Post by Tony Anders on Jun 11, 2008 9:39:54 GMT -5
10 June 2008
Sinks of the Roundstone Cave Trip
This is our second trip, in as many days, so we left about 10 a.m. this morning and got to the Sinks Parking area about 11am. Suited up and into the cave, we began yet another adventure into Kentucky’s underground.
The caves rear entrance seemed wetter than usual today. I guess the storm the night before must have put some water into this entrance overnight. We moved through the stoop walk area to our first crawl. On top of the shelf and down to the first underground stream; this area was drier than we have ever seen it before. We contemplated trying the new section, but with the kids, we decided it would be best not to this time. Up the next little grade, then came the climb.
David and I made our way to the top to get the rope ready for the boys to use on their way up. David took the opportunity to take some pictures here as the boys made the climb up to the shelf. I anchored in and held the rope for the boys to use to aid them in climbing the wall and each took their turn, with the rope assisting them.
Up on top, we stopped for a break and ate a snack. We sat long enough that we began to get chilled. We got packed back up and headed on to the next crawl.
David made his way up ahead and set up for more photos. This crawl was about a 20” belly crawl. This was Shawn’s first time at this end of the cave, so he enjoyed the climb on the rope and now this crawl. I used a strap and drug my pack behind me, with it being attached to my ankle. I couldn’t believe how much easier this made crawling.
After the crawl, we made our way to the top of the next section and slid down the small grade to the next section where there was a long groove cut in the grade. This slide was made memorable from a previous trip about 15 years ago. A friend of ours, named Mike, slid down and hit the puddle at the bottom, splashing his buddy. Ever since, we have called this particular part of the cave the ‘Mike Bales Slide’.
David went on down first to set up again for another photo op. Each of the boys took turns sliding down. When it came Shawn’s turn, he decided he wanted to ride on Dad’s lap. So he and I slid down the slide together; or should I say scooted.
Now at the bottom, we started moving on toward the middle of the cave. We came to the 80 foot high dome with water constantly dropping down into a barrel. This is marked on the map as the 80 foot water fall. Stopping there momentarily, we looked up at what appeared to be a shelf at the top of the dome. We were wondering what was up there, but knew we will probably never find out. I think that is part of the thrill of caving. I have lost count of the times I have been in this cave; however, I had never noticed that shelf or apparent opening eighty feet above us. I guess you see something new each time you go into a cave, that is, if you take the time to look.
Closer to the middle of the cave, the cavern is getting much taller now, averaging twenty to thirty feet and some places probably fifty plus feet high. This cave is truly worth going through more and more, no matter how many times you have been in it before.
Here, the cave has a lot of side passages and shelves up high. There must be some way to get there, because someone had been in there painting names and what have you on some of those high up areas. Too bad this awesome cave has so many people wanting to desecrate it. I guess that is why I want to try to get the club more active in talking to the press and educating everyone about the importance of not doing that. This cave has been known as a party cave too. I guess because it is so easy to access from the main entrance.
Anyway, we moved on towards the entrance and down close to the sump and stopped to look around. The boys tried climb a rock and Shawn slipped and fell on his hand. He was okay, but now he thought he was ready to go on home. We made our way on to the entrance which was definitely wet. I went into the creek and stood to help the boys rock hop on out of the cave. I am glad I had my water proof boots on. Not that it would have mattered, with it being almost 90 outside, I am sure they would have dried quickly. We made our way to the entrance and dressed down to our hiking clothes there. Up and out and to the railroad tracks, we walked. Walking the tracks back to the vehicles. Those tracks are dead by the way. Shawn wanted to walk through the railroad tunnel. He thought that would be cool. So we went through the tunnel that was just past the entrance we had gone into about three hours earlier.
Back at the trucks, we had some snacks and drinks and left for home. On the way home, we decided to do a little recon for a few more caves that I had remembered the coordinates to from looking at a map previously. We drove around for a little while and saw some over-hangs and possibly a new hole or two to come back later and check.
Another great way to spend a vacation…….taking the little guys caving.
Hope everyone enjoys reading about it as much as we enjoyed going.