Post by Brian Roebuck on Mar 19, 2007 20:47:17 GMT -5
Well Bull called Lynn monday morning saying he was dying to do the new pit we found on Sunday. Lynn called me to get off work early. Bull called Steve and got him to promise to show up too. By 3:30 we had all converged yet again on the familiar parking area and geared up. Yes we did bring vertical gear. Bull rigged the pit and went down to the bottom about 35' below saying it had some potential to open up. Steve followed and told us that he needed his hammer. I was elected to go fetch it! By the time I got back a "rock hammer" had been used to break into the next room. I geared up and rapelled in enjoying some nice caramel cream colored flowstone formations as I headed for the floor. Bull needed to open the hole more for his Bullness to fit through so we banged away on it awhile with the real hammer. Already 2 hours had passed. I squeezed into the new room and took stock of it. Not bad, decent decorations, standing room, and lots of clay mud on everything. After looking around I helped Steve dig a lead that I deemed hopeless (looked like a clay and surface debris filled infeeder to me). Bull took a few photos and we decided to survey our way back out of it. It took about another hour to survey our way to the top of the drop. I actually enjoyed the modified Mitchell climb out against the flowstone and over a few sharp edged rocks. It was just challenging enough to make it worthwhile doing. Lynn snapped my sweaty face as I emerged at the top. Bull and Steve shared a minimal climbing rig to get out. They were not as comfortable climbing out! ;D
In the end the pit turned out to be about 35 feet deep with around 70 feet of passage at the bottom. Not bad for a Monday afternoon pit trip!
In the end the pit turned out to be about 35 feet deep with around 70 feet of passage at the bottom. Not bad for a Monday afternoon pit trip!