This past weekend, a few of us ([i]Grin_N_Barrett, Urodoji, myself and 500-600 others[/i]) attended the semi-annual "MVOR" caving convention in southern Missouri...

While we didn't actually do any caving this time, we did do a lot of hiking and visited a few springs and sink holes.

If anyone here is familiar with MVOR or the NSS Discussion boards, then you might know me as "The_Sherpa"...  Yes, the same Sherpa that won the highly touted grudge match in the "Speleo Box", then sharing the prized bottle of single malt scotch around the bonfire! :lol:


1) [b]Round Spring [/b]-- Downstream side of "Round Spring", which releases just over 1 million gallons of water per hour.
[img]http://www.castle-arms.com/sinks/2-s.jpg[/img]


2) [b]Round Spring [/b]-- before exiting through the rock as pictured in the 1st image. This sinkhole is thought to be several hundred feet deep, but due to upward currents and icy temps, divers have yet to find the bottom.  This pit is roughly 50-70 feet across.
[img]http://www.castle-arms.com/sinks/4-s.jpg[/img]


3) [b]Devils Well [/b]-- This particular sinkhole drops into a funnel shaped bowl, before going subterranean, at which point it drops into a deep water filled cavern, with the water surface being roughly 50 feet below ground.  This is a gated cavern, for obvious safety reasons!
[img]http://www.castle-arms.com/sinks/6-s.jpg[/img]


4) [b]Devils Well [/b]-- Very picturesque pond, near "Devils Well".
[img]http://www.castle-arms.com/sinks/7-s.jpg[/img]


5) [b]The Sinks [/b]-- Upstream view, where "Sinking Creek" disappears under the cliffs.
[img]http://www.castle-arms.com/sinks/10-s.jpg[/img]


6) [b]The Sinks [/b]-- Downstream view, where "Sinking Creek" reappears approximately 200 feet later.  The deep emerald hue of the water, is due to the depth caused by a sinkhole containing a large spring.
[img]http://www.castle-arms.com/sinks/13-s.jpg[/img]


7) [b]The Sinks [/b]-- Downstream view, showing the tunnel all the way through the wall, as it opens up on the upstream side.
[img]http://www.castle-arms.com/sinks/14-s.jpg[/img]

Campground scenes...


[img]http://www.castle-arms.com/sinks/camp.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.castle-arms.com/sinks/naked_chick.jpg[/img]

Nice

Um, wow.  Brave woman.  Will she ever talk to you again? [:)]

Hey! I've been there!  Current River right?

That's a blast!  And you are right about caves.  Lots of cool ones right along the river.

Beautiful pics Anti. Thanks.

Hey anti..that's some pretty cool shit. I'd love to go there some time and just hang out for a couple of weeks and really get to know the place. Ever since I was young I've always loved just wandering out in the woods, following streams and stuff like that. Looks like you had a good time.

Any more pics of the naked chick? [;)]

Hehehe...

I snapped a couple of really quick shots that were out of focus, but by the time I realized it, she had put a sweater on...  So, I politely asked if she would mind removing her top once again and flashing us some more. [}:D]

She was very cool about posing!


BTW:  That's her boyfriend seen in the far left portion of the frame, also taking pix...


[img]http://www.castle-arms.com/sinks/film-1.jpg[/img][img]http://www.castle-arms.com/sinks/film-2.jpg[/img][img]http://www.castle-arms.com/sinks/film-3.jpg[/img][img]http://www.castle-arms.com/sinks/film-4.jpg[/img]

Damn these photos make me homesick.

BTW she is the cutest spelunker I have even seen.

Great pic, Thanks

Bats are your friend. I keep telling my wife

Tim...nice pics!  Looks like it was a good time.

medcop

[b]MedCop:[/b] Don't say that we didn't ask you to join us!

Damn that could be as good or better than some of our parties? I like caves, crevices and holes too!

And why haven't you forwarded the unedited pics on to me???????? [:D]

During the DOOR PRIZE give-a-ways on Saturday night, we decided to donate 2 boxes of 223, from the QSS region.  Mind you, the QSS region consisted of 4 people -- the 3 owners of Castle Arms, and Grin's twin brother!

The chick that was doing the drawings, FREAKED when she realized what Urodoji handed her, and called him back to reclaim it, stating, "We can't give away ammunition here..."! Urodoji countered with the fact that they gave away booze, and what if an alcoholic won it, and then drove his truck over a dozen kids..?


We made lots of waves, because they have attempted to ban the possession of firearms at these events.  On the otherhand, we had a bit of a gunshow at our campground, and it was well known that our camp was a "Safe Zone"... Ya'll don't suppose firing an M16 near the "quiet camp" had anything to do with that, do ya..? [}:D]

So where are the unedited pics?

Hidden on my server!

She has a set of nice solid "B" cups... I know, because they happened to be camping next to us!

I failed to mention the sauna, which happens to be the "naked zone"...  There were lots of cuties there this weekend, that I saw headed towards the sauna.  I actually didn't go this time, because I promised to be good, and not run around naked.  Ironically, this is the one place I go, where it is actually very permissable...  go figure! [rolleyes]


[*] This happens to be the same event, in which I was able to convince several women to have a naked hoola-hoop contest, a couple of years ago... [+]:D][/*]

I'm jealous. Caving is one of my favorite passtimes, but my wife and I hardly ever get to go anymore because of work.

It looks like you had a good time!

About the topless girl...thats the good thing about caving, fat people can't do it! ( unless you go to Mammoth Cave, which isn't really caving)

Sounds like pretty cool stuff. I dig caving...

You should plan to join us in April, for the next MVOR.

[url]www.mvor.org[/url]

Now how much fun is that? [;)]

Okay, one more...

[img]http://www.castle-arms.com/sinks/chick-animated.gif[/img]

haha...that's a good one

Can you send me the information on the April trip?

Just keep a watchful eye on the MVOR website...  We won't know anything until the info is posted either! [url]www.mvor.org[/url]

If you are a caver, you should probably get involved with the groups in your region.  There is the WV/PA area, "TAG" is the Tennessee area Grotto, Ohio has their own thing...  All of these can be found via the NSS website & discussion boards ([url]www.caves.org[/url]).  If you visit the NSS boards, I am known as "The_Sherpa" and Grin_N_Barrett is "Guano Boy"!

I used to live in a place like that as a kid in Baltimore. Very nice.

For those of you interested in venturing further into the caving community, goto [url]www.caves.org[/url], and then visit the [b]NSS Organizations[/b] pages...  These will give you details on how to contact others and participate in events in your area.

The overall "culture" and political aspect of caving, tends to be a bit on the liberal side of things, but we have a great time anyway!

We generally attend these functions solely for the comraderie and access to specific areas ([i]caves/springs/formations[/i]) that otherwise may be closed off to the general public.

I would reckon that close to 50% of the attendees just kick back and relax for a couple of days, while never leaving the campgrounds.  They just hang out, play frisbee, party, fly kites, party, browse the vendors, party, eat, party...  You get the idea! [;)]