Logsdon River Sump 2007 Part 2

Exploration Beyond a Sump in the World’s Longest Cave

(continued from Last Month)
by Brian Williams

On June 30, 2007, at 1100 hours, 18 cavers entered Roppel via the Weller entrance. The trip leader was Scott Bauer. A haul line was rigged from the entrance down the ladder drops to facilitate gear movement to the bottom of the entrance pit and the beginning of Shit Canyon. This technique was slow but deemed necessary for safe handling of the tanks and other heavy bags. Gear consisted of 10 bags plus 10 tanks. Tanks used included: 2- Al 45’s, 2- steel 40’s, 2-steel 38’s, and 4- steel 80’s. The steel 80’s were staged at sump 1 for use by Jill and Jerry on the subsequent dive to push the upstream sump 2. Tank and gear movement down the entrance drop and through the first set of narrow canyon passages were the most logistically difficult of the trip. Once all the gear was moved to larger walking passage, each sherpa could continue on with an individual load between 20 and 45 lbs each. All gear arrived at the sump in approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Matt Vinzant, Mark Wenner, and I began kitting up on tarps located in the alcove above sump 1, as Scott Bauer and Hazel Barton were cutting steps and rigging webbing down the mud slope to the Logsdon River. At 1630 hours, Matt and Mark entered the 54 degree water on the downstream side of sump 1 and continued in low airspace for 75 feet before submerging and following the line through to the other side. Brian followed 30 minutes later. The delay was due to getting the dry bag of gear, including climbing gear, rope, bolt kit, various climbing pro , survey instruments, polypro, caveralls, and food, weighted down enough to get through the sump. The gear weighed 30 lbs and 15 lbs of weights were added but not effective in sinking the bag. The entire bag was repacked into individual dry bags and the main bag was flooded. This did the trick, and I proceeded through the sump. Sherpas exited the cave when the last diver through did not return after 10 minutes. This allowed the divers to focus on their task without worrying about hypothermic cavers awaiting their return.

Roppel Sump Exploration 2007 trip participants list:

Scott Bauer, Brian Williams, Matt Vinzant, Mark Wenner, Jill Hienreth, Jerry Murphy, Beth Murphy, DeWayne Hyatt, Barbara am Ende, John Delong, Matt Mezydle, Hazel Barton, Eric Weaver, Johanna Kovarik, Pat Kambesis, Sue Hagen, Steve Omeroid, Judy Omeroid, Brian Ham, Seamus Decker, Erin Lynch, Ann Kensly, Ed Klausner, Dick Market, et al.

See the Article

See the full article by Brain Williams in The Carbide Dump October 2007 (Vol 42 No. 9).