Our last day in North Alabama headed to Stevenson to visit the world-famous McBrides Cave — a classic pull-down through trip popular with cavers and with international attention from the rescue that took days to complete 10 years prior. Met up with Troy Fuqua, Jennifer Denton, and Derek Reneer. Small entrance but what a trip. First three drops between 20-40ft. Worked down through a waterfall section to the lunch room where we suited up for the water portion. Canyon passage with scalloped...

On the way back to Chicago from TAG, we stopped by Speleofest at Lonestar Preserve. Saw Tim Stoops and Bill Baus running around looking for more caves to visit. Unloaded the car and waited for Phil to show up — if he didn't make it in 20 minutes we were heading north. Phil Goldman and Clinton Barber showed up from their trip to Frenchmans Knob and we surprised them with some beer and bourbon at their campsite. Ended up decommissioning their rope obstacle course which took a few hours. Decided...

Camped at Alfred Crabtree's property on Cane Creek the night before, sleeping in the Subaru. The goal: Swamp Springs, the main drainage for Rumbling Falls — a 16-mile cave system whose hydrology was being investigated for connections to Black Rock River Cave and Windy River Cave. Cave divers had pushed a sump from Windy River Cave and believed they connected to Black Rock River Cave, leaving a line and arrow at the insurgence. We were not able to access Black Rock River Cave due to DNR...