Resume of Caving Activities and Resources

Steven J. Taylor

Resume of Caving

November 1999

Selected Karst Research Activities:

I am the principal investigator for two on-going, grant funded, 1 1/2 year studies of karst groundwater and amphipod faunas in for major shallow groundwater basins in Illinois' Salem Plateau (see Curriculum Vitae).
Conducted surveys of federally endangered Illinois Cave Amphipod (see Curriculum Vitae).
Conducted statewide biological inventories of more than 80 Illinois caves (see Curriculum Vitae).
Participated in multiple winter bat inventories in Illinois caves and mines (1990-present).
Assisted in radio tracking of state endangered Southeastern Bats in Illinois (summer 1991)
Assisted with the survey and assessment of karst resources in and around a specific cave sites at Ft. Leonard Wood (a military base), Missouri. Included geological, biological and hydrological resource assessments.
Mistnetted for bats (but caught more flying squirrels than bats) for the Shawnee National Forest.
Assisted the Nature Conservancy with biological inventories of sites in the karst of Illinois' Salem Plateau (1998).
Assisted in dye tracing study in karst of Illinois' Salem Plateau (1998).
Assisted hydrogeologist Sam Panno (Illinois State Geological Survey) with ongoing studies of karst hydrology.(1998-1999)
Assisted an honors undergraduate student with senior thesis work focusing on the distribution of a troglomorphic Sculpin in the karst of Perry and Ste. Genivieve counties, Missouri. (1994-1995)
Assisted and advised (not in the formal, academic sense) a doctoral student with field research on a troglomorphic Sculpin in the karst of Perry and Ste. Genivieve counties, Missouri.
Conducted research on unusual pigmintation in cave salamanders (manuscript in preparation) from Perry County, Missouri. (1993-94)
Research on stygobitic mexican catfish and associated fuana (see Mexico Biospeleology)).

Organizations:

National Speleological Society (member 1988-present)

Attended the NSS Convention: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999

Missouri Speleological Survey (member 1990-present)
Mississippi Valley Ozark Region of the NSS

Regularly attend spring and fall events since 1987

Biospeleology Section of the NSS

currently the Executive Secretary, will run the biology session at 2000 NSS Convention

Little Egypt Grotto (Carbondale, IL) (member 1987-1999)

Editor 1988-1993, 1998; Chairman 1991; Secretary 1995

Newsletters produced by me: 1988 (8 pgs, 1 issue); 1989 (40 pgs, 3 issues); 1990 (47 pgs, 3 issues); 1991 (9 pgs, 1 issue); 1992 (85 pgs, 3 issues); 1993 (86 pgs, 3 issues); 1998 (17 pgs, 1 issue, as coeditor)

Near Normal Grotto (Bloomington/Normal, IL) (member 1997-present)

Led vertical training course in 1998

Vice President in 2000

American Cave Conservation Association (member 1998-present)

Contributed photos for an issue of ACCA magazine, American Caves

Arkansas Association of Cave Studies (affiliated since 1991)
Illinois Speleological Survey (I'm one of the founders, currently a Director representing INHS)
Karst Conservancy of Illinois (I helped draft documents to create this organization in 1997-1998)
Missouri Caves and Karst Conservancy (member 1984-present)
Association for Mexican Cave Studies (participated in several affiliated expeditions 1994-present)
Proyecto Espeleológico Purificación (member and participating in some expeditions 1997-present, part of support team for cave divers on two expeditions)

Selected publications in caving literature (not peer reviewed):
Bertoni, Leandro Dybal, and Steven J. Taylor. 1998. History of the exploration of the Sao Vicente and adjacent cave systems in Brazil. NSS News (magazine of the National Speleological Society): 56(12): 351.

Lee, Cindy and Steven J. Taylor. 1996. Report on surface work conducted in eastern Perry County, Missouri. The Crawlway Courier (newsletter of Little Egypt Grotto) 30(4):44-45,48.

Taylor, Steven J. 1992. Recent cave visitation patterns by Little Egypt Grotto, with comments on cave rescue. The Crawlway Courier 26(1):5-7.

