THE MARCH-APRIL 2005 EXPEDITION

The Jamaican Caves Organisation and The Nature Conservancy

Cavers:  R.S. Stewart, I.C. Conolley, M. Bellinger, D.K. Roggy, E. Slack, M. Newman.

From March 26 to April 9, 2005, members of the JCO were in the field working under contract to The Nature Conservancy on the caves component of the Parks in Peril Project. This important project consists of a systematic assessment of all of the caves located within the Cockpit Country Ring-road.

This was the first of two sessions that would be spent conducting the TNC-J PiP fieldwork, and was focused as much as possible on hydrologically active caves, in order to have as many done as possible during the dry season. Some 26 caves were visited during the expedition, in the districts of Maroon Town, Elderslie, Rock Spring, and Barbecue Bottom. We were successful in locating and visiting the majority of the many river caves of the Rock Spring area, this done in fine dry conditions.

Amongst the more notable results of the two weeks is the discovery of a species of shrimp, Atya lanipes, at the Hope River Glade Caves, north of Flagstaff, that was not known to occur in Jamaica, prior to our finding of it. The identification was made by way of DNA sequencing carried out by Dr Christoph Schubart, at the University of Regensburg.

A brief summary of the expedition follows:

Mar 27: Stewart, Conolley, and Bellinger linked with Leroy Grey of the Maroon Town Community Association, and received much-appreciated assistance in finding, and examining, the Barracks Caves. Although only one cave is listed, three were located and the two that best matched the received description were investigated. One is within 100m and the other within 400m of the listed position. A third cave was found that was noted, referenced, but not entered. Access is by an overhanging entrance pit about 10m deep and 10 wide. Due to the priority of covering the previously-listed caves in this project, and the fact that this cave in no way matches the listed cave, this one, like others, cannot be fit into the schedule, merely georeferenced, and noted. Judging by past experience, we can expect to come across new caves at a rate of 1-2 for every listed cave that we search for.

Mar 28: Stewart, Conolley, Bellinger. The Hope River Glade Caves, Flagstaff trail. Two unlisted caves were found on the hike in, upstream of the listed caves, in the great valley that leads from Flagstaff to Springvale. An interesting species of shrimp was found in the Hope River Glade Rising which we hope to soon have further information on thanks to Dr Schubart, at the University of Regensburg, in Germany. Late in the day, Vaughansfield Cave was re-visited, (in a particularly dry-season), bioinventoried, and pushed a great distance further than the previously reached 45 metre point. Mapping was done for about half of the explored passage, with a semi-permanent, (removable), station left at the far point of the survey. It should be noted that during our previous visit to this cave in May, 2003, the cave was sumped at about the 45m point.

Mar 29: Stewart, Conolley, Roggy, Slack. Printed Circuit Cave, (aka Rock Spring Cave), Burnt Hill / Albert Town district. Dietrich and Elizabeth joined us this day, and after arranging accommodation at Miss Jasmine Buckles, we began our investigation of Printed Circuit Cave. The main collector was entered and followed upstream to several of the smaller passages, to reach areas not entered by tourists, or people of the district. A healthy collection of stygobitic decapoda were found, and the resident troglobites were also noted. Identification of the various species is currently underway with the help of our collaborators.

Mar 30 - Apr 2: Over the course of the next four days: additional entrances for Printed Circuit Cave were located and georeferenced; assessment, bioinventory, and exploration took place in Mouth River Maze, Harties Cave 1, Harties Cave 2, Swanga Cave, Pool Cave, Crayfish Cave, Farmyard Cave, Carambie Cave, Cane Patch Sink, Good Hope Cave, Good Hope One Cave, Good Hope Two Cave, Far Enough Cave, and Too Far Stream Cave. This great amount of work was done by splitting the group of four into two teams for the first half of the day, Stewart/Roggy, Conolley/Slack, and then reuniting for the rest. Many hours were spent both underground, and above-ground searching for entrances in the bush, (with machetes in hand). We must thank the wonderful people of Rock Spring for letting us wander across your farms, for supplying valuable information, and for being good company. We must also apologize for the times we startled you by popping out of little holes in the ground with helmets and lights on our heads.

Apr 3: Stewart, Conolley, Roggy, Slack. Barbecue Bottom Holes. We departed Miss Buckles in the morning, and headed down the Barbecue Bottom road. This district, like so many others during the first week of the expedition, was plagued by bushfires. We were fortunate that the entrances to the two Barbecue Bottom Caves are high, close to a saddle, on the south side of the bottom land, because the lower sections were thick with smoke, with active fires sending plumes upwards through the general haze. Time constraints prevented us from entering both caves, it having taken some time to merely locate our targets, so we decided on the most promising of the two, Barbecue Bottom Hole-2. This cave is described in Jamaica Underground as having an unexplored 15m drop in it. The logistics of the visit were this: Dietrich stayed with the car, parked high above us on the road, because this rather isolated district has had occasional incidents in the past; of the three of who hiked into the bottom land, Ivor safe-guarded things at the top of the pitch at Hole-2; Elizabeth and Stefan descended into the new chambers, past the 15m drop. This was quite rewarding; a series of four pristine chambers were found, with the first containing a medium-sized bat roost, with fine fluffy guano, and all of the chambers were observed to be in a biologically undisturbed state. We moved carefully, and tried to cause the least amount of damage in this previously untrodden cave. An inventory of trog macroinvertebrates was done, and we ascended first the 15m pitch, and then the trail back up to the road. The night was spent in Windsor.

