IMG_4977, originally uploaded by Mic2006.
With the appearance of a moon shining down on some alien planet the LED light of one of my fellow cavers illuminates a shelf of rimstone dams.
Low bedding plane cavitites stretch out from the main channel in which we stoop. The decorations get more extravagant deeper into those spaces. I can see an extensive shallow pool surrounded by soda straws. Seeping flowstone blocks an adjacent tunnel. We carefully negotiate our way along the trench; watching for features that are camoflauged on the walls.
Mick
Check your email. I need some info from you.
Nige
Do not think that all this information without even names of caves
does have some sense. I even can not understand are all new stories about the same cave or are they about different caves.
This does not mean that I ask you Mick to send me extra information
privately, please do not do it, because I hate deeply “elitist” taste
and knowledge that I can not share.
Hey Marina, the blog is for general public consumption and to interest anyone who loves what I do – rock and its many fantastic variations. Many people are happy to look at the pictures and learn from afar about the wonders of nature.
Often, in respect to the person who found a particular spot or has told me of it in confidence, I am not at liberty to divulge the location, though, I will refer you to them for further information. I had found some of these tunnels myself and the area with two other TCG members a few years back and so do not mind taking whomever I please to see it.
What I publicise is needfully vague, the story line if followed from the beginning will make the name of the cave quite clear though the location is not possible to say in public. Most trips that I write of are open to any caver who would like to come and this one that I am discussing over the next week was open to any and all from the TCG. Kirk had sent an e-mail round reminding people of the trip that I was leading this last Sunday. I am more than happy to include you next time. I hope to go again soon and will touch base with you when I do. Everything since this past Sunday is about the same area, there are numerous different caving spots some that I know of and many that I do not. Sadly so few people really appreciate what an amazing place Ontario is but I do feel there is a lot to find here, people have only to learn the geology and study the clues. That is one of the things that I enjoy. If a person wants everything just handed to them, that just cant happen, I spend a great deal of time in unsuccessful searching before I have a single success.
I understand your frustration, I had spent years scraping around in filthy little caves without much to reccomend them, it was only when I hooked up with others and put some time in with them and learning from them that things really came together. For me, it is as much understanding the geography as it is the cave itself – though nothing really beats the beauty here. Marcus Buck had fortunatly been my mentor and had helped me through the dry years. I will always defer to Marcus’s opinion and understanding of what is right with caving. Before blogging I discussed what would be appropriate and he felt that names that might reveal locations were not a good idea (unless it is already in the public knowledge eg. Rockwood Cave”) Mick
Thank you for your invitation “any TCG member” is welcome
to come – it was exactly what I would like to hear.
If we except new club members we should give them a bit of trust
not because they want “everything just handed to them” becuase they need feeling of beeing part of the real caving club.
Very sorry you did not feel that way, I will arrange a trip soon and will be happy to bring at least 12 people if I can find that many. There is a great deal to see and map and explore. The area has tremendous caving potential and there are so many places to check for tunnels. I was hoping that Kirk would go on this last trip but it appears that he is on a caving convention out west.