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Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karstmas</span></a> day 25!</p><p>I debated what to post today...and decided to just go with this quickly shot video. Best with sound turned UP...and...wait for it! (Everyone needs a little TSO in their life, right?!)</p><p>[Channeling Dwight from The Office] "This. Is. KARSTMASSSSSSSS!!!!"</p><p>(For those who prefer, I did write a lot of alt text! I always write alt text, by the way, and often put more information in it.)</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/waterfall" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>waterfall</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/adventure" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>adventure</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nature</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/christmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>christmas</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/yule" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>yule</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/rock" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>rock</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a></p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> day 24</p><p>Snow and ice does not happen much here, but when it does, the cave entrances sure are pretty.</p><p>On Rope!</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/rappel" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>rappel</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/climbing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>climbing</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/ice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ice</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/snow" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>snow</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/winter" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>winter</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/ChristmasEve" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ChristmasEve</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nature</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/explore" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>explore</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/photography" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>photography</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/ArtAdventCalendar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ArtAdventCalendar</span></a></p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karstmas</span></a> day 23</p><p>This cave was small and crawling, barely could stand up once in it. But is has a lot of life. Being a cave biologist means I often go to the "crappy caves" that most people ignore because they are small, annoying, or not "well decorated". Me? These little ones often have the best overlooked things, both in features and in critters.</p><p>This is a natural rock bridge, just, left there by how the water worked when creating the passage. It goes from wall to wall. The water flows under it. Above it is anastomosis, my favourite speleogen, which reflects perfectly in the water surface below. While you may be familiar with the term speleothem which is a formation made by mineral deposition (ex: stalagmite); a speleogen is geological feature created by the dissolution of the rock. To be honest, as cool as speleothems are, I often am drawn more to speleogens!</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karst" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karst</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/rock" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>rock</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/speleology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>speleology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/bridge" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>bridge</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/water" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>water</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/river" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>river</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/calm" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>calm</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/explore" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>explore</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nature</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/photography" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>photography</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/ArtAdventCalendar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ArtAdventCalendar</span></a></p>
Anthony Dardis<p>Countdown to <a href="https://fediphilosophy.org/tags/karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karstmas</span></a> (Inis Mor, Ireland)</p><p><span class="h-card"><a href="https://flipping.rocks/@sunguramy" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>sunguramy</span></a></span></p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> day 22</p><p>I love cave pearls, they are one of my favourite formations. So when we found a bunch in a new cave we discovered, dug open, explored, and surveyed, I was quite excited! </p><p>Similar in a way to the pearls you may think of, they form often around a bit of sand or a teeny tiny rock, when the water hits it and precipitates out some calcite. They develop extremely slowly, and are a relatively rare formation due to the precise situations they require in order to form.</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karst" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karst</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/pearl" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>pearl</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/water" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>water</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/SilentSunday" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SilentSunday</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/photography" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>photography</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nature</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/ArtAdventCalendar" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ArtAdventCalendar</span></a></p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> day 21</p><p>Have a splendid solstice, everyone! May you find the light as you make your way through the darkness.</p><p>This was a long standing tradition to decorate the "Christmas Tree" in this cave. It was an inactive formation (no longer growing, no water drips, etc), so no risk of being calcified in just a few weeks. The decorating was done very carefully, using extending poles, so it was never touched; no mud or skin oils or such would get on it. </p><p>As things changed, as social media perpetuates unthoughtfullness, and keyboard warriors enjoy conflict... despite in *this exact circumstance for this exact formation in the exact way it was done* was actually perfectly harmless, it was determined to stop this decades-long local joyful tradition due to the "wrong ideas" it can produce when thoughtless people see it and then do thoughtless things.