Apr 4: Stewart, Roggy, Loftin. A return visit to Windsor Great Cave was made, traveling through the system from north to south, with Flood Exit Cave done after our exit from the Bamboo Bottom entrance to WGC. Flood Exit was particularly interesting, showing a healthy collection of stygobites. Identification is underway at this time. Existing positional data was confirmed and remains unchanged.

Apr 5: Stewart, Conolley, Roggy, Slack. On this day we moved on to Accompong Town. Our time was primarily spent on the journey, and in prep work, (in the form of enquiries and info), for a couple of "lost" caves that were searched for en route, and then meeting with Colonel Sidney Peddie, the Head of State for Accompong, to obtain permission for our activities. We would like to thank the Colonel for allowing us access to the project targets located here, and we expect to follow up on things next session.

Apr 6: Stewart, Conolley, Roggy, Slack. Still Waters Cave, near to Accompong, was done first, and then two others, Wondrous Cave, and Adams Cave, near Elderslie. All three caves were of great interest, and have supplied valuable data. It should be especially noted that the entrance to Still Waters Cave was dry, and we had good access to the system. On our return journey to Windsor, at the end of the day, Springvale South was visited.

Apr 7: Stewart, Roggy, Slack. Long Mile Cave, and Ruined Ground Cave, both in Windsor district, were visited, georeferenced, and assessed.

Apr 8: Stewart, Conolley. Our intention was to visit several caves south of Clarks Town, but a broken CV-joint in the car had us instead stranded for much of the day on the road south of the town, near Campbells, while a local mechanic worked on getting us moving again. The targets that were not done this day will be attended to during one of the regular JCO outings that will occur between now and the next expedition. One thing that can be reported is that we had a lot of friendly company who received a little lesson in the geology of Jamaica thanks to a big chunk of flint/chert that was found, inexplicably, sitting on the side of the road where we broke down, far from the nearest area where chert would be expected to occur. Everyone took great pleasure in chipping various "hand-axes", and "blades", off of our great chunk of flint with a hammer, as we sat around under a hot midday sun, refreshed by donated jelly-coconuts. We're uncertain whether our new friends will all remember the discussion on where flint comes from, but they thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and at least one of the crew was invited to assist an attractive local woman in becoming a "baby-mother", an offer that was declined due to scheduling problems, but appreciated nonetheless.

***

THE JANUARY 2005 EXPEDITION

The Jamaican Caves Organization

Cavers:  Stewart, Conolley, Rentergem, Bellinger, Roggy, Hyde, Slack, Loftin, Keife, McFarlane, Christenson, Lundberg, Allsworth-Jones

Overview:

From Jan 5 - 18, 2005, members of the JCO were in the field. During the course of the two weeks, we assisted a visiting team of scientists, Don McFarlane, Joyce Lundberg, and Keith Christenson, in a search for the bat P. aphylla at St Clair Cave; we assisted Dr Philip Allsworth-Jones in the investigation of three Taino caves, Spot Valley 1 & 2, and Kempshot Cave; and in addition to these, various other caves were visited, the reasons noted below. Our greatest accomplishments were the deepest-yet descent of Minocal's Glory Hole, a survey of the route to the river at Volcano Hole, the discovery of a new Taino site, Spot Valley Cave 2, and a survey of the Inferno passage at St Clair Cave. We were also pleased to have spent several hours giving a talk on the importance of caves to the students of Pollyground School, in the St Clair Cave area, and are hopeful that it might aid in the conservation efforts for this important cave.

A summary of our activities follows:

Jan 5, 2004
Roehampton School Cave
Purpose: Exploration, survey.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Bellinger, Roggy, Loftin.

Jan 6, 2004
Windsor Great Cave
Purpose: Training.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Bellinger, Rentergem, Roggy, Loftin, McFarlane, Christenson, Lundberg.

Jan 7, 2004
St. Clair Cave
Purpose: P. aphylla project.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Bellinger, Rentergem, McFarlane, Christenson, Lundberg.

Jan 8, 2004
St. Clair Cave
Purpose: P. aphylla project.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Bellinger, Rentergem, Slack, Keife, McFarlane, Christenson, Lundberg.

Jan 9, 2004
St. Clair Cave
Purpose: P. aphylla project.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Bellinger, Rentergem, Hyde, McFarlane, Christenson, Lundberg.

Jan 10, 2004
Pollyground School
Purpose: Education.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Rentergem, Keife.

Jan 11, 2004
Spot Valley Cave 1
Purpose: Taino studies.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Rentergem, Slack, Roggy, Loftin, Allsworth-Jones.

Jan 11, 2004
Spot Valley Cave 2
Purpose: Taino studies.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Rentergem, Slack, Roggy, Loftin, Allsworth-Jones.

Jan 11, 2004
Kempshot Cave
Purpose: Taino studies.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Rentergem, Slack, Roggy, Loftin, Allsworth-Jones.

Jan 12, 2004
Bottom Pasture Cave 2
Purpose: Exploration, survey.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Rentergem, Slack.

Jan 13, 2004
Volcano Hole
Purpose: Exploration, survey.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Rentergem, Slack.

Jan 14, 2004
Me No Sen Cave
Purpose: Exploration, survey.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Rentergem, Slack.

Jan 15, 2004
Minocal's Glory Hole
Purpose: Exploration.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Rentergem.

