caving!
well, not an official caving outing, but we were in one so that counts, right?! granted i was in new running tights and vest (not the onesie official suits my crazy friend e.bee sports) so i wasn't eager to slide through the tight spots, but i did get sufficiently muddy and had a ton of fun.
the caves - or really cave, as i believe it was one long one with a few entrances - was on top of montlake, near the town of sewanee. officially, it is called Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lee Carter Natural Area. there was a 2 mile hike to the caves and with the rainy conditions as of late, it was a bit treacherous (and tiresome after racing wauhatchie this morning), with lots of rocks surrounded by clay-like mud. the caves themselves were awesome! i'm not sure i've ever really been in one. maybe a small one that you peer into, but this was huge - the entrance (of Peter I believe) was apparently 80ft high and 100ft wide. we climbed down and once over a lip, headlamps were on as it was completely dark. not 1 fleck of natural light anywhere.
middle cave entrance
the creek is right behind me... hard to see though
what's supercool about this cave is that a river runs right through it! it was flowing fast too - definitely some class 2 stuff inside, and 3+ outside. i did get a bit nervous at times. ever since the race at fall creek falls (and that damn canyoneering section), i don't trust myself enough on slick rocks and the last thing i wanted to do was have an impromptu swim. we must have been inside 1-1.5 hrs exploring. unfortunately the high water levels forced us to make it a there & back trek. would be cool to go back and hike the whole thing when the creek is lower.
above: the end of today's trek
the caves - or really cave, as i believe it was one long one with a few entrances - was on top of montlake, near the town of sewanee. officially, it is called Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lee Carter Natural Area. there was a 2 mile hike to the caves and with the rainy conditions as of late, it was a bit treacherous (and tiresome after racing wauhatchie this morning), with lots of rocks surrounded by clay-like mud. the caves themselves were awesome! i'm not sure i've ever really been in one. maybe a small one that you peer into, but this was huge - the entrance (of Peter I believe) was apparently 80ft high and 100ft wide. we climbed down and once over a lip, headlamps were on as it was completely dark. not 1 fleck of natural light anywhere.
middle cave entrance
the creek is right behind me... hard to see thoughwhat's supercool about this cave is that a river runs right through it! it was flowing fast too - definitely some class 2 stuff inside, and 3+ outside. i did get a bit nervous at times. ever since the race at fall creek falls (and that damn canyoneering section), i don't trust myself enough on slick rocks and the last thing i wanted to do was have an impromptu swim. we must have been inside 1-1.5 hrs exploring. unfortunately the high water levels forced us to make it a there & back trek. would be cool to go back and hike the whole thing when the creek is lower.
above: the end of today's trek
the next 3 pics are standing in 1 spot.... creek exiting buggytop,
churning rapids, then the creek raging onward.
churning rapids, then the creek raging onward.
Labels: tn
posted by cathi at 11:41 PM
1 Comments:
hey sister! let me know if you want to do more caving. it's my #1 outdoor passion, both vertical and horizontal.
we have a beginning caving trip coming up in march if you want to sign up? reg opens feb 24 and will fill up fast so lemme know and i'll point you to details.
xoxo eb
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