8 NSS NewS,December2009
DISCLAIMER: Great Expectations is an NSS-owned alpine cave in Wyoming. It is not for the beginner. It is a very chal-lenging cave requiring a lengthy time commitment and containing vertical drops (negotiable only via single-rope technique), deep pools, waterfalls, strong currents, low air spaces, and dangerously cold temperatures. Do not attempt to visit this cave unless you have the proper experience and equipment, and have consulted NSS member Bob Montgomery for a permit and key.
GreatExpectationsCave.IhadwantedtogosinceBenSainsburytoldmeabouthistriptherein2005.Hisdescriptionsealedit:Thedeepest through-trip inthe lower48statesat1400verticalfeetfromupperentrancetolowerentrance,5milesofwalk-ing,7rappels,38degreeFtemperatures(airandwater), lotsofswimming,andanasty2000-foot-longwatercrawlat theend. Ihadtriednumeroustimestogetontotripsgoingthroughthecaveoverrecentyears,butschoolorworkalwaysgotintheway.OutoftheblueIemailedJasonBallensky,theapparentlocusofrecentGreatExactiv-ity,toseeifhewasgoingthisyear,andasluckwouldhaveitagroupofcaversfromTAGhadalreadypersuadedhimtodoatrip.WhenIe-mailedhim,herepliedandsaidthathehadplannedtoaskmeifIwantedtogo.
BobMontgomery, theNSScontactforGreatEx,hadmentionedtoJasonthatsummerinWyominghadbeenwet,andtoexpectmorewaterthanusual.However,theofficialGreatExmanagementplanstates
that“Theidealtimeframesinwhichtovisitthecavearefrommidtolatesummerandinearlyfall,whenthepotentialforfloodingislow,evenduringthunderstorms,”sowefeltconfidentthatthewaterlevelswouldbemanageable.Afewdaysbeforethetripwassupposedtohappen,Jasonsentane-mailtothegroupwithalinktoareallycrappyweatherforecastpredictingbothrainandsnowfortheweekend.Thiswaseerilyremi-niscentofareallynastytimeIhadattemptingtocaveinUtahafewyearsago—abeautifulsummerhadturnedintoarainy,thenfreezy,then full-onspindriftblizzardyweekendbeforemyveryeyesandhaddramaticallychangedtheplannedcourseofevents.SoIhoppedaflightoutofSanFranciscohopingnottohavearepeatofthat.
Myconnection inDenverwasverytight, so Ihad torun to thenext flight,whichconnectedtoWorland,WY.Onceon theplane Iunexpectedlysat right infrontofJason,sowetalkedcavingandgotreacquaintedasIhadn’tseenhiminabout5years.AfterlandinginWorland,weweregreetedbymostofourgroup.ShaneSnyder,MikeGreeneandChadEllisflewinfromTAG;IhadcavedwithShaneoncelike10yearsago,buthadnevermetMikeorChadbefore.WillieHunt,aregularcavingbuddyofmine,droveallthewayfromSouthernCaliforniainhisF250loadedwithtonsofgear,andwasmyridefortheweekend.Thepitofmystomachstartedtosinkwitheachpassingsecondasmybagdidnotshowupatthebaggageclaim.Thisbagcontainedallofmycavegearandfood,sothebadomenthathadstartedwiththeweatherreporthad
nowcontinuedwithmyluggage.Iexchangedphonenumberswiththeladyinchargewithapromisefromhertogettothebottomofthings,andwealltookoffinthreevehiclesfora2-hourdriveoutintothewoodstoourcampsite.
