Black Hills Pre-convention Field Camp, South Dakota
Trip Summary
The Black Hills of South Dakota are home to Wind Cave and Jewel Cave, two of the longest caves in the world. Both are complex three-dimensional mazes, each over 210 km (130 miles) in length. This camp will feature recreational caving trips into both caves and an opportunity for survey and exploration trips into Wind Cave. The Black Hills also offer numerous opportunities for self-guided sightseeing.
Note: Participants are encouraged to drive their own vehicles to this camp, or to rent a car. Camp organizers will attempt to arrange carpools and rides, but transportation during the camp will necessitate sharing rides. We will make every effort to provide ride-share opportunities from Rapid City airport, Denver, and Salt Lake City, but this will be on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed.
Cost: $45 to cover camping and all meals/cave snacks for Thursday-Saturday.
To confirm reservation and secure your spot mail a check AND send an email to:
Andy Armstrong
110 Timber Lakes Estates
Heber City, UT 84032
Caving Start Date: Thursday, July 14, 2011
Caving End Date: Saturday, July 16, 2011
Camping included: Wednesday night July 13, to Saturday night July 16, 2011
Caving Locations: Wind Cave National Park, Hot Springs, South Dakota
Jewel Cave National Monument, Custer, South Dakota
Camping Location: Wind Cave National Park, Hot Springs, South Dakota
Minimum Size: 2 participants plus trip leaders
Maximum Size: 15 participants plus trip leaders
Contacts:
Jason Walz (jasonwalz AT gmail DOT com)
Andy Armstrong (canyoncavers AT gmail DOT com)
Setting
Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument are located in the southern part of the Black Hills in South Dakota. This area consists of granitic mountains encircled by limestone and over 250 caves.
Summers in the Black Hills are usually hot. Temperatures during the day range from 29-34ºC (84-94ºF) and during the night range from 4-15ºC (40-60ºF). The climate is arid; however, severe thunderstorms are common in July.
Trip Detail
The schedule will be relaxed and flexible. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday there will be trips ranging from 3 to 12 hours into Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, and other caves in the area. Based on availability of trip leaders and group preference, there could be up to three different trips to choose from each day.
Caving in the Black Hills is both athletic and strenuous. All trips will require cavers to climb, crawl, squeeze, and walk through astounding three-dimensional maze caves. Vertical equipment is not needed in Wind Cave or Jewel Cave; however, a webbing or rope handline will be used for some trips. If you are not athletic, the trip opportunities will be more limited.
Trips offered during this field camp will provide opportunities for both recreation and exploration. Exploration teams in Wind Cave commonly map 150 meters (500 ft) on a 12-hour trip. If you are an experienced cave surveyor, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the current mapping project Survey equipment will be provided.
This camp may also offer recreational trips to Reed’s Cave, which is located between Wind Cave and Jewel Cave. This cave has impressive dripstone formations and a 20m (65 ft) entrance drop. This entrance may be rigged with a cable ladder and belay line, or an 11mm rope. Participants who have their own vertical equipment may choose to rappel and ascend using the rope rather than the ladder.
We are pleased to announce that some of our trips will be led by Drs. Art and Peg Palmer, well-known cave geologists. The Palmers have studied the unique caves of the Black Hills for over 30 years and are continually making new mineralogical and hydrological discoveries there. Much of what we know of the speleogenesis of Wind and Jewel Cave comes from their work. Their cave trips during the field camp will have a mild geology focus and will be a chance to pick the brains of two of the world’s premier cave scientists. Art and Peg are also a lot of fun to cave with. If you have never had the pleasure, don’t miss this opportunity!
Accommodations
The Elk Mountain Campground in Wind Cave National Park will serve as the base of operations for this camp. Elk Mtn. Campground is scenic, partly wooded, and close to the Wind Cave entrance and visitor center. We have a group spot reserved for the camp that has toilets and running water, but no showers are available.
We will have partial use of the Pole Barn building at Jewel Cave National Monument, 35 miles from Wind Cave. We will be allowed to use the building for staging, showers, and events.
Meals will be simple. Most food will have been prepared in advance, while some food will be cooked communally. Lunches will consist of sandwiches and cave food. Meals will be designed so that participants can eat when they are hungry. Special diets can be accommodated with prior notice. Food will be provided Thursday morning through Saturday evening. Dinner on Thursday night will be an old-west style barbeque-potluck and caver party hosted by Paha Sapa Grotto. We will have a caving presentation/slideshow, subject and presenter TBA.
