Was seriously cold here in NW Fl yesterday morn and we met some
friends to look for caves. They had obtained a list of sinks adjacent
to roads from the Dept of Trans so we went to look at em. Turns out,
almost all had been filled with road debris, however, while looking at
one by the road we could see far into a pasture a tiny area of trees
with a fence around it, a sure sign the farmer does not want his cows
falling into a hole. Finally located the owner and got permission to
investigate. Impressive narrow deep hole. My 13 yr old daughter
volunteered to get on rope and be lowered down (she really did
volunteer). She went down about 35' to the bottom only to find it
blocked by ancient roofing debris.
People often dump garbage into such holes and think "out of sight, out
of mind". We often see pesticide drums in these holes no more than a
few hundred feet from the farmers well. Do they wonder why their kids
have birth defects? Did once find a hole that had served as local
dump around 1900 filled with ancient bottles. Selling the bottles
allowed us to clean up the hole.
Another farmer gave us a tip for the location of a cave in a large
wooded area so we went to check it out. Took awhile but we found it,
a nice walk-in entrance in the side of a ridge. It was probably upper
30s outside but was 72 inside, an amazing thing to feel. Large bat
colony which looked to be a maternal colony and we decided not to
disturb them so we left.
Age has diminished my once very good sense of direction and we emerged
from the woods far from where we had gone in giving me a good scare.
In the woods, I have rarely gotten turned around in direction so I was
shocked to have this happen. I resolve to carry a compass even on
short trips into the woods from now on.
A good day to roam the woods

Frogwatch wrote:
Was seriously cold here in NW Fl yesterday morn and we met some
friends to look for caves. They had obtained a list of sinks adjacent
to roads from the Dept of Trans so we went to look at em. Turns out,
almost all had been filled with road debris, however, while looking at
one by the road we could see far into a pasture a tiny area of trees
with a fence around it, a sure sign the farmer does not want his cows
falling into a hole. Finally located the owner and got permission to
investigate. Impressive narrow deep hole. My 13 yr old daughter
volunteered to get on rope and be lowered down (she really did
volunteer). She went down about 35' to the bottom only to find it
blocked by ancient roofing debris.
People often dump garbage into such holes and think "out of sight, out
of mind". We often see pesticide drums in these holes no more than a
few hundred feet from the farmers well. Do they wonder why their kids
have birth defects? Did once find a hole that had served as local
dump around 1900 filled with ancient bottles. Selling the bottles
allowed us to clean up the hole.
Another farmer gave us a tip for the location of a cave in a large
wooded area so we went to check it out. Took awhile but we found it,
a nice walk-in entrance in the side of a ridge. It was probably upper
30s outside but was 72 inside, an amazing thing to feel. Large bat
colony which looked to be a maternal colony and we decided not to
disturb them so we left.
Age has diminished my once very good sense of direction and we emerged
from the woods far from where we had gone in giving me a good scare.
In the woods, I have rarely gotten turned around in direction so I was
shocked to have this happen. I resolve to carry a compass even on
short trips into the woods from now on.
A good day to roam the woods

We've got a cave out at the Shenandoah I've love to have you
investigate. It for sure has black bears in it for some of the year.
Would you like to come up and say hello?

On Jan 4, 5:46*pm, Harry wrote:
Frogwatch wrote:
Was seriously cold here in NW Fl yesterday morn and we met some
friends to look for caves. *They had obtained a list of sinks adjacent
to roads from the Dept of Trans so we went to look at em. *Turns out,
almost all had been filled with road debris, however, while looking at
one by the road we could see far into a pasture a tiny area of trees
with a fence around it, a sure sign the farmer does not want his cows
falling into a hole. *Finally located the owner and got permission to
investigate. *Impressive narrow deep hole. *My 13 yr old daughter
volunteered to get on rope and be lowered down (she really did
volunteer). *She went down about 35' to the bottom only to find it
blocked by ancient roofing debris.
People often dump garbage into such holes and think "out of sight, out
of mind". *We often see pesticide drums in these holes no more than a
few hundred feet from the farmers well. *Do they wonder why their kids
have birth defects? *Did once find a hole that had served as local
dump around 1900 filled with ancient bottles. *Selling the bottles
allowed us to clean up the hole.
Another farmer gave us *a tip for the location of a cave in a large
wooded area so we went to check it out. *Took awhile but we found it,
a nice walk-in entrance in the side of a ridge. *It was probably upper
30s outside but was 72 inside, an amazing thing to feel. *Large bat
colony which looked to be a maternal colony and we decided not to
disturb them so we left.
Age has diminished my once very good sense of direction and we emerged
from the woods far from where we had gone in giving me a good scare.
In the woods, I have rarely gotten turned around in direction so I was
shocked to have this happen. *I resolve to carry a compass even on
short trips into the woods from now on.
A good day to roam the woods

We've got a cave out at the Shenandoah I've love to have you
investigate. It for sure has black bears in it for some of the year.
Would you like to come up and say hello?

Tell you what. You go in and tie the rope to his paw and I will then
drag him out.

