2008 Rocky Mountain Regional Info

[jumar]

From the Colorado Caves forum:

Re: Rocky Mountain Regional 2008
by Floyd Collins on Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:57 pm

Bob Montgomery contacted me over the weekend to report that Casper's Hole in the Wall Grotto is investigating hosting the July Fourth event at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, just east of Lovell. They are contacting the National Park Service to see if the region can camp within the park. Hopefully, we'll hear more in the next few weeks as to a site.

The last regional in the Bighorn Canyon area was in 1981, though the 2001 regional was within driving distance of the many caves of the area. This should be a great event if the pieces can be put together!

I went to the regional when it was here in Utah in 2005. It was a lot of fun. I'll probably be up around here over the 4th this year for a family trip, so maybe I'll get to attend again. Some awesome caves up there, some of which I've posted TR's for.

[jumar]

More on the regional:

Re: Rocky Mountain Regional 2008
by Floyd Collins on Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:51 pm

The Rocky Mountain Regional is set for the July Fourth weekend. From Bob Montgomery, here are the details regarding the location:

The Hole in the Wall Grotto has lined up permits for Horsethief, Bighorn, Spirit Mountain, and caves in the Prior Mountains for the Regional. I talked to the NPS in Lovell and they said that they anticipate the campground at the reservoir to be full of boaters that weekend, since the lake will probably be full this year. They suggested I contact the BLM about a camping area at the base of Cottonwood Canyon. I talked to the BLM and they said that this location would be fine. It is east off of the road that goes up to Little Mountain, before John Blue Canyon and is accessible by all vehicles. There is a large parking area, 5 developed camp spots, a large area for tent camping, and a pit toilet. There is no potable water so we will have to bring that. This is normally a trail head area for horse riders so we may have some of those people also.

For those cavers who haven't visited the caves of Little Mountain in northern Wyoming, this will be an excellent opportunity to see some tremendous caves.

Thanks to Bob and the Hole in the Wall Grotto for their efforts to bring back the Rocky Mountain Regional!

[jumar]

Cottonwood Creek Site of 2008 Rocky Mountain Regional

The Hole in the Wall Grotto in Casper has agreed to serve as the host
grotto for the 2008 Rocky Mountain Regional, to be held at Cottonwood
Canyon, Wyoming this July 4-6. Other regional grottos in Colorado and
Utah will also assist with the holiday weekend event, which will
feature caving in several of the Cowboy State's longest and most
scenic caves.

Located just east of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area in
northern Wyoming, the Cottonwood Canyon campsite is located on Bureau
of Land Management land and features five developed camp spots, a
large area for tent camping and a pit toilet. The campsite is just
east of the road leading to Little Mountain, before the John Blue
Canyon ascent. The campsite is within an hour drive of several caves
which will be reserved for Regional cavers during the long holiday
weekend, including Horsethief, Bighorn, Spirit Mountain and several
smaller caves in the Prior Mountains, along the Wyoming/Montana
border. Horsethief and Bighorn Caves are exceptionally well-decorated
caves overlooking the Bighorn Reservoir. They are collectively the
longest cave system in Wyoming and Montana (the caves are connected
and reach across the state border). Yellowstone National Park is about
two hours west, and the scenic high Bighorn Mountains are immediately
east of the site.

The campsite has no potable water, so cavers will need to bring their
own. Elevation is about 4000 feet, so days will be hot. The city of
Lovell is about ten miles to the west, and has gas stations,
restaurants, supermarkets and other conveniences. Access to Cottonwood
Creek is by US Highway Alt14 from Sheridan, or US Highways 20 and 310
from Casper. All vehicles can reach the campsite from Highway Alt14.
(This highway is the "scenic" route across the Bighorn Mountains and
is not particularly speedy for travel, particularly behind a
slow-moving camper.)

The Colorado Grotto in Denver previously committed to assist with the
Regional, as did cavers in Utah. This will be the first official Rocky
Mountain Regional since the 2005 Utah Labor Day Regional. Thanks to
the Hole in the Wall Grotto for agreeing to host this year's event and
to Bob Montgomery for helping arrange the campsite.

Website:
http://www.caves.org/region/rmr/RMR.html

2008 Regional Coordinators:

Bob Montgomery - WYOCAVER@aol.com

Brandon Kowallis - caveexplorer@gmail.com

Richard Rhinehart - nss@rockymountaincaving.com

[jumar]

I'll post a few pics of caves in the area of the regional, in case anyone is interested. Here's some from Bighorn Cavern, an 8+ mile cave.

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/bgc06jeff.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/bgc06gypsum.jpg
Gypsum flowers. Don't worry, she's not touching. Hand is just for scale.

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/bgbeckyrap2.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/bggypsum3.jpg
More Gypsum

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/bgshell.jpg Seashell and popcorn

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/fabighorn3.jpg


http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/beanbighorn.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/sodastraws.jpg

[jumar]

This is also over 8 miles. Used to connect to Bighorn, but they filled the connecting passage with cement.

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/ht_great_fissure.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/ht_bean.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/ht_gate2.jpg

[jumar]

Mystery Cave

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/mysterycaveflow2.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/mysterycave.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/mysterycaveflow.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/mysterycavesoda.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/mysterycaveflow5.jpg

[jumar]

Little Ice Cave
Not really that little, it's one of the longer caves in MT

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/lijeff2.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/liceribbon.jpg

Royce Cave:
http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/royce_calcite.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/royce_calcite2.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/royce_formation.jpg

http://www.my-mania.com/caving/images/royce_jeff.jpg

Other Cave pics from this area on my caving page:
http://www.my-mania.com/caving.htm

[accadacca]

Great stuff! :popcorn:

[jumar]

From Jon Jasper

The Rocky Mountain Region is a caving organization consisting of
grottos from Utah, Colorado, and Wymoning, and Montana. Every year
they usually have an social caving event and it looks like there is
going to be a regional this year in Wymoning. Please pass this info
on to your grottos and friends.

For more information on the site and caveas to visit go to:
http://www.caves.org/region/rmr/RMR2008/RockyMountainRegional2008.html

And the dates for the event are July 4-6. Note: This regional is
not over Labor Day Weekend! Early registration using Paypal is
expected to be set up by the end of May.

Individual Registration $10.00
Family Registration $25.00
2008 Regional Guidebook $10.00
Saturday Dinner $10.00
T-Shirt $15.00

There will also be a like to this website on the Rocky Mountain
Region website http://www.caves.org/region/rmr

[jumar]

Registration is now live
http://www.caves.org/region/rmr/RMR2008/Registration.html

I just registered. Anyone from Bogley going?