</p><p>It is a tradition I miss, but we recreate it with lasers now so it does not have anything put on it at all. However, I do miss the ambiance of actual points of light, as it is a completely different serene glow that is produced. </p><p>Conservation is never cut and dry. There is always nuance, which is something largely missing in many conversations today. I challenge people to make their new years resolutions around expanding critical thinking skills, divesting from all manners of binary thinking, and learning about how we can actually enjoy things without harm. <br>:boost_requested:</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nature</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/solstice" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>solstice</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/winter" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>winter</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/photography" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>photography</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/longExposure" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>longExposure</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karst" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karst</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/holidays" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>holidays</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/joy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>joy</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/silentSunday" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>silentSunday</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nature</span></a></p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> day 20 :boost_requested: <br>Back to it...sorry for the missed days, but hopefully seeing the bottom-up view of the last pit makes it worth it. This is a throwback to my first large pit photo, and it is vertical panoramic so you probably need to click to view it fully. </p><p>This is another one of my images that has been stolen over the years, as it is a bit 'easy' to crop the bottom to get rid of my watermark for shady folk who like art theft. Then it ends up in clickbait articles about "THE WORLD'S DEEPEST CAVE!" which...is not even on the same continent as this cave. (By the way, those articles, *most* of the images I know who the photographers are, and usually *none* of them are actually "the world's deepest cave".)</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/water" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>water</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/waterfall" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>waterfall</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/panoramic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>panoramic</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nature</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/adventure" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>adventure</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/photography" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>photography</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/longExposure" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>longExposure</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/pit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>pit</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karst" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karst</span></a></p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> day 16 :boost_requested: </p><p>Traditionally on this day in years past I enjoyed going to this cave, a lovely almost 300 foot rappel next to a waterfall. Easy rig. Fun cave. I hung over the edge with a tripod to take this photo from the top looking down, a lone figure on rope and a light shinning up from the depths below.</p><p>(PS - I hope you all have been enjoying Karstmas! However I am unlikely to be able to post for the next few days due to situation beyond my control. I hope you stay tuned! Follow me or the Karstmas hashtag to not miss anything when I'm able to be back!)</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/waterfall" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>waterfall</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/speleology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>speleology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/hydrology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>hydrology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nature</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/adventure" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>adventure</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/photography" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>photography</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/longExposure" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>longExposure</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/water" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>water</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/explore" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>explore</span></a></p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> day 15</p><p>Take moments to enjoy this world and its beauty. We must not forget what we fight for.</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/SilentSunday" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SilentSunday</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karst" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karst</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/earth" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>earth</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nature</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/home" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>home</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/world" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>world</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/explore" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>explore</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/peace" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>peace</span></a></p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karstmas</span></a> day 14!</p><p>Throwback to a cave done on this day back in 2018. Wet caves are so much fun! Although sometimes having cold water dumped in your lap as you climb up a waterfall is less fun for some people than others.</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/hydrology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>hydrology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/water" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>water</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/waterfall" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>waterfall</span></a></p>
