8 NSS  NewS,December2009

DISCLAIMER: Great Expectations is an NSS-owned alpine cave in Wyoming. It is not for the beginner. It is a very chal-lenging cave requiring a lengthy time commitment and containing vertical drops (negotiable only via single-rope technique), deep pools, waterfalls, strong currents, low air spaces, and dangerously cold temperatures. Do not attempt to visit this cave unless you have the proper experience and equipment, and have consulted NSS member Bob Montgomery for a permit and key.

GreatExpectationsCave.IhadwantedtogosinceBenSainsburytoldmeabouthistriptherein2005.Hisdescriptionsealedit:Thedeepest through-trip inthe lower48statesat1400verticalfeetfromupperentrancetolowerentrance,5milesofwalk-ing,7rappels,38degreeFtemperatures(airandwater), lotsofswimming,andanasty2000-foot-longwatercrawlat theend. Ihadtriednumeroustimestogetontotripsgoingthroughthecaveoverrecentyears,butschoolorworkalwaysgotintheway.OutoftheblueIemailedJasonBallensky,theapparentlocusofrecentGreatExactiv-ity,toseeifhewasgoingthisyear,andasluckwouldhaveitagroupofcaversfromTAGhadalreadypersuadedhimtodoatrip.WhenIe-mailedhim,herepliedandsaidthathehadplannedtoaskmeifIwantedtogo.

BobMontgomery, theNSScontactforGreatEx,hadmentionedtoJasonthatsummerinWyominghadbeenwet,andtoexpectmorewaterthanusual.However,theofficialGreatExmanagementplanstates

that“Theidealtimeframesinwhichtovisitthecavearefrommidtolatesummerandinearlyfall,whenthepotentialforfloodingislow,evenduringthunderstorms,”sowefeltconfidentthatthewaterlevelswouldbemanageable.Afewdaysbeforethetripwassupposedtohappen,Jasonsentane-mailtothegroupwithalinktoareallycrappyweatherforecastpredictingbothrainandsnowfortheweekend.Thiswaseerilyremi-niscentofareallynastytimeIhadattemptingtocaveinUtahafewyearsago—abeautifulsummerhadturnedintoarainy,thenfreezy,then full-onspindriftblizzardyweekendbeforemyveryeyesandhaddramaticallychangedtheplannedcourseofevents.SoIhoppedaflightoutofSanFranciscohopingnottohavearepeatofthat.

Myconnection inDenverwasverytight, so Ihad torun to thenext flight,whichconnectedtoWorland,WY.Onceon theplane Iunexpectedlysat right infrontofJason,sowetalkedcavingandgotreacquaintedasIhadn’tseenhiminabout5years.AfterlandinginWorland,weweregreetedbymostofourgroup.ShaneSnyder,MikeGreeneandChadEllisflewinfromTAG;IhadcavedwithShaneoncelike10yearsago,buthadnevermetMikeorChadbefore.WillieHunt,aregularcavingbuddyofmine,droveallthewayfromSouthernCaliforniainhisF250loadedwithtonsofgear,andwasmyridefortheweekend.Thepitofmystomachstartedtosinkwitheachpassingsecondasmybagdidnotshowupatthebaggageclaim.Thisbagcontainedallofmycavegearandfood,sothebadomenthathadstartedwiththeweatherreporthad

nowcontinuedwithmyluggage.Iexchangedphonenumberswiththeladyinchargewithapromisefromhertogettothebottomofthings,andwealltookoffinthreevehiclesfora2-hourdriveoutintothewoodstoourcampsite.

