It was rewarding to put the print out down after reading a story and see the rapt attention on everyone’s faces. I probably should have expected it since friends and neighbors often quiz me to find out the latest adventure, and since I’ve now written out the very best stories in far greater detail than I’ve ever told them verbally.

One challenge is remembering that all the details I take for granted (because I was there) are still fascinating to others (who weren’t). I tell my university students the same thing, and it just takes a bit more attention to make sure I fit them all in.

The really tough part, though, is that about 1/4 of the stories include some sort of tragedy, and it’s not very fun to relive and remember them in sufficient detail to write them down. But that’s the way it goes. The exciting rescues are the technically, physically, and emotionally challenging ones, and those are also the ones that make the most engaging stories.

I’m so near finishing, I can’t stop now. I just have a few stories to revise and a lot more photos to add and lay out. I’ve already begun setting up a bit of the marketing, including a Facebook page where I’ll share some stories and photos on a regular basis – check it out at Search and Rescue Stories and don’t forget to “like” it so you won’t miss a single exciting post! (Also, I greatly appreciate you liking it because it helps me get a short Facebook URL and helps spread the word which really, really helps!)

I still have to jump through an administrative hoop or two before this is official, but I’ll keep ya posted on when it’s ready to preorder!

Nutty Putty

So while the cave takes a beating, at least it draws attention away from other caves. Not only does this protect other caves from abuse, but Nutty Putty is one of the safer caves around, with only one or two spots where a serious accident seems possible.

About three years ago, search and rescue was called to Nutty Putty three times within a few weeks. The cavers didn’t have serious accidents, they just got stuck. And stuck good! One got wedged in a tiny tube near a room called “The Scout Trap.” Only the smallest scouts can even fit in. I squeezed as far down as possible last weekend and barely got my ankles in before my shoulders wouldn’t slide any farther.

JUNE 2011 UPDATE: Nutty Putty Cave was permanently closed less than a year following this trip report due to a stuck caver’s death. Read the details about this failed rescue in the brand-new book 75 Search and Rescue Stories.

Another was following two (smaller) friends through a tight spot, and when he couldn’t fit, his friends “helped” by giving him a little tug. This got his rib cage past the impediment, but his hips wouldn’t make it…and his ribs wouldn’t go backward. Shay Lellegren and I used an air-powered jack hammer (attached to a SCUBA tank) to remove about an inch of the rock, and then we were able to lift and rotate the boy enough to slide him out.

The third call was a false alarm where a passing trucker (or someone with a CB radio) thought they overheard something about someone stuck (maybe a news report?) and we spent a couple hours checking out the entire cave to make sure there was no one there.

There was talk of filling the entrance with cement due to liability concerns, but eventually Jon Jasper of the Utah Cave Grotto was tasked with creating an iron grate just past the initial squeeze of the entrance. So you can get into the cave, but you’ll only get a few feet before you have to turn around and leave.

The doorway through the iron grate is about as small as any squeeze within the cave, and I wonder if anyone who fits through the cave entrance will fit through the door.

This gate is locked with a combination that changes regularly, and you can make reservations and tour the cave for free! Find all details at http://nuttyputtycave.com/ You can also buy the very stylin’ “Nutty the Weather Bat” there to support cave expenses.

Anyway. I went out there with Jon, Janel, Rachael, Curtis and Susie last weekend. It was nice to have the whole place to ourselves, not having to wait hours for our shot at the Scout Trap, Aorta Crawl, and other locations.

After we got out, we had fun getting the 4Runners stuck in the snow (not mine, though, with its awesome new tires), and Jon generously bought us all dinner at IHOP. Not much to say about it other than everyone made great company and we all had an enjoyable day together.