COVER : Ben McFarlane exiting Walkup Cave. Photo by Ben McFarlane. 

by OZTOTL Staff

 A backpacking/climbing/caving store, Recreational Equipment Inc., is the meeting site for the Dallas-Fort Worth Grotto. The meeting time and date is 7 p.m., May 28, 1997. The address is 4515 LBJ Freeway, Farmers Branch, Texas 75244. The phone number is (972) 490-5989.

 This month's program is on the use of togo maps and GPS units to locate geographic points of interest, like cave entrances.

 REI is located just west of the intersection of the Dallas North Tollway and the LBJ Freeway. To get there from Fort Worth and the mid-cities, take I-30, 183 or any east-west artery to Dallas and get on Stemmons Expressway (I-35), then follow it north and then turn east on 635 instead of continuing north toward Lewisville and Denton.

 Take the North Dallas Tollway-Dallas Parkway exit (the Galleria and its twin towers are visible on the left or north as you exit.) Make a left on the overhead ramps, cross over 635 and make a left (or U-turn) to go back on the I-635 West service road. Stay on the service road, go through the light at Welch Road and REI is on the immediate right. If you get to Midway Road, you've gone too far.

 From downtown Dallas, go north on the tollway, crossing over 635 and make the left to go west on LBJ. Then stay on the service road and watch for REI past Welch Road.

The REI store closes at 9 p.m. A climbing wall and shopping are available at the store before the meeting. If cavers want to get some climbing practice in, it's advisable to come around 5:30 p.m. The line forms quickly and early.

The REI store is the company's second largest in the country. REI stands for Recreational Equipment Inc. The Seattle-based cooperative sells climbing (and caving) hardware, rope and yes ... even carbide lamps.

The national retailer of outdoor gear and clothing for muscle-powered recreation employs several grotto members!

 A prepared statement from the company says REI has supported outdoor conservation efforts since 1976. The company's corporate contributions program is designed to assist in the protection of public lands, rivers and trails nationwide. And REI takes an active role in the communities it serves with service projects for outdoor recreational opportunities.

 If you need carbide, contact Dave "Cave'' McClung at (972) 594-1183 and place your order for delivery at the meeting. Join us afterwards for the grotto social hour at a local eatery.

from staff reports

 The April DEW grotto meeting was called to order at 7:25 p.m. by Dave McClung.

 Jennifer Sobin was a visitor to the grotto.

 Mike Pearson gave a trip report about taking a Venture Scout troop to an Arkansas cave.

 In old business: The adopt-a-highway application process is nearing completion.

In new business: The joint DEW/Maverick Rites of Spring party was well attended. Motion was made to ask the Maverick grotto to pay half of the party cost. Motion was seconded and carried with Dave McClung to act as contact with the Maverick grotto in this regard.

Treasurer's Report: Dues are due now. Currently the DEW grotto has $1063.18 in account minus the $25 TSA door prize, the $50 contribution to the Ukrainian youth cavers, and expenses for publishing the newsletter the last 6 months.

 Editors Report: Circulation is up to 85 issues a month.

Barbe Barker has gotten tentative permission to reopen access to River Styx. Barbe and two other persons are the only allowed contacts for this cave so contact her for any other info.

 Upcoming trips to Carlsbad and Fitton caves were announced.

 Grotto T-shirts still available. Contact Dave McClung.

This month's program was a hands on practice of surveying equipment. After the program a motion was made to adjourn the meeting. It was seconded and carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm.

The customary ``after-meeting meeting'' was again held at the ever-popular Taco Cabana south of Interstate 635 at Webbs Chapel, where the salsa was muy caliente and the blender beverages were muy frio. Aiiiiiiyyyyyyeeeeeee!

Texas Cavers Reunion at a site to be announced.

 Honey Creek- Mark Minton, (512) 847-3829.

 Carlsbat Cavers- Phyllis Weston, (505) 887-6790 Restoration, Educational Programs, Off trail cave trips during busy holiday periods.

