ADAM HAYDOCK

TORODE PIT

May 26, 2015

Ken Williams climbing out of Torode Pit, Alabama

We took our time waking up Sunday as the trip yesterday to Fowler 2 was quite a long one so we met up with Ken Williams and Annette Bongiovanni at the Liberty restaurant for some breakfast and a trip out to Torode Pit across from Jacobs Mountian. This is a 192ft. open air pit with some large bore hole breakdown passage that leads to.....nothing. Just abruptly stops but is quite impressive. I had the chance to talk with the landowner that lives near the pit and he was nice enough to allow us to park on his property and visit the cave from the top down.

Ken Williams about to rappel the entrance of Torode Pit, Alabama

We pull up and park our cars in a field, gear up, and head down the steep slope going over slippry rocks and tripping a bit over vines all while avoiding poison ivy. Eventually we work our way over to the sinkhole and come up to the entrance of Torode Pit.

Walter and ken in Torode Pit, Alabama

We rig the drop and all descend down this large vertical borehole pit down to the bottom where we could see a large borehole passage that actually took around 20 minutes to walk across.

The borehole of Torode Pit

It was quite large!! Ken and Annette bounced the pit a few times and I got a chance to take some pictures before heading out.

Torode Pit Alabama

I was the last one to exit the cave and right as I was getting on rope I saw a chipmunk! Yup, it looked at me and ran off like it knew where it was going which is interesting as there must be another entrance for that chipmunk to get into and get to the bottom of the pit. The cave was gorgeous and I was really impressed with how this cave looked.

Walter Climbing Torode Pit Alabama

We headed out of the cave and started our hike up back to the car. Slowly we made or way to the parking spot and enjoyed some time together while deciding on going to grab some Mexican in Scottsboro which was a lot of fun and ended our day with great laughs, good friends, and full bellies!

Walter climbing Torode Pit, Alabama

FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/exploration-worldwide/sets/72157653089299280

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FOWLER 2 MULTI-DROP WATERFALL CAVE

May 26, 2015

Top of the 7th Drop in Fowler 2 cave Alabama

After getting 10 days off to go to down to Alabama for a week and I spent a day taking our time to drive down to TAG which was a whole lot better than going to work and driving right from work to TAG just to get a couple hours of sleep and to cave the next day....yea, sooo much better!!!

We get to our motel at the Liberty inn in Scottsboro and at around 11pm the night before Fowler 2, Walter Stech shows up. We get some rest and meet up with Josh Schultz, Lee White, Robby Jones, Randy Dusenberry, Steve Davis and his son at a gas station near Skyline. Once we were all there we headed out to Jacobs Mountain and the parking spot where we would hike down to Fowler 2.

We get to Jacobs Mountain and park out cars near a 4x4 logging road that will eventually lead us over to the caves. We had intentions to drop Bleeding Ghyll Cave so we dropped off the 380ft rope at the entrance. Afterwards, we hike over the hill to the other side where Fowler 2 is located which is situated in a active workcourse stream that falls into the cave entrance.

We suit up and proceed to rig and descend into the first of 9 rappels. The First rappel was around 90-100ft and the longest one in the cave. We descend down and as we got deeper into the pit shaft, the water drops start to pick up rapidly and we find ourselves soaking wet and in the downpour at the bottom of the cave. There is a lot of water coming down!!

First Drop in Fowler 2 Alabama

We had to snake the rope over to the second drop so we waited for everyone else to get off rope in order to descend the second drop which was also in a lot of water and was around 50ft. This was quite an awkward drop because we had to get on rope and crawl into the drop and swing out a bit in order to get to the bottom.

2nd Drop in Fowler 2 cave Alabama

We all make it to the bottom of this rappel and proceed down the slot canyon passage where the water was snaking its way to the third drop which was only 10-15ft but in tons of water. At the bottom of this was a re-belay and the 50ft forth drop where we had to get on rope and crawl out and over the edge but with this rappel, the water actually would pour over our heads like a giant cup pouring never ending water as you descend down into the cold depths of the cave.

4th Drop in Fowler 2 cave Alabama

We worked our way around another waterfall and down some breakdown into a dry passage and the 6th drop which was 30-40ft into a breakdown hallway.

Walter Stech at the Top of the 7th drop in Fowler 2 cave Alabama

This hallway took us to another more impressive drop in the system. This was the 7th rap and a 70ft drop that had a couple shelves where the water would slam onto the shelf and spray outwards...YES!! Finally at the bottom, the level ground this was a great place to take some pictures and to cool off on rope as you descend directly in the waterfalls fury of cave water!!! freaking awesome!!

