Post by Sharon Faulkner on Feb 7, 2006 17:17:07 GMT -5
This past Saturday, February 4, was a cold morning to be above ground, but a perfect day to spend inside a cave and a handful of us did just that. Once we had geared up and signed release forms, Mr. Ward (the landowner) and his son, Shannon, offered to drive us to the cave in their four-wheel drives. No one objected to that, the day was cold and windy and the ride was appreciated.
The natural entrance to Ward’s Cave (ABA 3372) is a small, sloped sink, but located right beside this entrance sits an approximately five-foot diameter metal pipe that at first glance I thought was an old well-pump house. This metal pipe is covered and has a ladder fastened to the inside leading down to the cave. Mr. Ward hand dug this entrance into the cave, which is around 15 to 20 feet deep, with a pick and shovel. One may need to see this to grasp the full effect of the amount of work involved in excavating this entrance. Our group one by one climbed down the ladder accompanied by Mr. Ward and his son. As we meandered through the front portion of this maze cave, we saw the remnants of electric lights once strung thru this area. Much of the passage here is walking canyon passage with many interconnecting side passages. Mr. Ward left us prior to a short belly crawl that leads further back into the cave, but Shannon, who seemed to know the cave quite well, gave us a tour of other points of interest in the cave. One passage led to an area with a waist deep crystal-clear pool of water that none of us felt an overwhelming need to venture into to test the depth for ourselves. Another passage led to a small pit with an old nylon rope and a cable ladder rigged from an earlier time. We could see passage leading off from the bottom, but did not find a way to free climb down this pit. Also found nearby is a scaling pole leading to an upper level of the cave, which Shannon and Dave, who has visited this cave before, said didn’t go very far. Leaving here, we began our exit following a different route through the cave and found areas with gypsum lined walls, and several fossils.
As we wound our way back to the entrance, we ventured off the beaten path and did a cursory exploration of some of the side passages we had passed coming in, though by no means did we see the entire cave. Ward’s cave has not been mapped and could certainly use it, though the many loop closures that will be required could become a mapper’s nightmare. In any case, a fun cave, and an excellent place to spend a cold winter day.
Here's a few photos:
Here is a view from the outside of the excavated entrance of Ward's Cave. Andy Zerbe in entrance.
An inside view: Me descending the ladder into the cave. Photo taken by Scott Fee.
Julie exits a short belly crawl.
Dave Caudle, Andy Zerbe, Scott Fee, Julie Fee, & Shannon Ward.
The natural entrance to Ward’s Cave (ABA 3372) is a small, sloped sink, but located right beside this entrance sits an approximately five-foot diameter metal pipe that at first glance I thought was an old well-pump house. This metal pipe is covered and has a ladder fastened to the inside leading down to the cave. Mr. Ward hand dug this entrance into the cave, which is around 15 to 20 feet deep, with a pick and shovel. One may need to see this to grasp the full effect of the amount of work involved in excavating this entrance. Our group one by one climbed down the ladder accompanied by Mr. Ward and his son. As we meandered through the front portion of this maze cave, we saw the remnants of electric lights once strung thru this area. Much of the passage here is walking canyon passage with many interconnecting side passages. Mr. Ward left us prior to a short belly crawl that leads further back into the cave, but Shannon, who seemed to know the cave quite well, gave us a tour of other points of interest in the cave. One passage led to an area with a waist deep crystal-clear pool of water that none of us felt an overwhelming need to venture into to test the depth for ourselves. Another passage led to a small pit with an old nylon rope and a cable ladder rigged from an earlier time. We could see passage leading off from the bottom, but did not find a way to free climb down this pit. Also found nearby is a scaling pole leading to an upper level of the cave, which Shannon and Dave, who has visited this cave before, said didn’t go very far. Leaving here, we began our exit following a different route through the cave and found areas with gypsum lined walls, and several fossils.
As we wound our way back to the entrance, we ventured off the beaten path and did a cursory exploration of some of the side passages we had passed coming in, though by no means did we see the entire cave. Ward’s cave has not been mapped and could certainly use it, though the many loop closures that will be required could become a mapper’s nightmare. In any case, a fun cave, and an excellent place to spend a cold winter day.
Here's a few photos:
Here is a view from the outside of the excavated entrance of Ward's Cave. Andy Zerbe in entrance.
An inside view: Me descending the ladder into the cave. Photo taken by Scott Fee.
Julie exits a short belly crawl.
Dave Caudle, Andy Zerbe, Scott Fee, Julie Fee, & Shannon Ward.
Photo taken by Julie Fee.
