNS-deconcompliant!5:00 PM Registration Open - Please come to the Beetle Rock Education Center to register. Camping at Lodgepole Campground is included in your registration.8:00 PM Video Screening: “NOVA: Secrets of the Sky Tombs” of Upper Mustang, Nepal ThetoweringHimalayaswereamongthelastplacesonEarththathumanitysettled.Scalingsheercliffsides,ateamofscientistshuntforcluestohowancient peoplefoundtheirwayintothisforbiddinglandscapeandadaptedtosurvivethehighaltitude.Theydiscoverrock-cuttombsfilledwithhumanbonesandartifacts datingbackthousandsofyears.Together,theseartifactsgiveevidenceofstrangeritualsandbeliefsdesignedtowardofftherestlessspiritsofthedead.

Welcome to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park!

S a t u r d a y9:00 AM Redwood Canyon & Lilburn Cave Project Update;

Fofo Gonzalez-Luna & Jen Hopper / CRF

9:30 AM Just Breathe: Surviving Small Spaces in Caving; Amanda Mortimer, PhD Fresno State / SJVG, NSS

10:00 AM Introduction to Bat Biology & White Nose Syndrome Update; Bronwyn Hogan / USFWS

11:00 AM Ritual Cave Use in the American Southwest / Underground Cave Gardens of Rapa Nui; Scott Nicolay / UC Merced

12:00 PM Western Cave Conservancy Update; Mark Bowers, PhD / WCC & Marianne Russo, WCC

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12:30 PM Meal plan participants: Lunch will be served at the Beetle Rock Education Center.

5:30 PM Tentative :: Social Time & Margarita Party! A fund-raiser for the Tequila Interchange Project of Mexico TIPisanon-profitorganizationandconsumeradvocacygroupforbat-friendlyagavedistilledspirits.Theirorganizationpromotesthepreservationofsustainable,traditionalandqualitypractices.TIPseekstoplacearenewedemphasisontheimportanceofpreservingthegreatheritageofagavedistillationinMexico.

6:30PM NCRC’s“DinnerintheHighSierra”-AllproceedstobenefittheWesternRegionoftheNatl.CaveRescueCommission.8:00 PM Regional Business Meeting - Beetle Rock Education Center

This is the bi-annual business meeting of the Western Region. Bring your ideas & issues!

S u n d a y10AM-4PM Canyoneering for Cavers trip to Ten-Mile Creek or other location TBD. 10:00AM Cavetrips:LostSoldier’sCave,CrystalCave-theseandothertripswillbeofferedasspaceallows. 11:00 AM Self-guided hikes: Moro Rock & Tokopah Falls Trails.

1:15 PM to 6:00 PMNature JournalingJoin NSS caver Elizabeth Rousseau to learn how to paint natural scenes in mixed media. This session will be held on the back deck at Beetle Rock on Saturday afternoon followed by an in-cave workshop on Sunday. Art materials will be provided.

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Physical & Life Sciences Track Canyoneering for Cavers Track

1:15 PM Things You Can Catch in the Dark; Dr. Roger Mortimer / UCSF Fresno / NSS

1:45 PM Exploring Paleo Earthquake Signals from Caves; John Tinsley, PhD / USGS (Ret) / CRF

2:30 PM It’s All One Cave: Mapping the World’s Densest Network of Cave Passages in Quintana Roo; Barbara Luke, PhD / UNLV

3:15 PM Getting the Most Out of a Fisheye Lens in Cave Photography; Dave Bunnell / NSS News Editor

4:00 PM The Visual Saliency of Cave Formations and its Implication for Cave Archeology; Nick Bourgeios / UC Merced

4:30 PM Video: Sir David Attenborough narrates the story of Rodrigo Medellin - “The Bat Man of Mexico”!

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Thistrackwillofferanin-depthlookatthesimilaritiesanddifferencesofthetechniquesusedin canyon exploring. Classes and exercises will be specificallydesignedforcavers.Morningsessionswill be held on the outside deck at Beetle Rock Education Center.

9:00 AM Canyoneering methods & best practices

11:00 AM Skills practice at nearby outdoor area. Vertical gear and helmet required. Boots/approach shoes with grippy soles strongly preferred.

1:15PM Thisfieldtripwillheadtoanearbylocation for a half-day canyoneering exercise. Be prepared to drive or ride-share. Bring your vertical gear.

Led by David Angel (Southern California Grotto)

Depending on interest and availability, a full day tripmaybeofferedonSunday.

Visit the website for a full list of gear needed fortheSundayfieldtrip.Thetripiscappedat8participants. Sign-ups will be available at Beetle Rock on Saturday.

Speleo-Ed 2017 RegistrationMay 12-14, 2017 - Lodgepole Campground, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National ParksPlease type or print legibly - Use one form per person - Detach and mail with registration payment or register online at www.caves.org/region/western/se2017/

Name: ___________________________________________________________ National Speleological Society #: _________

Address: _________________________________________________________________________________ Age: ________

City:____________________________State:________Zip:_____________E-mail:_______________________________

Dayphone:_(____)________________Eveningphone:_(____)________________Mobile/pager:_(____)_______________

Grottoaffiliation:_________________________Dietaryorhealthconsiderations:____________________________________

Emergency contact: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Seminar Notes

Basicregistration-Includescamping,sessionsandfieldtrips1: $36.00

Day-Use Only:Nocamping,noSundayevents,8AMto10PMSaturdayOnly: $22.00

Fullmealplan(breakfast+lunch+dinneronSaturday)(under12,$24): $34.00

NCRCFund-RaisingDinner(includedinfullmealplan)(under12,$12)2: $20.00

WesternRegionMembership(disregardifalreadyaregionmember): $10.00

Are you interested in: qScienceTrack,qCanyoneering,q Journaling

Lateregistration-ifreceivedon-site: $6.00

Speleo-Ed2017T-shirts-pricedpershirt,listquantityandsizes: $14.00

T-shirtsize:sm.q med. q lg. qxl.q2xl.q3xl.q

TOTAL ENCLOSED:

Please mail this registration form and your check or money order payable to: You can also register online at www.caves.org/region/western/se2017

Western Region NSS For additonal information, please contact; Attn:Speleo-Ed2017 MattBowers,EventCoordinator 11910BrookridgeDrive Saratoga,CA95070-3455 matt66@thirdmedia.com(209)529-9000

1AllparticipantsmustberegisteredfortheSpeleo-Edseminar.Unregisteredpersonsinthecampgroundwillbeaskedtoleave.2 This dinner alwayssellsout-pleaseregisterearlyifyouwantaplaceatthetable.$20adult,$12childrenunder12.AllproceedsgotosupporttheNationalCaveRescueCommission.Mealsandmealplanmaynotbeavailableforpurchaseon-site.

ALL participants must be registered attendees of the Speleo-Ed seminar. Camping fees from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon are covered in your registration. Please camp only in our designated areas at Lodgepole Campground. If you camp outside of the sites we have reserved, you may be subject to a daily camping fee.

The Speleo-Ed registration tent will be open at Beetle Rock Education Center at 6PM on Friday. And on Saturday morning.

Campfiresareonlyallowedindesignatedfirepits.There is no wood collection at the campground.

Pets are welcome but must be on leash at all times. Please clean up after your animals.

Please be courteous of other campers. Quiet hours are from 10PM to 8AM.

While we expect decent weather, seasonal extremes are not out of the question here. Be prepared.

Per NPS rules, absolutely all cave gear must be WNS decon-compliant!

Meals may not be available for purchase on-site at the last minute. Plan ahead!