Thepavedportionof thedrivewasuneventful,withtheexceptionofthelightrainsprinklesthathadstarted.Thesecondhalfof thedrivewasonawindy,muddyroadthatwasprobablyonlysuitablefor4wdvehiclesinthoseconditions.Everybodyhad4wdexceptforChad,whowasdrivingaregularcar.Wehadjustaboutreachedthecampsitewhenhescrapedbottomhardonarock.Herolleddownthewindowandsmelledhotoil.Gettingout, therewasa15-foot-longtrailofoilbehindthecar—theoilpanhadruptured.Yetanotherbadomen.Chadpulledthecarofftothesideoftheroadandleftittherefortheremainderoftheweekend.Arrivingatcamp,wefoundDougWarner,acaverbuddyofminefromMontana,whocompletedthegroup.Wesetuptents(IborrowedonefromWillie)andwenttobed.Thentherainreallystarted.Araucousthunderstormcameinandpouredonthecampsiteforhours,repeatedlywakingallofusup.
ThenextmorningIwokeuptoaverywettent,butsomehowmysleepingbagwastotallydry.Ihadtovariouslymoochclothes,cups,andstovesfrompeopletogetthroughthemorning.Theplanforthedaywastocheckoutthelowerentranceofthecaveandmakesureitwaspassablesowecouldgetoutthenextday.Wepiledintothree4wd
Willie, Mike, Jason, Doug, Shane, Chad at the lower entrance Bruce on the hike to the lower entrance
Facing the Unexpected in Great Expectations CaveBruce White
with guidance from Jason Ballensky, Doug Warner, Mike Greene, and Shane SnyderPhotos by Bruce White unless credited otherwise
NSS NewS,December2009 9
vehicles,nowincludingDoug’s,andsetoffoversomeverymuddy4wdroads.Duringoneespeciallysteepandsleazysection,Williedecidedthatifhedroveanyfurtherhewouldn’tbeabletogetbackout.Soheputitinreverseandparkedbackuponthehillbehindus.HeandIwalkedalongtheroadandcaughtupwiththeothervehiclesthathadnowmadeitacrossavalleyandupontothehillontheotherside.WepiledintoShane’sSuburbanandcontinued totheparkingspot.Onthewaythere,ShanelamentedthatheshouldhavealsolefthisvehiclewhereWilliedidandwasnotlookingforwardtothedriveback.BythistimetheonlyshoesandclothesthatIhad,whichIhadplannedonwearingontheplanehome,werecompletelysoakedandcoveredinmud.
Thehiketothecavewasbeautifulwithmorethanatouchofmisery. Itwasveryfoggyandsprinkledmostofthetime,andtheroutewetookdownintothevalleycoveredabout1.5milesand1000verticalfeet.Wewentthroughnumerousoldclearcutswithlotsofslipperyrottingwood.EventuallywecametothestreaminthevalleyfloorandfollowedittothelowerentranceofGreatEx,akatheGreatExit.Jasoncommentedthatthestream,nowquiteswollen,hadbeen
dryonhisprevioustrips.Jasonenteredthecavetomakesuretheroutewaspassableand thatwater levelswerenormal.Hequicklyreturnedandreportedthatsomerockshadmovedandtheresultingsqueezewascertainlytootightforeveryoneinthegroup to fit through.Healsocouldnotconclusivelytellwhetherthewaterlevelsinthegrimcrawlwerehighenoughtosumpitshut.Tobypassthesqueeze,wecheckedoutanalternatesandcrawlroute,butitwassiltedshut.Jason,ShaneandIdugonthisforthenexthourortwoandeventuallymadeavoiceandlightconnection,butwenevergotitlargeenoughtofitthrough.MikeandChadmadeafireoutsideandweallgatheredaroundittodiscussoptions.ItwasgettinglateinthedayandIstillhadtogobacktoWorlandtopickupmybag,assumingithadevenarrived.Andifwedidn’tgetthatlowerentrancedugout,nobodywasgoingallthewaythroughthecave.Ontopofthat,wedidn’tknowforsureifthewaterwashighenoughtocloseoffthepassage.Theideaofabandoningthetriptodoadifferentbutlessspectacularcavewassuggested.OrperhapswewouldexploreGreatExfromthetop,seeonlypartofthecave,andexitthewaywecamein.MyopinionwasthatifIwasgoingtodoGreatEx,itwouldbeathroughtrip,otherwiseIwouldratherdoadifferentcave.Itstartedtorainharder,andwillpowerwaslost.Variousfolksstatedthenandtherethattheyhadalreadydecidedtheydidn’twanttodothethroughtrip,whatwithallthebadomenspilingup.Wehadthetimeandenergyforonelastdig.Miraculously,ChadandMikemanagedtofindandenlargeanotheralternatesqueezerouteenoughthateveryoneinthegroupcouldfit.Wethenfoundaneasiergametrailbackupthehilltothecars.Luckily,bothvehiclesmadeitbackacrossthesteepmuddyvalleytowherewehadleftWillie’struck,butnotwithoutalittle
suspense—wehadtogetoutoftheSuburbanandwatchShanespinthetiresanddriveitnearlysidewaystogetupthehill.
