kolstad (06/25/82)
#N:uiucdcs:21000002:000:1810 uiucdcs!kolstad Jun 25 02:39:00 1982 I was asked by some to summarize our recent trip. Last weekend and the weekend before I went to Sullivan's cave (15 miles southwest of Bloomington, Indiana). The first trip included 13 people, myself and 12 (nonspelunking experienced) members of explorer post 256 (our computer explorer post at UI). The second trip totalled 23 people, 2 leaders, 1 post256 explorer (from week before) and 20 members of post 23 (Army CERL engineering explorer post). 14 high school types, four adult types, 1 11 year old girl and her 8 year old brother. These trips were a riot for everyone. Sullivan's cave goes back 12 miles, though we spent only 5 hours in the cave and travelled no further than a mile or two from the entrance. The entrance leads directly to the "backbreaker" 2 or 300 yards of 2-4' high (very wide, tho) passageway. Once past there, the T allows a trip through the merry-go-round (keeps bringing you back) or left down some very high passages (10-20') (w/breakdown, tho) to crawlways to the "Mountain Room". It must be 60' high or so, though lots of breakdown. It has 5 or 6 or so exits, many to water. We followed the underground stream to the waterfall (big waterfall, 6"). Checked out poor armstrong's folly (digging going nowhere fast). Beautiful trip and I didnt get lost! (we broke into two groups for the 23 person trip, by the way). I had no safety problems with the inexperienced cavers, no vandalism problems, everything was smooth once reminded not to jump on shadows. It was also a confidence building experience for most of the people; many did not realize how challenging, wet, and entertaining caving was. Planning another trip or two in the next 3 weeks. Just got my guide to indiana caves, volume 1. Volume 2 gets ordered tomorrow. What's everyone else doing? Rob