 Carlsbad Caverns CRF - Contact Barbe Barker @ 972-594-1183 or e-mail: cavers@gte.net

 Fitton Cave Survey- Pete Lindsley (972) 727-2497 or e-mail: lindsley@mcopn.dseg.ti.com

 Madonna Survey Trips- Mike Huber (505) 887-6065

Mystic Cave Survey- Woodrow Thomas (903) 395-4431 or e-mail: wwthomas@tenet.edu

 Government Canyon Karst Project- George Veni (210) 558-4403 or e-mail- kveni@tenet.edu

 Colorado Bend State Park- Ed Young (915) 628-3449

Butch Fralia (817) 346-2029

Rune Barnett(512) 444-1127

Keith Heuss (512) 280-2812

 Powell's Cave Survey - Terry Holsinger (512) 443-4241

 Whirlpool and Lost Oasis (TCMA caves)- Contact Nico Hauwert (512) 282-8441

 Robber Baron (TCMA cave)- Contact James Loftin (210) 731-9392

 0-9 Well (TCMA cave)- Contact Walter Feaster (915)559-3297

 Amazing Maze(TCMA cave)- Contact Walter Feaster (915) 559-3297

by Mike Pearson

 During the last few years I have had the honor of leading or helping lead scouts from the DEW area into caves. Some trips were logistic nightmares but I always stressed education and fun as the ultimate outcome of any trip. Some troops are repeat groups expanding their skills and experiences while others were on their first cave outing.

Several members of the DEW grotto are involved in scout caving . Some are involved with a particular troop while others are contacted from time to time to lead trips by a troop new to caving.

The DEW grotto has a long history of activity with scouting, with some scouts going on to be excellent cavers in their own right.

 I have led at least three troops on caving trips in the last 4 months. The last troop was a group of young men approaching their late teens with several near 18 years old and at least three of them were Eagle Scouts. Their enthusiasm to explore would make them a valuable member of any "push" team.

 One thing I always ask each troop to do, is write me an article about what they saw and did. It's great to read their reaction to the trips I've led them on and relive some of the feelings I felt on my first trips into caves with my uncle, James Loftin.

 The articles in this month's newsletter are written by some of the scouts and/or their leaders as a result of my request for trip reports. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed making them happen.

by Travis Killen and John Kent

A chill goes down our backs as we look into the small opening that reaches into the depths of the Earth. The hole, seeming endless, actually creeps down about fifteen feet, and then horizontally extends 20 more feet like tunnel, then opening into a large room. Our final glance back was our last look at sunlight for an hour and a half.

 This cave was named Little Crystal, a gypsum cave that nine scouts in Troop 890 were able to enjoy. After entering the cave we experienced minor problems, such as failing flashlights and Jack Allen's semi-dislocated kneecap, that were fixed before proceeding. Soon we advanced further to find single bats hanging from the three foot high ceiling. After belly crawling through the first thirty feet of the underground hole we came upon a higher ceiling and moved on through many odd rooms that required stooping crawling and even walking. During one crawl we rounded a corner and found a small frog, whom we named Kermit. While stopping for a break we men talked about past caving experiences. Topping all of our stories Pete Lindsley, who has been caving for 35 years, told of his interesting caving life. When that topic was exhausted we began computer talk before retreating back to the mouth of the small cave. The opening coming back from the underground world was more dangerous than the trip into it. Watching for false footings, sliding rocks, and hibernating bats was more than we had bargained for. Fortunately no one got injured, and the expression, "The Light at the End of the Tunnel" gained a whole new meaning for the cavers!

by Travis Killen and John Kent

The second cave we visited was Walk-Up Cave which contained an opening a quarter mile away from the Little Crystal entrance. We descended a narrow tunnel into a large room. Thousands of hibernating bats covered the ceiling in densely packed clusters that ranged in size from one to ten feet across. We were very careful not to disturb the bats. If a bat awakens from its winter slumber, it flies outside to find food and usually dies of starvation due to the lack of insects in the cold winter months. We followed an underground streamlet from room to room in the cave and saw many fascinating rock formations and other natural wonders. Unfortunately, much of cave was covered in a not so natural wonder: graffiti. Names and other graffiti had been sprayed all over the cave by local youths who trespass onto private property to enter the cave. We spent about an hour traversing Walk-Up and after we exited, a smaller group of us went back in to explore for alternate openings.

