Field Work Travelogue: Day 3 – Rigging, Training, Sight-seeing #NTCave15

Today dawned a beautiful day. The sun was shining. The breeze was light.

There's a cave there. A Natural Trap.
There’s a cave there. A Natural Trap.

We decided to drive to Montana (about a mile from camp) to visit a miniature Grand Canyon. It was well worth the drive.

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After our brief excursion, we were given a safety briefing and then the work began in earnest.

The caving crew began to set up the rigging at the mouth of the cave.

You can see that, without the human-added grating, this would be a Natural Trap.
You can see that, without the human-added grating, this would be a Natural Trap.

The crew that planned to go into the cave also have training to determine whether or not they are adequately prepared to climb up 90 feet of rope. Enter the “Trapparatus.”

The "Trapparatus." No one goes into the cave without first passing this test.
The “Trapparatus.” No one goes into the cave without first passing this test.

Published by paleololigo

Scientist (Paleontology, Geochemistry, Geology); Writer (Speculative and Science Fiction, plus technical and non-technical Science); Mom to great boy on the Autism spectrum; possessor of too many hobbies.

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