Robby Jones at the Bottom of the 7th Drop in Fowler 2 Cave Alabama

next we had to wait in a crawling passage that was about chest high in water to get onto the 8th drop another 70-80 ft rappel directly in water and a pool of water at the bottom.

Robby Jones pushing through a low ceiling high water passage in Fowler 2 Cave Alabama

People started to get quite cold, lips were blue, eyes were dreary, rain coats were torn up from the sharp water cut limestone and sandstone passage with levels of sharp chert that seemed to grab and swipe at you as you would by-pass along the way.

Robby Jones at the top of the 8th drop in Fowler 2 cave Alabama

So here we are at the bottom of the 8th drop Randy and Lee start to head out of the cave because of the cold conditions so it was down to Josh, Walter, Robby and myself.

Bottom of the 8th Drop Fowler 2 cave alabama

We start to head through a grueling passage that was no more than 3 feet high and a meandering passage of cobblestone that took a hike with you in your boots as we crawled and dragged our cold and tired bodies hundreds of feet to the last and final drop.

Josh about to descend the 9th drop in Fowler 2 cave Alabama

This was the 9th and final rappel by the side of the watercourse which took us down to the connection to bleeding ghyll where we initially were going to do a crossover but decided against it due to rock falls.

Top of the 9th Drop looking down at Josh Schultz in Fowler 2 cave

After we finally bottom the last drop we ascend out in stages while de-rigging all of the ropes and eventually making it back up to the surface without incident 10 hours later into the night. It was quite the climb as it all added up to around 495 ft of waterfall climbing in water and dragging 20lbs of gear through the cave to the surface. Day one finally ended when we got back tot he car and we were pretty worn out from all of the work we did but it was one hell of a good time!!!!!!

Robby Jones at the top of the 7th drop rappelling into the waterfall in Fowler 2 Alabama

FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/exploration-worldwide/sets/72157653093215198

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BIG BAT CAVE

March 31, 2015

After waking up in Phil's nice warm trailer, we get up extra early to make it over to the general store in Custer to get setup for a objective trip into Big Bat Cave. The entrance was through a culvert that was vertically installed into the ground for a nice entrance into the break down pile. Once we all got in, we went over a series of breakdown passages stoop walking and crawling passage till we got to a Tyrolean traverse. This was a 18ft pit that had a hand line in place to hold onto so nobody fell into the pit below. After we passed this point we came up to another series of breakdown piles and into this room that had some fascinating fossil biota. It was quite a large fossil but we kept moving on until we came to a junction the slot canyon passage, than down through the Kentucky Crawlway and out into the river passage. This was quite interesting as the water has cut some sections of the river cave with general fluted walls and scalloped rock. At other parts the passage was standard Midwest river passage. We went up into a side passage at was a bit more dry and came back down pass a chert cannonball room and back out into the main trunk which would lead us to the sump.

Sump in Big Bat Cave Kentucky

We continued down passage until we got to a section where John wanted to follow a side lead to see if it will continue and the rest of us continued down the river passage and at times the water got so deep we had to start swimming. Eventually we got to a breakdown Rotunda Room and the sump was in site. Beforehand, John was explaining to me that over 13 different leads exist which will extend the survey into virgin passage but might develop options for cavers to pursue different directions in the cave.

Sump in Big Bat Cave Kentucky

I agree that a continued push Into the side passages may uncover more levels, more passage, and might also help cavers to enter the cave from the surface down into different POI's including a more direct route to the sump.

Sump in Big Bat Cave Kentucky

The traverse to the sump was a fun one and it can be done with regard to dive gear but it will require gear to be packaged with padding and handled carefully which can be a challenge in the belly crawl and breakdown passages, BUT no doubt, it is a workable process especially with a group of around 16 cavers like you mentioned.

Sump in Big Bat Cave Kentucky

A connection to the lower river passage through one of the potential leads will be very helpful for a dive to take place and add another margin of safety.

Sump in Big Bat Cave Kentucky

The beach-sand hill can not only be used as a staging ground, but the passage at the top can be used as a warming station which are two important advantages to this dive site. They overlook the sump which is really nice.

The room is a small rutunda room that I have seen in sump passages before which is interesting.

The water level the cave was reported to be near normal.

The sump itself was a static pond with an estimated measurement of 20 x 30 x 10 ft in height decreasing to 0 feet within the length of the pond. There was foam bubbles covering the surface water and the water visibility was around 3-5ft. The depth was unknown for most of the pond except for a few estimates that I will mention shortly.