 by Travis Killen and John Kent

That group reentered the cave and returned to a small tube running off to the side of a large room. The tube apparently had an opening at the other end because we could feel a breeze and see debris washed in the direction of the exit. The small cave was several hundred yards long. We had to navigate the entire length of it on our bellies and hands and knees. Just as we were growing very tired of the hard work, an exit appeared. We climbed out into a large sink-hole. There were no signs at all that the tube had ever been occupied before. The guides that we brought from the caving club indicated that they did not know of the existence of the tube and exit. In honor of our discovery, the exit was named Walk-up 890. (Editors note: The entrance may be known by another name by local cavers).

by Travis Killen and John Kent

 After exploring Little Crystal, and leaving Walkup at the newly named Walkup 890 exit we found a deep sinkhole, or collapsed cave. The large sinkhole turned out to be an entrance into at least two other caves probably never found by a caver. Our group split, leaving Blake Richardson and friends to explore one cave, and Travis Killen and others to explore the other. Our cave began with a twenty-foot-drop-off that led into a large room. A path went up and another path went down. After finding a dead end at the top of the upward path we descended down to the lower level. The cavers and scouts were excited, for there were still no signs of a intruder in the cave prior to us. Our curiosity led us further to a tight squeeze, and no escaping passages. So now the only way out was a tight triangular hole leading up into to another sinkhole. After squeezing out of the small opening we discussed the possibility of this being a virgin cave. The chances were good because there was no graffiti, trash, or footprints in this section of the cave.

Scouts who braved this underground trek were: Jack Allen, John Kent, Travis Killen, Justin Mullins, Chad Oakley and Blake Richardson. Scouters who attended were: Scott Killen, Ben McFarlane and Phil Richardson. Cave guides form the Speleological Society were Pete Lindsley, Jerri Pearson and Mike Pearson

Reprinted from "The Fang" newspaper of Lake Highlands High School

 by Ben McFarlane

 Hundreds, maybe thousands of bats hung in massive groups from the cave ceiling. Tightly clumped together side by side while hibernating, they looked like a sea of black fur. As we silently ventured deep into the darkness through tiny holes and large rooms, occasionally bats screamed by like crazy dancers as their wide wings blew wind past our faces.

It was in Walkup Cave, one of the longest gypsum rock (white sheet rock) caves in Texas, four and a half hours from Dallas. Seven Boy Scouts from Troop 890, including Lake Highlands sophomores Justin Mullins, Travis Killen, Blake Richardson, John Kent, and I went caving there this month aided by guides from the DFW grotto.

 Armed with knee pads, work gloves, extra flashlights with many batteries, water bottles, and high energy snacks, a garbage bag to prevent hypothermia, and headlamps duct taped to construction helmets, we crawled through a crack in the side of a hill in the middle of nowhere. We crawled over large boulders into an area about the size and height of two classrooms.

 The bats slept above us while we climbed up a slippery wall. On hands and knees, we crawled about 100 yards being careful not to scrape the bats off with our helmets. Soon we found ourselves traveling through a curving symmetrical tube, which resembled a long sewer pipe. It dumped us into a large room which narrowed into a tall pathway.

 While leaning against the inclined walls for balance, our feet trudged through shin high water. Two skylights about seven feet wide appeared in rocky rooms, where a couple of bats flew out. We scared off a hawk that waited at the entrance of one skylight. Eventually we came out of a long, low chamber which opened at the end.

Half of us traveled back in the cave to a small passageway that split off, and the other half explored the surface in hopes of finding another entrance hole. The caving group found the split in the cave, and we slid on our stomachs for about 20 minutes over a thousand feet in a long passage about 12 inches high. At times it increased enough for us to crawl, but most of the time we slithered across the bottom. The experience was really exciting because we didn't know where or at what time we would pop out, or even if it ended.

 Eventually we saw a dim light at the end and felt a little air. Somehow we managed to slide out of a crack about a foot high, which emptied into a "sink hole" which had caved in. When we climbed on top of the hill we saw the rest of the crew out in the distance, and after they heard us yelling, they joined us in exploring two other small caves in the area that had been at one time connected before the sink caved in.

They had difficult drop offs, large boulders, and tight squeezes. One cave contained three 90 degree openings. After hearing rocks hit way down below, it was decided not to explore them. We knew we were some of the very few to explore these caves because there was no graffiti. It was great to enjoy those caves without vandalization.