Taylor, Steven J. 1992. Gyroglyphs and Navy men [includes rubbings of 3 petroglyphs from a Missouri cave] The Crawlway Courier 26(1):12-14.

Taylor, Steven J. 1992. A caving trip to Illinois' Driftless Area. The Crawlway Courier 26(2):44-48.

Taylor, Steven J. 1993. The rescue of Don Bittle from a sinkhole in Perry County, Missouri. The Crawlway Courier 27(1):15-18.

Taylor, Steven J. 1993. Having a blast beyond Danger Dome. [in which a cave pack explodes!] The Crawlway Courier 27(2):36.

Taylor, Steven J. 1993. Armchair ridgewalking with computers: an investigation of the predictive value of some topographic features as indicators of the likelihood of the occurrence of known cave entrances. The Crawlway Courier 27(2):37-41. [also reprinted {1994} Pages 376-381 In: Fee, Scott (ed.). 1993 Speleo Digest. National Speleological Society, Huntsville, AL. 550 pp.]

Taylor, Steven J. 1993. A summary of the Guthrie Cave Project (Union County, Illinois). The Crawlway Courier 27(3):60-62.

Taylor, Steven J. 1994. Fear and loathing south of the border. The Crawlway Courier 28(1):8-9.

Taylor, Steven J. 1994. Oz Cave: Glory cave at last! The Crawlway Courier 28(1):12-14. . [also reprinted {1999} Pages 30-33 In: Jaegers, George E. (ed.). 1994 Speleo Digest. National Speleological Society, Huntsville, AL. 518 pp.]

Taylor, Steven J. 1994. Thoughts on vertical caving in the Little Egypt community. The Crawlway Courier 28(2):25.

Taylor, Steven J. 1994. In search of Tennessee's endangered zone. The Crawlway Courier 28(2): 34-35.

Taylor, Steven J. 1994. Steve's excellent adventure: Report on the 13-17 June, 1994 pre-convention international expedition to Sierra del Burro, Cerro el Nevado, northern Coahuila, Mexico. The Crawlway Courier 28(2):38-41.

Taylor, Steven J. 1994. The deep, the pretty, the long, and the virgin. Pages 84-85 In: Fee, Scott (ed.). 1993 Speleo Digest. National Speleological Society, Huntsville, AL. 550 pp.

Taylor, Steven J. 1994. Shilly-Shally Cave, Union Co. Pages 89-90 In: Fee, Scott (ed.). 1993 Speleo Digest. National Speleological Society, Huntsville, AL. 550 pp.

Taylor, Steven J. and Jean K. Krejca 1994. [Eleven] miscellaneous [cave] map. Pages 90-94 In: Fee, Scott (ed.). 1993 Speleo Digest. National Speleological Society, Huntsville, AL. 550 pp.

Taylor, Steven J. 1994. Three Izard County [Arkansas] Cave descriptions. Pages 35-37 In: Fee, Scott (ed.). 1993 Speleo Digest. National Speleological Society, Huntsville, AL. 550 pp.

Taylor, Steven J. 1994. Sutterer Spring Cave, Perry County [Missouri]. Page 160 In: Fee, Scott (ed.). 1993 Speleo Digest. National Speleological Society, Huntsville, AL. 550 pp.

Taylor, Steven J. 1995. Cave of Wonder and other Shawnee Hills [Illinois] adventures. The Crawlway Courier 29(1):16-17. . [also reprinted {1996} Pages 76-77 In: Adams, James (ed.). 1995 Speleo Digest. National Speleological Society, Huntsville, AL. 602 pp.]

Taylor, Steven J. 1995. Vertical mapping in the southeastern Shawnee. The Crawlway Courier 29(1):19-20.

Taylor, Steven J. 1997. Fall 1997 MVOR. The Near Normal News (newsletter of Near Normal Grotto) 7(6):8.

Taylor, Steven J. 1997. Pozo de la Escalera Cristal [map only] Association for Mexican Cave Studies Newsletter 22:94.

Taylor, Steven J. 1998. Russell Cave entrance, Alabama. [photo only] NSS News 56(12): 328

Taylor, Steven J. 1998. Winter bioinventories in Hardin Co., Illinois. The Crawlway Courier 32(1):5-6.

