Recent back issues of the Digest

MCKC DIGEST, Fall 2001

  • Joseph Walsh concludes his two-part feature on Bad Air In Caves with additional detailed descriptions of encounters of bad air in some of the caves he has visited through his years of caving in Missouri. Most of these situations have occurred due to urbanization or poor use of sinkholes.
  • Every so often frost wedging causes some rock fall at or near the driplines to caves. What if the entrance is small enough that the rock fall blocks the entrance? The editor recounts the work Matt Marciano and others conducted to carefully remove fallen rock from the entrance to Sarcoxie Cave. The cave is owned by the Ozark Regional Land Trust and co-managed by the ORLT and the MCKC.

MCKC DIGEST, Summer 2001

  • Joseph Walsh, an MCKC Director, gives us the first installment of a two-part feature in which he discusses bad air in caves, possible causes and how it affects cavers. This is an eye-opening subject that every caver should read and use to measure reactions in any cave that potentially could contain bad air. His article will conclude in the next issue of the Digest.
  • Dr. Bill Elliott, cave biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation, gives us a run-down of cave gating activity designed to protect endangered bat species and archaeological features in four caves and an abandoned mine.

MCKC DIGEST, Spring 2001

  • In the first feature story, entitled This Cave Was Hosed, the restoration work in Fox Creek Cave of Douglas County is told by the editor.
  • In the same neck of the woods, the newest cooperative cave management between the MCKC and the ORLT in partnership with Ozark Highlands Grotto is detailed in The Gating of Dream Cave.
  • Lastly, Joseph Walsh explains his work in measuring the radioactivity in a number of eastern Missouri caves after reading about radon in caves a number of years ago.

MCKC DIGEST, Winter 2001

  • Jonathan Beard concludes the second part of the Resurrection of the Flutestone, a photo-laden feature story describing the steps taken to rebuild a vandalized 10-foot stalagmite that had been broken into more than 20 pieces.
  • Hal Baker and Susan Koellner author their Microcaving article on the voids and crystal structures found in various kinds of rocks in Missouri.
  • MCKC Treasurer David Webster reports on the MCKC Income Statement for the year 2000 to conclude this issue.

MCKC DIGEST, Fall 2000

  • Hal Baker describes the discovery, features and his thoughts on the genesis of some unusual speleothems in a Laclede County cave in his article Septarian Stalagmites.
  • Following this, Jonathan Beard begins a two-part photo feature on the restoration of a totem pole stalagmite in Lawrence County. Resurrection of the Flutestone involved some 31 cavers and four months of their time.

MCKC DIGEST, Summer 2000

  • Jonathan Beard writes a tongue-in-cheek MCKC Profile that details the caving history and accomplishments of southwest Missouri cave surveyor Robert L. Taylor.
  • Another Crystal Caverns installment details some of the survey and photographic work done during the summer season.

MCKC DIGEST, Spring 2000

  • In this latest installment of his series on the karst areas of Missouri, James Vandike discusses the Southeast Missouri Karst Region that details the karst activities from St. Louis County south through Ste. Genevieve County.
  • Following that report is Jonathan Beards' update on the developments concerning Crystal Caverns in Barry County.

MCKC Digest, Winter 2000

  • The Significant Caves of Missouri by Dwight Weaver.
  • Unrestricted Alphabetical List by H. D. Weaver, J. B. Beard.
  • Sarcoxie Cave Update by Jonathan B. Beard

MCKC Digest, Fall 1999

  • Breakdown Cave by Jonathan Beard, A Restoration Laboratory and Classroom. This featured article is a detailed report on a cave restoration laboratory conveniently located in Breakdown Cave in Christian County with information on the history of ownership and management of the cave.
  • Onyx Mountain Caverns on National Register of Historic Places by H. Dwight Weaver. Features the history of Onyx Mountain Caverns and its owner Harry Thiltgen. The cave was part of the onyx quarring industry early in the 20th century, and is also known for its archaeological content, showing that the cave was used by prehistoric people for quite some time.
  • Fall MVOR Missouri Caves and Karst Conservancy banquet by Don Toole. A report on the Fall 1999 MVOR banquet provided by the MCKC for its cave acquisition fund.

MCKC Digest, Summer 1999

  • Folding the Tent by Dwight Weaver.
  • Comments by Dwight Weaver regarding his retirement as MCKC Digest editor.
  • Lang Brod: A Look Back, Part III by Dwight Weaver, Concluding installment of this 3-part series.
  • Sediments and Sentiments by Hal Baker. Focuses on the need to leave cave sediments as undisturbed as possible and their geological value.
  • Crystal Caverns: A New Beginning.
  • Update on MCKC work at Crystal Caverns.
  • MCKC News. (6/3)

MCKC Digest, Spring 1999

  • Trail Marking Systems for Caves by Jonathan B. Beard. Trail marking, to channel traffic through wild caves in the effort to protect caves floors, sediments, speleothems and archaeological and paleontological materials from damage, is a somewhat controversial subject. This article addresses the issue and describes some of the methods used for establishing marked trails in wild caves.
  • Conservation Underground by Bill Elliott, cave biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. A summary of recent cave-related activities by Bill Elliott and staff of the MDC in cooperation with cavers.
  • Resortation of Jolly Cave Gets Underway by Dwight Weaver. This is a historic cave recently acquired by the Missouri Department of Conservation in Newton County. Cavers are helping MDC restore the cave.
  • Lang Brod. A Look Back, Part II by Dwight Weaver. See description of this series under heading of MCKC Digest, Winter 1999.
  • MCKC News.
  • MCKC Leases Crystal Caverns in Barry County. (6/2)

MCKC Digest, Winter 1999

  • Karst Features of the Salem Plateau by James E. Vandike. Describes the karst features of the Salem Plateau, which is the largest of the three physiographic provinces that comprise the Ozark region. Focuses on caves, springs and losing streams.
  • Lang Brod A Look Back, Part I by Dwight Weaver. A profile of Langford Brod, one of Missouris' pioneer cavers and early contributor to the Missouri Speleological Survey. The first installment of a 3-part profile that provides an in-depth look at the speleological accomplishments of Lang Brod. (6/1)
  • MCKC News.

MCKC Digest, Fall 1998

  • Show Caves. Their Niche In Missouris' Tourist Economy by Dwight Weaver. Presents a series of short topics, based on a survey of show cave operators, related to how show caves benefit Missouri s economy, what kind of marketing tools they use, the role of the gift shop in show cave profits, the preconceived notions that people have about show caves, and whether show cave guides should entertain their group or interpret the cave.
  • Underground Stream Team by Jonathan Beard. Details the efforts of Ozark Highlands Grotto to develop a cave stream team, under the stream team program of the Missouri Department of Conservation, for Turnback Cave in Lawrence County.
  • MCKC News
  • MCKC Digest Index to Volume 5, No. 1-4, 1998. (5/4)
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