 We also caved in the "Little Crystal" earlier in the day after a great night's rest in the 20s under the stars, and a pancake and sausage breakfast. It opened as a large hole in the ground. A brief tunnel led to a room about half the size of a basketball court with a flat ceiling 10 feet high. Then two extremely tall and smooth walls shoulder width apart curved back and forth like a wavy line. The walls had beautiful crystals in them and unique rock formations that looked like oversized and multi-colored blisters and bacon. We even met a little green frog.

 "We had the opportunity to see a portion of God's creation that most people ever even think about exploring," Kent said.

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submitted by Mark Alman (DEW Grotto and BSA Troop 138.

It was a dark and stormy night... well, not really but it was the night of Friday, January 24th. We had been blessed with a great weather forecast for our Troop 138 Boy Scout Troop trek down to the land of hills and caves. Our destination was Dave Pearson's house west of New Braunfels and smack dab in the middle of some of the best karst in Texas.

His brother, Mike Pearson, a fellow DEW Grotto caver and TI'er had conducted a primer on caving basics the Monday before and the boys (and parents I might add) seemed pumped and ready to go. We had nineteen boys and five adults willing to experience the great, dark unknown!

 I first met Mike thou a visit this past summer to a DEW Grotto meeting at REI and the boys and I have now become full-fledged grotto and NSS members. We met Dave Pearson and his family thou Mike during a trip last August to their place on a warm, steamy weekend. My son, Andrew, and I had fully intended to camp out on their property and enjoy a delicious weekend of Spamwiches and hot links! Mmm, mmm, nice and healthy. But, the Pearsons were gracious enough to let us stay in their house the whole weekend and allowed us to partake of their meals and especially, their AC!!

 Robber Baron is a fun and interesting maze cave that is great for beginning cavers, but one that I suggest you most definitely visit with a guide. It also has a very intriguing history behind it. It is smack dab in the middle of a residential area in north San Antonio and the original entrance now lies underneath a home owners driveway. The new entrance is in a sinkhole with a very well-built door on it, courtesy of James Loftin and Dave. The cave itself was rumored to be a hideout for a gang of bank robbers working in the Hill Country back in the late 1800's. It then became a "speak easy" in the 1920's and in the 30's, became Texas' second commercial. At that time, the landowner charged a then incredible 50 cents for admission. The cave is thought to be connected with another nearby cave system, but due to an uncooperative landowner, this has never been verified.

 During this previous visit, we visited Robber Baron, Wurzbach, and Three Fingers caves in order to fulfill our three cave requirement for Grotto membership. During this visit, Mike and Dave seemed very receptive to taking a group of Boy Scouts thou a couple of caves, so hence our trip. Working on Boy Scout Standard Time, our departure time was planned for 7:00 PM with everyone to be at the Scout Hut at 6:30. Well, BSST prevailed and we didn't depart until 7:50 PM. Then according to unofficial Scout rules, one travels for approx. 45 minutes to one hour and then stops for 30 minutes for various reasons. So that a four hour trip actually turns out taking much longer. We finally arrived at the Pearsons after dealing with one homesick Scout and another one that was carsick (both of whom happened to be in my truck!). We arrived at about 1 AM and were met with a pleasant surprise. The Pearsons were up and had formed a welcoming party for us and also had a warm, blazing fire going for us to light the area and warm our hides! A very pleasant surprise indeed! We chatted for a while, set up camp, planned the next day's activities and gratefully retired at about 2:30.

Upon getting up Saturday morning, I was delighted to find the fire once again going and Mrs. Pearson hauling even more firewood for our use. Talk about a great, full-service campsite, and free to boot! We made breakfast and were underway. Once again, BSST struck and we departed camp over a half hour late for Robber Baron. We met Dave and Mike's uncle, James Loftin, at the nearby HEB store and proceeded to march the boys and leaders off to the cave. Once there, we broke the boys up into three groups. The first was lead by James, the second by Mike, and the third by Dave, of which I was a member. After a short explanation of the cave and a few rules that were to be closely followed, the first group entered. Surprisingly, we encountered very few squeamish Scouts and leaders. The couple that did have a case of nerves were mostly bothered by the entrance, in which you have to descend about six feet of railroad ties by hand and foot until one reaches the ladder, which takes you down the remaining 10-12'. Once down the shaft, everyone did very well.

