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Fort Stanton Cave Study Project: June, 2024
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Fort Stanton Cave Study Project: June, 2024 |
Selected 2024 Photos: Fort Stanton Cave - Page 1
2024 Photo Pages |
We want to welcome several new team members that consists of a number of private property owners in the eastern section of Rainmakers, Enchanted Valley Estates, and Rancho Ruidoso Valley Estates, adjacent to the NCA and the US Forest Service properties. Thanks to the permission of these selected new team members, our group is now able to continue the exploration past the boundary of the BLM NCA and the Forest Service. Currently this web page is not linked to our other website pages and requires this unique URL address for semi-private access. Visitors to this web page are seeing for the first time what was first seen by the four team members on the June 2, 2024 weekend. The trip into the cave began Friday morning and continued Friday night into the new territory along the primary Snowy River Passage. A major passage extension was surveyed and the added survey brought the length of Fort Stanton Cave to just over 46 miles. The team of four exited the cave Sunday morning after a round trip of over 26 miles in the cave. (A link to the rest of our website is above in the left hand corner.) When our cavers plan a trip to the cave we first write proposals for each trip to facilitate the interaction with our BLM and USFS partners. Each trip follows the current requirements for any special White Nose Syndrome regulations, which means we practice many safety and conservation techniques in addition to a decontamination process. Entry into Fort Stanton Cave is controlled to a current maximum of less than 350 individual entries per year, and the caving season is also limited to just five months between May and October during the year. The cave is closed to everyone during the winter bat hibernation months. |
The map at the bottom of the page shows the section of passages surveyed by the June 2024 team. Also at the bottom of the page is a link to the previous 2022 explorations beyond the National Conservation Area. Some of the recent history is shown in the first 4 photos below. |
Rene Ohms, Adam Weaver, Brian Kendrick and Stan Allison ended their survey at station SRS730 previously visited in April, 2013.
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Click on the photo to see a larger image.
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This image shows the next SRS731 station being set up 9 years later in the continuation of the southern Snowy River Passage on July 1, 2022.
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This area near the 2022 survey end of the Snowy River passage was called Laguna Lechosa and shows horizontal lines of calcite rafts marking previous levels of water in this spot. A similar feature can be seen near Turtle Junction, over 10 miles north along Snowy River.
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At 1:00 AM on July 2, 2022, the survey ended at SRS789x as the passage named Yellowstone River continued into the darkness around the next corner.
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At the end of May, 2024, Adam and Rene pack their supplies for the long camp trip. The times shown provide a timeline for reference. 20240530_194657 07:46:58 PM |
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The next morning the team finalizes their return plans with the surface watch . (L-R Pete Johnson, Knutt Peterson (BLM), Ron Lipinski, Adam Weaver and Rene Ohms). 20240531_092615 09:26:14 AM
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The team with Adam, Rene, Garrett and Pete enters the cave. 20240531_093535 09:35:35 AM |
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The team arrives at Turtle Junction about an hour later, one mile from the entrance. 20240531_104417 10:44:17 AM
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Adam, Pete and Rene at one of the many clean-dirty equipment changes. 20240531_144822 02:48:22 PM |
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Several miles into the cave along the Snowy River Passage the team pauses to refill water containers at Finger Lake. 20240531_162249 04:22:49 PM
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Garrett organizes the survey notes to start a survey in new passage. 20240531_230130 11:01:30 PM |
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Other team members get organized for the survey tied into SRS778B 12:40:39 PM |
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At the start of the 2024 trip, the team tied in to SRS782 and began checking a side passage that was actually the continuation of Snowy River. PXL_20240601_184039600
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SRS782, SRS783
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Rene tries to stay out of the water near SRS783. PXL_20240601_184052101
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Heading towards SRS784, staying out of the water appears to be difficult. PXL_20240601_185319073
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SRS783, SRS784
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In fact, it is easier just to walk in the water. The bottom is solid and not mud. PXL_20240601_185532395
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Passing SRS784, the water is not deep. PXL_20240601_185545780
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SRS784
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Garrett lighting up the passage ahead. PXL_20240601_185559979
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A wider view of the same spot. PXL_20240601_185704051
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SRS784, SRS785
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At one station, Rene provides a target for the DistoX2 laser range-finder, while Garrett takes notes at the next one. PXL_20240601_190325958
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The character of the passage shows clay banks near SRS787. PXL_20240601_191112889
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SRS786. SRS787
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It is possible to get out of the water in places. PXL_20240601_191744033
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But mostly, walking in the water is the rule of the day. PXL_20240601_192000654
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SRS787
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Note the sculptured mud bank showing "ripples" on the left side. PXL_20240601_192149215
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What is somewhat apparent in this photo after SRS788 is that the Snowy River calcite deposit is covered by the water. The edge is called the Snowy River Formation Top or "SRFT". PXL_20240601_192444994 01:24:44 PM
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SRS788, SRS789
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After SRS789, the Snowy River white calcite deposit continues to be apparent. PXL_20240601_193102502 01:31:02 PM
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As in other parts of the cave, the stream channel meanders from one side of the passage to the other with mud banks on the sides. PXL_20240601_193108253
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SRS789
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The mud bank itself on the left side appears to be covered with the white Snowy River deposit. PXL_20240601_193143758
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In 2022 the previous survey team reached an area they named Yellowstone River, but the passage appeared to end at station YRS14. Back-tracking to station SRS780 they checked a lower level wet lead that was actually the continuation of Snowy River. The stations shown will give an approximate location of the photos in this section. |
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The FSCSP acknowledges the support and cooperation of the BLM, the USFS and selected private individuals in the development of this map. No warranty is made by the Fort Stanton Cave Study Project as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of this data for individual use with other data, or for purposes not intended by the FSCSP. Spatial information may not meet National Map Accuracy Standards. This information is subject to change without notification. Please click on the 2024 Photo Page 2 below to go to the next page |
2022 Photo Pages |
- | 2024 Photo Pages |
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