Reif's Cave, Ohio

[GroundquestMSA]

Tomorrow afternoon, (Sun. June 23) a two man team will make a (probably final) survey trip into Reif's Cave. The survey begins about 1700 feet in, and after 1000 feet of water crawl. The last survey stopped last fall at a low airspace constriction. We had been slithering through the water for 7 hours and were fairly exhausted. Significant rain fell soon after that trip and we had to put off further efforts until dryer times. I finished a map based on last year's trips that showed a new total of 2172 feet of passage (1697' virgin). Our primary goal is of course to go until we can't go any more. Secondarily, we would love to rack up another 152 feet of passage and make Reif's the 2nd longest surveyed cave in Ohio (oh the prestige). Finally, we fully expect to squeeze through the constriction and be treated to extensive, finely decorated walking passage, and a dry upper level that includes a previously undiscovered pit entrance (In reality I expect to find about 16 feet of painful streambed before a terminal pinch). Hopefully I'll be able to come back with a few photos. This cave murdered my last camera so I picked up a tougher, if not higher quality, device.
I'm sure y'all are now quivering in anticipation. I know I am.

[chac]

Go for it! It would be great if this was the beginning of more explorations in Reif's Cave.

[GroundquestMSA]

Go for it! It would be great if this was the beginning of more explorations in Reif's Cave.

You know of it?

[LukeM]

I'm sure y'all are now quivering in anticipation. I know I am.

From the sounds of it you may be shivering in anticipation. Good luck! Your description reminds me of a few places out this way.

[Cavemud]

Well Jonah how did the big push go?

[BrianFrank]

Can't wait, tell us what you found?

[tagkycaver]

Surley you can get 152 feet; good luck!!!

[GroundquestMSA]

Sorry, we had to postpone until tomorrow (Wed). You'll have to hang on to the edge of your seats for a few more hours.
I did manage to survey a 71' 2" popcorn and poo cave this afternoon.

[GroundquestMSA]

Alright, here's the story. We started in at 2:30 and slid toward the end of the survey, stopping for a photo and a short video of a muddy squeeze. The water level was the same as at our last trip, so that meant crawling and belly crawling for around 1000 feet in water 3" - 12". We reached the constriction that stopped our last trip and dug a trench in the floor to allow passage. The water depth at this point was one foot and the airspace was 5 inches. Once past this spot, the cave continued as before and we started to survey. After 117' we reached another near sump, this one also in a foot and a half of water but with only a 2" wide and 2" high crack of airspace. Putting my face in the water up to eye level, I peeked through and saw that the passage continued as before. We stopped there sadly, 35 feet short of passing Freeland Cave for #2 length in Ohio.
The length is there, I'm quite certain, but we couldn't quite get to it.

Under different conditions I would probably give this brief sump a whirl, but I was already on shaky ground physically. We purchased wetsuits specifically for this project, but the slow period during the digging followed by the submergence followed by the slow surveying had me very cold. The thought of another dip and more survey, and the long trip out was a bit scary since I was already shivering too much to write very clearly. So we called it quits and came on out. I'll try to load the picture and video later.

It seems that I lost a light on my last trip in, because I found it lying on the streambed under 8" of water. It was a little handheld Energizer led that I usually had strapped to my helmet. It still worked fine after 8 months under water. I pulled the batteries out and turned it into a register near the end of our survey .

Here's the deal. Unless I learn of a significantly better way to travel through water crawl that will conserve energy and body heat, I'm finished with this cave. Perhaps my minute frame doesn't lend itself to lots of cold caving. While I would love to push to the most distant possible limit, I don't want to be reckless. If any of you have applicable advice, let me hear it. If any of you want to have a go, let me know. We have enlarged the two tightest spots, so most normal sized people will fit. If you're interested in a scraping up a few more feet in a featureless, miserable cave, it's yours.

[LukeM]

Here's the deal. Unless I learn of a significantly better way to travel through water crawl that will conserve energy and body heat, I'm finished with this cave. Perhaps my minute frame doesn't lend itself to lots of cold caving. While I would love to push to the most distant possible limit, I don't want to be reckless. If any of you have applicable advice, let me hear it. If any of you want to have a go, let me know. We have enlarged the two tightest spots, so most normal sized people will fit. If you're interested in a scraping up a few more feet in a featureless, miserable cave, it's yours.

First off all, nice going! As for advice for staying warm, try adding a wetsuit hood and neoprene socks to the mix. Neoprene gloves can also help, though for surveying you'd probably want them thin. A layer under your wetsuit may help if you aren't already doing that. Too thick and you make your body have to heat up more water, but many people say a thin layer like a compression shirt will increase a wetsuit's warmth. Maybe bring a small thermos filled with a hot beverage/soup in your pack.

[BrianFrank]

Great job and we appreciate that you tried to push it. I bet in a month you may get the urge to try once again, especially if it doesn't rain much and things dry up in your area.

[GroundquestMSA]

Here are a few photos of Reifs. The majority of the passage isn't worth dragging in a camera for. WARNING! These photos and video contain material not suitable for for unreasoningly consistent sticklers for safety. Helmets are more than a hindrance in this cave and were not used. Further offenses include portrayals of the use of cotton clothing and canvas shoes, insufficient lighting, and toplessness. These pictures should also be avoided by all who are concerned with the quality of the photos they choose to observe.

This photo represents the most majestic portion of the cave, which section can be traversed in 3 minutes. The fellow on the right is my main partner in crime and little brother. The victim on the left is my Wise Daddy, who slid through the first squeeze in a rain suit and then went back out.
http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg515/GroundquestMSA/reifses006.jpg

A better look at the dashing form of Brave Reuben with his trusty shovel.
http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg515/GroundquestMSA/Copyofreifses005.jpg

This is the very strange feature that is evidently the result of a long term and undisturbed raccoon trail. These things are found in several nearby caves but this one is by far the most prominent.
http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg515/GroundquestMSA/reifses003.jpg

Here we have both Brave Reuben(r) and Absurd Jesse(l) on a digging trip from last year. He insisted on this attire and it worked splendidly until it wasn't his turn to dig.
http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg515/GroundquestMSA/Copyofreifspics018.jpg

And finally here is a clip of the squeeze that we dug for our initial breakthrough. The trench is now big enough to easily navigate but an idea of the original size of the passage can be had by imagining it full of clay. This section is about 40 feet long and the video shows Reuben emerging.
http://s1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg515/GroundquestMSA/?action=view&current=reifses001.mp4

[BrianFrank]

On the video....are you saying that your crew dug out 40' in that trench? Is that the same crawlway that you eventually gave up on?

[NZcaver]

WARNING! These photos and video contain material not suitable for for unreasoningly consistent sticklers for safety. Helmets are more than a hindrance in this cave and were not used. Further offenses include portrayals of the use of cotton clothing and canvas shoes, insufficient lighting, and toplessness. These pictures should also be avoided by all who are concerned with the quality of the photos they choose to observe.

Looks like fun. Your little brother's expression in the video suggests he is carefully taste-testing the mud.

[GroundquestMSA]

On the video....are you saying that your crew dug out 40' in that trench?

Yes, but the squeeze varied in tightness. In some places we skimmed clay from the walls to widen the passage. In others we scooped out the floor. We had to remove anywhere from a few inches to one foot of clay for the entire length of that section.

Is that the same crawlway that you eventually gave up on?

Good heavens no. This trench is at the 450' mark of the cave. We stopped at the 2288' mark in stream passage 1.5' high and full of water excepting a 2"x2" window.