Sunday, January 30, 2011
Anglin Falls
This afternoon I called Daniel and asked him if he wanted to go hiking or something. I couldn't bear to waste the nice 50 degree, sunny day. We won't get another one for a while. So he called me back later and told me we would go hiking to Anglin Falls. So at 3 me Daniel, Jacob Patton, and Jacob M went down to James and Jayme's house. We met them and all piled into their vehicle and drove out to the trailhead for Anglin Falls.
When we got to the falls most everyone just sat around at the bottom of the falls. But Jacob M and I hiked all around it. We found a smaller falls off to the right, and eventually found a way to climb up above the waterfall. I got some pictures of a smaller stair step falls before it went over the edge.
We fooled around up there for a while, and I lay down on the rock ledge and looked over, getting pictures and videos. I don't know what it is, but I like to get as close as I can to the edge of waterfalls.
After Jacob and I came back down we sat around a little more, and then hiked back to the parking area, and went back to school. It was a fun hike, and a nice way to enjoy this really warm, sunny weekend we have had. Too bad it won't last... The freezing temperatures are coming again.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Tower Domes
So today was a trip to Pine Hill Cave. And it's only been a week since I took my cousins and a few friends from school... It seems like that was such a long time ago, already.
Anyway, the same guy that gave me directions to find certain rooms in Pine Hill Cave this summer, invited me on a trip to Pine Hill today. It was nice to finally meet him in person.
We got to the entrance and made pretty good time. I showed him the pool formations at the top of a crack. He had never seen them before. We made it to the Main Fork, and then we took the right passage. Brandon and I tried several times to find the route to the tower domes, but we never did. The first Dome was pretty impressive. But what was even better, was Mike brought some high powered lights. They lit up the domes pretty nice.
The second tower dome was close to the first. It's almost like a connected maze. And still after the second dome, is a large canyon. It stretches quite a distance, and it twists and turns a little bit. It's probably about 100 feet high. At one end of the canyon Mike took me up into a little room where there are some impressive formations.
After we were done checking out this area, we made our way back to the main fork. We took a short break, and ate some snacks, and then we continued on to the left fork. We climbed up into the upper level. Mike actually showed me a way that is safer to get to the skylight dome passage, not that my way is all that "dangerous". But then he had me lead the way to the Art Room, and those surrounding passages. I showed him some shortcuts I'd found up in that area, and we went through the passages. I did make a discovery. At the very back of the Art Room the floor slopes up and Mike and I studied the ground. There were a couple fair sized tree roots coming out of the embankment, as well as smaller, more fibrous ones. So we couldn't have been that far from the surface.
We made our way back, and dropped back down into the main level. We continued on up to the waterfalls. We went through most of them, except right before you would turn right to go to the "big" one, we climbed out of the stream passage. It was time for some exploring. I had been wanting to go away from the waterfalls for quite some time. We followed it. For a while it was mostly just a straight passage where water used to flow through. Pretty soon, though, we began to see formations. And at one point there is a massive flowstone formation, with stalactites all around.
We continued on past this. There were two ways to go. We eventually check them both out. Both eventually end in breakdown. The cave does not go much farther than this because it butts up against a valley floor. However, on the second route we chose to go we did emerge from some breakdown to find a new dome. Neither of us knew it existed. But it's pretty cool.
We finished up exploring and then made our way out. Overall it was a really fun trip. Mike and I got to know each other some, and we had some really great conversations. And, I've had a big situation come up in my life right now, and it was really nice to spend 5 hours caving today, and forget it even existed. And it was even greater to see some brand new cave passage, compliments of God's handiwork!
(Me, standing in the canyon)
Link to the rest of my photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/
Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Anyway, the same guy that gave me directions to find certain rooms in Pine Hill Cave this summer, invited me on a trip to Pine Hill today. It was nice to finally meet him in person.
We got to the entrance and made pretty good time. I showed him the pool formations at the top of a crack. He had never seen them before. We made it to the Main Fork, and then we took the right passage. Brandon and I tried several times to find the route to the tower domes, but we never did. The first Dome was pretty impressive. But what was even better, was Mike brought some high powered lights. They lit up the domes pretty nice.
We made our way back, and dropped back down into the main level. We continued on up to the waterfalls. We went through most of them, except right before you would turn right to go to the "big" one, we climbed out of the stream passage. It was time for some exploring. I had been wanting to go away from the waterfalls for quite some time. We followed it. For a while it was mostly just a straight passage where water used to flow through. Pretty soon, though, we began to see formations. And at one point there is a massive flowstone formation, with stalactites all around.
We finished up exploring and then made our way out. Overall it was a really fun trip. Mike and I got to know each other some, and we had some really great conversations. And, I've had a big situation come up in my life right now, and it was really nice to spend 5 hours caving today, and forget it even existed. And it was even greater to see some brand new cave passage, compliments of God's handiwork!