Special Considerations
**** VERY IMPORTANT ****
- Wind Cave and Jewel Cave are publicly-owned caves managed by the National Park Service (NPS), which has strict regulations designed to protect the caves for future generations. Avoidance of the transmission of organisms between caves is of particular concern. Gear that has been used in WNS-confirmed caves cannot be used in Black Hills caves. All caving equipment that has been used in North America or Europe must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before entering any caves in the Black Hills. Please clean and disinfect your clothing and equipment following the techniques described here. Once you leave the Black Hills, everything should be disinfected again before entering other caves in Colorado or elsewhere. There are no laundry facilities available in the parks.
- Jewel Cave contains ubiquitous black manganese mud. The manganese will stain your cave clothes and equipment. All clothing and equipment used in Jewel Cave must be washed thoroughly before it can be used in any other cave. This includes: clothes, pack, pads, boots, and gloves. If at all possible, bring two sets of equipment, one to use in Jewel Cave and the other to use in the other caves. If you don’t have or cannot bring two sets of equipment, you will have to make your trips into the non-manganese caves first, followed by trips into Jewel Cave. This may limit your choice of trips. It is best to have separate clothing, boots, pads, packs, and gloves for each cave.
- Exploration and recreational caving trips offered as part of this field camp are free activities offered with the cooperation of the National Park Service. The fee for this field camp covers food and camping only and will not be used to pay for cave trips or the use of NPS buildings.
- Cavers MUST provide their own equipment appropriate for Black Hills caves. This includes:
- Helmet (UIAA, CE or EN-certified), boots with tread, gloves.
- Three electric sources of light, two of which must be helmet-mountable. LED lights work best.
- Carbide lamps are not allowed in Wind Cave. In other Black Hills Caves, the only carbide lamps allowed are horizontal-flame cap lamps (no ceiling burners).
- Pee bottle and bag system for human waste: leaving human waste is not allowed in any Black Hills caves.
- Kneepads and elbow pads are required, preferably thick. Local cavers use pads with 13mm foam.
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Cavers with side mounted packs
Side-mounted pack: only cave packs or hip bags that attach near the waist are allowed. Backpack-style cave packs are not allowed.
- Cave temperatures in the Black Hills are 9-11ºC (49-53ºF). The caves are humid and dry. None of the trips during this camp will go into pools of water or rivers. The temperature, humidity, dryness, and physically challenging nature of the caves make cavers sweat. Cave suits are not recommended because they are too warm. Black Hills cavers usually wear lightweight military pants, jeans, or tights with shorts with short or long-sleeved t-shirts.
- Participants who want to use single-rope techniques (SRT) in Reed’s Cave must supply their own full vertical gear and be experienced in its use. A rope will be provided.
- Participants must supply their own camping gear.
- Participants must be at least 16 years old. Those of ages 16 and 17 must be accompanied by an adult. If that adult is not the parent, written parental permission is also required.
- Most trip leaders available to lead cave trips are not bilingual. A trip leader who speaks your language may be available with prior notice.
- Within a two hour drive are Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Badlands National Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, Black Hills National Forest, and Devils Tower National Monument. This camp does not include any sightseeing; however, participants are encouraged to visit these sites on their way to or from the camp. These locations offer wildlife viewing, granite mountains with needle-like spires, hiking, rock climbing, camping, and cave tours.
Travel Information
Transportation during this field camp will be by rental cars and private vehicles. Participants who are not driving their own cars are encouraged to rent one. See the RAP airport website for information on rental cars at RAP. Carpooling will be organized to accommodate those who do not have cars.
Participants driving their own or rented vehicles can arrive at the campground at any time on or after Wednesday afternoon, July 13 and leave at any time they wish. Camping is included Wednesday to Saturday nights.
If you plan to rent a car, you can fly to and from the Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP). Driving time from RAP to Wind Cave National Park is about 1.5 hours. See Special Considerations above for information about sightseeing along the way.
Alternatively, you can use Denver International Airport (DEN) in Colorado. No ground transportation will be provided between the field camp and this airport, so you will have to rent a car. It is about 600 km (370 mi) from DEN to Wind Cave National Park, which will take about six hours. You may want to arrive several days early so that you can tour more sites in the Black Hills and Badlands.
Driving distance from Wind Cave National Park to the NSS Convention in Glenwood Springs is 513 miles by the shortest route and will take about eight hours. You may want to budget more time for this beautiful drive with many attractions along the way including Rocky Mountain National Park.