Re: 2009 ICS/NSS Convention--Kerrville, TX

Good thought, Ernie. The entrance has been added.

2009 ICS/NSS Convention--Kerrville, TX

Scott, that's a pretty cool map, what with all the icons and information that one can dig into. A thought on where to enter the university is down at the south part of your map, labeled "Broadway" which might help people from driving all around; thus, follow Hwy. 27 down and cop a left there.

Re: Show caves

Mammoth Cave is by far the most spectacular cave I have ever toured. My husband and I took a basic tour, but next time we plan to take a much more extensive tour. The tour guides were excellent and very informative about the discovery and history of Mammoth Cave.

Wanted: CMI 5000

I would like to get a pair of CMI 5000 ascenders for my collection. I had a pair, but they were stolen when my car was broken into about 15 years ago. I could also use a pair of a particular CMI Shorti ascenders.I have a collection of ascenders. My collection is about 3/4 the size of Gary Storrick's because he has been more zealous in tracking down obscure European ascenders. I have maybe 8 or 10 ascenders he does not have and he has many more that I do not have. I do not collect descenders, although I will buy an unusual descender when I encounter one for sale. I would like to get any unusual ascenders that you might like to sell. I specifically requested the CMI 5000 because it was common enough in the US so that somebody might have a pair they no longer use.

ICS: What's in your cave pack?

Come see what's in cave packs from around the world. Show the world
what's in your cave pack. The Saturday afternoon workshop (1400-1700,
MS211) will be "What's in your cave pack?" Bring your pack/kit/bag/etc
and show other cavers what you carry and why. Get ideas and tips from
cavers from around the globe. If you can't bring your pack, take a
picture of the pack and its contents, so you can tell us about the
things you carry. Come share and learn! Free poster for all
participants!

Re: Any danger in wearing rings while caving?

lol - I couldn't get a date for nothin when I was younger, but when I got married and put that ring on the gals came out of the woodwork.

Sorry ladies, but you're just a bit late now!!

Re: 2009 ICS/NSS Convention--Kerrville, TX

I put together a Google Map of the ICS/NSS Convention area, campus and Kerrville: map or http://tinyurl.com/ICSmap, (same thing, just different link formats). Bookmark the link in your smartphones and laptops so you can reference it. I added everything I could find, session locations, lodging, dining, attractions, shopping, etc, etc... Change the view to a satellite image or terrain. Zoom in/out. Pan around. See pics and videos at the location they were taken. Fun and informative!

If you know of something else to add, let me know. Even better, if you are familiar with the Kerrville area and would like to help maintain the map, I can add you as a coordinator so you can make changes/edits also.

Feel free to distribute widely.

Re: Any danger in wearing rings while caving?

Not nearly as much as not wearing your ring, and becoming a chick or studmuffin magnet while changing clothes.

Those rings are like magic, people.

That being said, I often don't wear mine. I spent a lot of time working around machinery, so I don't even wear it on my left (dominant) hand. My ring (no stone) has detailed engraving, and why get mud in it?My husband usually doesn't , either. I would guess that women who have engagement/wedding sets don't wear them because of the possibility of losing the stone, just like they don't wear them gardening.

Alas, I have no possibility of becoming a studmuffin magnet, with or without a ring.

Re: Any danger in wearing rings while caving?

I would probably be careful when digging with a ring on, especially if there is a danger of a rock falling on your hand. If a rock falls on your hand, it's going to hurt for sure. However, if it crushes a ring on your finger, then that ring is going to remain in it's crushed state around your finger, and it's not going to flex back to being round. You're not going to be able to get it off without cutting it, and in the meantime your finger is going to suffer badly or worse.

For general caving or even vertical, I don't think it would be much of a danger though.

My brother did lose his ring (we thought) down in the Glory Hole cave in SW Ga. He had just got married too, so it was a real bummer - besides the fact it was a bulky, rather expensive gold ring. We put the word out hopefully to find it, but knew it was probably hopeless.

4 months later, he found it in the duffel bag that he was carrying his gear it.

NSS/ICS Convention in July

Lightning Talks

Reminder: There will be a Lightning Talks session at Convention/ICS on Friday afternoon in Dietert Auditorium, 2pm to 5pm.

It's kind of a pot-luck presentation session. The program consists of whomever shows up with a presentation.

Everyone who chooses to speak has five minutes "on the big stage", subject to available time.

Five minutes is enough time to show off something, but not so much time to get boring.

Talks can be anything related to caves, cavers, or caving.

If you wish to participate, bring your visuals on a USB flash drive in PowerPoint format.

Consult the program for details. See you there!

- Jim Washington