Imanagedtofinallygetreceptionoutthereandtalktothe ladyattheWorlandAirport—mybagwouldbearrivingat6:30pmthatnight.DougandIdrovebackintoWorlandand thebagwas there—thankgoodness!Iprobablycouldhavedonethecaveborrowingother folks’ gear,but Ireallydidn’twantto.Backatcamp,Jason,MikeandShanemadetheshorthiketotheentranceofGreatExtocheckoutthewaterlevelenteringthecave.Thethreehadafrankdiscussionaboutthewateranditspossibleeffectsontheimpendingtrip.Theynotedaspotinthecreekbedforfuturereferenceasanindicatorofrisingorloweringwaterlevels.Theydecidedthatifitwasrainingthenextmorning,evenlookedlikerain,orthe
Willie’s snow-collapsed gear tent
Group photo in the lunch room (Willie, Mike, Shane, Bruce, Doug, Chad, Jason)
Jason and Bruce in the Great Hall
Chad
Ellis
Just inside the upper entrance
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watermarkwasnoticeablyunderwater,thetripwouldbeoff.BythetimeDougandIreturnedtocamp,everyonewasasleepandsnowwascoveringeverything.
Thenextdaywewokeuptoabeautifulsunnymorning.ThehugetentthatWilliehadsetupforgearstoragehadcollapsedduringthenight.Itwasstillcoldandthesnowwasnotmelting,but theclearskyandbrightsunrejuvenatedeveryoneanditwasquicklyagreedthatweweregoingintothecave.Fourofuswoulddothethroughtrip,andtheotherthreewouldgoinasfarasthelunchroom,thenturnaroundandexitthewaywecamein.Thiswasdecidedduetoacombi-nationofcomplexvehicleparkinglogistics,workweeksleepdeprivation,hypothermia
concerns,deadrentalcarreturntimes,andthefactthata7-personthrough-tripwasgoingtotakeareallylongtime.
Theupperentrance to thecave,at8500’elevation,wasonly300yardsfromthecampsite,sowegearedupandheadedin.Althoughhehadbeentherethreetimespreviously(onceallthewaythrough),thiswasJason’sfirsttimeleadingatriptoGreatEx.Assuch,hewasarmedwithmapprint-outsandroutefinding/rope lengthnotesfromvarious individuals.Withtheexcep-tionofoneclimbdownwithsomeheavysprayfromawaterfall,thefirstsectionofthecavewasdry.Wehadtodoalittlebitofroutefinding,butthetriptookusthroughthemassiveandbeautifulGreatHall,downashortropedrop,throughsomeveryniceformations,andintoalargechambercalledtheThetaRoom.Justbeyond,westoppedattheLunchRoomandate.
