The team before the trip
The first ever cave camp in the remote Southern Comfort section of Wind Cave, South Dakota occurred June 13-16, 2008. Carl Bern, Andrew Blackstock, Evan Blackstock, and Larry Shaffer spent three nights in the camp.
The remote outpost is named Camp Cosmos, after the region of Southern Comfort where it is located. The design is based on the successful camping model established in Jewel Cave. Sleeping bags, foam pads, stoves, and emergency supplies are cached and maintained at the camp. A drip collection system in the nearby Rt. 66 passage supplies drinking water. We simply carried our food, spare clothing, and surveying equipment through the approximately 4 miles of twisting passages to reach the camp. The trip was a success. Fifteen leads were checked or mapped and 1,166 feet were added to the Wind Cave survey bringing the total length of the cave to 129+ miles.
Views of the camp
After four days in the cave.
