021 (Winter 1973) - National Speleological Society

REPORT OF INVESTIGATION
Following instructions received from the Washington office through
the Regional Director, an investigation was made of Neffls Canyon
Cave near Salt Lake City Utah. The names of those making the
investigation are listed at the beginning of this report.
V( ith the exception of Thomas Walker and his son, Lee, the group
arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sunday, September 16. Monday was
spent in obtaining additional information about the cave.
Since the
cave was located inside the boundaries of Wasat ch National Forest,
the group called at the office of Forest Supervisor F. C
the morning of September 17,
he had in his files
Koziol on
Mr. Koziol gave us what information
reviewed the background of other investigations
and suggested the names of two young men living in Salt Lake City
who were anxious to go along as guides.
One of these men expected
to be hired as a guide, the second was willing to go along for the
experience.
We suggested to Mr. Koziol that he refrain from alerting
these men until our plans were more complete and the group later decided
that because of the risks involved tegether with the fact that one
of the boys was only seventeen years of age, it would not be advisable
to take either of the young men along.
Mr. Koziol introduced the group to Ranger Robert W. Gardner and he
assisted with maps and also in locating the entrance to the cave.
After the conference in Forest Supervisor Koziol's office, the party
split into thee groups. Superintendent Thomas Walker, Mr. Felton
and Mr. Clark went with Ranger Gardner to locate a trail or way to
the cave.
o
Superintendent Hoskins and Myrl Walker went to the University of Utah
where they talked to Dr. Ray E. Marsell (two years later a charter
member of the Salt Lake Grotto of the National Speleological Society ­
editor's note) and Dr. F .. W .. Christiansen of the Department of Geology.
Mr. Marsh and I went to interview Mr. CharlesH. Malmborg.
Mr.
Malmborg is an amateur geologist and a baker by trade. He is currently
employed by the Holsum Bakery and he had prepared the report from
his knowledge of geology and from interviews from students who had
been inside the cave.
Through telephone conversation with the boyrs
mother I learned that the boy suggested by Mr. Koziol was now in the
Army and that his brother, who had made several trips inside and who
would be willing to go along, was only seventeen.
All of the interviews were completed Monday afternoon and the groups
returned to the Newhouse Hotel to complete plans for the investigation.
Because of. the age of the boys suggested as gui des, together with employment
difficulties, we decided against employing anyone as guide.
with the help of Ranger Gardner a trail had been located leading to the
cave entrance, and Superintendent Tom Walker had gone inside for a
short distance. He advis ed that in order to make any kind of an : inves _
tigation we would need additional rope. We purchased a 12 GO-foot coil
of rope and agreed to be ready to start Tuesday morning at 7:00 a. m.
Tom Walker was to secure a pack animal and meet us at the Forest Service
boundary, 18
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