2025 July 12 - Data Logger service trip - Marty Griffin - Missouri Caves and Karst Conservancy

Trip report by Marty Griffin

Cave visited: Carroll Cave
Area Visited: Convention Hall

Trip date: 2025-07-12
Trip purpose: data logger service
Trip participants: bill gee
Entry Time: 9:30am Exit Time: 3:00pm

Biology: southern cave fish. around 25

The trip report: Hydrology Project Data Logger Download Trip

On July 12, 2025, a team of volunteers participated in a semi-annual trip to download data from loggers for a decades-long hydrology project, led by Bill Gee. These trips are crucial for maintaining the project and offer an excellent opportunity to introduce new cavers to the system.

The team covered over two miles of the cave, starting near the entrance and venturing through Carroll Passage to the water barrier, upstream to Convention Hall, and downstream to Thunder Falls. The experience of exploring these passages and witnessing the cave’s formations firsthand is truly remarkable, and it’s difficult to imagine anyone not wanting to partake in such a trip. Importantly, these trips require a minimum of four participants, highlighting the need for continued volunteer support to ensure the project’s continuity.

Caving is deeply rooted in camaraderie, exploration, and the unique experience of in-person discovery. While “being there” is invaluable, comprehensive understanding of a cave resource is greatly enhanced by maps, photographs, and various project data. For instance, when I learn about a new cave, my first thought is often whether a map is available.

Every caving trip contributes to some form of project, and it’s important to approach them with an open mind. These projects can range from biological and hydrological surveys to traditional distance, LRUD (Left, Right, Up, Down), and geo-referenced surveys with hand sketches. Modern technology also offers advanced methods like iPhone lidar and photogrammetry surveys, which produce highly realistic and immersive representations of cave environments, almost akin to being there.

Since 1982, I’ve been submitting trip reports to the Missouri Speleological Survey (MSS). These reports serve a vital purpose: they document facts and provide leads for landowner relations, future survey opportunities, and even sump diving possibilities. I strongly encourage everyone to contribute their observations to trip reports. Furthermore, I urge the Missouri Caves & Karst Conservancy (MCKC) to extract data from these reports for submission to the MSS and for posting on their website. Collaborative efforts among all conservation groups are essential to promote reporting and ensure that valuable information and opportunities are easily accessible, helping individuals identify what’s needed, when, where, and with whom.

Marty Griffin
NSS 24457CL