Jan 17, 2004
Drip/Belmont Cave
Purpose: Exploration, invert-collection.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Rentergem, Hyde.

Jan 18, 2004
Windsor Great Cave
Purpose: Training, invert-collection.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Rentergem.

***

THE JUNE 2004 EXPEDITION

The Jamaican Caves Organization

Cavers:  Stewart, Conolley, Bellinger, Roggy, Taylor, Slack, Hyde, Stirling, Peterson, Timmons

Overview:

The JCO has recently completed a two-week expedition that was engaged in the exploration, assessment, mapping, and georeferencing of over twenty-five caves and sinkholes located in the parishes of St James and St Ann, Jamaica.

The most notable of our accomplishments were the successful descent of the 160 metre deep Volcano Hole; the georeferencing and documenting of Taino petroglyphs at a cave in St James; the mapping of a Taino site, near Runaway Bay, for Dr. Allsworth-Jones, of UWI; the discovery and first exploration of a stream-passage cave, in the same district as Rudist Rock Cave, that contains many large, fine examples of these extinct, large, reef-building bivalves; the first descent of a sinkhole, found last expedition, that was done while georeferencing the south end of the Troy Trail; rainy-season observations, exploration and georeferencing of the upstream Niagara River Cave system; the determination of the hydrology of the Cool Garden Caves; and further work on the St James project. In addition to this, prep work was done for the Cockpit Country Transect Expedition.

Of the thirteen days spent caving, eight were devoted to the St James assessment project. It was during this work that ten of our twelve new additions to the Jamaican Cave Register were found. Great progress has been made and an interim report will be forwarded to the collaborating parties in several weeks time.

We would like to thank all of the volunteers who were with us this session for their valuable assistance. We must also thank NEPA for allowing us to conduct our current project in St James; we hope that it might contribute to the knowledge and preservation of the caves and karst of Jamaica. Most importantly, the JCO would like to thank the people of Roehampton, Tangle River, Vaughansfield, Flamstead, Niagara, and Linton Park for their great help and good company; bless-up.

A summary of our activities follows:

Jun 6, 2004
Belle Air Cave
Purpose: Mapping survey.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Rentergem, Bellinger, Roggy, Stirling.

Jun 7, 2004
Fontabelle Cave 2, (New)
Purpose: Exploration, assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Rentergem, Bellinger, Roggy, Stirling.

Jun 8, 2004
Belly-full Cave
Purpose: Exploration, assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Roggy, Taylor.

Jun 9, 2004
Bonnet Bush Cave, (New)
Purpose: Exploration, assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Roggy, Taylor.

Jun 9, 2004
Miss Henney Cave, (New)
Purpose: Exploration, assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Roggy, Taylor.

Jun 10, 2004
Cundalli Cave, (New)
Purpose: Exploration, assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Roggy, Taylor.

Jun 10, 2004
Kempshot Cave
Purpose: Assessment
Cavers: Stewart, Roggy, Taylor.

Jun 11, 2004
Anancy Hole, (New)
Purpose: Exploration.
Cavers: Stewart, Roggy, Taylor.

Jun 12, 2004
Deeside Roaring River Cave
Purpose: Monitoring.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Bellinger, Peterson, Timmons, Stirling.

Jun 13, 2004
Volcano Hole
Purpose: Exploration.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Bellinger, Hyde, Peterson, Bolt, Timmons, Stirling.

Jun 14, 2004
Pumphouse Cave
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Roggy, Slack.

Jun 14, 2004
Flamstead Cave
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Roggy, Slack.

Jun 15, 2004
Nodewood Cave 2
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Roggy, Slack.

Jun 15, 2004
Nodewood Rising, (New)
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Roggy, Slack.

Jun 15, 2004
Niagara River Cave
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Roggy, Slack.

Jun 16, 2004
Blue Hole Glade Caves 1-6
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Roggy, Slack.

Jun 16, 2004
Elizabeth's Cave, (New)
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Roggy, Slack.

Jun 17, 2004
Shell Chamber Cave ?
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor Roggy, Slack.

Jun 17, 2004
Bottom Pasture Cave
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, Roggy, Slack.

Jun 17, 2004
Bottom Pasture Cave 2, (New)
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, Roggy, Slack.

Jun 18, 2004
Shell Bottom Cave
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, Roggy, Slack
.
The next full expedition of the JCO will take place in late August or September, 2004. Until then, JCO activity will continue, albeit on a more infrequent basis. We once again invite donations that will assist us in carrying out our projects; we offer in return only knowledge and adventure.

On a personal note, I would like to express my appreciation for being re-elected a Director of the Windsor Research Centre, during the recent Annual General Meeting, for another year.

Jah Guide.
R. S. Stewart

***

Caving Report, April, 2004

The Jamaican Caves Organization

Cavers:  M. Bellinger, I. C. Conolley, A. Donaldson, L. Edwards, A. Engels, S. Green, A. Hyde, W. Lee, B. Murray, D. Roeber, D. Roggy, R. S. Stewart, R. Stirling, M. Taylor, G. van Rentergem, D. Williams.

Overview:

The most recent expedition, conducted from March 27 to Apr 8, 2004, had two main objectives: The completion of the Green Grotto - Runaway Bay Caves mapping survey, by Guy van Rentergem, and the accomplishment of further work on the St James Cave Assesment project, by R. S. Stewart. Both objectives were successfully met.

Detailed notes, maps, and data are being posted in the pertinent sections of the JCO website.