There was a flowing river that went into the sump that eddies right down river. I felt around the eddie pool and found no going submersed passage. I also found a small dugout " sea cavern" like feature that looked like a continuation of the River eddie pool water action with no going passage. This appears to be a overflow dugout where higher water levels act and slot erode this feature.

Left down river, I did not find any features with a foot push or a mud silt flow check. There was surface organic matter floating in this corner.

Sump in Big Bat Cave Kentucky

Back center is where I suspect that the submerged passage will be found. There was a structurally solid limestone ledge with a sharp lip and a drop off in this section. Walter and I took turns dipping into the water and I was able to hit the bottom which is estimated to be at a depth of 10ft. I stuck my feet under the ledge for a bit while we traversed the ledge and it appeared to go beyond my reach. The actual passage may even trend a little left from sump back center but I can not confirm that. After dipping into the water it appeared to stir up the bottom decreasing the viz so it appears that the bottom is silty.

My conclusion is that this submerged passage might be quite small due to the static pool of water and foam bubbles on the surface. Although there was no organic material or garbage floating in the pond, indeed the water is losing into a unknown passage. There was no indication of a whirl pool other than the eddie pools to the left and right.

Sump in Big Bat Cave Kentucky

With the actual submerged passage being quite uncertain and the high probability for a small siphon insurgence with zero visibility conditions will likely be found, the risk of the dive must be considered.

In my opinion, I feel that a recon visit to Chris's cave is a necessary trip to not only only mark the sump that will confirm a dive connection if one is attempted on either side, but will also give us the option to choose a more feasible dive plan which will include the traverse with the dive gear in the dry/semi dry passages leading to the sump. Furthermore, Chris's cave must be the receiving end of big bat and will be a resurgence which can add a margin of safety to the divers.

I also have had a thought that the water in the pond of big bat cave may just percolate through the bottom and contact with impermeable rock where it starts traveling to Chris's cave without a passage big enough for human travel. I want to thank John Sies for laking us through the cave and giving us some great insight into Big Bat Cave. John is very experienced with this cave and with his help we were able to develop a plan to look into this dive a bit further. The next bit will be to visit Chris's cave to see what the connection sump looks like from that end....to be continued.

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THORNHILL CAVE

March 31, 2015

Gypsum Flowers ThornHill Cave, Kentucky

We get a late start on the road down to upton Kentucky where the Lone Star Preserve is located. Its quite the far drive and rolling into the campsite at 3pm with a wake up call at 8 am, and a arrival at 10am in the 15 degree weather makes the night long and short at the same time. Kinda like a paradox where you close your eyes and you open them seconds later to a car engine, blink once more and the sun is automatically out. It took us around 45 minutes to drive from Lone Star to the Thornhill property but we made it in good time.

Pure White Formation in the Wedding Cake room, ThornHill Cave

We finally made it to the landowners property and we saw Dan and his wife walking their dogs walking down the dirt road from the cave to let us through the gate. Man I am so glad I got a new Subaru, this car just ate up the wet muddy road and was able to scale over boulders and a ledge with ease. This allowed us to drive right up to the cave entrance which made for a great entry and exit.

Entrance to Thornhill Cave, Kentucky

The Property was beautiful. They had a nice set up with a flower gardern, a place for their home, a fire spot, a beautiful out house facility, a nice lot of land in the hills and one 17 mile cave system called Thornhill cave. To some, this is the dream house with ocean front property!...there was a 40ft pit on the property that I didnt even know existed.

Thornhill Cave, Kentucky

I am sure that there are many pit caves and other caves in the area that are not that known and I am sure there are some caves that are known but are not discussed, like the passage that we went to visit today. We went on a journey to visit the Wedding cake room and it was quite the experience to travel through that cave, from a maze of cold wet muddy passages, to a nine inch belly crawl passage called the "Meat Grinder" and into the gypsum highway which led us to the wedding cake room.

Wedding Cake Room, Thornhill Cave, Kentucky

8 of us went into the cave and followed the landowner through the system on a truly great experince. This is a cavers cave and it has a lot to present. We go through breakdown passage that takes us to river passages and meandering stoop walking and hands and knees crawling water cut passage. We passed through some nice cave slot canyon passage that had some great fluted walls and talon cut passage in some upper level dry sections and lower level wet passages.

Thornhill Cave, Kentucky

we went over this series of mud climb and slides which was like a roller coaster of sort that was a lot of fun...and super muddy!!!

