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| They were quite fanciated by our myotis veliper in the cave. They have tons of Pips and some other rare bats but not a lot of common cave bats. We looked closely and found this one was a big ear! | Once we finally backtracked (or is it now forward tracked) and got back on the right track (or whatever!) we started making good progress. Lots of bent over and sloshing though water. | We got to the first breakdown room and there the AK folks got their wish... lots and lots of cave bats!!! A mat of about 300 was in there and as we hugged the wall they erupted. We got though and sat in a tunnel for a while to let them calm down. |
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| We continued on and the smell of amonoia and guano got stronger and stronger. We got near the next breakdown room and there were LOTS of bats there that started flying. We decided to bail out and not go on to the further rooms as we hadn't even got to | the bat room where we knew a very large colony usually is. So we backtracked (again) and headed out the south entrance. Roy and Wade found this neat spagetti (sp) rock. | Everybody recharged outside and got some fresh air! We decided to drive to the north entrances rather than walk in the now 90 degree day it turned into. |
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| Steve showing how what he felt like after coming out of the cave.... | We went to the north side and went into Glade Entrance and backtracked to Homestead to see long ears that usually stay there... We found one.. and two tires weggied in the ceiling. | Wade taking critter notes. Having him along was great as he was seeing things I never saw before (or had stepped on!) We even found a catfish in one of the larger cave ponds! |
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| Jon found new friend who quite litterly became "attached" to him! He woudn't let go!! | Finally, he did and we put him back in his little home. | Meanwhile guess what!!!??? Roy and Wade found another something crawling!! <griN!> |
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| Heated bodies give off a steam in this cave... and really mess with pictures!! You sit still long enough and you're in a fog bank!!! | Well we got about 400 feet from the main bat colony and they must have been full as a ton of bats were even in this area! | It was pretty incredible!! It was like a holloween movie! Bats everywhere!! We retreated once again and headed for the cars. Now the best part... Louigi's Italian for some Calizones!! Thanks gang... great trip!!! |