In addition to our caving work, a crossing of the Troy Trail was made in support of a GPS georeferencing project being carried out by the JCO.

We were fortunate in having four new members onboard for this session: Dietrich Roggy, Brian Murray, Dana Roeber, and Andy Engels, all of the American Peace Corps. They were of tremendous help and we hope to have them along with us again in the future.


Summary:

Mar 27, 2004
Windsor Great Cave
Purpose: Mapping survey. Exploration.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Rentergem, Bellinger, Stirling, Williams.

The lower streamway is the least visited section of Windsor Cave. Although many have made the crossing to Bamboo Bottom over the last several decades, the lower streamway has seen no activity, other than that of the JCO, since 1966. An accurate mapping survey, and final exploration, has been an objective of ours for some time. For nine months of every year, there exists a great flood risk. This session, the height of the dry season, the lower streamway was a high priorty. Accordingly, a very long day was spent underground in Windsor Cave in pursuit of this goal. The result was a new map of the lower streamway that will soon be made available via this site. Our explorations revealed a possible route on, at the northern end of the main streamway, but it is currently a little tight. In the future, a return visit will be made to see if something might be done about this.


Mar 28, 2004
Thatchfield Great Cave
Purpose: Exploration.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Bellinger, van Rentergem, Taylor, Stirling, Donaldson, Lee, Green, Edwards.

This is a cave we have only visited once before, on Jan 25, 2004. We found it to be a biologically rich cave and wished to get to know it better, although it is not in the current assessment project parish. This was also an opportune time to link with Andrea Donaldson, and Wendy Lee, for a cave visit, and we had the pleasure of having them join us for Thatchfield. Assessment and exploration were limited, but observations indicated a seasonal decline in bat numbers compared to Jan 25, and another anemometer reading was taken at the crawl to the new cave.


Mar 29, 2004
Green Grotto - Runaway Bay Caves
Purpose: Mapping. Exploration. Assessment.
Cavers: van Rentergem, Hyde, Stewart, Roggy, Engels, Williams.

This day marked the beginning of a four day project, conducted by van Rentergem, to map the "Wild Caves" of Green Grotto. This survey would complete his work done for the UDC in 2001. Exploration was also undertaken of associated caves previously noted by van Rentergem, and Hyde, in 2001.


Mar 30, 2004
Green Grotto - Runaway Bay Caves
Purpose: Mapping.
Cavers: van Rentergem, Roggy

Guy and Dietrich carried out the mapping survey of the Wild Caves


Mar 31, 2004
Green Grotto - Runaway Bay Caves
Purpose: Mapping.
Cavers: van Rentergem, Hyde, Roggy

Guy and Dietrich, with Adam Hyde, carried out the mapping survey of the Wild Caves


Apr 1, 2004
Green Grotto - Runaway Bay Caves
Purpose: Mapping.
Cavers: van Rentergem, Roggy

Guy and Dietrich finished the mapping survey of the Wild Caves


Apr 2, 2004
Roehampton School Cave
Purpose: Exploration.
Cavers: Stewart, van Rentergem, Taylor, Roggy.

This cave, in St James, is one of our better discoveries, in a district that has supplied many. A return was made for exploration purposes. The visit was successful enough that we altered plans and arranged a full mapping survey and exploration for the following day.


Apr 3, 2004
Roehampton School Cave
Purpose: Mapping. Exploration.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, van Rentergem, Bellinger, Stirling.

Roehampton School Cave, remained unfinished prior to this visit. Accordingly, we had two tasks for this cave, exploration and mapping. To acomplish this, the team divided into two groups, van Rentergem, Bellinger, and Stirling on survey, Stewart and Conolley on exploration. During this visit, the system was pushed into a main collector where the passages suddenly widened and led us much further into the cave. Exploration was terminated when the passage began to become sumped, but it might be possible to carry on during a dryer time. Many side passages remain unexplored. The mapping survey was ended due to time constraints, apx 50 metres short of the exploration farpoint, but van Rentergem and Bellinger successfully mapped 90% of the currently known route through the system.


Apr 4, 2004
Peterkin Cave
Purpose: Monitoring.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Taylor, van Rentergem, Bellinger

One of the targets of the assessment project. Visited en route to Rota Sink. Bat numbers stable.


Apr 4, 2004
Rota Cave
Purpose: Monitoring.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Taylor, van Rentergem, Bellinger

One of the targets of the assessment project. Visited en route to Rota Sink. Bat numbers stable.


Apr 4, 2004
Rota Sink
Purpose: Assessment. Exploration.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Taylor, van Rentergem, Bellinger

One of the targets of the assessment project. Visited before, but during a time when flood-risk was a factor. This was our first visit to the further reaches of the cave. It is a magnificent completion to the known Peterkin/Rota System.


Apr 5, 2004
Rudist Rock Cave
Purpose: Assessment. Exploration.
Cavers: Stewart, van Rentergem, Murray, Roeber.

One of the targets of the assessment project. The cave was found to be biologically active and a valuable paleo resource. The GPS position has been reserved accordingly.


Apr 5, 2004
Cool Garden 1
Purpose: Assessment. Georeferencing.
Cavers: Stewart, van Rentergem, Murray, Roeber.

One of the targets of the assessment project. This cave is one of four in close proximity that are all hydrologically active and associated. The upstream caves are acting as silt-traps, with in-filling fed by cultivated land in the catchment, and are a prime example of degradation caused by deforestation.


