Planned Surveys and Exploration in Butler Cave

Below is an initial list of surveys that need to be performed to gather data for the redrawing of the map of Butler Cave. This is by no means the whole list, just the start of the list. The list has been prioritized to first stabilize the line plot near the two entrances by surveying all the passages that might close additional survey loops. The redrawing of the map can not begin until this is done. Once the line plot is stabilized near the entrances, a working map of the area near the entrances (roughly corresponding to Les Good's section #1) can be drawn.

This list is maintained by Tony Canike. If you are interested in completing one of the below surveys, please let me know. I update this list periodically, but it is best to check with me to ensure that someone didn't already just do it. I am open to suggestions on how to format and present this data for use by survey teams. If you have any questions or suggestions please contact me, my email address is in the NSS Members Manual.

Note that most of the map attachments are the result of overlaying the current (2010) line plot on top of Les Good's map drawn in the late 1980s. Since the line plot has been improved over the last 20 years, it does not always properly overlay with the map. Also, in some of the attached maps there are scans of sketches from surveys that occurred after the map was drawn, so you may see overlays of multiple sketches.

SURVEYS AND EXPORATION PLANNED FOR JULY 2010:

1. Greaserack Bolt Climb - posted 6/27/2010

Above station A11 in the Greaserack is a tantalizing shadow high up by the ceiling that would need bolt climbing or a scaling pole to reach. I don't remember who first told me about it - perhaps Al Grimm and Scott Olson on a trip out Mbagintao trail in 2007?

On July 5, 2008 Al Grimm, Nat Hirneisen, Scott Olsen, and Tony Canike took a recon trip to the Greaserack to assess what would be needed to climb it. Here is the trip report from that recon trip.

On Saturday July 3, 2010 a bolt climb will be attempted.

The Greaserack is on the trail to Mbagintao, and hence you must wade Penn State Lake to reach it. Here are three maps

Map of the route from Sand Canyon to Penn State Lake

Map of the route from Penn State Lake to the Greaserack

Detailed map of the Greaserack area and survey station tie-ins. The climb itself is above station A11. There is a chimney to the left (SW) of station NA__A9 that might lead to the same place as the bolt climb.

2. Survey Fools Gold - posted 6/27/2010

As you can see on this map, the Fools Gold section beyond Penn State Lake has never been surveyed and needs a team to go clean this up.

SURVEYS PLANNED FOR APRIL 2010:

These surveys were completed on the 4/24/2010 Weekend. Thanks for your help!

For these surveys, please reference this map.

1. Bottom of the Bean Room - posted 1/6/2010

Believe it or not, the bottom of the Bean Room has not been surveyed. I've highlighted this in pink. Tying in this new survey at both ends is important, the tie-in stations could be AI__40 and AK___1. Thanks Nevin for pointing out this opportunity.

2. Tie in down to the Bean Room from the Balcony Overlook and the Bean Room step across - posted 1/9/2010, updated 4/1/2010.

There are two overlooks, one above the other, that look down into the Bean Room. We can tie these in to get a more accurate dimensions of the Bean Room. This is highlighted with two red double-headed arrows, as we need to make two different shots from the two different levels. . Thanks to Nate Walter for the suggestion.

3. Survey the passage between the Breakdown Mountain passage and the Balcony Overlook- posted 3/13/2010, updated 4/1/2010

Connect the survey in the Breakdown Mountain passage to the survey in the passage above (NW) of the Bean Room. Shown via a purple double-headed arrow.

4. Tie in the KSI7 overlook down to the Bean Room - posted 4/1/2010

The KSI survey by Keith Christenson, Scott Olson, and Istvan on 5/25/1998 documented another overlook into the Bean Room from the passage near station KSI7. This can be tied in with a simple shot or two. This is highlighted on the map by a Teal double-headed arrow. KSI7 is really easy to get to, just a few minutes from the Rimstone Dams. Thanks to Nate Walter for this suggestion.

5. SEG Passage to Difficulty Creek- posted 1/6/2010, updated 1/24/2010

Near station 56 on Les's section #1 map, there is a rectilinear "maze" and a narrow passage that trends north west towards the Breakdown Mountain passage and Phil's ladder. There is no record of this ever being surveyed. I've highlighted it with a green dashed line. Tying in this new survey at both ends is important, the tie-in stations could be B-9 and 56

UPDATE 1/24/2010: The SEG Passage was partially surveyed on 1/16/2010, from the lower passage near Phil's Ladder down to and past Santa Pit to the end. The survey needs to be continued by dropping the pit and surveying towards station 56. Could combine this trip with the above-mentioned Bottom of the Bean Room survey.

6. PBR Loop Mining Connection - posted 12/17/2009

Here is a location in the cave very close to our dig that needs a little bit of survey. This map is a collage of the Les Good Butler Section Map #1 from ca. 1985 and the Keith Christenson "Left Turn Through Entrance Sequence" map documenting their 1998 survey. Keith, Scott Olson, and Istvan cleaned up this area very well in 1998, but then Phil went and changed things to make the lead a passable connection by digging open the connection between station n6 and 20r.

Looking at where the orange arrow points, Keith sketched what was a lead going to the right (NbyNE) as a dashed lead, but it now connects to the other passage. And the line plot has been improved since both the 1998 survey and Les's 1985 map, so nothing quite lines up (give me a couple years to fix that ok?)

It's been surveyed with a laser prior to the dig to make it passable, but it has not been sketched to my knowledge. We could use a sketch and a little detail please of the new connection between stations n6 and 20r.

SURVEYS PLANNED BUT CANCELLED

2. Trunk Channel Bypass Survey - posted 12/17/2009

6/27/2010 Update: The survey data for this passage has been unearth, no need to survey this. Canceled.

1/6/2010 UPDATE: (Might be best to hold off on this one until February or March when I hope to have more original survey books from Jeff Uhl and can look for the sketches and LRUD data.

Here is another part of the cave that needs attention by a survey team. The Trunk Channel Bypass is just downstream of the Air Dig. It's been surveyed twice and the DAI (distance, az, incl) data is in Compass, but we are missing the sketches and the LRUD data.

Pages 3 and 4 of a detailed map show the sketched passage on the Les Good Section #5 from the late 1980's, along with the current line plot.

Here is the Compass data for the surveys.

Ignoring the fact that the current line plot doesn't line up with the 20 year old map due to improvements by Nevin and others, there are a couple significant discrepancies between the sketched passage and the line plot that need to be investigated, such the location of the reconnection of the downstream end of the Bypass and the main trunk near station L22(?). The in-cave team will need to decide if they can just sketch on the existing line plot, or if the passage needs to be resurveyed.

Keith Wheeland has a secret dig in there too.....I think it needs a little persuasion?