Post by Sharon Faulkner on Sept 6, 2006 16:52:54 GMT -5
Reposted with permission of author:
New Cave Discovery in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Hello All,
Yes, the rumors are true. We have found a significant new cave in the two parks. It was found on the first weekend of the new CRF dig project overseen by Mark Scott. The discoverers were Scott McBride (who found the hole) Tom LaFrank, Mike White and Allen Hager. They found the cave on August 19 after a couple of hours of digging and moving rocks. The original hole was roughly baseball size and the cave has no airflow. Most prominent in the cave is the large passage sizes and the copious beautiful cave formations. At this point we have had a few trips to the cave. A survey has been started and Dave Bunnell came and took photos. Estimated current length is 1000 feet with several very good climbing leads and un-dropped pits.
Below is the draft text for a press release that will likely go out early next week:
Ursa Minor Cave Discovery, Press Release Text
On August 19 four park volunteers discovered a significant new cave within Sequoia National Park that has been named Ursa Minor for the Little Dipper constellation. The cave features large passages – often more than 50 feet wide – and beautiful cave formations. These include long and graceful cave curtains, some more than 30 feet long, ever fragile soda straws up to 6 feet long, many cave pearls, and large areas of multicolored cave flowstones. Crystals in the flowstone produce a brilliant sparkle when struck by a caver’s light. Ursa Minor also has a cave lake that may be as much as 100 feet across and vertical drops that must be traversed using ropes. An ancient animal skeleton was found in the cave that resembles a bear, which influenced the naming of the cave. Cave-adapted invertebrates that may be new or rare species have also been seen in the cave. It is clear that several of the cave’s larger passages continue and the actual length of the cave remains unknown at this time.
Park Cave Specialist, Joel Despain, said, “we are very excited about the discovery of this beautiful new cave. It will add to our knowledge of the parks, park wildlife, and park features. Knowing that the cave exists will help us manage the area around the cave with its protection in mind. It is a fine new addition to the many wonderful caves in the two parks.”
In keeping with park policies, this new cave is automatically placed in Management Class 4 from the Park Cave Management Plan. Such caves are closed to recreational visits pending evaluation and scientific study. Park cave management staff will be planning a series of trips with subject matter experts to conduct this work. Tasks on these trips will include creating an accurate and detailed map of the cave, conducting an inventory of its features, conducting a biological inventory, photo documenting cave features and formations, and gating the cave entrance to protect access into the cave. At this point, park staff will be on all trips into the new cave.
The new cave was found as part of an on-going park-approved project managed by the Cave Research Foundation that conducts small excavations with hand tools in a search for new caves and cave passages. The discoverers of Ursa Minor cave spent approximately two hours excavating the entrance area before it was possible to enter the cave.
There are no long-term management plans for the cave at this time. Once we have a better handle on what we have, we will start to answer those questions. Feel free to contact me with questions or comments.
Thanks all,
Joel
Joel Despain
Cave Specialist for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271
joel_despain AT nps.gov
(There are some low-res, unprocessed photos copyright Dave Bunnell included in the original message, which I am not posting here.) sf
New Cave Discovery in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Hello All,
Yes, the rumors are true. We have found a significant new cave in the two parks. It was found on the first weekend of the new CRF dig project overseen by Mark Scott. The discoverers were Scott McBride (who found the hole) Tom LaFrank, Mike White and Allen Hager. They found the cave on August 19 after a couple of hours of digging and moving rocks. The original hole was roughly baseball size and the cave has no airflow. Most prominent in the cave is the large passage sizes and the copious beautiful cave formations. At this point we have had a few trips to the cave. A survey has been started and Dave Bunnell came and took photos. Estimated current length is 1000 feet with several very good climbing leads and un-dropped pits.
Below is the draft text for a press release that will likely go out early next week:
Ursa Minor Cave Discovery, Press Release Text
On August 19 four park volunteers discovered a significant new cave within Sequoia National Park that has been named Ursa Minor for the Little Dipper constellation. The cave features large passages – often more than 50 feet wide – and beautiful cave formations. These include long and graceful cave curtains, some more than 30 feet long, ever fragile soda straws up to 6 feet long, many cave pearls, and large areas of multicolored cave flowstones. Crystals in the flowstone produce a brilliant sparkle when struck by a caver’s light. Ursa Minor also has a cave lake that may be as much as 100 feet across and vertical drops that must be traversed using ropes. An ancient animal skeleton was found in the cave that resembles a bear, which influenced the naming of the cave. Cave-adapted invertebrates that may be new or rare species have also been seen in the cave. It is clear that several of the cave’s larger passages continue and the actual length of the cave remains unknown at this time.
Park Cave Specialist, Joel Despain, said, “we are very excited about the discovery of this beautiful new cave. It will add to our knowledge of the parks, park wildlife, and park features. Knowing that the cave exists will help us manage the area around the cave with its protection in mind. It is a fine new addition to the many wonderful caves in the two parks.”
In keeping with park policies, this new cave is automatically placed in Management Class 4 from the Park Cave Management Plan. Such caves are closed to recreational visits pending evaluation and scientific study. Park cave management staff will be planning a series of trips with subject matter experts to conduct this work. Tasks on these trips will include creating an accurate and detailed map of the cave, conducting an inventory of its features, conducting a biological inventory, photo documenting cave features and formations, and gating the cave entrance to protect access into the cave. At this point, park staff will be on all trips into the new cave.
The new cave was found as part of an on-going park-approved project managed by the Cave Research Foundation that conducts small excavations with hand tools in a search for new caves and cave passages. The discoverers of Ursa Minor cave spent approximately two hours excavating the entrance area before it was possible to enter the cave.
There are no long-term management plans for the cave at this time. Once we have a better handle on what we have, we will start to answer those questions. Feel free to contact me with questions or comments.
Thanks all,
Joel
Joel Despain
Cave Specialist for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers, CA 93271
joel_despain AT nps.gov
(There are some low-res, unprocessed photos copyright Dave Bunnell included in the original message, which I am not posting here.) sf
