 |
A Cave on the Rim |
Attending members:
Guides; Ian and David
Explorers; Doug, Danny and Jim
We left Dave's about 4:20 am, June 11 2001.
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Dave picked a cave on the Rim to surprise us.
He told us about it on the way there.
Inside the cave is
a 30 foot drop so we could
practice in-cave vertical rope work. But first, we had to get past
the tricky and kinda tight entrance. We agreed that I'd go
first to see if I would fit. I managed to wiggle myself through
the worm tunnel to the deciding squeeze point. My feet went
through, my hips slipped through but then I came to my chest.
I raised my arms as high as I could and slid back. Nope, won't go.
Stuck at my chest, AGAIN ! ! !
I felt like Winnie the Pooh stuck in the hole in the side of his
house. This hole was about 3 to 4 inches from front to back and
I was hanging out from both ends. I wasn't stuck, I just couldn't
pass through. What do these caves have against my chest?
We went to another nearby cave. I was assured that I'd fit
because It was an easy going cave. We climbed into the entrance
and began our journey. This was my first cave trip with the great
Ian as one of our guides.
Ian is 5.
He led the trip the whole way,
with a little help from Dad.
Inside the cave, it was really tight
and was really taxing. I was huffing and puffing and straining but
gaining. Dave said that he didn't remember it being that
difficult. (I thought it was just me.) We passed all the really
hard obstacles and went deeper into the cave where the air was
thinning. It became harder to breathe and we got winded easily.
It was about then Ian said, "Come on guys, let's go!" What a cave
animal!
We came accross formations next to the passage ways.
We had to be really careful sliding by the formations so we didn't
disturb them. We were sliding through a narrow tunnel when up
ahead I heard Danny yell, "Doug! Did you FART?" Well, I thought
it was funny until I myself needed to run away, but there was no
room to escape.
We passed a column that was about 2 1/2 feet high,
as big around as a large pizza and all white.
We got deeper into the cave and were greeted with fresh cool
air. That made it easier to press on. We came to the end of our
journey.
There was a bacon formation that was just HUGE! Maybe 6
to 8 feet high and about 4 to 5 feet across. It was so awesome! I
saw a soda straw column about 10 inches high. We rested and ate
granola bars while taking in and enjoying the surroundings.
It was time to head out. What took 2 hours to get in seemed like
20 minutes to get out.
But wait...
I can't fit through a squeeze.
I tried to slide through but I
couldn't fit. I was getting stuck at... MY CHEST!
AARRGGHH! ! ! !
I had to slide down through this squeeze to get to the passage. I
knew what I had to do, I just didn't know how to accomplish it. I
stood sideways between two walls and I had to drop down flat to
where it widens at the bottom. I kicked my legs out to one side
and shifted to a horizontal position. I started to drop.
I'll take it! I reached the bottom and scooted out. Whoa that was
a close one. We all made it out okay.
On the way back to the Baby Hummer we passed another cave. Dave
went on to the truck where Ian was waiting but the Dawson guys
headed into the cave. At the entrance there was a wood frame and
from which a
door lay just inside. Looking around, we saw wooden shelves and
various other pieces of wood laying around. We went through a tunnel
and came out into a room. We all signed the register together. We
were heading out and we must have been in that following mode
because on the way out, we took an incorrect passage and headed
into another room. OH NO! We back tracked and went another
direction until we saw light. Nope, not that way either. The kids
collectively worked together and found the correct passageway to
the exit. We made it out, Hurrah! ! ! ! ! We made it back to town
about 7 P.M.
I'd like to thank Dave very much for taking my family out. Ian and
Dave made the perfect guides and we had a bunch of fun. I am also
very proud of my kids. Danny was a big help with the packs and this
was Doug's first caving adventure in a cave without a trail.
Cave softly (and watch your chest), he he
Jim (o]B-) (caver Jim)
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Attending members: 
Inside the cave is
a 30 foot drop so we could
practice in-cave vertical rope work. But first, we had to get past
the tricky and kinda tight entrance. We agreed that I'd go
first to see if I would fit. I managed to wiggle myself through
the worm tunnel to the deciding squeeze point. My feet went
through, my hips slipped through but then I came to my chest.
I raised my arms as high as I could and slid back. Nope, won't go. 
Inside the cave, it was really tight
and was really taxing. I was huffing and puffing and straining but
gaining. Dave said that he didn't remember it being that
difficult. (I thought it was just me.) We passed all the really
hard obstacles and went deeper into the cave where the air was
thinning. It became harder to breathe and we got winded easily.
It was about then Ian said, "Come on guys, let's go!" What a cave
animal!
We came accross formations next to the passage ways.
We had to be really careful sliding by the formations so we didn't
disturb them. We were sliding through a narrow tunnel when up
ahead I heard Danny yell, "Doug! Did you FART?" Well, I thought
it was funny until I myself needed to run away, but there was no
room to escape.
We passed a column that was about 2 1/2 feet high,
as big around as a large pizza and all white.
There was a bacon formation that was just HUGE! Maybe 6
to 8 feet high and about 4 to 5 feet across. It was so awesome! I
saw a soda straw column about 10 inches high. We rested and ate
granola bars while taking in and enjoying the surroundings.
On the way back to the Baby Hummer we passed another cave. Dave
went on to the truck where Ian was waiting but the Dawson guys
headed into the cave. At the entrance there was a wood frame and
from which a
door lay just inside. Looking around, we saw wooden shelves and
various other pieces of wood laying around. We went through a tunnel
and came out into a room. We all signed the register together. We
were heading out and we must have been in that following mode
because on the way out, we took an incorrect passage and headed
into another room. OH NO! We back tracked and went another
direction until we saw light. Nope, not that way either. The kids
collectively worked together and found the correct passageway to
the exit. We made it out, Hurrah! ! ! ! ! We made it back to town
about 7 P.M.
I'd like to thank Dave very much for taking my family out. Ian and
Dave made the perfect guides and we had a bunch of fun. I am also
very proud of my kids. Danny was a big help with the packs and this
was Doug's first caving adventure in a cave without a trail.
