Cascade Grotto meeting
Phinney Neighborhood Association
May 25, 2022 (in-person only)

Presentation

Panti Pit in Belize by Eric Jorgenson

Overview

• Survey expedition of 11 people
• Eric met them at convention
• near Barton Creek cave (part of same system)
• images cannot be published online due to restrictions by gov’t of Belize
  • this is why the meeting could not be virtual

Goal was to push main passage

• impossible due to bad air
• instead surveyed side passages which were reachable

Base camp

• was set up at the bottom of main drop
• set up cave telephone there
• wires went down main trunk (which was very muddy)

Conditions of cave

• cave has bad air (lots of CO2)
  • bacteria in mud create excess CO2
  • little airflow in cave: only airflow comes from the wet season (winter) when water flushes out CO2
• CO2 level was 2% to 4% (usually is 0.2% — above 2% is unhealthy, 4% is immediately dangerous)
  • could try to use rebreather (to remove CO2) but that would heat up air considerably
• cave was hot (82 F)
• very muddy!
• everyone used booties to not dirty formations w/ mud

Tried to explore other caves

• searched for Octon McCleur cave (discovered in 2001)
• looks like it should connect to Panti pit
• couldn’t find it though despite much bushwacking
• found lots of baby caves that weren’t surveyed

Relations w/ locals

• important to have good relations for expeditions to go well
• often in central america locals distrust cavers
  • rumors of people stealing riches from caves
• locals showed around cave used by Mayans (Maya steps cave)
  • unfortunately has been looted

Trip reports

Dead horse & J&R cave:

• May 22-23
• Trout lake area
• 17 people total
• 6 or 7 people who were on beginner trip

Beginner trip:

• Lake cave (St Helens area)

Jackman creek cave:

• Digging gained around 30 ft
• Near Concrete

Rainy creek cave:

• Lake Wenatchee area
• got stuck in snow
• met a local (Clayton) who owns the marble quarry there
• hasn’t really been explored

Upcoming trips

Oregon grotto has trips:

• Scott’s cave on memorial day weekend
• big crawler with surveying
• check their website

Bend Oregon trip:

• June 5-6
• check their website

Women’s caving trip:

• still being planned

Announcements

Graffiti cleaning:

• planning regular removal from ape cave
• meeting on May 31 w/ forest service

Scapegoat wilderness in MT:

• survey expedition planned August 27-Sept 5
• alpine caving system
• looking for surveyers

Poets crest:

• Mark Garnick is planning more exploration this summer

Convention:

• Rapid city, SD
• June 13-17
• Jewel and Wind cave

Vertical training:

• hoping to plan something in June

More trips coming!

• much is still under snow
• a trip up to Vancouver island
• cave ridge in July/August
• windy creek
• longest limestone cave in WA

Official business

Make some stickers for accomplishments

• like visiting a cave, doing a route, etc
• contact Amy for more info/suggestions/etc