Trip Leader: Jon Jasper
On Trip: Jon Jasper, Cami Pulham, Dale Green, Shay Lelegren, Rob Cranney, Justin Epps, Chuck Acklin, Ralph Powers, Tim (?)
After much anticipation and speculation the project was green lighted and the date set. Rob came by and got me in the am and after a quick stop we arrived as the others were negotiating the trailer of equiptment amongst the rocks on top of the hill.
I took a quick walk to look at the gates on Silly Putty and Rabbit Trap and took pictures. Silly Putty had large rocks piled on top of the gate strewned with empty beer cans. Seems someone was not too happy about being locked out. Too bad fella(s).
The equiptment was unloaded off the trailer and work started commencing immediately. Jon probably spent 90% of his time down inside the cave entrance, coming up for air to oversee measurements and cuts and to eat.
Cami began the process of drilling holes for the stainless steel rods (not rebar) which would anchor the angle-irons to the cave walls. Unlike Blowhole finding the right angle to drill in the confines of the entrance crawl was a challenge, not to mention getting enough leverage to ensure the bit was chewing away at the rock enough to make a good hole. When enough of these were drilled, pieces of angle iron were cut to length and lowered down into the cave.
At the time some of us had little to do, so Dale took it upon himself to pick up pieces of garabage that was wind blown across the hill. I and a few others joined him. I took out the large trash bag out of my helmet so the garbage wouldn't be just regulated to the grocery sized plastic bags Dale was using. There was a considerable amount, and we didn't get it all.
Tim hadn't seen the other caves and I took him over for a look see. He helped me removed the rocks off of Silly Putty's gate and I got the picture that I wanted.
When we got back Tim and I took turns on grinding the rough edges off the steel that was cut. By now it was just past noon and Justin broke out his (big) camping stove and the Bratwursts. In a short while we were all enjoying a great lunch.
Rob and I popped in and out of the cave either as a go-fer or to help out on the surface where-how ever we could. Jon finally got the main door frame and door constructed and decided to work on the rest before tackling the locking plate.
Two 80 inch (yes 80 inches which = 6 1/2 feet) 4 inch wide 1/2 inch thick steel angle irons were required for the sides of the gate. We wondered if and how those would fit inside the entrance. They were cut and I placed myself down inside at the bottom to help negotiate the pieces through. Wonderfully enough the bottom of the entrance climb opened enough for the steel to make the turn into the crawl. It required some muscle but I was able to push it through to Shay who was in the cave roughly 95% of his time there, to pull it through. Tim spent a good portion underground as well, Cami stayed above ground cutting whatever pieces of steel that were needed. Chuck helped out where-ever he could as well.
It wasn't surprising that the first of the 80" long pieces had to be negotiated back OUT of the cave for trimming. More than once too. Finally it was trimmed to fit and the other piece went in nicely without any trimming.
Meanwhile Justin worked on the steel plate which would hold the lock. One small problem however, we were running out of grinding/cutting wheels to do the job with the hand-held grinder and the acethylene tank was running dry real quick. Not to mention the generator was on it's last tank of gas after two refills.
Then to top if off, while we were working on the 80" steel, Shay was drilling the last two/three holes for the locking plate and the bit got stuck. So much stuck that it was decided to leave it in and weld a rod to it for the plate.
Jon, Tim, Shay and I focused on the task of negotiating the 80" long pieces into place so that Jon could tack weld them enough to hold for a more permanent weld. Lying on your stomach and trying to lift and hold up 60-70 lbs of steel long enough for jigs and rocks to support them isn't easy. Arms and fingers got squished a few times.
Once that was completed we spent time trying to get the drill bit out. Justin was called in to muscle it out. Or at least get the drill apart from the bit. Jon was not happy about the delay, it was already late and dark outside.
About 10 minutes after that, the last of the gasoline ran out.
Rob, Cami and I pushed Justin's ATV over by the generator and tried to figure out how we could siphon the gas out of that (with Justin's permission of course-- grins), for the generator. One problem... no tubes readily available. Hmm, wait a minnit! Shay has a Camelback... a quick OK and that was cannibalized. The ATV didn't have enough fuel to adequately run the genny long enough to finish the necessary welding.
Justin came through again and got gas out of his Cherokee via the fuel injector/carb. We managed to fill the 5 gallon gas can we had and volia we had power again.
Justin finished the plate and locking mechanism and I wrote on the outside of it contact information for those who will find the gate a surprise the next time they visit.
It was getting late and we were all tired, Cami was reduced to taking a nap on the trailer ramp and didn't seem to mind the loud generator going full bore right next to her.
Finally, it was finished and remaining parts and tools were passed up. Cami woke up to help and to get her helmet back on. She was to be the "tester" since she was the smallest of us. I followed her on down as she took pics so I could take my own pictures.
The trailer was loaded up, thanks and praises to all who worked hard, especially Jon; without his welding skills and leadership the gate wouldn't have been possible.
A great job. A good project.
Now do we get the t-shirts? (grins)
| Photography | ||||
 Silly Putty Gate Ralph Powers |  Rabbit Trap Gate Ralph Powers |  Cami P. at the entrance, ready to work! Justin is ready too. Ralph Powers | ||
 Rob Cranney during his many trips in and out of the cave. Ralph Powers |  Justin cooking those wonderful Bratwursts. |  Jon and Tim positioning one of the uprights for the main doorway. | ||
 Welding the door frame to the rods. |  Taking measurements for the next upright. |  Giving Jon a hand. | ||
 The completed doorway. Just wide enough for a sked. |  Justin and Cami cutting more pieces as needed. |  The metal plate holding the locking mechanism and identification. | ||
 The drill is stuck |  Justin muscles the drill out. |  Cami curls up on the ramp for a quick "bat" nap. | ||
 The two 80" long pieces in place. |  Cami, all smiles behind the completed gate. |  Shot of the plate with the lock on. | ||