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Today was resupply day, so I got to take a trip into town, where we could get groceries, water, and ice. A side benefit of this is that I got a shower.

I also got an amazing lunch at Aud’s Bar and Grill.

And nearly as great as enjoying air conditioning, I also got to do some laundry (but I had to air dry my clothes).

After dinner, nearly everyone in camp, including me, took a little drive to see the sights. Our first stop was Armpit, an old mining camp that is now frequented by cavers.

We saw a one-horned bighorn sheep.

We stopped at an overlook of Bighorn Canyon.

Then we drove down to the openings to two popular caves in the area, Bighorn Caverns…

… Followed by the the opening to Horsethief Cave.

… Where apparently radon levels are high.

We met a couple of rattlesnakes while there.

The day ended like any other in Wyoming, with a beautiful sunset.

Tomorrow I go back into the cave. Let’s see what everyone has dug up!

Today was another day spent top side. Our major task was screenwashing. Along the way we spent some time picking for fossils.

There was also a film crew from PBS. I was interviewed.

The crew in the cave rescued a bull snake. 

And, as always, a beautiful sunset.

Today, I spent my time on the surface. I did a little cleaning while everyone else was in the cave.

Then I got things ready for screenwashing, a process by which we rinse dirt away from tiny rocks and fossils in sediments.

We had some journalists present, who are working on a documentary for PBS.

The day ended like all days at Natural Trap Cave… With a beautiful sunset.

I think I’ll be topside again tomorrow so watch out for pictures of tiny fossils!

Today was a normal day off work in the cave. Normal by cave standards, anyway.

First, was the usual rappel into the cave.

I made it, no problem, as always.

I spent my day collecting a sample of a thin, charcoal-rich bed for carbon dating. It was tedious.

But I did enjoy some relics from expeditions past.

Tomorrow, I’m working on the surface. Lots of work to do there, too!

We made it in for the first day. Today was clean up and making a plan for the short field season. This will be my office for the next week and a half.

(Pic forthcoming. It won’t upload.)

First we got some training.

Then it was time.

Descent was quick and painless…

For people, at least.

But not all that’s in the cave is dead.

Now everything is all cleaned up and the real work can begin. Stay tuned!

Two days of driving got us from Des Moines, Iowa to the Natural Trap Cave site. Along the way, we stopped briefly at the famous Bone Cabin near Como Bluff.

The drive is underway. First day goal is always to get past Ohio (because Ohio-geists). We’ve succeeded. 

Onward today. 600 miles would be nice. We’ll see. 

The morning started with a… clunk.

After learning the lesson about actually flipping pancakes, the work day actually began.Continue reading “Field Work Travelogue: Day 9 – Up and Down Ball Bearing Hill #NTCave15”

Today – this whole weekend in fact – has been good. Except for one thing.

Today we lost Niko. Niko is the cat that came with the house. He was a feral cat that at some point we trapped and had neutered maybe eight years ago. A few months later, he became a sweet and social (if a little pushy) house cat.

We’ll miss him.

Continue reading “Saying Goodbye to Niko”