Taylor, Steven J. 1998. Exploration: Wakulla County, Florida karst. The Near Normal News 8(1):3-4.

Taylor, Steven J. 1998. A springtime mapping trip (Missouri Ozarks). The Near Normal News 8(3):6-7.

Taylor, Steven J. 1998. Fourteen caves near the Sao Vicente System in Sao Domingos, Goais, Brazil. Pages 283-287 In: Lau, Skeilarae Carpentier (ed.). 1996 Speleo Digest. National Speleological Society, Huntsville, AL. 513 pp.

Taylor, Steven J. 1998. Hunting critters and vertical thrills. The Near Normal News 8(4):10-11.

Taylor, Steven J. 1999. Three photos of Idaho caves [photos only]. NSS News 57(11):336-337

Taylor, Steven J., Leandro Dybal Bertoni, and Jean K. Krejca. 1998. Exploration and survey of the Sao Vicente System, Goias, Brazil. NSS News 56(12): 347-351.

Conservation/Cost-Share/Stewardship Agreements:

I was involved in the development of a four way (Little Egypt Grotto, Shawnee National Forest, Illinois Department of Conservation, Illinois Natural History Survey) Cost-Share Agreement for Ava Cave (Jackson County, Illinois), 1990-1991.
I was involved in the development of a Guthrie Cave (Union County, Illinois) Stewardship Agreement, signed in 1988 by Little Egypt Grotto and Natural Heritage (of the Illinois Department of Conservation, now Illinois Department of Natural Resources).
I was involved in the development and implementation of an "Agreement for Volunteer Services, Cave Protection and Management" with the Illinois Department of Conservation and Little Egypt Grotto in 1991. The agreement covered public caves in two IDOC districts (12&13, southern Illinois) and private caves that are in the Natural Heritage Landmark database.
I was a volunteer during the construction of the (now defunct) Armin Krueger Speleological Research Institute (Monroe County, Illinois).
I participated in an organized cleanup of Brasher Cave (with US Forest Service) in 1995. During the cleanup I was on the crew that mapped the cave. (Cave was gated in 1999 to protect bats).
Participated in a sinkhole cleanup that counted volunteer labor as matching fund for a 319 Grant to the Mississippi Karst Resources Planning Committee (Monroe County, Illinois).
Graffitti removal projects in various Illinois and Missouri caves (1988-present)

Other activities:

Attended three weekend training sessions provided by the National Cave Rescue Commission
Multiple (30+) informal vertical training sessions.
Helped put on a caving clinic at Southern Illinois University (1991)
Attended special Caves Session and field trip at the National Natural Areas Conference in Bloomington, Indiana (Oct 1992)
Gave a talk to the public on caves and cave life at Parkland Community College, Champaign, Illinois (1992)
Development of web pages:

Illinois Biospeleology http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~sjtaylor/cave/biospeleol.html Mexican Biospeleology http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~sjtaylor/cave/mexico/mexico.html Little Egypt Grotto (caving club) http://www.nyx.net/~sjtaylor/leg.html

Cave Surveying:

State/Country Name (county) Year Footage

Arkansas
Solitary Sun Cave 1992 203
Turkey Feather Cave 1992 345
Mack Cypert Cave 1992 174
Clay Cave 1992 1000.+
Hell Creek Cave 1992 200.+
Ungulate Sheltercave 1992 50
cave, northern Arkansas 1993 910
Oz Cave 1994 1300.+

Brazil, Goias
Abismo do Fotographo 1995 31.4
Abismo do Periquito Jandaya 1995 11.9
Abismo da Vaca Pigmeu 1995 94.5
Abismo de Anglipigeo 1995 16.8
Lapa Inferior do Tunel Duplo 1995 93
Lapa do Reloglo Cuco da Kartheiser 1995 29.9

Indiana
Myron's Folly 1993 19
Jerry's Jewel Cave 2000 >70ft
Heffalump Caverns 1993 3180

