Now That's More Like It!! Clear Caving...and Counting... Ahead!

On Wednesday, September 3rd, we had arranged for Tom Sollman to be accompanied by cave photographer Chris Schotter and fellow IKC board member Carla Striegel-Winner on his census trip. Most trips Tom is on his own, as he must move slowly and not ripple the water much as he walks through it, visibly identifying blind cave fish and blind cray fish. As the day drew near, the three were watching the weather... would it storm again right before the trip, making the water murky for yet another census? Or worse yet, would there be enough rain that the trip would need to be cancelled?

Ah! The rain stayed away, and we started with a gorgeous fall-like morning that had not a drop of rain in the forecast! Better yet we were in the driest conditions we had seen all year... it had been about two weeks since the area saw rain. Might be a good trip after all!!

Turns out that this was not only one of the lowest water levels Tom had recorded for a census trip (2.5 inches of water at the entrance), but also it was a record-breaking count of cave fish as well!! And with it being near fall with cooler temps, some bats are now coming back in the cave to rest and perhaps to call it home for the winter.

About 5 hours was spent in cave. Tom was able to stay well ahead of Chris and Carla, to get his counts in, and Chris got some amazing photographs as well. It was a great trip!

Below shows Tom and Carla at the entrance, Tom taking the entrance water measurement, many scenes from within the cave, a cavefish, cave salamander, tri-colored bat, crayfish, Tom recording his visual survey numbers and more views from within the cave.

Photos below are all taken by Chris Schotter.