Herethegroupsplitup.Doug,Willie,andChadexitedthesamewaywecameinfora6-hourtrip.ThreegrazingMoosegreetedthemwhentheyemerged.Acoupleofropedrops,thelargest50’,tookJason,Shane,MikeandmyselfdowntotheleveloftheLostWorlandRiver.Thisiswherethecavereallygotinteresting—fortherestofthetripwewouldfollowthismassiveunder-groundriver.Onceeverybodywasdown,Jasonsaid“Alright,youguysreadytodothisthing??”andimmediatelyjumpedintoapooloverhisheadandstartedswimmingdownstream.Wefollowed.ThefirstthingInoticedwasthatthecurrentwasverystrong.Ididn’treallyhavetopaddleinanyofthepoolsasthewaterwouldjustpullmealong,sometimestothesideintoeddysthattooksomeefforttogetoutof,andIhadtobracemyselfatthetopofmanyofthecascadesandwaterfallstokeepfrombeingsuckedover.Thecharacterofthepassagewasadeeptansculpteddolomitewithbeautifulblackchert/manganeseshelvesevery10verticalfeetorsoupthewalls,interruptedoftenbywaterfallsofallsizes.Generally,thepassageaveragedperhaps40feethighand15feetwide,althoughthisvariedtoprobablyashighas100feetandaslowassumped(requiringabypassroute).Thenextfewhourswereabsoluteblissandmyfavoritekindofcaving.Wetandsplashywithpositively-mudlessrapids,waterfalls,climbs,plungepools,andintermittentropedrops.Iwashootingandholleringandhavingagreattime.Wewereallwearingwetsuitsat least7mmthick,coveredwithvariousabrasion-resistant(orsowethought)clothingtoprotectagainstthesharpdolomite.For95%ofthetripIwastoastywarm,oftentoohot,eventhoughwewereswimmingin38oFwater.
All theropedrops in thecavewerealreadyrigged,withtheexceptionofthewetdropswhereanyropesleftwouldbeshred-dedbythepoundingwaterinaveryshorttime.Jasonhadbroughtasingle100-footpieceof rope.At the firstwetdrop,hejudgedtheropelength,cutitwithaknife,andrigged.Thisthingwasawesome—a30’rappelnexttoanabsolutelyevil,poundingfalls.Atthebottomwehadtorappelofftheendoftheropeandintoaroilingpooloverourheads,thencontinueswimmingdownthepassage.Toocool!Wecametothetopofa10-footwaterfallandJasonimmediatelyclimbeddownitlikeitwasnobigdeal.Therestofuswatchedwide-eyedanddecidedtherewasnowayweweregoingtoclimbthat.ItwasatthispointthatwestartedtounderstandsomethingaboutJason:heisfearless.Soweriggedtheremainingropewe
Mike and Shane in the wet section
Jason about to rig the scary 20’ falls
Mike in the wet section
Jason looking up the maelstrom of the scary water section
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hadandMikerappelledit.Nearthebottomhewasabsolutelyengulfedinthewater,onlytoreappearsecondslaterintheplungepoolatthebottom.Shanedidthesame,andgaveusthewilliesbystayingunderthefallsandflailingforafewlongseconds.Ireriggedtheropeoutofthefalls,rightdowntherouteJasonhasclimbed.AsIrappelled,Irealizedjusthoweasytheclimbactuallywas.Thisthemewouldrepeat—havingbeentherebefore,Jason’s familiaritywith thecaveandoverallfearlessnessgavehimamuchhigherrisktolerancethantherestofus.ForShane,Mikeandmyself, thiswasanunfamiliarcaveinwhichfatalhypothermiawouldswiftlycomewithonemistake,soourrisktolerancewasverylow.Climbsthatwenormallywouldhavenoproblemwith
suddenlybecametooriskybecauseofthenatureofthecave.BecauseofthisJasonoftenpushedourcomfortlevelonthistrip,andIamsurethatweappearedtobeoverlycautioustohim.