Illinois
Twisting Hellhole Cave 1990 100.+
Pinnatifid Spleenward Cave 1991 36
Guthrie Cave 1990-93 3244
Honeycomb Hole 1992 56
Apis Annex 1992 63
Boat Ramp Cave 1992 60
McNabb Hollow Spring Cave 1992 57
Stearn's Cave 1992 20.+
Babe's Cave 1992 98
Bat Cave 1992 87
Kopper's Crevice 1992 152.5
Jean's Cave 1992 29
Cossile Fast Pit 1992 39
Crinoid Cave 1992 111
Cedar Cave 1992 60
Cloven Hoof Cave 1992 70
Paw Paw Pit 1992 73
Indian Cave 1993 929.2
Ava Cave 1993-95 3409.8
Teal's Cave 1993 366
Dulcet Waterfall Cave 1993 100.+
Cedar Bluff Cave 1993 980
Slick Crawl Cave 1993 1281
Pipistrellus Pit Cave 1993 185
Simmons Creek Cave #2 1994 460
Brasher Cave 1995 100.+
Cave of Wonder 1995 135
Hibdon Highway Cave 1995 135
Lower Bluff Lake Cave 1995 63ft
Ruit Canal Cave 1996 362
Mason Caves #1 and #2 1996 1000.+
Poquitos Caverns 1996 23.4ft
Apple River Schoolhouse Cave 1999 93ft

New Mexico
Three Fingers Cave 2000 ~1000ft

Mexico
Pozo de la Escalera Cristal 1994 600.+
Pozo sin Oso 1994 15.+
Ojo Encantado 1997 200.+
Sotano de San Marco 1997 100.+

Missouri
Midway Cave 1991 30.+
Mouse Hole) 1989 66.5
Batty's Cave 1992 683
Angry Cow Cave 1992 456
Raging Bull Pit 1992 25
New Years Cave 1992 28
Peanut Hull Cave 1992 36
Shilly-Shally Cave 1992 293
Disappointment Doline Dump Cave 1993 32
Sutterer Spring Cave 1993 135
Muskrat Run 1993 46.5
Andrew Brumfield Pit 1993 38
Pits of Little Egypt Pit 1993 131
Osteology Pit 1993 34
Owl Head Pit 1996 15.+
cave 1998 50.+
cave 1999 150.+
Total Footage ??,???

Cave maps drafted:

Arkansas	Ungulate Sheltercave	1993	50.ft
Illinois	Pinnatifid Spleenwort Cave	1992	30.+ft
	Apple River Schoolhouse Cave	2000	93ft
	Babe's Cave	1992	98
	Cloven Hoof Cave	1992	70.ft
	Cossil Fast Pit	1992	39.ft
	Hibdon Highway Cave	2000	135ft
	Lower Bluff Lake Cave	2000	63ft
	Poquitos Caverns	2000	23.4ft
	Teal's Cave	2000	366ft
	Shilly-Shally Cave	1993	293.ft
	Guthrie Cave [cartographer: Jean Krejca; data management, data reduction, and plotting: Steve Taylor]	1993	2.01 miles
	Ava Cave [cartographer: Jean Krejca]; data management and plotting: Steve Taylor	1996	1.3 miles

Indiana	Myron's Folly	1996	19.1ft
Missouri	Midway Cave	1992	475.ft
	Peanut Hull	1992	36.ft
	Sutterer Spring Cave (w/ J. Krejca)	1993	180.ft
	Batty's Cave	1992?	683.ft
	Andrew Brumfield Pit	1996	38.ft

Geographic Range of Caving Activities:

Brazil	(1995)	2 states
Mexico	(1994-present)	at least 3 states
United States	(1987-present)
	Arizona	3 counties
	Arkansas	2 counties
	Alabama	2 counties
	California	1 county
	Georgia	1 county
	Idaho	2 counties
	Illinois	at least 18 counties
	Indiana	at least 6 counties
	Kentucky	at least 6 counties
	Missouri	at least 12 counties
	New Mexico	3 counties
	Texas	at least 4 counties
	Tennessee	at least 5 counties
	Virginia	1 county
	Washington	2 counties

Selected Equipment:

Ropes (ft):

20, 40, 60 (11mm Bluewater II)
200, 290 (11mm PMI)
60 (8mm PMI)

Assorted webbing, accesory cord, and hardware
Vertical setups:

Frog system

My primary system, competent with rebelays, redirectionals, multidrop situations, and various knots and rigging. Some practice with simulated pickoff rescues.

