ADAM HAYDOCK

MT. TIMPANOGOS CAVE CLEAN-UP

June 27, 2016

Mt. Timpanagos cave clean-up

Mt. Timpanogos cave is the commercial cave in the Salt lake area which is near the orem - sandy area of Salt Lake city.

Mt. Timpanagos cave clean-up

The cave itself is believed to be a hypogenic cave in nature and is actually three separate caves that were connected by mining efforts which brought these caves together. The caves were found back in the second half of the 1800's by people hiking in the mountains and they came across the entrance to this cave and a pit entrance to another segment of the cave.

Mt. Timpanagos cave clean-up

The cave was commercialized in the early 1900s for people to visit and since than, a paved walkway up the mountain was created as well as other shelter accommodations for visitors and a great cave tour was set-up for visitors to enjoy as they went through the cave with a guided ranger.

Mt. Timpanagos cave clean-up

The caves are decently sized and have some really nice formations in some of the rooms including some green nickle infused formations and yellowish tinted formations in other parts of the cave.

Mt. Timpanagos cave clean-up

I volunteered to start working with the national park service with Bonny and Andy Armstrong and I was able to help with some of the clean-up efforts by taking out some of the old concrete and wiring that was left in the cave from the previous lighting setup.

Mt. Timpanagos cave clean-up

It was nice to see the cave as it reminded me of a larger version of Red Baron cave a couple massif's to the south.

Mt. Timpanagos cave clean-up

We were able to get some wiring out of the walls which was helpful for the team in the restoration efforts that they have taken of to preserve the cave and the nature of the system.

Mt. Timpanagos cave clean-up

The cave sustains heavy traffic but preserving this interesting hypogenic cave is a great way to introduce people to the underground world as well as showcase a great example of the hypogenic cave system.

Mt. Timpanagos cave clean-up

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MAIN DRAIN CAVE EXPEDITION 2016, PRE-DIVE GEAR STAGE DROP

June 27, 2016

Peter Hartley on the Last rebelay in the first sequence drop in Main Drain Cave, Utah

At 1.72 miles and with a depth of 1,227ft Main Drain cave is the 9th deepest caves in the United States and the 4th longest cave in Utah. For years now, surveyor's, geologists, and cavers, have been stopped by a terminal sump at the bottom of the cave which has had them questioning what is beyond the sump and where is the watercourse continuing down into. Previously, divers have entered these waters, but this year, a expedition of cavers and cave divers will be making a push deeper into the depths of this terminal sump in Main Drain in hopes to uncover what is beyond this Antarctic like environment where this mystery has held her secrets.

Tom at the top of main Drain Cave, Utah

Main Drain Cave sits at around 9000ft. in elevation and is at around 34 degrees F. With the unforgiving high humidity, blowing wind, and 34 degree F. water, this system is strictly meant for the well experienced and prepared. This alpine cave is waiting for someone to make a mistake where Hypothermia will set in and take down even the heartiest of cavers. Training sessions, meetings, and select groups of cavers have been placed in phases to operate this expedition with peak performance and precision execution.

Peter Hartley on the Last rebelay in the first sequence drop in Main Drain Cave, Utah

A series of trips have gone into Main Drain this year and will continue all the way up to the expedition, where ropes are being replaced, bolts are being checked, warming stations and heating camps are being considered and located strategically throughout the cave to keep everyone safe.

Peter Hartley on the Last rebelay in the first sequence drop in Main Drain Cave, Utah

On this particular trip, our objective was to bring in dive tanks to the bottom of one of the drops as well as 60 lbs. of weight for the divers buoyancy.

Peter Hartley on the Last rebelay in the first sequence drop in Main Drain Cave, Utah

Amy descending into Main Drain Cave, Utah.

I get to parking lot and Peter greets me with a stack of dive weights to pile in my bag and take up the mountain and down into a given stage drop in the cave. I additionally brought all of my camera gear so I could get some photos and plan on where I will be setting up future photo opportunities once the Expedition rolls out.

Tom descending to the second rebelay in Main Drain Cave, Utah

Tom, Amy, Bev, Peter, and Justin all set up the trail to the entrance of Main Drain and we made it up there in pretty good time.

Peter Hartley at the top of Leaky Faucet Drop sequence in Main Drain Cave, Utah

Each of us gear up in PVC suits and layers of thermo protection to mitigate the cold and wet conditions that this cave will be providing us as we enter into the depths. I got a nice AV suit so lets see how this thing works out in the cave.

Main Drain Cave, Utah

I get on rope with my bobbin and get to the first rebelay at around 15ft down. The next rebelay is at around 60ft down and had some adjusting and re-configuring to maneuver around in order to successfully pass the knot in the short loop and complete the rebelay. This drop takes you down to the first snow cone and you rap down to a large ledge which is connected with a traverse line that takes you to the last two rebelays, one being around 10ft to a small ledge and another the drops you down to the bottom of the sequence with a 100ft free hang in a raining waterfall.