INDIAN SHAFT CAVE
December 19, 2017
Andy and Heather in Indian Shaft |
After a day out in the Desert and surviving the temps in the teens, we woke up to the third and final cave of the day, Indian Shaft.
Paige descending into Indian Shaft |
Andy Zellner showed up late the night and I was glad that he was able to make his way around the desert to find where we were. Everyone got up slowly and we walked over to the cave and rigged two ropes.
Clint and Heather at the entrance of Indian Shaft |
Both ropes were rigged to the car and we re-directed one rope so we had it in the middle of the drop.
Indian Shaft |
We shot a DistoX and the total vertical extent to the drop was 96ft.to the bottom of the cave, but the cave was a lot bigger and deeper than this initial drop. It was basically a sheer drop and we were almost in the middle of the room as we entered the cave.
Andy descending into Indian Shaft |
We dropped down into a large breakdown pile and worked our way down to the bottom to find the two additional drops. Once we were at the bottom the cave belled out and it was a massive hole in the ground!! It reminded me a Conley hole but more like that we were inside of a temple!
Heather getting ready to descend into Indian Shaft |
Andy, Clint and Heather in of Indian Shaft |
I feel that this cave is another big collapse in a breccia tube and
that these blocks just collapsed and fell causing this massive hole in
the ground.
Clint ascending Indian Shaft |
This room was unique as it was indeed like being inside of a temple and the blocks on the
walls along with the expanding room made this temple cave look like a pyramid of sorts.
Andy ascending out of Indian Shaft |
After enjoying this cave we ascended the ropes without any incident and de-rigged without leaving any trace. We also helped clean up the surrounding area a bit to bring the cave back to pristine condition.
Heather Ascending out of Indian Shaft |
I believe this cave must be around 300 plus feet deep to the bottom and the main room should be around 150-170ft of depth.
Andy Ascending out of Indian Shaft |
Knowing that these three caves are made in similar dynamics, I believe that there are more out there but they might become harder to find.
Clint, Andy ,Heather, Paige and Andy de-rigging. |
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