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Salamander Cave 2-27-10

After a month of planning all were ready for a fun filled Saturday underground. Most of the group met at Cracker Barrel for breakfast before heading over to the cave. I was hoping my brother, his girlfriend, and her cousin would be meeting me as well but it turns out they were a running a little behind. As our group was so large it was determined by me that separate tables would be quickest and I was joined by John, Brenda, and Tim. Soon after being seated we saw others we recognized beginning to filter in. We soon realized that we weren't sure who the contact for the cave was, and who in fact did anyone know? Well Brenda being herself went from table to table figuring out who everyone was and what exactly was going on. Not long after finishing eating, my brother called and was in the parking lot. As I was going out to meet him, sure enough Brenda and her gang had meet up with the contact and we were in business. Kinda makes me feel like being in some sort of spy movie, secret contacts and the like. At any rate, chin straps were fabricated and we were on our way.

The group of twenty was finally at the top of the hill and after Laura's water situation was figured out, we headed down so I could at least breath a little of Shaft's air. Amazingly Mel led us straight to the fenced in area. I don't know if this has ever happened before, but maybe things are looking up for the poor guy. I know it wasn't drippy inside but still had to settle for a quick glimpse. Will I ever get on rope: the world may never know. A few brave souls decided to hop the fence and check it out even though no one would be going to the bottom.

Not long after, we assembled at the entrance to Salamander for about as large a group photo as I think I have been in at a cave entrance. Other than a couple boyscout trips I think this is one of the larger groups. Everyone made their way in to the first big room where my first “side trip” began. I dropped into a crack at the top of the first room, and Aaron, Matt, and Allison were willing to follow. A small dug open passage was encountered that quickly lead into a small formation room. Voices of the rest of the group were heard and we went on around and were right back where we started. John was waiting on us and we headed deeper into the cave.

Everyone was enjoying themselves in the nice open passages that make up the most of this cave. However when we came up to Cox's Passage, the three musketeers once again decided to see what was “down this way”. This is the point in the video where Brenda makes a joke about “Since you took them back there you have to go find them.” So I got to go from lovely walking passage to a nice crawl. I never did catch up to them as they were already out of it probably before I even went in.

While continuing down the passage with my brother and his girlfriend, I did manage to get myself turned around and was headed back to the entrance. It took two people who had never been caving before to lead me in what has to be the easiest cave ever. Just goes to show how quickly you can be disoriented in even the easiest of passages. Always be sure to look back and know not only where you are going but where you have been. At this point we ran into Elza and Mel who were already headed out, but this is where my main adventure was just ready to begin.

Soon we were at my main objective for the day which is the breakdown crawl that leads to a very tight crawl at the end of the Salamander side of the cave. This cave actually has a second entrances that a lot of people aren't aware of. However I do not know the status of the other entrance so no through-trips should be made. I knew Tim would be waiting on me when I made it to the back of the cave so I hurried to where he was poking around trying to remember the way on. I looked above the first hole he went into, but didn't find the way on. He then came out and we looked one hole lower and found it.

Tim said he only had a few minutes to explore, but I knew since this involved not only squeezing, but seeing new cave he could easily be persuaded to stick around for awhile. This area of the cave begins with a breakdown crawl that quickly comes to a fairly tight squeeze between two pieces of said breakdown. Tim who was leading made it through easily, I was right behind him but do have to admit it is tight. Soon Laura was through and unfortunately Brian decided it wasn't for him to do this day. This squeeze is compounded by the fact you have to turn and go straight up and there just isn't a lot to push off of to continue.

The three of us were then quickly out of the breakdown and to the point that had stopped me in the past. Not long after one comes out of the breakdown the passage lowers to probably 18 inches high at best and several feet wide. A right turn is encountered and immediately one is forced to squeeze to continue. This is where I was stopped the first trip in but it did seem easier this time. Plop! I was in it and committed to continue. Although not spacious by any means the next 50 or so feet isn't too bad, but then a person of my size is back to inching forward in passage that doesn't seem to show any signs of getting better, or worse for that matter, for as far as you can see. Tim did report back that there was room to turn around just ahead, probably 50 feet or so again. I decided it was going to take me up to 20 or so minutes to make it to where he was and then I'd have to wriggle my fatness back through, so I too was done. However it was definitely do able, and I had made it two squeezes further then I had before so I was happy. Laura however had to try it. If you ever get a chance to hear her in a squeeze I'd definitely recommend it. Yep that's right I said hear. I won't go into detail here as to not ruin it for anyone. Making it was far as I did she too decided to head back. It will be there another day. However the constriction that stopped me before is harder on the way out and the bruises on my ribs reminded me of that for the next couple of days. Laura did make it though another way around my tightest squeeze that I didn't even think was passable. So much for what I know.

Back in the main passage it seemed the rest of our group had decided to abandon us. Oh well, we had a nice discussion about love, life, and weirdos. All too soon we were back at the entrance and ran into Vince and his daughter who were climbing down at the first big room. We exited the cave together and soon all parted ways ready for the next adventure underground.