***If you come to Convention from a state where White Nose Syndrome (WNS) has been identified in bats, leave your caving gear at home. This is to avoid the risk of transferring the spores of the Geomyces destructans fungus associated with WNS to Colorado or other western caves. Please read below for additional details on how you may experience wild Colorado caves without bringing your own cave gear.***
***We have obtained special permission to visit certain caves on US Forest Service Land during the convention despite the blanket cave closure in a five-state area. The special permission hinges on all those caving during Convention observing decontamination protocols and practicing ‘clean caving’ to avoid bringing WNS into Colorado’s caves or bat population.***
Cave trips overview
We will have trips to wild caves in Colorado during the convention. There will be both horizontal and vertical caving trips, and we hope to showcase some ofColorado’s special caves and their breathtaking alpine settings. Caves on U.S. Forest Service land in a five state area that includes Colorado are currently closed as a response to the threat of White Nose Syndrome in bats. Thanks to hard work by cavers and many federal and state agency personnel, we have obtained special permission to access some of the closed USFS caves. Trips will also be offered to caves on BLM and private land.
Currently, no bats in Colorado have been found with WNS. Because of the WNS and cave closure situation, we have come up with detailed plans (see below) to minimize any risk of WNS spread that could result from the 2011 Convention. Please honor the grave threat that WNS poses to bats and the hard work done to secure cave access by complying with the decontamination requirements. For those who find decontamination to be too problematic, please consider recreation alternatives such as Colorado’s world-class hiking, climbing, mountain biking, fly fishing, kayaking, rafting, etc.
Decontamination station and WNS decon
Caving trips at the 2011 NSS Convention will meet at, depart from, and return to a decontamination station, located outside Glenwood Springs High School. Cavers departing on trips will have to confirm to their trip leader that all gear is either new to caving, or has been through proper decontamination. If it is questionable whether a piece of equipment is clean, it will be decontaminated.
The decontamination station will have pressure washers and scrub brushes for removing dirt in the ‘contaminated’ section of the station. Equipment and clothing with dirt removed will be soaked in decontaminating solution for ten minutes to kill any potentially remaining spores of Geomyces destructans. Rinse baths will then be used to clean the clothing and equipment of the decontaminating solution. Drying will be accomplished by the warm weather and Colorado’s legendary low humidity. Fences next to the decon station can be used to hang drying gear.
Thanks to donations from the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and US Forest Service, we will NOT be decontaminating with bleach. Decontamination will be done using appropriate dilutions of a quaternary ammonium based disinfectant that is easier on gear than bleach. The hazard presented by diluted quaternary ammonium is low, but the decontamination station will be stocked with safety gear including goggles, gloves, and aprons. Thanks to Grainger for providing deep discounts on the safety gear.
Volunteers experienced with WNS decon will staff the station, please contact NSS2011cavetrips AT gmail DOT com if you would like to volunteer.
Decontamination protocols for the are being finalized in consultation with a variety of agencies and experts. However, as one step to minimize transfer of microbes cavers may be asked to knock dirt off of their boots and spray them with decontaminating solution (provided) after exiting caves. After finishing caving for the day, cavers should change out of dirty gear away from cave entrances and vehicles. Then, carefully place all their dirty cave gear in plastic trash bags and tie them closed. Wipe down hands etc, with decontaminating wipes (provided). Place sealed trash bags in the vehicle for return to the decon station.
The decon station will set up on the afternoon of Saturday July 16th.
On the way to Groaning...
Loaner gear
There will be local, WNS decontaminated caving gear available to borrow for use on convention caving trips. This gear can be obtained at the registration desk. We will have gear ranging from helmets and lights to boots available, but supplies will not be infinite. For coveralls, see below. Information on the gear will be available at the caving trips desk and WNS decon station. Cavers borrowing gear are responsible for decontaminating it at the Convention’s WNS decon station.
If you have gear that you would like to make available for loaner use, please bring it to the decon station or get it to Skip Withrow.
Cavers caving on the Glenwood Caverns property will have the option of borrowing and/or renting gear from the Caverns. This option avoids the necessity of decontaminating that gear, because it is only used on the GC property. Such gear will be picked up at, and returned to Glenwood Caverns on top of IronMountain.
Cheap coveralls you can keep
A local uniform company donated >200 pair of used cotton coveralls to the convention. These have not previously been used for caving and have been laundered by the company. We will be selling these coveralls for five dollars for use on cave trips by folks not wanting to bring their own. This is a particular benefit for folks coming to Colorado from WNS affected states. Money collected from coverall sales will offset the costs of the WNS decon station and the surplus will benefit the Colorado Cave Rescue Network.
