Missouri Speleological Survey

Files Report for January and February 2005

So busy I can hardly stand it…

Kirsten Alvey gave me an electronic folder full of forty-five (45!) reports on caves, landowners, descriptions, and so forth. This represents a lot of effort but also shows what people can do to make a contribution and still have fun at caving.

Steve Taylor, meanwhile, gave us a corresponding set of files with sixteen different “Topo!” files showing a wide variety of exact cave locations. Great work.

Mick Sutton sent a number of reports for caves in Taney, Phelps, and Pulaski Counties, all part of CRF’s Forest Service work. The work in Taney County is particularly important as we are trying to find more snail habitat.

Joe Light sent a fat envelope full of information on a cave/karst feature in Iron County. Included were photographs, report, topo map, directions, etc. This fine work was by Joe along with Jim Ruedin, Korey Hart, Doug Wessel, and Bruce Cox, all of MVG.

Randy Long of the Forest Service continues his fine work by sending detailed reports and photographs on a half-dozen new caves plus new locations for about ten additional new caves.

Jon Beard and Michael Carter sent cave length revisions for a number of caves in southwest Missouri.

New caves are so hard to find. The day after the MSS meeting I was surveying with Matt Goska, Kirsten Alvey, Steve Taylor, and Ryan Seitz. After surveying the two caves we were looking for, we headed back to the vehicles and sitting on the side of the road was a new cave, just waiting to be found. And this is in Pulaski County, one of the best-searched counties in the state.

Pam Sales sent some updated records for Pulaski County.

Andy Free continues to send a variety of new cave locations from Pulaski County. Most of the areas Andy finds caves in have been “looked at” for generations. And then Andy goes out and finds four new caves in a single bluff.

Michael Carter sent a set of new Pioneer Forest files. Michael typed in reports from various of the caves on Pioneer land and audited the locations and land descriptions to get a more complete data set.

Leonard Butts sent a location correction on Hahns Mill Cave in Madison County.

Charity Gramm sent an electronic copy of OHG’s newsletter. This really helps get material in the files.

More caves came from Ben Miller. They come in dribbles, splashes, and occasionally waves of data-filled emails.

Matt Forir sent more information on new caves he submitted last month.

James Corsentino sent a long and detailed report on Decker Cave, Pulaski County.

Joe Proffitt of Ft. Wood sent some information on new cave finds on Ft. property in Pulaski County.

Amber Spohn turned in a new cave (pit) in Boone County.

Jeff “Spike” Crews sent a detailed resolution of the Yancy Mills caves naming mess. It is all straight now, with a description of the problem in the files. Spike also sent information on a lead in Ripley County. Spike also sent a revised location for a cave in western Pulaski County.

Yes, there is a lot going on in Pulaski County these days. And in lots of other areas as well. Be part of it. There will be work trips the weekend of the MSS meeting in May followed by more trips during the MVOR the next weekend.

Scott House

Missouri Cave Database

1606 Luce St.

Cape Girardeau MO 63701

573-651-3782

scott_house@semo.net