Trip date: 2026-01-10

Trip purpose: data logger service

Trip participants: Marty Griffin

Entry Time: 8am

Exit Time: 4pm

MCKC Publish: Yes

Trip report by Marty Griffin.

The trip report: I arrived as #9 on Bill’s logger trip, as usually there is a no-show. I assisted the suit, kit and rappel process as needed then began an above ground work day. This biannual data download trip is good to introduce cavers to the close sections, and I’ve noticed a few cavers who were trained this way participating on longer survey trips over the past few years.

Since the Pic Walenta shelter house is cold in wintertime, due to the constant wind on this upland plateau, I drove to High Brothers and purchased an 8’x10′ brown tarp for $13. Pulling out of the gate onto the road, logging equipment was unloading and driving into the woods north of the road. I also noticed a new driveway and “permanent” RV setup immediately east of the Sweatt Schoolhouse driveway.

I used nails on hand, having no screwgun with me, to temporarily cover the west doorway in the shelter as a test. I laid a nearby 6×6 on the bottom of the tarp to completely block all wind, and it was wonderful. Next fall I’ll install screws and have a tarp onsite that can be hung as needed, or we’ll just block the hole from Nov to March. Perhaps this cheap solution will be durable and sufficient for our needs.

After building a fire I mowed the Broomsedge grass (indicative of poor, acidic, low-phosphorus, or overgrazed soils) within the fenced in part of our property using the zero turn mower. The mower ran well following it’s battery replacement, but discharged before I was done, going from 100% to 50% in about an hour. Apparently 50% is actually 0%, although I could drive it back to the shed. Plugging in, it registered as charging, and I weed wacked until the DeWalt battery went dead. After putting that battery on the charger, the mower showed 15% charge, so I closed and locked the shed doors.

I cleaned up and settled on the floor of the silo for a relaxing 20 minutes until I heard the clanking of climbers below me. I assisted them as needed when dangling equipment would immobilize the uninitiated.

A tarp stretched across one of the openings in the shelter. This was very effective at blocking the wind. Photo by Marty Griffin.