In the lower passage, the water was draining from a few small holes that flowed down as a pretty waterfall. There was a little bit of chimneying, stemming, and climbing which was rather slippery but a lot of fun. Than we got to the meat grinder. This got interesting as it is a low belly crawl over rocks and it gets doen to 9 inches at times. Yup this is a natural filter discriminating from the healthier looking cavers. We pushed through with some good speed and finally get to the last slot canyon that we climb up into the formation room passage.

Thornhill Cave, Kentucky

We took a break here and started to make our way over towards the formation room which was a jailhouse looking stoop walking passage with small rimstone dams and soda straws in the walls. this was really beautiful.

Thornhill Cave, Kentucky

I wanted to make sure I was able to get everyone involved in some of the photos if they were interested in participating which everyone was of course. We work our way past the formation room into this hard and soft sandy passage that had some beautiful colors and beach like sand down the whole passage.

Thornhill Cave, Kentucky

It was quite beautiful and easy walking passage.

we came to a T section and this is where the large trunk passage opened up and kept going...large

trunk passage!!!!

Gypsum Hallway Thornhill Cave, Kentucky

We start down this trunk passage and it reminded me a bit of King Leo cave but with more crystal formations. On the walls the gypsum sparkled and small sheets of gypsum were peeling from the walls. Gypsum Flowers could be found in the lower levels of the passage and were some of the biggest formations I have seen in any cave.

Gypsum Flowers Thornhill Cave, Kentucky

Gypsum flowers have particles of sand and opaque in nature and must be in an arid area in order to grow the way they do. The water evaporates out of the mineraland can leave anhydrite.

Gypsum Flower Thornhill Cave Kentucky

Gypsum crystals expand slightly as they form from saturated water solutions, providing the needed pressure to extrude the crystals from the cave wall or sediment.

Gypsum Flower Thornhill cave kentucky

The Gypsum Needles and Hair expand out of solution in either a curved pattern or linear pattern for gypsum hairs.

Gypsum Hair ThornHill Cave, Kentucky

Since ice expands slightly as it freezes, ice deposits in caves can sometimes form similar-looking needles, hairs, and flowers. Selinite Crystals were also in the cave and were some of the longest selinites I have seen. This is a similar evaporite to calcium Sulfate Hemihydrate but over all Gypsum is a bi-product of sulfide oxidation as sulfuric acid and carbonic acid reacts with calcium Carbonate to for this product.

Gypsum Flowers Thornhill cave Kentucky

Gypsum is also deposited from springs, lake, sea, and volcanic deposits which can be found as rings around dry pools and other features.

Wedding Cake Room ThornHill Cave, Kentucky

We continued on and eventually we came up to the Wedding Cake room. This was a beautiful column formation with embedded with sediment deposits but some of the formations were a solid white color! really amazing to see! Behind the the formations and growing above them were intricate helictite formations and lots of them!

Wedding Cake Room helictites

After taking some pics and unintentionally freezing the group from waiting for pictures to be set up, we started our way out of the cave. We all had a blast going through this system and we were so happy we could share these experiences with some seasoned cavers including the landowner who has been visiting this cave for the past 30 years. He has been to this cave over 100 times! I can see why as the cave keeps uncovering new passages but it also keeps the beauty pristine with a maze of passage and natural filters...along with a gate near the entrance which keeps vandals from wrecking the cave. WNS hit the bats pretty hard here but with the continued efforts that the landowner and his wife make, this cave is among the best systems. Once we got out of the cave, the land owners wife had soup, brownies, and warm water waiting for us!! I was so grateful that we not only got a chance to be invited to a great place but we were able to photo and share some wonderful memories that we will never forget!!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/exploration-worldwide/sets/72157651266701498/

FLICKR:

In the past, a sump dive has been conducted in Thornhill cave as well as a dye trace that confirmed that the water coming out of Big Spring Cave in the town of Big Spring, is hydrologically connected to Thornhill Cave. We are going to visit the town and view the spring sometime in the future.

Big Spring Cave in Big Spring Kentucky. NOT MY PHOTO

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ADAM HAYDOCK

SHELDON'S CAVE

ALABAMA CAVING

TORODE PIT

FOWLER 2 MULTI-DROP WATERFALL CAVE

BIG BAT CAVE

THORNHILL CAVE

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ADAM HAYDOCK

SHELDON'S CAVE

ALABAMA CAVING

TORODE PIT

FOWLER 2 MULTI-DROP WATERFALL CAVE

BIG BAT CAVE

THORNHILL CAVE

PURCHASE NFTS HERE:

Welcome to my personal writings:

EVEN FURTHER PHOTOGRAPHY WEBSITE

SEARCH THIS BLOG

recent posts

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ADAM HAYDOCK

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