Thepavedportionof thedrivewasuneventful,withtheexceptionofthelightrainsprinklesthathadstarted.Thesecondhalfof thedrivewasonawindy,muddyroadthatwasprobablyonlysuitablefor4wdvehiclesinthoseconditions.Everybodyhad4wdexceptforChad,whowasdrivingaregularcar.Wehadjustaboutreachedthecampsitewhenhescrapedbottomhardonarock.Herolleddownthewindowandsmelledhotoil.Gettingout, therewasa15-foot-longtrailofoilbehindthecar—theoilpanhadruptured.Yetanotherbadomen.Chadpulledthecarofftothesideoftheroadandleftittherefortheremainderoftheweekend.Arrivingatcamp,wefoundDougWarner,acaverbuddyofminefromMontana,whocompletedthegroup.Wesetuptents(IborrowedonefromWillie)andwenttobed.Thentherainreallystarted.Araucousthunderstormcameinandpouredonthecampsiteforhours,repeatedlywakingallofusup.

ThenextmorningIwokeuptoaverywettent,butsomehowmysleepingbagwastotallydry.Ihadtovariouslymoochclothes,cups,andstovesfrompeopletogetthroughthemorning.Theplanforthedaywastocheckoutthelowerentranceofthecaveandmakesureitwaspassablesowecouldgetoutthenextday.Wepiledintothree4wd

Willie, Mike, Jason, Doug, Shane, Chad at the lower entrance Bruce on the hike to the lower entrance

Facing the Unexpected in Great Expectations CaveBruce White

with guidance from Jason Ballensky, Doug Warner, Mike Greene, and Shane SnyderPhotos by Bruce White unless credited otherwise

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vehicles,nowincludingDoug’s,andsetoffoversomeverymuddy4wdroads.Duringoneespeciallysteepandsleazysection,Williedecidedthatifhedroveanyfurtherhewouldn’tbeabletogetbackout.Soheputitinreverseandparkedbackuponthehillbehindus.HeandIwalkedalongtheroadandcaughtupwiththeothervehiclesthathadnowmadeitacrossavalleyandupontothehillontheotherside.WepiledintoShane’sSuburbanandcontinued totheparkingspot.Onthewaythere,ShanelamentedthatheshouldhavealsolefthisvehiclewhereWilliedidandwasnotlookingforwardtothedriveback.BythistimetheonlyshoesandclothesthatIhad,whichIhadplannedonwearingontheplanehome,werecompletelysoakedandcoveredinmud.

Thehiketothecavewasbeautifulwithmorethanatouchofmisery. Itwasveryfoggyandsprinkledmostofthetime,andtheroutewetookdownintothevalleycoveredabout1.5milesand1000verticalfeet.Wewentthroughnumerousoldclearcutswithlotsofslipperyrottingwood.EventuallywecametothestreaminthevalleyfloorandfollowedittothelowerentranceofGreatEx,akatheGreatExit.Jasoncommentedthatthestream,nowquiteswollen,hadbeen

dryonhisprevioustrips.Jasonenteredthecavetomakesuretheroutewaspassableand thatwater levelswerenormal.Hequicklyreturnedandreportedthatsomerockshadmovedandtheresultingsqueezewascertainlytootightforeveryoneinthegroup to fit through.Healsocouldnotconclusivelytellwhetherthewaterlevelsinthegrimcrawlwerehighenoughtosumpitshut.Tobypassthesqueeze,wecheckedoutanalternatesandcrawlroute,butitwassiltedshut.Jason,ShaneandIdugonthisforthenexthourortwoandeventuallymadeavoiceandlightconnection,butwenevergotitlargeenoughtofitthrough.MikeandChadmadeafireoutsideandweallgatheredaroundittodiscussoptions.ItwasgettinglateinthedayandIstillhadtogobacktoWorlandtopickupmybag,assumingithadevenarrived.Andifwedidn’tgetthatlowerentrancedugout,nobodywasgoingallthewaythroughthecave.Ontopofthat,wedidn’tknowforsureifthewaterwashighenoughtocloseoffthepassage.Theideaofabandoningthetriptodoadifferentbutlessspectacularcavewassuggested.OrperhapswewouldexploreGreatExfromthetop,seeonlypartofthecave,andexitthewaywecamein.MyopinionwasthatifIwasgoingtodoGreatEx,itwouldbeathroughtrip,otherwiseIwouldratherdoadifferentcave.Itstartedtorainharder,andwillpowerwaslost.Variousfolksstatedthenandtherethattheyhadalreadydecidedtheydidn’twanttodothethroughtrip,whatwithallthebadomenspilingup.Wehadthetimeandenergyforonelastdig.Miraculously,ChadandMikemanagedtofindandenlargeanotheralternatesqueezerouteenoughthateveryoneinthegroupcouldfit.Wethenfoundaneasiergametrailbackupthehilltothecars.Luckily,bothvehiclesmadeitbackacrossthesteepmuddyvalleytowherewehadleftWillie’struck,butnotwithoutalittle

