ADAM HAYDOCK

GOSHUTE CAVE, NEVADA

Adam Haydock August 21, 2018

April and Tim Gocha in Goshute cave, Nevada

It has been a while since we went on a Grotto trip and I want to make sure I can include and give people opportunities to explore and enjoy some of the caves in Nevada. I announced a trip for the grotto and I got a great response from people for a recreational trip to Goshute cave and Snake Canyon cave.

night sky at Goshute cave PHOTO BY: JUSTIN BAILEY

Goshute cave is one of the more popular, and decorated caves in Nevada that REQUIRES a permit to gain access. Please reach out to the Ely Forest service, local grotto, or just reach out to me and I can put you in contact with the department that grants permits.

Entrance to Goshute cave

We ended up having six people head out to central Nevada, Tim Gocha, April Gocha, Justin Bailey, Randy Paylor, and James Edwards.

April entering Goshute cave PHOTO BY: JUSTIN BAILEY

Goshute cave was discovered back in the late 1800s and was at one time, a commercial cave but due to the location and the caves challenges, the commercialized project closed.

Goshute cave, Nevada

The cave has been known to have some very interesting Hydro thermal and hypogenic properties which gives the galleries and side passages very interesting to enjoy.

Goshute cave, Nevada

Unfortunately there is some graffiti and writings on the wall but given the amount of traffic that this cave has had, the cave is relatively in good condition.

Morning sunrise and smoke clouds over the valley of Goshute.

The cave has around 4000 feet of total surveyed passages which might continue in some sections that are not quite accessible to to humans.

Goshute Cave, Nevada

Entering the cave is though a smaller hole to the left of the obvious looking entrance.

Goshute cave PHOTO BY: JUSTIN BAILEY

The passage, and the duration of the cave contain mammillaries which are a type of calcite that forms on the ceiling and overhanging walls of submerged rock. Mammillaries tend to occur in shallow phreatic conditions near the surface of the water table. Under the right conditions, calcite can precipitate and coat the bedrock forming balls on the walls.

James Edwards in Goshute cave, Nevada

The trunk passage is a walking corridor that is around 15ft to the ceiling and at time appears be around 20ft to the ceiling.

Aragonite bushes in Goshute cave, Nevada PHOTO BY: JAMES EDWARDS

Aragonites, folia, and frost work decorate the cave with some rooms full of speleothem galleries.

Goshute cave, Nevada

The group headed down to the bottom of the sloping trunk passage and started to climb through some small passage to a flowstone with a fixed rope.

Randy in Goshute cave.

This fixed rope took us to an upper level full of mammillaries and another section where we could squeeze down into a small passage.

April in a mammillary room in Goshute cave, Nevada

I went back to get some photos and the group attempted to get into TJ hideout which proved to be a lot more difficult than anticipated. It was really tight and nobody was able to fit through.

April in a Mammillary room of Goshute cave, Nevada

We started to back track a bit and after snapping a few more photos, we saw another group of 12 people come in from the wasatch grotto.

James in the main trunk passage of Goshute Cave, Nevada.

When we all exited the cave, we noticed a lot of smoke covering the valley floor from the fires in California. It was impressive, sad, and odd...all at the same time to see such a view.

Randy admiring the Mammillaries on the wall in Goshute cave, Nevada.

Goshute cave is a fantastic cave for all cavers at all levels and I highly recommend a visit here.

exiting Goshute cave, Nevada PHOTO BY: JAMES EDWARDS

I am having a hard time believing that goshute cave is the only cave inside of this range.

Adam Haydock at the entrance of Goshute Cave PHOTO BY: JUSTIN BAILEY

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DELAMAR DRY LAKE, NEVADA

Adam Haydock August 07, 2018

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DAS BOOT CANYON, 3BII, ZION NATIONAL PARK, UTAH

Adam Haydock July 30, 2018

Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

We headed out to Zion for a short weekend of escaping the heat in the southwest desert summer to find some cooler temperatures and a bit of canyoneering in Zion National Park.

Heading to Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

I have been eyeing Das Boot canyon for years now and its finally come time to tackle this little gem just above the subway route.

Zion National Park, Utah.

The night before we stayed up at the Kolob Reservoir where temperatures got down into the 50s at night!

Heather just entering Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

The following morning we headed back down to wildcat TH and started our hike down into Das Boot.

Heather in Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

You must obtain a permit at the zion visitor center to enter Das Boot and you must have a separate permit if you want to continue down the subway or you have to hike back out from Russel gulch.

Recent floods in Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

We set out early with clear skies and stashed a few extra liters of water along the way to Das Boot. It was going to get rather hot outside so extra water is a must.

First rap in Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

The trail to Das boot broke off and we walked over a few extra spurs to get into the right canyon for Das Boot. We put on our wetsuits and immediately found ourselves swimming through canyon juice and debris from recent floods.

going through a narrow Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

The water was a bit cold but manageable and welcomed in this kind of heat. I wore a farmer john 3mm and heather wore a full 5mm and we found that this was ideal for our thresholds.

Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

We continued on into the canyon and the narrow corridors gave way to some mossy like coloring and greenish blue grey hued color on the canyon walls.

Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

Some sections had a subterranean like feel with a open ceiling of soft light casting into the fluted passage which gave this canyon some nice sparkle.

long swim in Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

The narrow sections would end and open up to brief polished stone walkways but would enter back into long cool swimming drain ages.

Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

The canyons continued to deliver some great scenery with a few climbs around log jams and floating logs.

Long narrow swim in Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

We came across two raps in the canyon with were no longer than 20 ft. I would consider them around 10ft and more like nuicense drops but i can see how new debris and water levels could flux the length, still I feel that these drop are no longer then 20ft.

setting up another rap in Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

After about an hour the canyon opened up a bit with a few final swims and our last rap off of a pine tree was about 30ft in length. It looks a bit less but to be conservative, I give it about 30ft.

Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

There is another option to rap off a keyed boulder but we chose to go for the rap off the pine tree. We worked our way over to Russell gulch which is where our exit was located and started to head up and out of the canyon.

Canyon is opening up in Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

The hike took a bit longer than we expected due to the heat and the excessive amounts of wet gear that we brought ( and did not need) weighed down our speed.

the last rap in Das Boot Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah.

We finished the canyon in around 8 hours time. I recommend wetsuits and recommend going out the subway, I do not think that the just doing das boot is worth the effort but if you must get das boot done, take some people that have not been through the subway and do both.

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GABLE LAKES INYO NATIONAL FOREST, CALIFORNIA

July 23, 2018

Gable Lakes. Gable Lakes, Inyo National Forest, California.

The Sierras have been on my mind for years now and a trip to the mountainous granite landscape, flower blooms, and beautiful alpine lakes was overdue for a visit.

Heather starting out on a hike to Gable Lakes, Inyo National Forest, California.

We did not plan far ahead in advance so we were limited as to what permits we were able to grab but we did score a pair of permits to visit these alpine lakes and make an attempt to summit mount Tom which is at around 13,500ft.


old mining equipment on Gable Lakes, Inyo National Forest, California.

The day before I had a podcast interview with www.gogetoutsode.com and spent an hour talking about diving, caving, and stories that started off with once upon a time in mexico....

mining equipment Gable Lakes, Inyo National Forest, California.

We headed to the Gable Lakes trail head and it was raining pretty good the day before we were going to set out for Gable Lakes.