nev<p>so <span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://flipping.rocks/@sunguramy" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>sunguramy</span></a></span>'s <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karstmas</span></a> series must have me in a cavey mood, bc I finally listened to the speleology episode of <a href="https://bananachips.club/tags/Ologies" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Ologies</span></a>: <a href="https://www.alieward.com/ologies/speleology" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">alieward.com/ologies/speleolog</span><span class="invisible">y</span></a> </p><p>lots of fun stuff about cool caves around the world, paleoclimatology, and more! also respect and awe for the question asker who simply opened with "Hey Alie, big hole fan here."</p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> Day 13</p><p>Working in a lab means students come and go. Today, Jared successfully defended his thesis on work in caves of the Tongass National Forest in Alaska doing both visual surveys and working with eDNA (environmental DNA - see a post of mine last month for more info about that). </p><p>An excellent researcher, caver, quick learner, and a conscientious person, he will be missed in the lab! But this is how things go, and he is on to more fun in the next chapter of his life. </p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/biology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>biology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/alaska" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>alaska</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/tongass" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>tongass</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/forest" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>forest</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/invertibrates" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>invertibrates</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/field" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>field</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/fieldwork" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>fieldwork</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karst" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karst</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nature</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/explore" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>explore</span></a></p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> day 12</p><p>A reprieve from biosurvey for a photo in a formation alcove...</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karst" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karst</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/water" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>water</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/stream" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>stream</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/river" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>river</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/ecology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ecology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/biology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>biology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/photography" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>photography</span></a></p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> day 11</p><p>"Photographers Passage"<br>Notice anything...off? He is not wearing a helmet. Why? Because this little passage is *super* delicate. A head is softer than a helmet, and when not wearing one, we can be a little more aware of where our head is. </p><p>A helmets-off policy for delicate areas was started by JV Swearingen who was an excellent cave photographer and caretaker of the largest system in Alabama for many years. A delicate small chamber of that cave was what prompted him to institute a helmets-off policy. Groups entering were limited in size (ideally you don't even visit that room more than once in your lifetime), and everyone had to take helmets off before going into it. I learned about this guidance from the current caretaker; it has lasted half a century and passed on.</p><p>So in a totally different cave, in a totally different country, but yet an equally delicate small passage, I shared this concept with others. It's not like there is chance of falling or rock fall here, so instead, take your helmet off, be careful, slow, and thoughtful in movement.</p><p>Never go caving without a helmet...but sometimes, specific places perhaps dictate that taking it off is the safer thing for the environment. Hard and fast rules never work for conservation, there is always nuance.</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/speleology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>speleology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/formation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>formation</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/straw" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>straw</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karst" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karst</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/explore" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>explore</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nature</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/adventure" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>adventure</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/photography" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>photography</span></a></p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> day 10</p><p>BATS! I love bats! There are so many kinds and they are all neat in their own ways. Bats do so much for our ecosystems, not just caves but above ground as well. They've been getting a bad rep these last few years but it isn't the bat's fault, poor innocent things.</p><p>Generally though, I think more and more people are enjoying bats. Like this little cutie, a Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros). It's only called "lesser" as it is smaller than it's relative the Greater Horseshoe Bat. </p><p>As you can see, Lesser Horseshoe Bats can really get their wings around their bodies at rest, barely a face even peeping out. But look close and you may be able to see why there is "horseshoe" in the name!</p><p>:boost_requested: Boost if you love bats!</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/biology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>biology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karst" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karst</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/bat" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>bat</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/bats" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>bats</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/wildlife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>wildlife</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/photography" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>photography</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/ecology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ecology</span></a></p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> day 9</p><p>Settle in for a technical post about Single Rope Technique! :D</p><p>I already talked about the most widely known, and perhaps widely used systems worldwide: the Frog system.