Wednesday was rainy and dreary day on Santa Cruz. While it rarely rains at sea level in the Galapagos, it is not uncommon for elevations higher on the volcanoes to see daily rain. Usually March is the dry season in the islands, but this year the locals say it has rained quite frequently. It is impossible to stay dry, despite best efforts. The ground is saturated and the vegetation is thick. Just brushing against the large leaves of a banana tree can soak a pair of pants. The understory of the jungle is thick with water loving plants and everyone gives up attempting to stay dry at some point during the day.
We investigated 4 caves on Rancho Primicias today. One of the tubes is operated as a tourist cave, complete with lighting. Bob, Rick H. and Elizabeth surveyed this tube to 420m. Chris (aka Batgirl), Geoff and Rick T. surveyed the down flow continuation of the tube another 203m before reaching a collapse that was impassible. These types of tube segments seem to be common on Santa Cruz.
While the above teams were surveying, Theo and I returned to Pto Ayora to meet with PNG officials and try to work through the paperwork necessary to continue our permit to work in the national park areas of Galapagos. This is a lengthy process with many waiting periods. We made little progress on this day and returned to the group to help in any way we could.
The rains dampened the enthusiasm for thrashing through the jungle and locating new caves with the local guide. Still, Chris, Rick T., Geoff and I headed out in a steady rain to locate two new caves. We made a 1km hike, located one nice tube with a walk-in entrance, and a second cave with a 7m skylight drop in to a short tube segment. Chris droppped the pit and discovered that there was a small entrance to the cave nearby that did not require ropework. We got a GPS location and made the return hike in the rain. The total time for this little side trip was less than one hour.
Tomorrow we are checking out a braided lava tube reported by locals to be over 1km long.
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| heavy rain on Santa Cruz. Note the giant tortoise beyond the sign. |
While the above teams were surveying, Theo and I returned to Pto Ayora to meet with PNG officials and try to work through the paperwork necessary to continue our permit to work in the national park areas of Galapagos. This is a lengthy process with many waiting periods. We made little progress on this day and returned to the group to help in any way we could.
The rains dampened the enthusiasm for thrashing through the jungle and locating new caves with the local guide. Still, Chris, Rick T., Geoff and I headed out in a steady rain to locate two new caves. We made a 1km hike, located one nice tube with a walk-in entrance, and a second cave with a 7m skylight drop in to a short tube segment. Chris droppped the pit and discovered that there was a small entrance to the cave nearby that did not require ropework. We got a GPS location and made the return hike in the rain. The total time for this little side trip was less than one hour.
Tomorrow we are checking out a braided lava tube reported by locals to be over 1km long.
So GPS does work underground? When the physicists reported neutrinos faster than light I remember there was a lot of fuss about how they got the location underground. How does it work?
ReplyDeleteAnd another one from hyperactive me. Can I start pushing your photos out? I sent a photo to Randy for the EPS site but if I sent one to The Earth Story with an explanation it would go everywhere!!!
ReplyDeleteFeel free to push out wherever you like.
ReplyDeleteNo, GPS does not work underground. We use a compass, clinometer and laser measuring device to survey the caves. I will try to add some more content regarding the technique when I get a chance!