Link to the rest of my photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/
Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Trip to Pine Hill Cave, with snow!
Well today was the first time I'd ever went caving when there was snow on the ground outside. When we arrived at the cave, we stashed our change of clothes near the entrance. It was really cold. In the entrance of the cave there were some really cool ice formations and big ice stalactites. However, when we went a little ways into the cave it began to get pretty warm. Even the water was much warmer than the outside air temperature.
(Ice formations near the entrance)
We made our way along, I was being more careful to not move too fast, and I took more breaks for some people so that no injuries occurred. Most everyone checked out a small side passage real quick, and then we continued on to the skylight dome.
(My cousin Erik, after we left the midsection bypass)
The rest of the trip went pretty good. We made good time getting to the "Birth Canal" And I really enjoyed the caribeaners I got for Christmas. I was able to clip one to a loop on my shoe and drag my backpack behind me. It was so much easier than having to push it ahead of me. One by one we all made it out of the passage and came into the Skylight Dome.
(Megan, coming out into the skylight dome)
We took a break when we were in the dome, turned out our lights and admired the sunlight coming down. And then we refreshed with some crackers and Gatorade. Going out, the pack was much lighter.
(Refreshing in the Skylight Dome)
When we were done we headed on out. We were running behind on time, but I made the decision to not rush out as I didn't want anyone getting hurt. That would have made things worse. But we all made it out okay. The interesting part was changing. It was still really cold near the front of the cave. We split up, and quickly put on dry clothes before heading back to the cars. One of the guys that came along, Blaine, ran ahead and so he wasn't in the group picture.
(Mark, Erik, Daniel, Alexas, & Megan)
The full link to all of the pictures is here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jholcomb8/PineHillJanuary# It was a pretty awesome trip, and it was really nice to get to go caving again. I really appreciated my helmet I got for Christmas. It seemed that I was bumping my head a lot since I got it.
Until next time, the caving addict! :D
We made our way along, I was being more careful to not move too fast, and I took more breaks for some people so that no injuries occurred. Most everyone checked out a small side passage real quick, and then we continued on to the skylight dome.
The rest of the trip went pretty good. We made good time getting to the "Birth Canal" And I really enjoyed the caribeaners I got for Christmas. I was able to clip one to a loop on my shoe and drag my backpack behind me. It was so much easier than having to push it ahead of me. One by one we all made it out of the passage and came into the Skylight Dome.
We took a break when we were in the dome, turned out our lights and admired the sunlight coming down. And then we refreshed with some crackers and Gatorade. Going out, the pack was much lighter.
When we were done we headed on out. We were running behind on time, but I made the decision to not rush out as I didn't want anyone getting hurt. That would have made things worse. But we all made it out okay. The interesting part was changing. It was still really cold near the front of the cave. We split up, and quickly put on dry clothes before heading back to the cars. One of the guys that came along, Blaine, ran ahead and so he wasn't in the group picture.
The full link to all of the pictures is here: http://picasaweb.google.com/jholcomb8/PineHillJanuary# It was a pretty awesome trip, and it was really nice to get to go caving again. I really appreciated my helmet I got for Christmas. It seemed that I was bumping my head a lot since I got it.
Until next time, the caving addict! :D
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Caving Helmets
Well, I thought I'd post a picture of my new caving helmet. Uncle Larry and his family got me one for Christmas. I never got one because they are expensive. And it has clips to hold a headlamp on. I also used some zip ties to mount a small LED flashlight to the sight where there were some slots.
The other night, Erik and I also "modded" some construction helmets. Uncle larry has a bunch in his attic. We drilled some holes in them and used some short bolts, nuts, and washers to create clips on the outside that would hold a headlamp on.
Also, I thought it would be worth mentioning the other amazing Christmas gifts I got from all of my family. I got, I believe, 12 books on caves and caving, a dry bag for caving, and a collection of caribeaners. These started my collection of gear for when I get into vertical caving. I have friends at school that have done it a little bit. At the end of the summer I hope to buy a harness and an ascender.
Tomorrow is a caving trip! I haven't been able to go caving since the end of October. My last plans for a trip were ruined by 4 inches of snow. But it's all looking good now. When my cousins Erik and Mark bring me back to school we are going caving. I'll take them, Daniel Schlagel, and Megan to Pine Hill. It should be a fun time.
Tomorrow is a caving trip! I haven't been able to go caving since the end of October. My last plans for a trip were ruined by 4 inches of snow. But it's all looking good now. When my cousins Erik and Mark bring me back to school we are going caving. I'll take them, Daniel Schlagel, and Megan to Pine Hill. It should be a fun time.
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