TriTrogs and BCCS cavers got frosty before digging in
Butler Cave on 1-18-20 for Butler Project Weekend #205
and
Exploring Low Moor Cave on 1-19-20
By Elise
Sanderson
Party Members:
Walsh, Lisa Lorenzin, Megan Junod, Axel Ribeille, Elise Sanderson.
Chris Flannagan joined on 1-19 for Low Moor Cave.
The first Tritrog trip of the year almost began bust with plans
changing, cavers having to cancel, and injuries aloof. As Mike, Lisa, and myself
were going to be at BCCS doing project weekend, and Mike was out with an
injury, we melded 2 trips into one successful excursion with 5-6 cavers.
We stayed at The Roost Friday, and with a VERY cold humid start to
the Saturday morning, we made our way to the homestead to plan out trips. With
ice covering most surfaces, we had to be careful. Changing clothes outside with
ice on the ground in open air was quite a blast, and the SOFA entrance to
Butler Cave was very reassuring warmth. Looking back, this was my first cold
weather caving, and it was a totally new experience. This cold reminded me of
the miserable desert mornings before the 130 degree sun came up in Afghanistan,
only with ice everywhere, and little sun to warm.
Around 15 people had stayed at the homestead, and a few BCCS
members (Max, Mark, Nathan, others) joined us on the tour before the digging
commenced. We started into Butler Cave to do the see the Bean Room Overlook
with a gnarly 100+ft drop then through to 90 Ugh to Sand Canyon. We went to the
natural Bridge upstream, which is where the dry cave portion ended. Before this
trip I’d freshly bought and then promptly forgot my Wellies in my car, in a
different state (NC). To boot, Max and I had non-waterproof vented combat
boots, so on the way to the air dig things got interesting.
Getting to the air dig requires going down an underground stream,
which everyone loved Max and I rock hopping along. But, full admittance, at the
end with no dry rock in sight.. Lisa wanted to carry me, but I wouldn’t let her
since she weighs 30 pounds less than me, so Axel carried me downstream. Then
Max got carried by Ken, and we were at the air digsite shortly after. Ken made
the comment that the Marine and Naval Academy Midshipman (Student) had to be
carried over water, which was a great look back at the traversal.
The digsite is exceptionally well thought out, designed, well
abused, and the most fun ive had working underground yet. Phil Lucas’ system is
smart and fun to use for sure. The system takes at least 8-10 people to
operate, uses a sled on PVC tracks in one section, and an overhead hoist line
and pulley system on the other half. We worked the dig with more BCCS members Mark
Hodge, Amos Mincin, Sarah Xenophon, Eric Pelkey, Daniel Tucker, Nathan Roser.
Amos and Sarah had just popped a big rock, and after clearing that debris we
made a few feet of progress on the face. When we collectively stopped digging
for the day, the tunnel had visibly changed direction twice, chicaning to the
right, then left and continuing straight. This is big news in a tunnel that has
been going almost totally straight for 15 years of digging!
Fun fact, trash bag waders don’t work for very long on rocks, as I
found out the hard way on the way out. We egressed with some fun crawling on
the Blue Ribbon Loop, and upon exiting every grass blade was frozen and the
cars were almost fully iced shut. This made stripping wet clothes off exceptionally
fun, as everything you could lean against while mostly naked was frozen and ice
cold. After we all got back to the roost, Lisa, Megan and myself went back over
to the Homestead to hang out with everyone before heading to Low Moor in the
Morning.
—Low
Moor Mine and Cave—
The five of us met Chris Flannagan, who drove up from Durham, at Penny’s Diner which made
our party six. The drive to the mine was short, and driving into a mine to park
before caving is pretty wild. Low Moor mine and cave consists of vast hollowed
open area 30+ vertical feet of open mine topside, then below ground a miniature
“Mines of Moria” with vast open areas 100+ft tall, with even bigger
pillars holding it steady. Sadly Durin’s Bridge must have been skipped in this
mine, or Gandalf already remodeled here. No signs of a Balrog either
thankfully, just some crappy graffiti vandals.
The cave has wide passages with lots of eccentric hurdles to
navigate, and small passages linking other similar passages. Occasional calcite
features scatter the area, all semi to fully covered in soot from heavy
equipment diesel making them black. There is gypsum flowers and other
crystalline features in both Low Moor and Butler Caves. After Lisa, Megan, and
myself called it good for the day, Ken, Axel, and Chris proceeded to let us
know there was plenty more caving to be had, as they learned after we stopped.
I’m excited to go back to discover the plank and other features, maybe when I
wasn’t exhausted from digging.
This was great first trip of the year, with getting to meet many
people and getting away for a bit. HUGE thanks to all involved in making it happen!
Sorry about the delay in the report, information and names were being collated!
Elise Sanderson
