1. It was a special trip for me to go on... first of all I haven't been underground in close to a year! Second.. this was one of the first caves I started to survey when I started Central Oklahoma Grotto (C.O.G.). Nine of us met at Mrs. Selman's ranch for a special trip. Finally... this cave complex was finished... now before publication, pictures were needed.

2. So we split into three groups and headed off into different sections to take pictures for the upcoming Oklahoma Underground - COG's Publication on caving in the western part of Oklahoma. An Oklahoma University has purchased the land and caves and has allowed COG to finish mapping the complex. Not really knowing the future of this complex, it was a trip to make for memories.

3. Along with myself came the Towns from Altus. Dale & Lil and I were assigned to do some of the first surveyed part of these caves. We were to start at Skylight Entrance, proceed to White Mountain, then to Betty's Chair, then to the junction that joined the two cave complexes into one (Don't Know Sump) and then out through Square Sink entrance.

4. We brought lots camera stuff for the photo shoot. Of course my worthless digital (I took over 55 pictures and ended up with 24 useable ones!). Dale & Lil brought a standard Cannon camera, a digital too, and a new super digital motion picture camera. This one camera has infrared technology built into it. So that means you can take pictures in very little to no light and get at least black & white video out of it! Too cool! Here Lil stands at the entrance to Skylight Entrance to give it some scale.

5. Lots of miniature formations with little selenite crystals growing on all of them. Reflecting in the lamps off of our heads there are areas of the cave that seem to sparkle as you walk though!

6. Not too good a close up of the selenite crystals growing on some of the cave.

7. We didn't get too far in (notice the entrance in the background) (I thought we'd never see the light of day again!)<quote always made getting in and out of a cave>

8. But we were real surprised at the amount of bats staying in this wing of the cave. In the past one might see a dozen or so... we were finding mats of 100's all over the rooms. Definitely add this section to the Oklahoma Bat Count in February!!! The population is WAY up!!

9. We took photos of White Mountain (which my poor miserable camera didn't do)(it doesn't like dark places very well!) and then preceded to Betty's Chair.

10. Betty's chair is very fast dripping area of the cave where a really cool red flowstone formation has occurred and hollowed out a boulder breakdown into looking like a throne chair.

11. Dale up in Twisted River. This thing is tight and twisty... I believe only two people have done it ever and surveying was not too fun!!

12. Lil (shown here) thought she found new passage, and Dale went down for the scoop! After crawling about 300 feet and doing a bit bellying, he found out it was a miserable crawl he had said he was never doing again about four years ago! : )

13. Then we went down to the Don't Know connection sump. It was truly sumped right now so we took pictures of the location. It's a nice 20 foot drop (chimney climb up and down) to get from the breakdown pile on top to water level. Dale fell into the water and commented on the fine taste of the water in-between sputters, I dropped one of the cameras into it, and then while we were trying to get out, we drained water all down the chute so that the last person (me) had a bit of a slippery time.

14. It was at this point that I'm wedgied in this thing that I hear my good ol' buddy Dale make the remark about a Hippo coming out of the pool! <grin> Notice he's in the safe spot up above saying that!

15. We then started on our way out and toward Square Sink Entrance. Here is some cave popcorn in the area.

16. On the way we saw some really neat scalloped gypsum in the ceiling!

17. Lil comes out the little crawl that enters the mini pit called Square Sink.....

18. followed closely by Dale. We came out and wanted to go right back into the cave... there had to be a 20 degree difference between the cave and the air! And the air was colder!! (about 20 degrees!)

19. Caving can be tough on equipment... especially gypsum dissolved in water... it tends to rot the gloves a bit faster than normal use! Dang.. now I have to go out and spend another $2.95 for another pair!!!

20. We got out at 4 p.m. and a few minutes later it started snowing big ol' flakes!! Since there was a winter storm warning, we were ready to forsake the normal ritual of pizza in town and start on the road again.

21. The back roads quickly turned white as we headed back toward Betty's to meet with the others. The other groups reported success also and we look forward to seeing each others pictures and the new publication over Selman Cave System to appear soon. We got to see how the new digital motion picture camera worked (it worked great in the dark) (we may have some .mov later to add to this report). It was fun trip... no real rush, a fun time with friends, and seeing what a cave was again after almost a year's absence!!

22. Selman has many memories in my caving background... but many memories are of some of the most extreme driving conditions I've ever been in my life... from unbelievable muddy slick clay back country roads in thunderstorms, to sand traps, to sheets of ice. What a way to put a cap to the diving memory... go home to snow, sleet, freezing rain, and finally a thunderstorm over hometown of Lawton!

Report Submitted: January 30, 2001 by ddv01