Apr 5, 2004
Cool Garden 3
Purpose: Assessment. Georeferencing.
Cavers: Stewart, van Rentergem, Murray, Roeber.

One of the targets of the assessment project.


Apr 5, 2004
Cool Garden 4
Purpose: Assessment. Georeferencing.
Cavers: Stewart, van Rentergem, Murray, Roeber.

One of the targets of the assessment project.


Apr 6, 2004
Benta Well
Purpose: Training.
Cavers: Stewart, van Rentergem, Murray, Roeber.

A reported sinkhole that turned out to be a 21 m deep, old blasted well on the edge of the Cockpit Country that nevertheless served as a good training pitch for two of our volunteers.


Apr 7, 2004
Troy-Windsor Trail
Purpose: Georeferencing.
Cavers: Stewart, van Rentergem, Taylor.

The Troy-Windsor Trail was crossed and GPS referenced from the south side in aid of previous work done to establish an accurate wpt/shp file for this difficult route. It also supports a planned Cockpit Country East-West Transect to be conducted by the JCO in search of unlisted caves and sinkholes.

***

Caving Report, January, 2004

The Jamaican Caves Organization

Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, Conolley, McCall, Bellinger

Overview:

The latest caving session, Jan 24 - Feb 4, had several objectives: to begin an assessment project, in collaboration with the WRC, in the parish of St James, to conduct an assessment of Thatchfield Great Cave, to further the surveys of two of our previous discoveries, and to descend into two deep sinkholes in the parish of St Ann. All of the objectives were met.

During the course of the expedition, seven new caves, and one new sinkhole, were georeferenced and added to the Register. The most extensive of these, Rice Bottom 1, a stream-passage cave near Roehampton, was line-surveyed for 162 metres until a terminal downstream sump was reached. The deepest of the six was the 70 m pit known as Bertie Sinkhole, near Aboukir, St Ann.

The other deep sinkhole descended, Hutchinson's Hole in St Ann, on Sun Feb 1, resulted in the discovery of the body of a missing local man. A repeat visit was made on Feb 4, at the behest of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, to recover the body. This was successfully done.

All of the caves and sinkholes visited were GPS georeferenced to WGS84. Positions will soon begin to appear in the Jamaican GPS Register.

It will be noted that four of the new caves were found while searching for Lawson Bottom Cave. Ironically, Lawson Bottom Cave was not found. It is a mystery. The people of the district refer to Roehampton School Cave, apparently unlisted until our first visit, as Lawson Bottom Cave. The JU map and text for Lawson Bottom describes two large passages on two levels. Roehampton School is a labyrinth of small stream passages. The listed position for Lawson Bottom is several hundred metres from Roehampton School. They cannot be the same cave. Despite many hours of searching, we found no trace of Lawson Bottom Cave, but instead found four other caves that by their physical nature could also not be confused with the JU description of Lawson Bottom. We have no idea what is going on with this. Perhaps there is confusion in JU, or perhaps Lawson Bottom Cave has somehow left for other parts. It must be stated that we are able to plot the entire Jamaica Underground database on the 1:50,000 Jamaica Metric Grid topo maps. This is how we find listed caves. We have definitely not found Lawson Bottom despite our best efforts.

Eleutherodactylus cundallii were noted in every cave. The only amblypygids observed were at the bottom of the two sinkholes. It should be noted that temperatures were unusually cool during the expedition, especially so at night. There may be a correlation involved in the relative numbers of these two very different species and the ambient temperatures found in the caves and sinkholes.

Two species of crayfish were observed, a smaller, greyish type in Mafoota River Cave, and a larger more pigmented species in Rota. Sesarma verleyii were noted in almost every stream and river cave. An eel of respectable length, about 1 metre, was observed in the upstream branch of Rota Cave. The waters that feed Rota arrive underground via Peterkin, a cave that receives surface water only during the rainy seasons; it seems that eels can really get around.

The caves visited that offer suitable roosting space for bats spanned a range that extended from those in which bats have been virtually eradicated, (as evidenced by guano deposits and local anecdotal accounts), to those which have large, pristine, populations of mixed species. Once again, we have noted a direct correlation between human accessibility and current bat numbers. Micey Gully cave was a perfect example of a cave that has lost most of its bats due to guano extraction. The people who take the guano still insist that there are vast numbers of bats, but actual observation puts the current number in the dozens, all fruit-bats. There are now no fresh/fluffy deposits and the guano miners mostly dig clay. There claim that the cave is full of bats is based on memory rather than current conditions.


We were fortunate in having two new members onboard for this session: Sarah McCall and Mark Bellinger. They were both of tremendous help and we hope to have them with us more in the future. Bios for Mark and Sarah have been posted via the Jamaican Caves Crew page.


Summary:

Jan 24, 2004
Roehampton School Cave
Purpose: Continuation of previous partial survey. Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, McCall, Bellinger

This stream-passage cave, one of our additions to the Register, was first surveyed by us in Aug. We extended the survey, but it still remains incomplete. Further work will be done in March.


Jan 24, 2004
Comfort Hall - Wales Pond Cave
Purpose: Exploration, georeferencing, assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, McCall, Bellinger

This is a new addition to the Register. We were made aware of it by Joan Blake and visited it for site location, referencing and assessment purposes. The cave is high on a hill, with two entrances on either side of the hill, and consists of bedding-plane chambers running for about 80 m through strongly-bedded limestone. It is quite dry but supplies a roost to a small colony of fruit-bats.