</p><p>Today the subject is *my own invention* of a climbing system, to suit the needs of those with, erm, "chests". As a bonus, it also solves a lot of back pain problems so I've noticed over the decade-plus of showing people this option that many others have adapted it as well (including my own partner!).</p><p>Where I live and cave a lot, there are deep pits, as you may have figured out. In addition, these pits are well suited to one long rope without rebelays or deviations (sometimes called "alpine style SRT"), since pits here bell out from the top edge meaning quickly you are far from a wall. There's no point in chasing the wall and putting in rebelays, you don't want the rope to touch it anyway! [Some international cavers like to tease cavers here saying we don't SRT, we "IRT" - Indestructible Rope Technique - because of how we just "rig, throw, n go"! But really, our rope just usually doesn't have a chance to touch the rock in the firstplace! 😜 ]</p><p>Why is that important to know? Well, this means that different techniques are developed to make it easier to climb such long stretches in freehanging space. Many systems were invented over the years but the three that stuck around are:<br>1) Mitchell<br>2) Single Bungee Ropewalker<br>3) Double Bungee Ropewalker</p><p>Ropewalkers work as they sound...you literally just take little steps and walk your way right up the rope. You only sit to rest, and many people can "run" up the rope as quickly as they can rappel! </p><p>We're ignoring poor Mitchell for now, it has a small but fervent user base...smaller that I've converted some diehards to my invented system...Bungee and a Half Ropewalker!</p><p>I invented the Bungee and a Half Ropewalker back in 2012. As I did longer and longer climbs, I learned by 400 feet my ankle was hurting from how a Single Bungee Ropewalker twist it, getting worse under more rope weight as you get higher. Sadly, Double Bungee Ropewalker was not for me either, as it pulled the chestroller plate over my, erm, "chest" meaning I could not breathe under the pressure. Not to mention the painfulness of it! So I combined elements of both, alleviating both of each system's issues, with my creation, the Bungee and a Half Ropewalker. It was somewhat based on a system Miriam Cuddington had played with (if the last name is familiar, yes, wife of "Vertical Bill" Cuddington who I've mentioned before). </p><p>One of the really neat things about this system I invented is not only does it have the speed and smoothness of a ropewalker for long climbs, it also has flexibility of use. Because unlike the other ropewalkers, each ascender is easy to use individually, which allows it to excel at "alpine style SRT" as well. It handles rebelays and deviations as smoothly as a frog system can. </p><p>In the end, all joking aside about preferred systems and techniques, the gear you train with, the system you know inside and out, that's the one that will get you up the rope safely. If you've studied it well, you can handle the obstacles with ease.</p><p>If you'd like to see a video of how this system works, here is a quick two minute video! <a href="https://youtu.be/o57-c_zIkT8" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">youtu.be/o57-c_zIkT8</span><span class="invisible"></span></a></p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karst" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karst</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/pit" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>pit</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/waterfall" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>waterfall</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/adventure" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>adventure</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nature</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/photography" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>photography</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/summer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>summer</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/climbing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>climbing</span></a></p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> day 8</p><p>One of my first caves in Spain was actually a new cave. We were walking along a old logging road and found a hole, so of course, you climb down *inside* the hole, and it was a cave!</p><p>The first room you had to crawl through, but there were these really neat formations I'd never seen before, nor seen since. I called them "Swizzle Sticks" - they were much like soda straws formations but instead of being smooth, had the very crinkled variegated texture to them. I'm not sure how they formed, exactly.</p><p>We returned later in the week and surveyed this cave, giving it the name Extra Special Pot (ESP) as a nod to a friend and fellow caver who had recently passed, whose nickname was Eddie Sharp Pencil, or ESP for short. As you can guess, he was a very good project caver.</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karst" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karst</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/formation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>formation</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/formations" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>formations</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/stick" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>stick</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/straw" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>straw</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cavern" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cavern</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/explore" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>explore</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nature</span></a></p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> day 7</p><p>Sorry for the delay folks, today was quite busy with a callout with the K9 SAR team. Happy ending!</p><p>So this prompted me to write a bit about safety in caving today, in particular with vertical caves (pits). This is quite the famous pit in Alabama, it's on like every top 5 list to visit (best views, best hikes, best waterfalls, best cave...every clickbait list this cave is on). What is unique about it, is that there is a horizontal walk-in entrance as well, where you can get to this view. This is both good...and bad.</p><p>When I started caving many moons ago, this cave was privately owned. So only cavers knew about it, and got permission by directly asking to go. Now, it is owned by a cave conservancy, and is much more open to visitation, just requiring a permit which is free and easy to fill out online. This is good - it lets lots of people enjoy this amazing view you think you'd have to travel far away to see. This is also bad - despite having to check off many things when you get the permit, no one *actually reads*, and as a result...well.