suspense—wehadtogetoutoftheSuburbanandwatchShanespinthetiresanddriveitnearlysidewaystogetupthehill.

Imanagedtofinallygetreceptionoutthereandtalktothe ladyattheWorlandAirport—mybagwouldbearrivingat6:30pmthatnight.DougandIdrovebackintoWorlandand thebagwas there—thankgoodness!Iprobablycouldhavedonethecaveborrowingother folks’ gear,but Ireallydidn’twantto.Backatcamp,Jason,MikeandShanemadetheshorthiketotheentranceofGreatExtocheckoutthewaterlevelenteringthecave.Thethreehadafrankdiscussionaboutthewateranditspossibleeffectsontheimpendingtrip.Theynotedaspotinthecreekbedforfuturereferenceasanindicatorofrisingorloweringwaterlevels.Theydecidedthatifitwasrainingthenextmorning,evenlookedlikerain,orthe

Willie’s snow-collapsed gear tent

Group photo in the lunch room (Willie, Mike, Shane, Bruce, Doug, Chad, Jason)

Jason and Bruce in the Great Hall

Chad

Ellis

Just inside the upper entrance

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watermarkwasnoticeablyunderwater,thetripwouldbeoff.BythetimeDougandIreturnedtocamp,everyonewasasleepandsnowwascoveringeverything.

Thenextdaywewokeuptoabeautifulsunnymorning.ThehugetentthatWilliehadsetupforgearstoragehadcollapsedduringthenight.Itwasstillcoldandthesnowwasnotmelting,but theclearskyandbrightsunrejuvenatedeveryoneanditwasquicklyagreedthatweweregoingintothecave.Fourofuswoulddothethroughtrip,andtheotherthreewouldgoinasfarasthelunchroom,thenturnaroundandexitthewaywecamein.Thiswasdecidedduetoacombi-nationofcomplexvehicleparkinglogistics,workweeksleepdeprivation,hypothermia

concerns,deadrentalcarreturntimes,andthefactthata7-personthrough-tripwasgoingtotakeareallylongtime.

Theupperentrance to thecave,at8500’elevation,wasonly300yardsfromthecampsite,sowegearedupandheadedin.Althoughhehadbeentherethreetimespreviously(onceallthewaythrough),thiswasJason’sfirsttimeleadingatriptoGreatEx.Assuch,hewasarmedwithmapprint-outsandroutefinding/rope lengthnotesfromvarious individuals.Withtheexcep-tionofoneclimbdownwithsomeheavysprayfromawaterfall,thefirstsectionofthecavewasdry.Wehadtodoalittlebitofroutefinding,butthetriptookusthroughthemassiveandbeautifulGreatHall,downashortropedrop,throughsomeveryniceformations,andintoalargechambercalledtheThetaRoom.Justbeyond,westoppedattheLunchRoomandate.