Jan 25, 2004
Thatchfield Great Cave
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, McCall, Bellinger

There has been occasional discussion for some years of the possibility of this cave being used for tourist purposes by people of the district. An assessment was conducted which found parts of the system to be biologically rich and in pristine condition. Our recommendation at this time is that this cave should not be used for tourism, especially in the furthermost, more undisturbed sections of the cave.


Jan 26, 2004
Whelton Cave
Purpose: Exploration. Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, McCall

This stream-passage cave is another new addition to the Register. It was found while looking for Lawson Bottom Cave. An upper crawl through a Montpelier limestone passage leads to a 3 m scramble into a lower stream passage. This was followed until the top of the passage was approaching the surface of the stream. The exploration could be extended, later into the dry season.


Jan 26, 2004
Micey Gully Cave
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, McCall

One of the targets for the assessment project. This is a good example of a cave severely degraded by guano mining. The remaining deposits indicate that there was once a large bat population, now reduced to less than 100. Lest any unscrupulous readers of this report consider rushing off to take the last of the guano, it should be noted that it is now primarily clay that is being extracted.


Jan 27, 2004
Rice Bottom 1
Purpose: Exploration. Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, McCall

Another new addition to the register found while looking for Lawson Bottom Cave. An excellent stream-passage cave that we surveyed for 161 m until the passage became too low and wet.


Jan 27, 2004
Rice Bottom 2
Purpose: Exploration. Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, McCall

Another new addition to the register found while looking for Lawson Bottom Cave. A dry passage that extends for 25 m in the same direction as Rice Bottom 1.


Jan 27, 2004
Rice Bottom 3
Purpose: Exploration. Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, McCall

Another new addition to the register found while looking for Lawson Bottom Cave. A dry passage that extends for 25 m in the same direction as Rice Bottom 1. The passage seemed to continue but was blocked by a large boulder.


Jan 27, 2004
Windsor Castle Cave
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, McCall

One of the targets for the assessment project. We first found it on Jan 25 but did not enter due to wasps and brush, and did not realize that it was the cave that we sought. A repeat visit on this day with Pyro got is into what we found to be a severely degraded stream-passage cave. It took one later visit to the entrance to confirm that it was indeed Windsor Castle Cave. Siltation and garbage have altered its nature to such a degree that it was difficult to tell at first.


Jan 28, 2004
Mafoota Pumphouse Cave
Purpose: Exploration. Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, McCall

Another new addition to the register. Found while looking for Mafoota River Cave. A dry fissure-passage that extends for 25 m until it became dangerously tight in the horizontal dimension. The passage continued, but because we could not see a place ahead to turn around, and backing out looked like it would be difficult, we abandoned the attempt.


Jan 29, 2004
Mafoota River Cave
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, McCall

A superb, biologically healthy river cave that was visited for assessment purposes.


Jan 29, 2004
Mafoota 1, Mafoota 2
Purpose: Assessment
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, McCall

Two of the three listed shafts to water were found at the Mafoota River Cave site. We are unsure which 2 of the 3 they were, due to vague positions listed in the Register, but they were GPS referenced, so when the third is found, we will assign permanent numbers based on accurate positions.


Jan 29, 2004
Belly-full Cave
Purpose: Exploration. Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, McCall

Another new addition to the register. Reported by a man from the Mafoota district, Verdel Reid, who assisted us at Mafoota River Cave. A quick solo foray at the end of the day, made by Stewart, showed it to be a seasonably dry stream-passage that offers good potential. The passage was followed for about 100 metres, but Stewart was in sandals and shorts, with no flagging tape, due to his already having changed out of caving clothes after Mafoota River, (assuming he was done for the day), so the passage was not followed further. It carried on at the same size and because it takes strongly flowing waters during the rainy season, it possibly extends for a much greater distance. The entrance was georeferenced and a repeat visit will be made.


Jan 30, 2004
Clear River Cave
Purpose: Extension of survey.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor

One of our additions to the Register made last August. This cave resurges and could only be followed and surveyed for 43 m until the upstream sump was reached during this rainier time. We were hopeful that we could push it further now that it was more dry, and on this return visit were able to survey to 96 m, exactly twice as far, before an upstream sump was encountered. A return visit will be made when it is even drier and we expect to take it further at that time.


Jan 31, 2004
Bertie Sinkhole
Purpose: Exploration.

Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Bellinger, Williams

A deep shaft near Aboukir, St Ann, reported by David Broderick. The hole was descended and determined to be approximately 70 m deep although an exact measurement was not made. Surprisingly, the first Amblypygid of the session was seen at the bottom of this hole.


Feb 1, 2004
Hutchinson's Hole
Purpose: Exploration.
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Bellinger, Williams

A deep sinkhole near Bensonton, St Ann. The hole was descended and determined to be 98 m deep. Unfortunately, the decomposed body of a missing man was found at the bottom.


Feb 2, 2004
Peterkin Cave
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, McCall

This is one of the target caves for the St James assessment project. The assessment was done and we were at last able to complete the journey from the west entrance to the east entrance, this being the first time outside of the rainy season that we have visited it. The georeferencing for the east entrance was improved.


Feb 2, 2004
Rota Cave
Purpose: Assessment.
Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, McCall

This is one of the target caves for the St James assessment project. The assessment was done and we were able to explore the rest of the cave, upstream of our where water levels had interfered with our previous visits. We observed, for the first time in any of our Jamaican cave explorations, an eel, in the upstream waters.


