| Name | Age | Sex | Injuries | Injured areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee, Dino | 16 | Male | Not recorded | Not recorded |
At around 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 20, four cavers entered Copeland Cave in Biount County, Alabama. These were Dino Lee, Ricky Lee, Dale Elrod and James Clegg (all16). They anchored a rope and descended the narrow 60 foot entrance shaft, apparently depending on the rope for support.
After exploring awhile they went to ascend this shaft, but found the rain-slickened, muddy walls made climbing nearly impossible. Friends knew where they had gone and their car was parked outside. They felt they would be found but were wet and cold and, obviously, the longer the wait the less fun it would be. Clegg, who had had a climbing course the previous summer put in a determined effort and made it out. At 7 p.m. he notified the Blount County Sheriff's Office and a rescue squad was dispatched. Using a block and tackle the three trapped cavers were hauled out. All were out by 9:30 p.m.
ANALYSIS: It sounds like Clegg took an unnecessary risk in climbing the pitch to the surface but if the cavers were actually wet and cold, hypothermia could have become a real problem if their wait for rescue had become a long one. The owner of the property reportedly didn't know the cave existed. Possibly the climbing course Clegg had experienced gave him the ability to chimney the slick walls, with the aid of the rope when the others couldn't. In general this is just another example of cavers outside the organized community using primitive techniques. The lesson here is that whatever technique you use, it should be practiced so that one knows his limitations. Then, changing conditions like the rain slickened walls could be taken into consideration and one would stand a better chance of success.
Four teenagers become trapped in Copeland Cave, Alabama when they are unable to climb out of a 60ft entrance shaft. One of the boys undergoes a risky climb and is able to alert the authorities, allowing them to haul out all of the boys.