Herethegroupsplitup.Doug,Willie,andChadexitedthesamewaywecameinfora6-hourtrip.ThreegrazingMoosegreetedthemwhentheyemerged.Acoupleofropedrops,thelargest50’,tookJason,Shane,MikeandmyselfdowntotheleveloftheLostWorlandRiver.Thisiswherethecavereallygotinteresting—fortherestofthetripwewouldfollowthismassiveunder-groundriver.Onceeverybodywasdown,Jasonsaid“Alright,youguysreadytodothisthing??”andimmediatelyjumpedintoapooloverhisheadandstartedswimmingdownstream.Wefollowed.ThefirstthingInoticedwasthatthecurrentwasverystrong.Ididn’treallyhavetopaddleinanyofthepoolsasthewaterwouldjustpullmealong,sometimestothesideintoeddysthattooksomeefforttogetoutof,andIhadtobracemyselfatthetopofmanyofthecascadesandwaterfallstokeepfrombeingsuckedover.Thecharacterofthepassagewasadeeptansculpteddolomitewithbeautifulblackchert/manganeseshelvesevery10verticalfeetorsoupthewalls,interruptedoftenbywaterfallsofallsizes.Generally,thepassageaveragedperhaps40feethighand15feetwide,althoughthisvariedtoprobablyashighas100feetandaslowassumped(requiringabypassroute).Thenextfewhourswereabsoluteblissandmyfavoritekindofcaving.Wetandsplashywithpositively-mudlessrapids,waterfalls,climbs,plungepools,andintermittentropedrops.Iwashootingandholleringandhavingagreattime.Wewereallwearingwetsuitsat least7mmthick,coveredwithvariousabrasion-resistant(orsowethought)clothingtoprotectagainstthesharpdolomite.For95%ofthetripIwastoastywarm,oftentoohot,eventhoughwewereswimmingin38oFwater.

All theropedrops in thecavewerealreadyrigged,withtheexceptionofthewetdropswhereanyropesleftwouldbeshred-dedbythepoundingwaterinaveryshorttime.Jasonhadbroughtasingle100-footpieceof rope.At the firstwetdrop,hejudgedtheropelength,cutitwithaknife,andrigged.Thisthingwasawesome—a30’rappelnexttoanabsolutelyevil,poundingfalls.Atthebottomwehadtorappelofftheendoftheropeandintoaroilingpooloverourheads,thencontinueswimmingdownthepassage.Toocool!Wecametothetopofa10-footwaterfallandJasonimmediatelyclimbeddownitlikeitwasnobigdeal.Therestofuswatchedwide-eyedanddecidedtherewasnowayweweregoingtoclimbthat.ItwasatthispointthatwestartedtounderstandsomethingaboutJason:heisfearless.Soweriggedtheremainingropewe

Mike and Shane in the wet section

Jason about to rig the scary 20’ falls

Mike in the wet section

Jason looking up the maelstrom of the scary water section

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hadandMikerappelledit.Nearthebottomhewasabsolutelyengulfedinthewater,onlytoreappearsecondslaterintheplungepoolatthebottom.Shanedidthesame,andgaveusthewilliesbystayingunderthefallsandflailingforafewlongseconds.Ireriggedtheropeoutofthefalls,rightdowntherouteJasonhasclimbed.AsIrappelled,Irealizedjusthoweasytheclimbactuallywas.Thisthemewouldrepeat—havingbeentherebefore,Jason’s familiaritywith thecaveandoverallfearlessnessgavehimamuchhigherrisktolerancethantherestofus.ForShane,Mikeandmyself, thiswasanunfamiliarcaveinwhichfatalhypothermiawouldswiftlycomewithonemistake,soourrisktolerancewasverylow.Climbsthatwenormallywouldhavenoproblemwith

suddenlybecametooriskybecauseofthenatureofthecave.BecauseofthisJasonoftenpushedourcomfortlevelonthistrip,andIamsurethatweappearedtobeoverlycautioustohim.

