Trip Leader: Ralph Powers
On Trip: Stan McQueen, Byron Crye, Kilie Bennett, Ralph Powers
This trip was planned and announced but only four of the original 9 that were planning to go actually made it.
My muscles are still sore from this particular trip. The whole trip over all went well. With some nice photos taken by Stan. When I get them I'll post them here along with my own.
Basically, I dunno if the fault lies with me or what... as trip leader I should know basically everything that is supposed to go on and what everyone will need.
Stan's ascending gear is basically a rope-walker system which IMO not really geared for this type of cave. Still I should've told him to bring it anyway for the just in case.
The whole trip went well prior to the exiting process. Kilie and Byron paid a visit down Miner's Pit and then worked their way back up. The cave was slicked down from condensation and thus made getting back up to the surface more tougher than usual.
Stan's pack was weighted down with his photography gear and I never did check on just how heavy it was until we were at the bottom of the entrance cork-screw. Holy cow! No wonder he was tuckered out by the time we got there.
The two younger ones already had made their way back to the surface and were patiently waiting for us "older-guys".
Initially what Stan had were a pair of Jumars and a Gibbs, and an etrier. It's what he uses when he goes canyoneering, but obviously this time around it wouldn't work for caving.
In the end I had him put on my (adjustable) frog system and we originally planned on both of us hauling his pack and my partially coiled 300 foot rope we were using.
After Stan managed to get out I looked over what he had and put it together in a way that I was able to get myself up to the first ledge below the entrance. This is of course stopping along the way to bodily haul up the pack and rope.
If I waited until everyone was at the surface to haul the stuff out it would've meant going back down inside because the pack and rope would've caught on the various ledges.
So knowing that Stan was far too worn out and needed to conserve strength for the drive home, and that Byron and Kilie were just not strong enough to be effective help...
If it were a straight drop then perhaps creating a 3:1 haul system would've been the best way to go but since it is not... one ledge at a time.
All in all still a good trip. Just a minor misjudgement on my part.
Finally got my pics so enjoy.
| Photography | ||||
 Ralph, Byron and Kilie above Miner's Pit Stan McQueen |  Byron ascending out of Miner's Pit Stan McQueen |  Kylie in the entrance of the Fossil Passage Stan McQueen | ||
 This is an oddly colored beetle found in the cave Stan McQueen |  A good portait of me I think. (grins) Stan McQueen |  Kilie coming down the first drop Ralph Powers | ||
 Stan helping Byron get up to the Fossil Passage Ralph Powers |  Kilie working her way through a tight spot in the Fossil Passage Ralph Powers |  Kilie going down Miner's Pit, all smiles. Ralph Powers | ||