Feb 4, 2004
Hutchinson's Hole
Cavers: Stewart, Conolley, Taylor, Williams, Bolt

Purpose: Removal of human remains.

At the request of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, we removed the decomposed remains of Carlton Rose from the bottom of this sinkhole. The task was gruesome but went well. A press release can be read regarding this matter.

***

Caving Report, August, 2003

The Jamaican Caves Organization

Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, Conolley, Koenig, Stephenson

Overview:

The recent caving session, Aug 19 - Aug 31, has resulted in the location of two new river caves, and two new sinkholes of moderate depth, (50 - 60 ft). We have also visited and GPS referenced the following caves:

Summary:

Aug 19, 2003
Cool Garden 1
Purpose: Site finding and georeferencing.

This cave is one of four Cool Garden caves located near Flamstead, St. James. All four systems are hydrologically active and there had been no recorded visits to any of them since the original survey in 1967 by the Bristol University group. This cave, and the two others visited, will be part of a planned assessment project for the caves of St. James and is of particular interest with regard to siltation problems associated with hydrologically active caves in close proximity to areas with substantial human populations. The cave was found, georeferenced, but only partially explored due to high water levels.


Aug 19, 2003
Cool Garden 2
Purpose: Site finding and georeferencing.

This is the most interesting of the four Cool Garden caves. It was fully explored and a new passage was found that had been missed in 1967. Georeferencing was accomplished for both of the two entrances.


Aug 19, 2003
Cool Garden 4
Purpose: Site finding and georeferencing.

The cave was found, georeferenced, but only partially explored due to high water levels.


Aug 20, 2003
Valley Pit
Purpose: Exploration.

This sinkhole was found as part of an ongoing endeavour to locate unexplored caves and sinkoles in the district north of Chatworth, St. James.


Aug 20, 2003
Deeside Roaring River Cave
Purpose: Monitoring.

The cave was visited as part of an ongoing monitoring project to define the parameters of a hydrological/temperature/humidity/biological activity dynamic.


Aug 22, 2003
Still Waters Cave
Purpose: Site finding and georeferencing.

Still Waters has been part of water sampling project carried out under the funding of The Nature Conservancy. No georeferencing had been done to date. The position of the entrance to this large underground system is now well defined and listed in the GPS Register.


Aug 23, 2003
Minocals Glory Hole
Purpose: Site finding and georeferencing.

A sinkhole of over 80 m depth that has not been fully descended. The completion of the exploration is one of our goals in the future and a brief visit was made to find and georeference the opening. The position has been added to the GPS Register.


Aug 23, 2003
Roadside Pit
Purpose: Site finding and georeferencing.

A sinkhole in the same district as Minocals that was found and georeferenced.


Aug 23, 2003
Marta Tick Cave
Purpose: Monitoring.

The cave was visited to check on airflow at the entrance to the NE section and to confirm a previous GPS position.


Aug 23, 2003
Bonafide Cave
Purpose: Site finding and georeferencing.

This cave is one of the two, along with Stephenson's, that is located furthest into the Cockpit Country north of Quick Step, Trelawny. Exploration and georeferencing was accomplished.


Aug 23, 2003
August 23 Pit
Purpose: Exploration.

This sink was reported to be unexplored and had not been previously listed listed. A descent was done and the position has been listed.


Aug 25, 2003
Roehampton School Cave
Purpose: Exploration.

Reported by Joan Blake. This fascinating hydrologically active cave, in the vicinity of Lawson Bottom Cave near Anchovy St. James, had been missed by past expeditions and was unlisted and unsurveyed. A survey was done for the main passages. The entrance was georeferenced. Work remains to be done.


Aug 27, 2003
Rocky Road Cave
Purpose: Monitoring.

A visit was made, with S. Koenig in attendance, to assess the current status of the bat population and habitat of this seldom visited cave. Prior to our original exploration, Nov 19, 2002, this cave was unlisted and unsurveyed. We are attempting to monitor the cave on an ongoing basis to document the health of the bat colony.


Aug 28, 2003
Clear River Cave
Purpose: Exploration.

This was our greatest accomplishment of the session. We had surmised that a cave might be found in the hills south of Dromilly after a close examination of the topo maps for the district. A very active resurgence was indeed found and explored upstream as far as was possible in this time of high water levels.


Aug 31, 2003
Dromilly Cave
Purpose: Monitoring.

A visit was made to assess the current status of the bat population and to confirm the WGS84 GPS position.

***

Caving Report, May, 2003

Cavers: Stewart, Taylor, Conolley, Clive, Blake, McFarlane

Fourteen caves have been visited during the May caving session, with five of them new to the register. Detailed notes are beginning to appear on the May 2003 Field Notes page. WGS84 positions are being entered into the GPS Register.

Overview:

The May 2003 caving session had several goals: location and exploration of new caves and sinkholes; observations of caves that have bioinventory potential, including caves that house large bat populations and are currently unstudied, (the observations to be forwarded to NEPA and researchers who have a specific interest in this field); and the location of bone breccia at a site in Lluidas Vale, the position of which was uncertain. All three goals were met to a satisfactoy degree.