Afterrappellingtheshortfalls,Jasonderiggedtheropeandclimbedbackdownwithitsowecouldrappelthenextdrop.Weallstill feltverygoodandenergetic.ThatwouldchangeasweencounteredoneofthemostintimidatingcavepassagesIhaveeverbeenin.Thewatercurrentquicklybecamemuchstronger,andwesoonfoundourselvesclimbingdownnexttoaseriesofseriouslymalevolentrapidsandwaterfalls.Thesectionstartedwitha6-foot-highclimbable fallsfollowedbyaseriesofviolentlyswirlingfrothypools.Fromtherethewaterexplodedoutovera20-footfalls intoanotherroil-ingpool,overanother10-footfallsintoyetanotherpool,thenoverafinal5-footfallsintoabigpoolthatwascalmatthefarend.Ireallycannotdescribethefullpowerofthewaterhere,itwasabsolutelyjaw-dropping.Needlesstosay,ifyoufell intothewater,youwerealmostcertainlydead.Ifyoudidn’tdrownintherapidsfirst,you’dbepulledoverthefallsinstantly.Wehadtosticktoasmallslopingledgetotherightsideofthepassagetokeepfromfallingin.ItwasherethatJasonannouncedthatyes,thewaterwasdefinitelyhigherthanhe’deverseenit.Thisplantedasmallseedofanxietyinmymindthatthegrimcrawlattheendmightbesumpedshut.ItwasalsoherethatMikeconfided“Man,thisscaresme.”

Jason tiedoff the ropeand slowlyinchedouttotheedgeofthe20-footfalls,riggedintotheboltsthere,andrappelledoutofsight.AminutelaterIsawhimreappearatthetopofthe10-footfallsbelow,stillonrope.Hestartedtherappel,andlookedconfusedforasecond.Thenheswungtohisrightabit, intothefalls,andsuddenlyhe looked likea fallenwaterskiierbeingdraggedbythetowropeathighspeed.Asecondlaterhedisappeareddownintothewaterfall.Hereappearedatthebottomandgavetheall-clear.Iwentnextandrappelledthe20-footfalls.Ihadtoholdtheropewithmyrighthandandgrabhandholdswithmylefttheentiretimetokeepmyselffromswingingdirectlyintothefullbruntofthefalls.Stillonrope,Itraversedtheplungepoolatthebaseofthe20-footfallsandpreparedtorappelthe10-footfallsbelow.Istarteddownandveryquicklynoticed,tomygreathorror,thatIwasshortrigged!Theropedidnotreachthebottom.Wehadcutoffalittlebittoomuchofitatthepreviousdrop.Theendwasonly5or6feetofftheground,butrappellingofftheendmeanttumblingrightintothemaelstromofthefalls.Iclungontothewalltotheleftofthefallslookingforfoot

andhandholdsthatwouldallowmetoclimbdown,buttherewasnothing.IturnedmyheadaroundandlookedacrosstheplungepoolandsawJasonwaswavingformetoswingintothefalls.Itwastheonlyoptionasitwouldallowforthegreatestamountofropelength.Iswungintothefallsandthefullforceofitimmediatelysmackedmerightonthechestandflippedmeoverbackwards.Ilostmygripontheropeandfelltothebottomofthefalls,back-first.Ilandedonmyback,insidethefalls,ontotherockyflooroftheplungepool.Luckily,IwaswearingaveryrobustandwaterproofSwaygopack,anditcushionedthefallverywell.IheartilyendorseSwaygo!Fromthatpointthecurrenttookmeandrolledmetwiceoutintotheplungepool.ImanagedtograbtheedgeofthepoolandstopmyselfbeforeIwentoverthefinal5-footfalls.Iemergedfromthepoolshaken,andamazedthatIwasn’thurtatall.ThefallsweresoloudthatIhadtobewithinafootofJason,yelling,totalktohim.Therewasnowaytocommunicatewiththoseaboveus,andascendingbackupalmostcertainlywouldhavebeenamoredangerousendeavor,requiringprolongedfull-submersioninbothwaterfalls.Mikecamedownnext,andthistimeJasoncrossedtheplungepoolandcoachedhimdown.Heswungintothefalls

