Back to the Cave!

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v343/CoachAlan/Cave001.jpg

Great news: Satruday is Veteran's Day, which is a federal holiday! Even more great news: I'm a federal employee! Put it all together, and it means that I'm getting a day off this Saturday!

But how does that benefit you, you ask? Stop being so selfish, and go out there and thank someone who opted to serve our country! Oh, and it benefits you because I'll be using that day off to go back to a place that has been lodged in the vacuous melon I call my brain ever since I first visited it so many months ago: The Cave.

Bring your flashlights and headlamps for some serious spelunking!

To see the event descriptions and pictures/reviews from our previous cave outings, click the links below:
https://hiking.meetup.... (https://hiking.meetup.com/161/calendar/5053925/)
https://hiking.meetup.... (https://hiking.meetup.com/161/calendar/5057697/)
https://hiking.meetup.... (https://hiking.meetup.com/161/calendar/5047014/)
https://hiking.meetup.... (https://hiking.meetup.com/161/photos/?photoAlbumId=89648&photoId=565827)

To get to the cave, take Charleston West, as though you were going to Red Rock. Pass the entrance to the Scenic Loop/Visitors' Center, and exactly one mile down the road, on your left, is the parking lot for this hike. There's a sign indicating "Horseback Riding" above the gate in the parking lot.

The trail itself is pretty short. It will probably take 45 minutes or less to get to the cave. The amount of time we spend spelunking is entirely up to us. I've been there three times, and there are still areas I haven't seen.

The trail to the cave is steep in spots, and it's dirt, so footing can be loose. We had 30+ people (including kids and a few dogs) on the Moonlight Hike to the cave, and everybody made it to the canyon OK. On the way back down, a kid slipped and scraped his arm. Nothing too serious. To get to the cave itself requires a small amount of climbing, and a walk part way up the canyon on loose footing. If we take it slowly and carefully, as we did on the Moonlight Hike, even an inexperienced hiker should be able to get up there.

Once in the cave, climbing is neccessary to explore the deeper chambers. Some of the passages are a bit tight - some too tight for anyone but Jay. Way to go, Jay! The main chamber is about 50 yards wide and at least as deep, and 15 feet high at its biggest. Many of the other chambers are also quite sizeable.

>>>>CAUTION<<<<

Climbing and caving are inherently dangerous! I am not a geologist, and cannot vouch for the stability of the cave. Nor can I keep you completely safe while climbing. I will do everything I can to help along the way, but ultimately, trail/cave safety is your responsibility. We managed to get 30+ people up and down IN THE DARK on the moonlight hike without any injuries, but that does not guarantee your safety. Please know your limits.

That said, this is a cool cave that is fun to explore. It's also, unfortunately, been subject to much vandalism. As on our last trip to the cave, we'll be bringing a garbage bag with us to pack out as much trash as we can.

Hope to see you out there!

• Alan