Afterrappellingtheshortfalls,Jasonderiggedtheropeandclimbedbackdownwithitsowecouldrappelthenextdrop.Weallstill feltverygoodandenergetic.ThatwouldchangeasweencounteredoneofthemostintimidatingcavepassagesIhaveeverbeenin.Thewatercurrentquicklybecamemuchstronger,andwesoonfoundourselvesclimbingdownnexttoaseriesofseriouslymalevolentrapidsandwaterfalls.Thesectionstartedwitha6-foot-highclimbable fallsfollowedbyaseriesofviolentlyswirlingfrothypools.Fromtherethewaterexplodedoutovera20-footfalls intoanotherroil-ingpool,overanother10-footfallsintoyetanotherpool,thenoverafinal5-footfallsintoabigpoolthatwascalmatthefarend.Ireallycannotdescribethefullpowerofthewaterhere,itwasabsolutelyjaw-dropping.Needlesstosay,ifyoufell intothewater,youwerealmostcertainlydead.Ifyoudidn’tdrownintherapidsfirst,you’dbepulledoverthefallsinstantly.Wehadtosticktoasmallslopingledgetotherightsideofthepassagetokeepfromfallingin.ItwasherethatJasonannouncedthatyes,thewaterwasdefinitelyhigherthanhe’deverseenit.Thisplantedasmallseedofanxietyinmymindthatthegrimcrawlattheendmightbesumpedshut.ItwasalsoherethatMikeconfided“Man,thisscaresme.”
Jason tiedoff the ropeand slowlyinchedouttotheedgeofthe20-footfalls,riggedintotheboltsthere,andrappelledoutofsight.AminutelaterIsawhimreappearatthetopofthe10-footfallsbelow,stillonrope.Hestartedtherappel,andlookedconfusedforasecond.Thenheswungtohisrightabit, intothefalls,andsuddenlyhe looked likea fallenwaterskiierbeingdraggedbythetowropeathighspeed.Asecondlaterhedisappeareddownintothewaterfall.Hereappearedatthebottomandgavetheall-clear.Iwentnextandrappelledthe20-footfalls.Ihadtoholdtheropewithmyrighthandandgrabhandholdswithmylefttheentiretimetokeepmyselffromswingingdirectlyintothefullbruntofthefalls.Stillonrope,Itraversedtheplungepoolatthebaseofthe20-footfallsandpreparedtorappelthe10-footfallsbelow.Istarteddownandveryquicklynoticed,tomygreathorror,thatIwasshortrigged!Theropedidnotreachthebottom.Wehadcutoffalittlebittoomuchofitatthepreviousdrop.Theendwasonly5or6feetofftheground,butrappellingofftheendmeanttumblingrightintothemaelstromofthefalls.Iclungontothewalltotheleftofthefallslookingforfoot
andhandholdsthatwouldallowmetoclimbdown,buttherewasnothing.IturnedmyheadaroundandlookedacrosstheplungepoolandsawJasonwaswavingformetoswingintothefalls.Itwastheonlyoptionasitwouldallowforthegreatestamountofropelength.Iswungintothefallsandthefullforceofitimmediatelysmackedmerightonthechestandflippedmeoverbackwards.Ilostmygripontheropeandfelltothebottomofthefalls,back-first.Ilandedonmyback,insidethefalls,ontotherockyflooroftheplungepool.Luckily,IwaswearingaveryrobustandwaterproofSwaygopack,anditcushionedthefallverywell.IheartilyendorseSwaygo!Fromthatpointthecurrenttookmeandrolledmetwiceoutintotheplungepool.ImanagedtograbtheedgeofthepoolandstopmyselfbeforeIwentoverthefinal5-footfalls.Iemergedfromthepoolshaken,andamazedthatIwasn’thurtatall.ThefallsweresoloudthatIhadtobewithinafootofJason,yelling,totalktohim.Therewasnowaytocommunicatewiththoseaboveus,andascendingbackupalmostcertainlywouldhavebeenamoredangerousendeavor,requiringprolongedfull-submersioninbothwaterfalls.Mikecamedownnext,andthistimeJasoncrossedtheplungepoolandcoachedhimdown.Heswungintothefalls
Jason coaxes Mike down the short-rigged drop
Mike moments from being swallowed by a waterfall
Chad
Ellis
Jason takes a food break
High cliffs visible on the hike to the lower entrance
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inamorecrouchedpositionthanIdidandwasthrowndownintothepool,albeitmuchmoresafelythanIwas.Shanecamedownandinnovativelyswunghimselfallthewayacross,andthrough,thefallstotheothersidewhereheattemptedtoland.Healmostmadeit,butthenfellbackwardsintothepooljustatthebaseofthefalls.Ibreathedasighofreliefaftereveryonewasdownsafely.Butthatincidentsappedalittleofeverybody’sstrengthandconfidence.