The general theme of the five new additions made to the Jamaican Cave Register this session is one of ghastliness; the deepest sinkhole, in Coxheath Trelawny, 117 ft deep, unlisted and previously undescended, is known for the associated legend that a woman named Hessie, after a romance gone wrong, had hurled herself to her death down this deep hole to be never seen again. Another sinkhole, unlisted, near Maroon Town, and 64 ft deep, had been only entered once before... by a fireman who was winched in to retrieve the dead body of a baby that had been tossed in by its mother. The fissures found north of Chatworth have been given the name "Fitzie" in honour of the aforenamed Fitzie who had, as a youth, fallen into one of the holes and thusly been relieved of large parts of his flesh as he was sliced by the rocks on the way to the bottom. Fitzie, unlike Hessie and the baby, did manage to survive his adventure and be extracted from the hole. Fortunately, the two other caves were less grim, although one of these had been believed for many years to be truly bottomless and too dread to enter.

Mocho Cave, in St. James, was found to remain of biological value, and to continue to possess a bat population that, although degraded since the GSD survey of 1951, is deserving of protection. It is one of the few bat caves that remains free of American Roaches. Wallingford River Cave was found to be in a very healthy condition, with a very large Sesarma population, thanks mainly to the efforts of the McFarlane family who own the land in which this cave is found.

The homestead of Mikey Slue in Lluidas Vale, and extant bone breccia, was located and GPS marked, (in aid of D. A. McFarlane), although it is uncertain whether the original site of the Clidomys fossil discovery has been found. A return visit will be made.


Summary:

May 8, 2003
Mocho Cave
Purpose: Bioinventory potential and Bat status

This cave was observed by the GSD in 1951 to have a large bat colony. At this time, bats are present, but in reduced numbers. This cave is free of American Roaches. It has potential for bioinventory and is deserving of protection.


May 9, 2003
Rota Cave
Purpose: Determination of current hydrological conditions.

This cave is subject to severe flooding. The state of the cave during the beginning of the rainy season was observed to help define a window of safe visitability.


May 10, 2003
Barrow's Cave
Purpose: Exploration

This cave was previously unentered and unlisted and reputed to be bottomless. It consists of two linked breakdown chambers, the larger of the two, the entrance chamber, being apx 50 m high, and 65 m by 40 m wide. It is entered from an entrance of 3 by 6 m and requires a descent of 30 m vertical.


May 10, 2003
Fitzie Fissures 1, 2, 3
Purpose: Exploration

These caves are new to the Jamaican Cave Register and two of the three were previously unentered. The deepest of the three, Fitzie 1, had not been previously descended, Fitzie 2 had been, and Fitzie 3, a sink of no great depth, remains unentered.


May 11, 2003
History Cave
Purpose: Exploration

Unlisted cave in Lluidas Vale found while searching for Slue's Cave.


May 11, 2003
Slue's
Purpose: Bone breccia survey

This site is one of the few where fossils of the extinct rodent, Clidomys, have been found. It was studied in 1989 but the location was not well defined. In assistance to Donald A. McFarlane of the Keck Science Center, an attempt was made to relocate the site and GPS mark it. Bone breccia was found, and accurately GPS marked, but it remains uncertain as to whether we found the original site. A return visit will be made in the future.


May 12, 2003
Dead Baby Sinkhole
Purpose: Exploration

An unlisted sinkhole of 20 m depth, (64 ft measured), known of by Clive and entered only once before.


May 12, 2003
Vaughansfield Cave
Purpose: Exploration

A river cave listed in Jamaica Underground as being not fully explored. It was found with some degree of difficulty, GPS marked, but could not be fully explored due to flood risk and high waters.


May 12, 2003
Springvale South Cave
Purpose: GPS marking

Located in Springvale and a source of water for a nearby pumping station. An accurate GPS position was obtained.


May 13, 2003
Wallingford River Cave
Purpose: Bioinventory potential

This cave is a valuable river cave, harbours a diverse collection of troglobites, and was surveyed to ascertain the present status. It remains healthy thanks to the McFarlane family of Balaclava who own the land upon which it is found.


May 13, 2003
Wallingford Main Cave
Purpose: Bioinventory potential

This is a good example of a cave degraded by human vandalism. It appears to have once supplied a good habitat for cave species but has been painted with graffiti, invaded by introduced American Roaches, and has had damage done to the formations.


May 13, 2003
Wallingford Tunnel Cave
Purpose: Bioinventory potential

Although only 50 metres from Wallingford Main Cave, this cave remains intact due to being smaller and requiring more effort to enter. It is of no great size and offers little bioinventory potential but retains fine delicate formations, including soda straws.


May 13, 2003
Wallingford Roadside Cave
Purpose: Bone breccia survey

This small shelter cave was a source of bone breccia in 1984 for Donald A. McFarlane, and was noted by Anthony in 1920. The breccia remains present in parts of the cave and is not seriously damaged.


May 14, 2003
Hessie's Sinkhole
Purpose: Exploration

A deep sinkhole, unlisted and previously undescended, found in Coxheath, Trelawny. Explored, and measured at 35 m, (117 ft), on a solo entry by R. S. Stewart.



Accurate GPS WAAS-enabled positions were obtained for every cave visited and are being posted in the Jamaican GPS Register.

***

***

Quickstep and Maroon Town, November, 2002

R. S. Stewart, M. Taylor, I. Conolley, M. Stephenson, Tumpa

Maroon Town has been the main focus of our efforts, with regard to speleology, during the most recent cave session in Jamaica. Quickstep, aka Quick Step, was also visited with progress having been made in this logistically challenging district.

Two caves have been added to the Jamaican Cave Register although, as of Jan 30 2002, they can be found only in the GPS Register.

The current field notes for the November project can be found here.