On Saturday February 27, 2010, fifteen cavers from five states surveyed the 150th mile in Jewel Cave, South Dakota.
NPS Photo
Pictured are Steve Langendorf, Andy Armstrong, Bonny Armstrong, James Hunter, Marc Ohms, Lydia Poppen, Woody Woodward, Derek Bristol, Dan Austin, Sammi Langendorf, Larry Shaffer, Rene Ohms, Steve Baldwin, Heather Levy, and John Lyles. Cavers participated from South Dakota, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Kansas.
Rene Ohms and Dan Austin led a trip to the Hobgoblin's Ballroom area, netting approximately 1,200 feet. This area was discovered by Herb and Jan Conn in the early 1960's and still contains leads. In the winter this area must be accessed from the Elevator entrance in order not to disturb hibernating bats near the Historic Entrance. 90 year old Herb Conn served as surface watch for this trip.
Steve Baldwin led a return trip to his newly discovered area near Cloudy Sky Room, just past Hurricane Corner. This team surveyed 279 feet.
Larry Shaffer and Andy Armstrong led a trip beyond Cloud Nine, both to survey and to qualify four new Jewel cavers for camp trips in the future. Nearly 1,700 feet of survey was accomplished in the Ant Farm area, about five hours from the entrance and well beyond the Miseries. This team was surveying the latest, so a memorial 150 mile marker will be placed in this area on a future trip.
Jewel Cave is the second-longest cave in the world, and the only cave to reach 150 miles since Mammoth Cave hit that mark back in the early 1970's. Leads abound, and exploration continues at a pace of about four miles per year.