Vertical caving and gear
No vertical gear will be loaned out by the convention. Cavers are responsible for supplying their own vertical gear for vertical cave trips, and it must be new or decontaminated. Specific ropes will be dedicated for use in specific vertical caves accessed during convention, as a result cavers can rest assured that these ropes have not been exposed to chemicals used for decontamination.
The caves . . .
At last, you say . . . but please do scroll back for all the important information you missed. Also, we’re a bit sensitive about identifying caves on the web, so please understand why the descriptions are vague.
South of Eagle, CO Cave
Alpine, horizontal cave, about 1 hour drive from Convention. A Colorado classic. Great for less experienced cavers and kids, but also with some optional more challenging sections. Some nice dripstone and an active stream. Hike uphill about 3/4 mile through aspen trees to reach the cave.
Lime Creek Horizontal Caves
Lime Creek is a gem of vadose zone karst in a scenic alpine setting with aspen groves and glacial moraines. There are a number of horizontal caves in the Lime Creek area, slightly less than 2 hours drive from Convention. Access to most will be by scrambling down an easy climb at a break in a cliff.
A little rappelling near Lime Creek
Lime Creek Vertical Caves
Lime Creek is a gem of vadose zone karst in a scenic alpine setting with aspen groves and glacial moraines. There are a number of vertical caves in the Lime Creek area, slightly less than 2 hours drive from Convention. Access is a short walk from the parking area. One cave involves rappelling next to a vertical sheet of ice. Another cave is accessed by a sinkhole with ice on its floor (did I mention the alpine setting?). A third is a multi-drop cave where you might avoid touching ice.
Lime Creek Vertical Caves accessed by hiking
Who put a downsized version of a TAG pit in an alpine meadow? Ponder that after a rolling hike of about a mile through evergreen and aspen forests. Additional caves n the area may also be open and can be accessed with additional hiking.
Caves in Quartzite
Quartz does not dissolve as easily our familiar limestone, so these smaller horizontal caves are geological rarities. About 1 and ½ hours drive from convention in a nice alpine setting.
Cave with Native American Pictographs
A bit more than half an hour drive and followed by a short hike and you can see the traces of earlier times and cultures. The cave is small, but one of only two in Colorado with Native American pictographs. This is a short outing that leaves the rest of the day for other activities.
Glenwood Caverns and Historic Fairy Caves and more
High on IronMountain, site of the Howdy Party, lie caves both well-known and yet-to-be-discovered. Trips off the tourist trails will be offered in the commercial cave. Trips will also be offered to one horizontal and one vertical cave where digging may soon yield new discoveries. Trips only on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
More caves soon . . .
We are still hard at work securing access to other caves for the Convention. Stay tuned.
In General
Cave temperatures vary with elevation and setting in Colorado, ranging from 52 F into the 30s. Colorado caves will get you dirty, but there are fewer opportunities to get soaking wet or truly muddy compared to other parts of the country. This means that cavers who have left their gear at home are unlikely to trash their hiking clothes and boots if wearing them under a set of coveralls.
Signing up for caving trips
We will have advance sign-up for some of the Convention caving trips. Look for information right here in the very near future.
Once at Convention, cavers can sign up for caving trips at the Activities desk located near registration and the decontamination station. All caving trips at the convention will be led by local cavers. We will not be handing out information for self-led trips. All trips will meet at, depart from, and return to the decontamination station. The folks at the activities desk can answer questions about caving trips, suggest appropriate trips depending upon interest and skill level, and will have information on the abundant aboveground recreation opportunities in the surrounding Rocky Mountains.
Caving trips will have a maximum of eight participants in most cases, including the trip leader. Some trips will visit multiple caves located close together, others will visit single caves.
Getting to the caves
Cavers will want to carpool with others on their trip. I have reached most of these caves in my passenger car, but in some instances a more sturdy vehicle could be necessary. Check with your trip leader, and share gasoline costs.
Cavers should remember to wear high SPF sunscreen, dress in layers, and hydrate in order to deal with conditions at elevations of 10,000 feet and higher. Those coming from lower elevations may be surprised how quickly they get winded while hiking or crawling. Afternoon thunderstorms are very common in summer, but also usually brief. Bring a rain jacket just in case. Don’t forget your camera! The views both underground and above are worth remembering and sharing with the folks back home.
Questions? Just email NSS2011cavetrips AT gmail DOT com