 Group 1, led by James, undertook the Great Southwest of the cave, which was a tedious route for new cavers, but one that the boys bravely challenged and enjoyed. It has several V-shaped passageways where you have to straddle the cave wall as the floor is very narrow and pitted. Fortunately, the ceiling is fairly high. James allowed the adults not feeling up to this challenging route to use a short cut he knew of and the Scouts and leaders met up there.

 Group 2, led by Mike, checked out the Graffitti Room in the cave to observe some historical and also more recent graffiti found in the cave, some dating back to the mid-to-late 1800's. He then led his group through the Chapel Room and to the Registry Room where the boys were able to leave their "John Hancock" stating that they had been there.

 Group 3, led by Dave, finally made their way in and we also proceeded to the Graffitti Room to observe the various artistry. We also let the boys crawl through the Initiation Tube, a short 360 route that the boys all seemed to enjoy traversing. Dave then showed us various formations in the cave, which due to all of the human traffick thou the cave over the years, are few and far between. We travelled to a part of the cave that extends beneath nearby Nacogdoches Avenue and tried to listen for the sound of passing vehicles and eventually made our way back to the entrance.

 After a short lunch around the tailgate of my pickup, three of the boys and I were led by Scott, James' son, to a part of the cave where Dave and James were in the process of digging out a tube that was approx. 20' in length that went to a boulder that, once past, led on another 50-60'. This could possibly extend the cave layout extensively, once cleaned out and explored. After observing Dave digging for a while, James took over the excavating. But once again, cave hijinks developed and Dave and Scott thought it would be hilarious to "brick" in James while he had his feet to them in the tube. They found a fairly large slab that covered 90% of the entrance and proceeded to wedge it in place and filled in the remaining gaps with rocks and dirt eagerly supplied by Matt Sanders, Matt Trammel, and Wesley, the Scouts with me. I guess that was the "Good Turn" of the day! James eventually made his way back and kicked the rocks down with his feet. After extricating himself from the tube, he proceeded to look for any hard object nearby to inflict great physical harm on his son and nephew. The boys got a HUGE laugh out of this and for myself, I thought. "With friends like this ...!"

 Mike showed up at about that time and I followed him out while the remaining Scouts stayed behind to help with the dig. After another short break, most of the boys at the surface were up for one more trip in. By this time Dave had also made his way out and gladly offered to take our group of 15 (large for this size of cave) in one more time.

 This time, Dave took us on a little more challenging route. We first made our way to the Chapel Room which consists of a room with a few formations on the ceiling. The interesting feature of this cave is that room had about a half dozen entrances into it, all varying in length and diameter. There are several holes that are more accommodating than others, one of which became plugged by one of our Scouts! After extricating him, I decided to take a route more accessible to one of my girth. We then proceeded on to the Great Southwest which lived up to it's billing as a fairly difficult route. After traversing all 15 Scouts and leaders thou this with no calamities, we proceeded to the Registry. By this time, more than a few of the Scouts (and leaders) were winded and ready to head back to the surface. A couple of the more daring Scouts followed Dave to the Registry, while Scott led the rest of us exhausted souls to the top.

By this time of the afternoon, we were all ready to head back to the Pearson homestead to get cleaned up and make supper. We met back at the HEB and proceeded back. After we arrived, Suzanne, Dave's wife, bravely invited the whole Troop to the house to watch some homemade cave videos of the Pearson's various caving endeavors (which Andrew and I enjoyed watching this past summer) and an interesting video on bats. All of the boys enjoyed the tapes, at least those that didn't fall asleep on the floor, and we thanked the Pearson's for their hospitality and headed back for our Troop campfire.

There, the boys entertained our accommodating hosts with various skits and songs during our campfire. Finally, everyone retired at 11:30. Sunday morning found us packing up and thanking the Pearson's for their gracious use of the back of their property and leading this large of group through the cave. They even invited us back and after hearing my sob story about the soon-to-be loss of our borrowed trailer, Dave offered us a trailer frame for the Scouts to use for free!! We were also supposed to visit Wurzbach, but due to a snafu with the owners and members of the TCMA, the keys could not be secured and will have to be visited at some other time.

 After a hardy show of appreciation, I told Dave that we'd definitely be back for more caving and for the trailer and we were off again to DEW!!! (editor's note: BSA Troop #138 has since received its promised trailer frame and it is currently undergoing improvements for their use).