Thetoneofthetripbecameabitmoreseriousafterthat.Theroutefromthatpointconsistedofanastyexposedstep-acrossmovebelowanoverhangand20feetoverrapidsbelow(atwhichpointIturnedtoMikeandsaid“this iswhatscaresme!”),followedbyafewhairy,steepclimbdowns.Thefinalpuckerwaswhenwemissedahighbypassrouteandcametothetopofasketchy8-footfalls.AtfirstJasonlookedforanalternateroute,butfindingnothingheattemptedtoclimbdownthefalls.Heslidovertheedgeonhisbutt,sortofclungtotherightwall,thenbouncedintothefalls.Hereappearedbelowandmouthed“it’snotthatbad.”Therestofuswerenotconvinced.Wehadonefinalpieceoftatteredhandlinethatwe’dfoundintheremainsofaropeleftbackatoneofthewetdrops.Wetiedthisoffandthethreeofuseasilyclimbeddown.
Fromherethecaveeasedup.Wespenthourswalkingpeacefullythroughwaist-deep,gorgeous,glassy-calmwaterpassagewith50-footceilings, incrediblebleach-whiteflowstoneandsodastraws,andhugeblack,vertical,free-standingchertfins.Afterawhilelonger,Jasontoldusthatthegrimcrawlwasonly1000feetaway,whichpeppedusup.Wecontinuedonandhadtoroutefindforawhilebeforewefiguredouttherightwayintothecrawl.Atthestartofthecrawlwestoppedandate.Jasonnotedthatthewaterwasalsohighhere,asanoverflowroutethathadbeendrybeforewasnowfilledwithwater.Thisdidnotmakemefeelbetter.Theprospectofheadingbackoutthewaywecameseemednearlyimpossible–itwouldhaverequiredverydifficultropeascentsand
climbsinallthewaterfallswehadalreadyencountered,andwouldeasilyhavetaken20incrediblyexhaustinghoursormore.Isaid“IthinkIhaveaholeinthebuttofmywetsuit”towhichMikereplied,“Ohyeah,youhaveforawhile.”Ihadn’tnoticed.Bummer,thatthingwasexpensive.Atthestartofthecave,thecharacterofthedolomitehadbeenroughandgrabbylikeverycoursesandpaper.Aswedescendeddeeper,thedolomitecontinuedtogetsharper.Now,inthelowerpartofthecave,someoftheboulderslookedverynearlyliketheywerecoveredinsharkteeth,orasShanedescribedit,“thousandsofsmallelephanttusks.”Everybody’souterlayerhadprettymuchshredded.Jason’scavesuithadbecomeaskirt.Thelowerlegsofthepantscoveringmywetsuitwereonlyheldinplacebymykneepads.
