Trip report by Alex Litsch

Trip date: 2022-10-15
Project manager: Alex Litsch
Trip purpose: Celebration
Areas of Cave visited: Campground
Trip participants: 24 participants
Entry Time: October 14th
Exit Time: October 16th

The trip report: There was good weather, good caving, good food, and good conversation this past weekend during MCKC’s 30th anniversary at our newest acquisition, Carroll Cave. In attendance were the two men that started the MCKC 30 years ago, Don Toole and Doug Feakes (aka Digger). Shout out to Kirsten Alvey-Mudd and her helper, Adele Ayres, for making a banquet Saturday evening for everyone. Also a shout out to Tony Schmitt who showed up Thursday night to make sure that the porta johns were delivered on Friday. Tony also joined the MCKC board this same weekend and took up the mantle of MSS Rep and Membership Secretary. He is a welcomed addition to the board. He is filling the vacancy left by recently resigned board member Alicia Wallace whom had served on the MCKC board for over 24 years and was a strong influence in shaping the MCKC into what it is today. She also played a significant part in the creation of the Missouri Cave Plates program.

Several MCKC caves were made available for caving on Saturday. These being Carroll, Goodwin, Kieswetter, Skaggs, and Roubidoux. One trip led by Tony Schmitt went into Carroll, one trip went to Kieswetter, and one trip went to Roubidoux. Some folks stopped by Goodwin as well. Carroll Cave campground made for a good, central-ish location for visiting any of these caves.

Worth noting, “Get Er Dun Jons” out of Lebanon was the only place out of several that would deliver porta johns to Carroll. I contacted them at 417-533-3569.

We brought out MSM Grotto’s speleobox and squeeze box for some on-site entertainment as well.

All in all, a great weekend.

==== Editor’s Note: Don Toole asked that this comment be appended to the report.

Just to clarify: I did not start MCKC. It was started by the cavers and cave organizations of Missouri, (and also some good people in Illinois and Oklahoma). I presented an idea, and then a proposal to my grotto, Lake Ozark Grotto, who accepted it and provided startup money as well as time and effort. The first Board was made up of LOG members. But from the very beginning we knew it needed broad support, so we reached out to other grottoes and other cavers, who took up the idea and gave much time, and money. They became Members, Founding Members, Sustaining Members, Board Members, Officers, Advisors, Contributors, and no doubt some titles I no longer remember! So my hat is off to you, the MCKC people of the past, present, and future. You did it, and you’re still doing it.

Don Toole