Trip date: 2025-05-30

Trip purpose: Shelter house and campsite work

Trip participants: Rick Hines
Nathan Taylor
Sam Taylor
Ben Taylor
Marty Griffin

Entry Time: 4:00PM 5/30/25
Exit Time: 5:00PM 5/31/25

Shelter House Complete!
I am pleased to deem the Pic Walenta Shelter House complete!
Summary of Weekend Work
Our team consisted of Nathan Taylor and his two sons, Sam and Ben, along with Marty Griffin. Despite the small crew, we accomplished the following tasks:
• Mowed the entire fenced area and trimmed weeds around most structures.
• Installed a steel baffle plate over the firebox opening to prevent smoke leakage.
• Nathan secured the leaning flue.
• Filled the last cracks and covered screw heads inside the shelter house.
• Marty installed a lockbox in the storage container to hold a spare cave hatch key.
• Loaded all the scrap silo panels and salvaged in KC
Future Plans
• Plaque Installation: I will have a plaque made to place in or on the shelter house stating:
In honor of
Virginia “Pic” Walenta, Caver
7/3/1956 – 1/22/2020
• Mower Repair: I will attempt to repair the electric mower.
• Potential addition: We discussed options to cover the last three openings and reduce wind exposure—garage doors were suggested. However, I do not plan to pursue this, so another volunteer would need to take the initiative.
Detailed Account
Due to limited personnel, the work weekend was lighter than expected. Mike Kovac was unable to attend, leaving me with Nathan and his two sons for Friday night and Saturday.
Equipment Preparation
Before the trip, I performed several trailer and equipment repairs:
• Installed a new hitch jack and plugged a slow tire leak.
• Rewired trailer lighting and upgraded to LED taillights.
• Purchased and installed correct mower blades—after mistakenly buying the wrong size last trip.
• Bought mortar mix and angle iron for mouse-proofing the silo and modifying the firebox.
• Cut angle iron and drilled and tapped holes, making slides to position a steel plate to cover the firebox opening.
Friday Arrival and Mower Troubles
Arriving at 4:00 PM, I unloaded the trailer and began mowing. One of the new blades started slipping, requiring a come-along lift in the shelter house to access the blade bolts.
My new impact wrench (1,000 ft-lbs of torque) proved too strong—I overtightened and snapped one of the blade bolts, reducing the 48-inch mower to 32 inches.
Nathan arrived just before dark with Sam and Ben, and we set up sleeping bags in the attic. Before bed, we enjoyed a campfire and s’mores.
Saturday Work
Saturday morning, Sam mastered mowing with the reduced 32-inch cut, while Nathan secured the flue with a hanger strap to fit the roof cutout.
Nathan and Ben mixed mortar to seal the silo gap, while I cleared thorn trees and invasive species (Tree of Heaven). I identified and thinned persimmon trees, leaving the stronger ones intact.
Since additional help wasn’t expected, we loaded spare silo panels onto my trailer before the afternoon heat—Sam’s assistance proved essential given their weight.
In the afternoon, Marty Griffin arrived by motorcycle, bringing a lockbox for the spare cave hatch key. He also solved issues with the electric weed trimmer, properly winding the string and trimming around structures.
Departure and Recycling
With Nathan and the boys leaving Saturday evening, I departed as well, instead of staying until Sunday. We loaded the electric mower behind the silo panels. The heavy load made for a slow return to Kansas City, arriving home just before dark.
On Monday, I unloaded the mower before delivering the scrap metal to Langley Recycling. For 2,480 lb of steel, I received $142.60.
Mower Repair Efforts
The next day, I attempted to find a repair shop for the Cub Cadet electric mower, but everyone I talked with declined service. Blue Valley Tractor was recommended by Cub Cadet headquarters. I took the mower to them and they performed diagnostics and identified a possible dead battery bank. Cub Cadet advised replacing the battery ($3,400) before further diagnostics. Of course, that’s not going to happen! I retrieved the mower and will attempt repairs with the help of caver friend and electrical engineer, Gabriel Fedynich.
Expense Summary
• Blue Valley Tractor Diagnostic Fee: $114.66
• Materials Purchased: Mortar mix, angle iron, 10 gallons of mower gas
• Salvage Steel Earnings: $142.60 (offsetting material costs)
Photos attached
Submitted by Rick Hines

Rick Hines welding a deflector on the shelter house firebox.

Marty Griffin using the string trimmer around some scrap steel.

The shelter house firebox with a new deflector in place.

Nathan Taylor laying cement around the gap at the bottom of the silo.

Ben Taylor helping to fill the gap at the bottom of the silo.

Ben Taylor mixing concrete.

Sam Taylor mowing the grass.

Overgrown plants. These were cleared.

Campfire and s’mores on Friday evening. Background: Nathan Taylor and Ben Taylor. Foreground: Sam Taylor.

Rick Hines’ mower is in the shop!