Sat, Feb 2 2008 - Frick's Cave Open House with optional camping (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Tony Theriault Participants: Desiree, Cyndi, Peter D., Shannon Mc, Sheri Lense, Jason Kotz, Jessica, Alex Hall, Tony Theriault

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Write Up:
A most excellent day of Caving had by all! We got an early start to be at the cave shortly after the opening. Just one navigational correction was needed to get all the bat-mobiles to the site. We were rewarded with a great campsite and first dibs on the far end of the cave. We claimed our campsite, signed in and set off with a rough map and a trip leader who had not been in the cave. First-timer Desiree and the intrepid explorer Jason eagerly scouted the way back to hindermost areas of the cave. Vocal sounds increased as the ceilings dipped down and the water got deeper. A few hesitated after 75+ yards of wet belly crawling which finished with a little pinch and a choice of chin or ear in the water, helmet to the rock. Promises of easier passage ahead and possible other-ways-back provided the motivation to push through. Quite a few bats were resting along the passages. We had to be careful not to knock the little guys from their footholds when we crawled under and next to them. A bat making a slow pass through tight quarters to check out the intruders prompted a piercing scream. We made our way following the stream as far as we found continuing passages. The interesting side routes were checked again on the return. A steep muddy slope around 15’ up made for a lot of fun. With slick footing and few handholds, several gravity assisted return trips to the bottom which packed the sticky clay deeply into clothes and orifices. Over to top and up ways was a 10’ vertical drop into a muddy canyon passage. Some webbing with knots made it possible to go down with a chance to get back up again. The eager scouts forged ahead in nice passages while the rear-most continued their valiant efforts to conquer gravity on the slippery slope. The tight wet-squeeze section anguished on the way in was good for dislodging the accumulated mud during the return. Alexandra deserves the title “Rollex” for here smooth moves though a long belly-crawl section. She tucked in her limbs and spinned past the rest of us like a rolling-pin with an inch of space to spare. We took some breaks on the way out to eat at chat with the other cavers. We only encountered 2 other small groups intent on going where we just came from. Most cavers we saw were closer to the entrance and much cleaner than us. They were there primarily for the “bat-room”, not far from the entrance and relatively easy to get to. Getting to the bat-room was long climb over break-down pile that got progressively slimier under foot. The slime is guano squished and spread over the path. The major population of bats was not around. They live in another cave this time of year. The room has some nice formations and a distinctive odor. The undisturbed guano piles on top of rocks were inches thick. The last place to check before heading out was the second cave entrance. Those who still had the energy to make the climb watched a caver ascending 20’ of rope up to the window at the surface. A beam of sunlight penetrates through the hole and lights up the floor below. We headed back to the entrance and received a lot of comments on our condition. I think the "serios" cavers were impressed at the amout of mud we carrier baclk out of the cave. After signing out and the post-cave-photos, we made a quick change to dry clothes and chowed down some later then anticipated lunch. A campfire made a good spot to warm up, chat and dry-out. Jason, Shannon, Sheri and Tony stayed to camp overnight while the rest of the crew made the trek back to Atlanta.

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