Jason coaxes Mike down the short-rigged drop

Mike moments from being swallowed by a waterfall

Chad

Ellis

Jason takes a food break

High cliffs visible on the hike to the lower entrance

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inamorecrouchedpositionthanIdidandwasthrowndownintothepool,albeitmuchmoresafelythanIwas.Shanecamedownandinnovativelyswunghimselfallthewayacross,andthrough,thefallstotheothersidewhereheattemptedtoland.Healmostmadeit,butthenfellbackwardsintothepooljustatthebaseofthefalls.Ibreathedasighofreliefaftereveryonewasdownsafely.Butthatincidentsappedalittleofeverybody’sstrengthandconfidence.

Thetoneofthetripbecameabitmoreseriousafterthat.Theroutefromthatpointconsistedofanastyexposedstep-acrossmovebelowanoverhangand20feetoverrapidsbelow(atwhichpointIturnedtoMikeandsaid“this iswhatscaresme!”),followedbyafewhairy,steepclimbdowns.Thefinalpuckerwaswhenwemissedahighbypassrouteandcametothetopofasketchy8-footfalls.AtfirstJasonlookedforanalternateroute,butfindingnothingheattemptedtoclimbdownthefalls.Heslidovertheedgeonhisbutt,sortofclungtotherightwall,thenbouncedintothefalls.Hereappearedbelowandmouthed“it’snotthatbad.”Therestofuswerenotconvinced.Wehadonefinalpieceoftatteredhandlinethatwe’dfoundintheremainsofaropeleftbackatoneofthewetdrops.Wetiedthisoffandthethreeofuseasilyclimbeddown.

Fromherethecaveeasedup.Wespenthourswalkingpeacefullythroughwaist-deep,gorgeous,glassy-calmwaterpassagewith50-footceilings, incrediblebleach-whiteflowstoneandsodastraws,andhugeblack,vertical,free-standingchertfins.Afterawhilelonger,Jasontoldusthatthegrimcrawlwasonly1000feetaway,whichpeppedusup.Wecontinuedonandhadtoroutefindforawhilebeforewefiguredouttherightwayintothecrawl.Atthestartofthecrawlwestoppedandate.Jasonnotedthatthewaterwasalsohighhere,asanoverflowroutethathadbeendrybeforewasnowfilledwithwater.Thisdidnotmakemefeelbetter.Theprospectofheadingbackoutthewaywecameseemednearlyimpossible–itwouldhaverequiredverydifficultropeascentsand

climbsinallthewaterfallswehadalreadyencountered,andwouldeasilyhavetaken20incrediblyexhaustinghoursormore.Isaid“IthinkIhaveaholeinthebuttofmywetsuit”towhichMikereplied,“Ohyeah,youhaveforawhile.”Ihadn’tnoticed.Bummer,thatthingwasexpensive.Atthestartofthecave,thecharacterofthedolomitehadbeenroughandgrabbylikeverycoursesandpaper.Aswedescendeddeeper,thedolomitecontinuedtogetsharper.Now,inthelowerpartofthecave,someoftheboulderslookedverynearlyliketheywerecoveredinsharkteeth,orasShanedescribedit,“thousandsofsmallelephanttusks.”Everybody’souterlayerhadprettymuchshredded.Jason’scavesuithadbecomeaskirt.Thelowerlegsofthepantscoveringmywetsuitwereonlyheldinplacebymykneepads.

