Minutes of the Chouteau Grotto Meeting

Wednesday, October 2, 2002

The Meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM, the Honourable Jessie Bebb presiding.

21 members were present.

Treasurer's Report: $1461.59 in the coffers

Foresight Editor: Bob passed out some new old ones: Volume 35, Issues 2,3.

Dave Webster Reports: The Cave Life Survey has been completed. Not all paperwork is done, but there may be four different reports when it is.

Devil's Icebox Cave Rescue Training: Scott Schulte reported a good turnout. All involved learned a good bit and the critique is still being written up. Joe Dom was a good willing victim. Joe recommends alternative extraction methods. Communications during the rescue is a big issue, acknowledged Scott. There was a decent turnout for the annual "Chicken Roast" that followed on the Park property.

Scott also reported that there is a development going in near the swallow hole on Bonne Femme Creek. Scott and other park staff will be meeting with the developer to advise how to minimize the impact on the Icebox watershed. To date the County has been forward thinking in considering environmental impacts. Scott is hoping for the set aside of some surface areas without development. But it's hard for the County to turn down reasonable requests.

In a related development, Bob Lerch volunteered to represent the Grotto with the Bonne Femme Protection Forum. A motion was made and seconded that Bob should get the job. All present voted in favor. This is a "no apololgies" group committed to the protection of the watershed. Randall Clark and Jim Davis are the main organizers in the group. Jan Weaver represents the Friends of Rock Bridge in this organization.

Cave Reports:

Bob Lerch, Ben Miller and friends have reached 7343 feet in the survey of Hunter's Cave, 1500 feet more than the previous survey reached.  Straddle Canyon and the Big Room have been mapped. 530 feet of the second watercrawl have been mapped. They are doing the mapping every Wednesday afternoon, usually from about 2 to 10 PM. Talk to Bob or Ben if you are interested; at this point skinny, experienced surveyors are most welcome. Only three-four small passages are left. Bob thinks they will exceed 8000 feet on the survey.

Marck Schneider went to Grimpzimpski's Cave (excuse the spelling) this last weekend. The land owner, a good soul, does not want folks caving there during hunting season.

Ben Miller went to the ORC in Reed Springs, Stone County, Missouri. Ben and friends surveyed three pits that weekend. Ben is going back the first and last weeks of November; contact him if you are interested in going.

Bill Elliott hosted a group of about ten to-be cave photographers on a trip to Boone (Rocheport) Cave in mid-September. They admired the new gate, reportedly the world's largest cave gate.

Kirsten Alvey visited Crabtree Cave below Henly Bluffs on the Osage River, and reported that it is in bad shape, heavily vandalized.

Upcoming Cave Trips and Other Events

Vertical work: Joe Dom is interested in getting people to go, perhaps on some day other than Tuesday. Contact Joe for information.

Dave Webster: The MVOR will be held 18-20 October at the Sinks, Shannon County. There are good caves on the property and off. Get your registration postmarked by the 8th for Preregistration. The shirts are great. The banquet will be great.

The Stuffing Party!! Dave Webster and Jo Schaper would like some Chouteau folks to come to Dave's house in Jeff City on Monday October 14th at 7 PM to help stuff the registration envelopes for the MVOR. Dave will send directions on the Coollist.and confirm the date.

Jessie Bebb would like some of us to get together and go to Meramec State Park for some caving. Jessie is a bit busy but Ben Miller would help organize permits, most likely for November, 16-17. Contact Ben or look for further announcements.

Other:

Kirsten Alvey passed around a lavishly illustrated "Bats of the United States."  Bill Elliott is willing to give a copy to any interested Grotto member.

Dave Webster presented Scott Schulte with the Three-D model (based on a quad map) of the Rock Bridge environs that Dave hand made some time ago, perhaps the 1960s.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 P.M.

There was no program.

Respectfully submitted,


Joe Hobbs, Secretary

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