Frogwatch wrote:
On Jan 4, 5:46 pm, Harry wrote:
Frogwatch wrote:
Was seriously cold here in NW Fl yesterday morn and we met some
friends to look for caves. They had obtained a list of sinks adjacent
to roads from the Dept of Trans so we went to look at em. Turns out,
almost all had been filled with road debris, however, while looking at
one by the road we could see far into a pasture a tiny area of trees
with a fence around it, a sure sign the farmer does not want his cows
falling into a hole. Finally located the owner and got permission to
investigate. Impressive narrow deep hole. My 13 yr old daughter
volunteered to get on rope and be lowered down (she really did
volunteer). She went down about 35' to the bottom only to find it
blocked by ancient roofing debris.
People often dump garbage into such holes and think "out of sight, out
of mind". We often see pesticide drums in these holes no more than a
few hundred feet from the farmers well. Do they wonder why their kids
have birth defects? Did once find a hole that had served as local
dump around 1900 filled with ancient bottles. Selling the bottles
allowed us to clean up the hole.
Another farmer gave us a tip for the location of a cave in a large
wooded area so we went to check it out. Took awhile but we found it,
a nice walk-in entrance in the side of a ridge. It was probably upper
30s outside but was 72 inside, an amazing thing to feel. Large bat
colony which looked to be a maternal colony and we decided not to
disturb them so we left.
Age has diminished my once very good sense of direction and we emerged
from the woods far from where we had gone in giving me a good scare.
In the woods, I have rarely gotten turned around in direction so I was
shocked to have this happen. I resolve to carry a compass even on
short trips into the woods from now on.
A good day to roam the woods
We've got a cave out at the Shenandoah I've love to have you
investigate. It for sure has black bears in it for some of the year.
Would you like to come up and say hello?

Tell you what. You go in and tie the rope to his paw and I will then
drag him out.


Not me. I've seen his/her work.

On Mon, 4 Jan 2010 14:39:09 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote:

I resolve to carry a compass even on
short trips into the woods from now on.

A pocket GPS is even better, and useful in the dinghy also.

On Jan 4, 8:00*pm, Wayne.B wrote:
On Mon, 4 Jan 2010 14:39:09 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch

wrote:
I resolve to carry a compass even on
short trips into the woods from now on.

A pocket GPS is even better, and useful in the dinghy also.

In deep woods, GPS often has problems and does not work at all in
caves.

"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
On Jan 4, 8:00 pm, Wayne.B wrote:
On Mon, 4 Jan 2010 14:39:09 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch

wrote:
I resolve to carry a compass even on
short trips into the woods from now on.

A pocket GPS is even better, and useful in the dinghy also.

In deep woods, GPS often has problems and does not work at all in
caves.


I have to wonder how well a compass would work in some caves as well.
Depending on the composition of the rock, it could drive a compass whacky.

Here's a thought... carry both! ;-)

--Mike

On Jan 4, 10:27*pm, "mgg" wrote:
"Frogwatch" wrote in message

...
On Jan 4, 8:00 pm, Wayne.B wrote:

On Mon, 4 Jan 2010 14:39:09 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch

wrote:
I resolve to carry a compass even on
short trips into the woods from now on.

A pocket GPS is even better, and useful in the dinghy also.

In deep woods, GPS often has problems and does not work at all in
caves.



I have to wonder how well a compass would work in some caves as well.
Depending on the composition of the rock, it could drive a compass whacky..

Here's a thought... carry both! ;-)

--Mike

My compass has never failed me. Most caves are in limestone so
compositioin does not change the earths mag field.

"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
On Jan 4, 10:27 pm, "mgg" wrote:
"Frogwatch" wrote in message

...
On Jan 4, 8:00 pm, Wayne.B wrote:

On Mon, 4 Jan 2010 14:39:09 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch

wrote:
I resolve to carry a compass even on
short trips into the woods from now on.

A pocket GPS is even better, and useful in the dinghy also.

In deep woods, GPS often has problems and does not work at all in
caves.



I have to wonder how well a compass would work in some caves as well.
Depending on the composition of the rock, it could drive a compass whacky.

Here's a thought... carry both! ;-)

--Mike

My compass has never failed me. Most caves are in limestone so
compositioin does not change the earths mag field.



Limestone.... I did not know that.

My only experience with caves is: http://www.mercercaverns.com/ which is
limestone as well. I didn't know it was the norm though. Very cool tour
there as well. I doubt it's your cup-o-tea since they built steps. ;-)

--Mike

Frogwatch wrote:
On Jan 4, 8:00 pm, Wayne.B wrote:
On Mon, 4 Jan 2010 14:39:09 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch

wrote:
I resolve to carry a compass even on
short trips into the woods from now on.
A pocket GPS is even better, and useful in the dinghy also.

In deep woods, GPS often has problems and does not work at all in
caves.

Hansel and Gretel. Had the right Idea Upon which, I am sure, you could
improve.

A compass is not 100% reliable. I have seen mine spinning in circles.

I like to keep a map/chart, compass, and a GPS on board. All of which
are compact and lightweight.

I visited the bridge of a cruise ship many moons ago. They used the
output from an Apelco/Ratheon loran to steer the ship. They also had a
printer hooked up that recorded loran data real time. technology has
come a long way since then, but the ancient tools are still viable.