Westartedintothecrawl,notentirelysurethatitwouldn’tbesumpedtotheceil-ing.Thepassageitselfwasabout25feetwideand2feethigh,withabout8inchesofwaterinitflowingveryrapidly.Thefloorofthecrawlwascoveredindolomiterockhornsandbumps.Thehornseasilyandfrequentlycaughtonclothingandpackstraps.Wewent in feet firstand let thewatercarryusasmuchaspossible.Thecurrentwasstrongenoughthatthewaterwouldflowupandovermyshoulders,oftengettinginmyearsandface.Afterbeingwarmtheentiretrip,myhandsandfeetfinallywentnumb.Icouldfeeltherockmakingcontactwithmybuttthroughtheholeinmywetsuit,butitdidn’tfeellikeitwasleavingawound.Wemadesuretostickclosetogetherhere.Wewentthroughwhatwassupposedtobethelowestairspacesection;thankfully, itwaspassablewithonesideofthefacetouchingtheceilingandtheothersidedowninthewater.Thecrawlcontinuedforabout2hourswhensuddenlyweemergedintoahandsandkneescrawlway.Jasonboundedaheadandstartedhootingwithdelight.Wehadmadeit.Afewmoresqueezesthroughsomedirtandrocks,andwewereoutafter17hoursunderground.

Havingfeltenergeticformostofthetrip,thereliefofbeingoutofthecavegavewaytoutterexhaustion.Thehikebackupthehillinthedarkwasaslowdeathmarch,butwefinallymadeittothetopwhereDougandChadwerethoughtfullywaitinginDoug’struckwithfoodandwater(sparingusfromwalkingperhapsanother2milesfurthertoShane’sSuburban).Thesunstartedtocomeupaswedrovethe4wdroadbacktocamp.Igotabout3hoursofsleepbeforeitwastimetowakeupandpackthegear.Uponrising,IrealizedwhatawreckIwas.Everyjointached,allmymusclesweresore,Ihadcutsandbruiseseverywhere,andwhatIthought

wasaminorabrasiononmybuttturnedouttobeahuge5-inchdiameterraspberrythatlookedlikeIhadsatonastove.Itwouldbe4daysbeforeIcouldsitnormallyagain.AdaylaterathomeIdiscoveredthatIhadlost5pounds.Asofthiswriting,nearlythreeweekslater,bothShaneandMikearestillhavingfootnumbnessissuesfromthecoldwaterandpossiblepermanentnervedamage.

SowhatdidIthinkofthetrip?GreatExpectationsCaveisabsolutelyincredible.Atrueclassiccaveandatestforanyhardcorecaver.Inmytop5forsure.Comparableincaliber,butnotnecessarilydifficulty,tocaveslikeMainDrain,NeilsonsWell,orEllisonsCave.Inspiteofanydifficulties,Iwoulddefi-nitelydoitagain.NexttimeIwouldtake150feetofropetorigthewetdrops,100feetofsacrificialwebbingjustincasesomeoneisnotcomfortablewithaclimbandneedsahandline,andIwouldwearmuchmorerobustballisticnylonshortsasanouterlayer.Afewgenerallessonswerelearnedduringthecourseofthistrip,themostobviousbeingthatevenifbyallappearancesyouhavedoneyourhomeworkandarecompletelypreparedforatrip,unexpectedeventscananddostillhappenanyway,andtheirimpactissuddenandpotentiallydangerous.Thoseofuswhohavebeencavingforawhilewithnoincidentstendtoget lulledintoafalsesenseofsecurity,andthiscomplacencywilleventuallycatchuptousifwedon’tremindourselves tobeconstantlyvigilant.Thistripwasalsoareminderthat it isagoodideatowearyourascendinggearwhileonrappelevenifsomeoneelseappearstohavesuccessfullynegotiatedthedropbeforeyou,althoughthatmayormaynothavebeenofmuchbenefithere.

ThankstoJasonfor leadingthetrip,thankstoeveryoneinthegroupforbeinggreatguystocavewith,andthankstoWillie,DougandChadforallthesupportonthesurface. Iendeduphavingtowearblackrubberknee-highWelliesontheflighthomeastheyweremyonlydryshoes.

Chad

Ellis

Chad

Ellis

Mike GreeneChad Ellis

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