Westartedintothecrawl,notentirelysurethatitwouldn’tbesumpedtotheceil-ing.Thepassageitselfwasabout25feetwideand2feethigh,withabout8inchesofwaterinitflowingveryrapidly.Thefloorofthecrawlwascoveredindolomiterockhornsandbumps.Thehornseasilyandfrequentlycaughtonclothingandpackstraps.Wewent in feet firstand let thewatercarryusasmuchaspossible.Thecurrentwasstrongenoughthatthewaterwouldflowupandovermyshoulders,oftengettinginmyearsandface.Afterbeingwarmtheentiretrip,myhandsandfeetfinallywentnumb.Icouldfeeltherockmakingcontactwithmybuttthroughtheholeinmywetsuit,butitdidn’tfeellikeitwasleavingawound.Wemadesuretostickclosetogetherhere.Wewentthroughwhatwassupposedtobethelowestairspacesection;thankfully, itwaspassablewithonesideofthefacetouchingtheceilingandtheothersidedowninthewater.Thecrawlcontinuedforabout2hourswhensuddenlyweemergedintoahandsandkneescrawlway.Jasonboundedaheadandstartedhootingwithdelight.Wehadmadeit.Afewmoresqueezesthroughsomedirtandrocks,andwewereoutafter17hoursunderground.
Havingfeltenergeticformostofthetrip,thereliefofbeingoutofthecavegavewaytoutterexhaustion.Thehikebackupthehillinthedarkwasaslowdeathmarch,butwefinallymadeittothetopwhereDougandChadwerethoughtfullywaitinginDoug’struckwithfoodandwater(sparingusfromwalkingperhapsanother2milesfurthertoShane’sSuburban).Thesunstartedtocomeupaswedrovethe4wdroadbacktocamp.Igotabout3hoursofsleepbeforeitwastimetowakeupandpackthegear.Uponrising,IrealizedwhatawreckIwas.Everyjointached,allmymusclesweresore,Ihadcutsandbruiseseverywhere,andwhatIthought
wasaminorabrasiononmybuttturnedouttobeahuge5-inchdiameterraspberrythatlookedlikeIhadsatonastove.Itwouldbe4daysbeforeIcouldsitnormallyagain.AdaylaterathomeIdiscoveredthatIhadlost5pounds.Asofthiswriting,nearlythreeweekslater,bothShaneandMikearestillhavingfootnumbnessissuesfromthecoldwaterandpossiblepermanentnervedamage.
SowhatdidIthinkofthetrip?GreatExpectationsCaveisabsolutelyincredible.Atrueclassiccaveandatestforanyhardcorecaver.Inmytop5forsure.Comparableincaliber,butnotnecessarilydifficulty,tocaveslikeMainDrain,NeilsonsWell,orEllisonsCave.Inspiteofanydifficulties,Iwoulddefi-nitelydoitagain.NexttimeIwouldtake150feetofropetorigthewetdrops,100feetofsacrificialwebbingjustincasesomeoneisnotcomfortablewithaclimbandneedsahandline,andIwouldwearmuchmorerobustballisticnylonshortsasanouterlayer.Afewgenerallessonswerelearnedduringthecourseofthistrip,themostobviousbeingthatevenifbyallappearancesyouhavedoneyourhomeworkandarecompletelypreparedforatrip,unexpectedeventscananddostillhappenanyway,andtheirimpactissuddenandpotentiallydangerous.Thoseofuswhohavebeencavingforawhilewithnoincidentstendtoget lulledintoafalsesenseofsecurity,andthiscomplacencywilleventuallycatchuptousifwedon’tremindourselves tobeconstantlyvigilant.Thistripwasalsoareminderthat it isagoodideatowearyourascendinggearwhileonrappelevenifsomeoneelseappearstohavesuccessfullynegotiatedthedropbeforeyou,althoughthatmayormaynothavebeenofmuchbenefithere.
ThankstoJasonfor leadingthetrip,thankstoeveryoneinthegroupforbeinggreatguystocavewith,andthankstoWillie,DougandChadforallthesupportonthesurface. Iendeduphavingtowearblackrubberknee-highWelliesontheflighthomeastheyweremyonlydryshoes.
Chad
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Chad
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Mike GreeneChad Ellis
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