Rope Walker
Prussik knots

Wetsuit
Assorted floatation (life vests, whitewater kayak, innertubes)
Assorted waterproof cases
Survey gear:

Compasses (Brunton, Silva Type 80, Suunto)
Tapes (open reel fiberglass)
Field books
Light table

Lights:

Carbide lamps
Petzl Duo, Mega
LED Headlamp (under construction)
Flashlights (waterproof)

Multiple cave packs
Cave coveralls, kneepads, gloves, boots, etc.
Cameras (remote flash, slaves).

last modified 13 March 2002

This page is maintained by Steve Taylor. Please email with comments and corrections.

State/Country	Name (county)	Year	Footage
Arkansas
	Solitary Sun Cave	1992	203
	Turkey Feather Cave	1992	345
	Mack Cypert Cave	1992	174
	Clay Cave	1992	1000.+
	Hell Creek Cave	1992	200.+
	Ungulate Sheltercave	1992	50
	cave, northern Arkansas	1993	910
	Oz Cave	1994	1300.+

Brazil, Goias
	Abismo do Fotographo	1995	31.4
	Abismo do Periquito Jandaya	1995	11.9
	Abismo da Vaca Pigmeu	1995	94.5
	Abismo de Anglipigeo	1995	16.8
	Lapa Inferior do Tunel Duplo	1995	93
	Lapa do Reloglo Cuco da Kartheiser	1995	29.9

Indiana
	Myron's Folly	1993	19
	Jerry's Jewel Cave	2000	>70ft
	Heffalump Caverns	1993	3180

Illinois
	Twisting Hellhole Cave	1990	100.+
	Pinnatifid Spleenward Cave	1991	36
	Guthrie Cave	1990-93	3244
	Honeycomb Hole	1992	56
	Apis Annex	1992	63
	Boat Ramp Cave	1992	60
	McNabb Hollow Spring Cave	1992	57
	Stearn's Cave	1992	20.+
	Babe's Cave	1992	98
	Bat Cave	1992	87
	Kopper's Crevice	1992	152.5
	Jean's Cave	1992	29
	Cossile Fast Pit	1992	39
	Crinoid Cave	1992	111
	Cedar Cave	1992	60
	Cloven Hoof Cave	1992	70
	Paw Paw Pit	1992	73
	Indian Cave	1993	929.2
	Ava Cave	1993-95	3409.8
	Teal's Cave	1993	366
	Dulcet Waterfall Cave	1993	100.+
	Cedar Bluff Cave	1993	980
	Slick Crawl Cave	1993	1281
	Pipistrellus Pit Cave	1993	185
	Simmons Creek Cave #2	1994	460
	Brasher Cave	1995	100.+
	Cave of Wonder	1995	135
	Hibdon Highway Cave	1995	135
	Lower Bluff Lake Cave	1995	63ft
	Ruit Canal Cave	1996	362
	Mason Caves #1 and #2	1996	1000.+
	Poquitos Caverns	1996	23.4ft
	Apple River Schoolhouse Cave	1999	93ft

New Mexico
	Three Fingers Cave	2000	~1000ft
Mexico
	Pozo de la Escalera Cristal	1994	600.+
	Pozo sin Oso	1994	15.+
	Ojo Encantado	1997	200.+
	Sotano de San Marco	1997	100.+

Missouri
	Midway Cave	1991	30.+
	Mouse Hole)	1989	66.5
	Batty's Cave	1992	683
	Angry Cow Cave	1992	456
	Raging Bull Pit	1992	25
	New Years Cave	1992	28
	Peanut Hull Cave	1992	36
	Shilly-Shally Cave	1992	293
	Disappointment Doline Dump Cave	1993	32
	Sutterer Spring Cave	1993	135
	Muskrat Run	1993	46.5
	Andrew Brumfield Pit	1993	38
	Pits of Little Egypt Pit	1993	131
	Osteology Pit	1993	34
	Owl Head Pit	1996	15.+
	cave	1998	50.+
	cave	1999	150.+
Total Footage			??,???