IMG_4512, originally uploaded by Mic2006.
After my first miserable experience in mid November (See post- Urban Caves Challenge Explorers in Southern Ontario) when I wriggled through water, neck-deep and almost hypothermic I was quite pleasantly surprised to find that the tunnels were relatively free of that turbid coffee-swill.
Slipping through the opening at the bottom of the solution tube I found myself in the wonderfully sculpted chamber beyond. It is only a small niche but to me, with its earthy colored striations and thick beds of freshly deposited mud it is most fascinating (see photo). Any untouched passage is a source of wonder to me.
I sat for a short time; like a scorned beggar in the muck, listing to the hollow plopping of a small stream as it flowed over an unseen obstacle. The sound carried from somewhere off along a side bedding plane tunnel. I discovered, much to my delight, that in pressing myself neck deep in this paste I was able to squeeze along beneath a low shelf towards the noise. It was a cavity that had been immersed on my last visit and though I had felt it with my feet, I had given it little thought. The cold soon put a stop to my efforts. It is a trip that will need a wet suit and possibly a thinner caver.
Is the mud washed out of the low entrance? I known I would never even come close to fitting if it is.SW went through there along with MB.I imagine the svelte cavers can push the far tunnel now?
Hi Mick, Now that I see the photo’s on the side, two below your head,
it mit open back up to the size of the infeeding passage.
We,ll need to talk to the land owner, Because I think
we mit need to move more that the one loose rock near the
window to follow it?
Who now’s the land owner may also know of other
interesting spots to look?
I’ll need to get a topo map for the area next week. Greg.
PS. What is that thing just below Jeffs chin, a stick, metal part???
Yeah, it looks pretty interesting. That thing in front of Jeff’s face is a stick. Would you not imagine that in looking at this picture and pulling out all this mud, it might form the top of a great big tubular shaft? With all the farming and so on, the runoff may have clogged the pit and changed the whole drainage pattern. I mean think of the elevation we are at. We are at the top of two scarps – well its a long shot but until I looked at the photo when you mentioned the stick I had never really gave it much thought. Look at the pit that you must descend to get here. Also there is more elevation, I can hear the water falling off along the low shelf to the side. By the sounds of it, it is just a small drop but who knows how things might have evolved. Mick
Doug, I did not feel like I could fit through the entrance in the forest, hips were pretty tight so I can imagine the chest. Mick
Mick: Really? I am pretty sure I can go in the forest pit if I went low,well if I wasn’t such a trainwreck.I was talking about the shaft pit.Marcus and Steve went through there,god knows how with all the mud.Has it washed clear a a bit? I saw that chamber when I helped Marcus survey ,had you seen it that way when you dug? Nice chamber,glad to see Jeff got to it!Thanks for the great photos as always.The other spot sounds good.I will do landowner stuff tommorrow.
Sorry I did not come..BAD morning.I was glad Greg called or I was going to have to drive up and tell you I could not go.
Can you call me re the trip with guests.Somehow a lot of others got invited and I am not sure if you want to drive that many.I am out for driving :(
If Marcus got through that low shelf with Steve, they are better men than me. mick
Virgin passage…is anything better? Great photos. I used to be one of those tiny cavers you’d send in ahead of everyone else to check out a lead. But that was many pounds ago. ;)
Sadly I have also packed on the pounds and though I attempt to subsist on a constant diet of salad and yogurt I have frequent midnight lapses. Mick