Sequoia and Kings Canyon Cave Management UPDATE
Joel Despain Cave Management Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Three Rivers, CA 93271 (209) 556-3717
Sequoia and Kings Canyon Cave Management Update
Volume 2 May, 1996 Number 1
What is this? This publication has been created to foster communication between the Park Cave Management Program and the caving community, with a particular focus on cavers active as volunteers within the Parks. The Update will also be disseminated to other Parks with cave management programs and electronically to Sequoia and Kings Canyon Park Staff who might be interested in Cave Management. In general the contents will include updates on cave management projects, initiatives, and events. We hope to publish twice per year, fall and spring. This material is specifically not copyrighted, is public property, and may be reproduced. Grotto newsletter editors, copy to your hearts' content.
NCRC Comes to Sequoia and Kings! After a year of planning and hard work by many cavers from across California, Level I and Level II National Cave Rescue Commission sanctioned training will be held in the Ash Mountain area of Sequoia from September 28 to October 6. The Park and involved cavers are excited by this rare opportunity to receive cave search and rescue training here on the west coast. Final details are still being worked out, but a mailing will soon be sent to all cavers on the Western Region mailing list with complete information and registration forms. In general the training will be based in Buckeye Flat Campground, (same campground used during Diablo Grotto's Sequoia Regional) and most class sessions will be held at park headquarters in Ash Mountain. Transportation between the two will be provided by vans. Other practice sessions will be held in areas adjacent to Buckeye including the cliffs at Hospital Rock. A mandatory food plan is included in the package and food will be served in Buckeye. Cavers will need to supply their own complete set of personal caving gear. Participants are not only needed for the classes but also to help with administrative tasks and organization. This will be an exciting week of search and rescue training, practice, and learning and an excellent opportunity for caving and camaraderie. Don't miss it! Cave Management Plan Revised Trustees Needed! The Park's 1992 Cave Management Plan was revised this winter. Due to the Parks' strategic planning process, final alterations have not yet been approved. However, likely changes include the addition of the Hurricane Crawl and Soldier's Cave Management Plans as appendices, and the disbanding of the Park Cave Management Committee due to the existence of a permanent cave management
position on the park staff. Wild Child Cave: Also, many caves previously listed as "closed, newly discovered" under "management class four" have been moved into other management classes. Most significantly Wild Child Cave and Weisraum Cave will be available for caver visits. With exception of a very small, upper-level closed area Wild Child may be visited at any time and does not require a permit (management class 3b). This 720 foot long cave has large passages, an active stream, waterfalls, beautiful marble, and two entrances. The back entrance is a bit tight and requires a handline. This is an excellent Fall cave when water levels are low and temperatures have cooled. The cave is reached via a three mile one-way hike at low elevation. Experienced cavers interested in leading trips for friends or Grotto members should contact me for further information. Weisraum Cave: This cave is 750 feet long with large passages and many formations. However, the cave is completely inactive and dry. Any damage to the formations will not heal. The cave is reached after a steep, off-trail hike. Due to the cave's isolated location and fragile formations, the Park is implementing a "Trustee" program for this cave, similar to the Trustee program at Soldier's Cave. (management class 2a) Trustees are experienced cavers who act as trip leaders and stewards for the cave. We would like to have four Trustees for Weisraum. After Trustees have been chosen, we will host a weekend trip to the cave to explain how and why the Park wants the cave managed, and to allow the Trustees a chance to become familiar with the cave. You need not have visited Weisraum to apply to be a Trustee. If you are interested in leading trips to Weisraum Cave, please contact me for more information. Caving Projects Crystal Cave Survey: After a lot of thought and discussion, we have decided not to hold any more Crystal Cave survey weekends this summer. The remaining areas to surveyed are widely scattered small sections of passage that would be difficult to distribute survey teams to. Instead Greg Stock (the Park's seasonal cave specialist) and I plan to focus a number of days on completing the survey this summer. Primarily we expect this work to be done in early July and mid August. Drafting work on the cave has been progressing slowly, but surely. Look for the first completed maps of the cave about one year from now. If any one is really motivated to do more survey, please contact me to possibly schedule a trip. Trustees Needed: During the past year many cavers who worked on the Crystal Cave Survey and Restoration Projects became much more familiar with Crystal Cave. Currently the Park has only three Trustees for Crystal (Allen Wilson, Paul Lukshin, and Ann Bosted) while our management plan allows up to nine. The Park would like to invite cavers to submit an application to become Crystal Cave Trustees. Trustees act as trip leaders and stewards for the cave. Trustees for Crystal Cave must also work closely with the Sequoia Natural History Association Staff to insure that the commercial tours are not disturbed. Many areas of Crystal Cave are quite delicate and Trustees are responsible for not damaging the cave in any way on their trips. To apply to be a Trustee send a one page application with your caving experience, project caving experience, knowledge of Crystal Cave, and references (Grotto endorsements are great!) to me. Or give me a call for further information.
Restoration: The second annual Crystal Cave Restoration Field Camp will be held on October 25 to 28. Once again we will be camping in the cave parking lot. Potable water will not be available. Primary tasks this year will be hose washing the wild tour route, formation repair in a few areas, more wall building, and cleaning and restoring some badly muddied but beautiful rimstone near Marble Hall. We will also do t-shirts again this year. Watch for a mailing with registration forms and more information this summer. Cave Research Foundation Summer Schedule: The Cave Research Foundation (CRF) has planned an active year for trips to Redwood Canyon and Mineral King. Each weekend outing is coordinated by an individual who should be contacted if you plan on attending the expedition. Survey and research expeditions to Redwood Canyon and Lilburn Cave are planned for May 25 to 27, Memorial Day Holiday (Howard Hurtt), June 22 and 23 (Richard Fellows), July 4 to 7, July 4th Holiday (Joel Despain), July 20 and 21 (Peter Bosted) and November 9 to 11 (Paul Nelson). Mineral King trips are planned for August 31 to September 2, Labor Day Holiday (Glen Malliet) and October 12 to 14 (Bill and Peri Frantz). New Project: Brad Hacker has received approval for a new CRF project which will be active in the Park caving areas of Redwood Canyon, Yucca Creek and the South Fork. The project is digging to find, survey, and document previously unexplored cave passages. The digging will be carefully monitored using before and after photos and detailed surveys of the dig sties. Only hand tools may be used and steps will be taken to maintain natural air flow through dig sties when work is not in progress. Abandoned digs will be refilled. If you have interest in helping or suggestions for dig sites, please contact Brad.