</p><p>See that nice round rock middle bottom? We all call that "The Pedestal". You can climb the rock down to it, the slippery wet rock over a 40+ foot drop. You aren't supposed to free-climb here, but *everyone* does for their Instagram photo. </p><p>I'll make this simple: Never be closer than 6 feet (2 meters) from an edge without being tied in to a safety line. If the edge is sloped to the drop-off, that edge starts at the *top of the slope* where if you fell, you could keep rolling. Great rule of thumb for any edge, whether cliff or cave.</p><p>In this case, once you are on the Pedestal, you're okay on a section of it. But if you are climbing the rock up to the right, or wanting to go further down, you need to be tied in. People also like to stand at the pit entrance and lean over to look - there's a small tree on the steep slope they hold onto to do so. Yikes!</p><p>Guess who has personally been on the team, not once, but TWICE, that has bagged &amp; pulled bodies out of this pit? Yeah. Coroners do not rappel into caves, cave rescue takes the body bag in, documents &amp; photographs, and pull it back out. So, be safe please, around edges. Don't turn yourself into chunky jelly. </p><p>It's not worth the photo. </p><p>Now this place has a bunch of signs, but, people do stupid shit they aren't supposed to anyway. So I don't go anymore. Not because of the bodies - I have medical background and am not phased doing that stuff - but because I don't want to *watch* people be stupid. It gives me too much anxiety, and ruins my day. Shame, as it really is gorgeous and it used to be an annual summer trip.</p><p>So. Be smart. Be safe. Pick living to see more wonderful things over a single moment's photo.</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/safety" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>safety</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/rescue" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>rescue</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/recovery" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>recovery</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karst" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karst</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cliff" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cliff</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/climbing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>climbing</span></a></p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> day 6!</p><p>Today we celebrate the Tennessee Cave Salamander, Gyrinophilus palleucus. This is actually the state amphibian for Tennessee! It is a listed species, NatureServe G2 (Imperiled), IUCN B1ab(iii)(Near Threatened).</p><p>Back on FB, whenever I'd post photos of one, I'd get folk saying, "OMG an axolotl! How cute!". Nope, wrong country entirely. But similarly, G. palleucus do not typically undergo metamorphosis and they do reach sexual maturity in this larval phase. The fancy term is "paedomorphic", in case you are wondering.</p><p>And yes this is a FB link but it is direct to the video, you won't need to log in to see it; I can't find it elsewhere. It is a 3.5 minute long spotlight on the Tn Cave Sal that the TWRA filmed on a survey trip the other year. I'm in it. Look for purple! (If you are visually claustrophobic, may not want to watch, just listen) <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tnwildlife/videos/underground-wildlife-survey-tn-cave-salamander/496262361996796/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">facebook.com/tnwildlife/videos</span><span class="invisible">/underground-wildlife-survey-tn-cave-salamander/496262361996796/</span></a></p><p>Remember to follow me or the <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> for more fun cave info this month!</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/speleology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>speleology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/biology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>biology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karst" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karst</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/ecology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ecology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/nature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>nature</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/water" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>water</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/underground" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>underground</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/ecosystems" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ecosystems</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/herp" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>herp</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/herps" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>herps</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/herptology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>herptology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/salamander" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>salamander</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/amphibians" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>amphibians</span></a></p><p>PS I promise I have more vertical and technical stuff to post in the future too!</p>
Sunguramy :nb_lily:<p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/Karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Karstmas</span></a> day 5</p><p>My dog is having some medical troubles (seizures) and it has been a rough day. So no big post. Just a photo I took of her in this fracture cave that a public hiking trail goes right through! We realized this was not in the cave database, and returned to survey it a few months later; it turned out to be almost 200 feet (60m) long, and average ceiling height around 30 feet (9 m). </p><p>Sometimes called rift, crevice, or fault caves, fracture caves occur when there is a geologic shift. Even though this is limestone rock, this cave was not caused by water dissolution. Geology is neat!</p><p><a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/cave" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cave</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caves" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caves</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/caving" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>caving</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karst" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karst</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/karstmas" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>karstmas</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/geology" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>geology</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/fracture" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>fracture</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/dog" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>dog</span></a> <a href="https://flipping.rocks/tags/DogsOfMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DogsOfMastodon</span></a></p>