Caving Trip III
by Nathaniel Bluedorn, Copyright August 29, 2004, all rights reserved. 465 views
Our first caving trip is such a success we all decide to gather for a one-year anniversary.
August 27
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| From 2004-08-28 Meramec State Park |
We arrive at Meramec State Park while it is pouring down rain. When it stops raining we pick up some pizzas and eat them at the park. We go to sleep with the sound of rain pattering over tents.
August 28
It rained all night, but most of us are perfectly dry.
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| From 2004-08-28 Meramec State Park |
Both of our groups share day plans and don caving gear in the parking lot of the park welcome center. The ranger explains to the group headed towards Bear Cave that it is more full of water than had been expected. With this warning, he hands them the key.
Those going into Bear Cave must wear life jackets. There is a large underground lake in Bear Cave which explorers must cross to see all the cave.
Half of our group heads the other direction towards Little Scott Cave, fifteen minutes down the road.
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| From 2004-08-28 Meramec State Park |
Zack Reynolds unlocks the grate into Little Scott Cave. Caves are locked to prevent people from getting lost in the cave and to protect the cave from vandalism.
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| From Misc Images |
Climbing down into Little Scott Cave isn’t as difficult as it looks. The floor is only seven feet below the grate and there are handholds to help you lower yourself.
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| From 2004-08-28 Meramec State Park |
Ava climbs along a ledge. We discover this is unnecessary when we find a second way to move forward.
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| From 2004-08-28 Meramec State Park |
All of us halt for our pack lunch. This is a photo of Zack taking a photo. I am standing on a ledge above everyone else. Zack reads some poetry to us about caves.
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| From 2004-08-28 Meramec State Park |
Jill stands next to a formation that looks like the jaws of death.
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| From 2004-08-28 Meramec State Park |
When we return to the entrance, we look up the grate and hear thunder above us. Rain begins to pour down the hole and into the cave. We get more wet and muddy exiting the cave than we did exploring it.
When we reach our cars, we are soaked. This makes for an interesting situation which will later require some good car-cleaning skills.
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| From 2004-08-28 Meramec State Park |
The group exploring Bear Cave decide not to bring their camera. They bring a lot of the cave back out with them (mud) instead. They report how they waded though mud, swam across an icy lake over 100 feet wide, and saw beautiful untouched cave formations on the other side.
All the guys roast our supper over an open fire. Everybody brings way too much good food.
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| From Misc Images |
We hold a dance after supper. Leon shows us a few English Country Dances. We start in the parking lot of the picnic shelter, but it starts to rain so we move inside. Everyone tries to follow the caller’s instructions in this Square Dance. We all retire to our tents tired but happy.
August 29
We decide to split up again into two groups. One group will canoe down the Meramec River to Green’s Cave while the others hike one of the park’s trails.
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| From Misc Images |
Before splitting up, we take a group photo. This takes longer than expected, as you can see above.
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| From 2004-08-29 Meramec State Park |
The final result.
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| From 2004-08-29 Meramec State Park |
The entrance to Green’s Cave looking from inside.
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| From 2004-08-29 Meramec State Park |
Some of us sing against one wall using the cave’s good sound qualities to make an echo.
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| From 2004-08-29 Meramec State Park |
One final group photo on the outside of the cave.
I appreciate all the work Leon did to organize this event. We all enjoyed ourselves and each of us left having learned something.
Comments
1 • Ralph • September 10, 2008 • 10:02 AM
Let’s go!
2 • Mandy M. • September 21, 2008 • 7:50 PM
Kelli, I’m assuming you wrote this? Just wanted you to know, at this point in my life, this is very encouraging to me. Thanks for sharing. It’s amazing how God can worth through a simple blog post.
3 • Johannah Stanford • September 24, 2008 • 3:00 PM
The quality of this video looked good to me, and it didn’t take hardly any time to download on our computer. Did you get more climbing equipment? 
4 • Kristen • October 04, 2008 • 3:39 PM
Sounds like tons of fun. 
Ryan took me rock climbing indoors for the first time a couple weeks ago and I loved it! (I’m his sister.)
Colorado looks and sounds like a very fun place.
5 • Mandy M. • October 04, 2008 • 5:49 PM
Great post Heidi! You sure are brave. I’m glad you had such a great time!
6 • Nate • October 13, 2008 • 5:23 PM
Thats awesome….
Sounds like something I would do. :p
7 • Heidi Reiman • October 20, 2008 • 4:47 PM
Hans, You poor thing. I’m sorry you couldn’t get a wi-fi connection. By the way what is a wi-fi?
Is it like wiffer cookies with fine milk?
8 • Kelli • October 29, 2008 • 8:03 AM
Oh sheesh, Nathaniel, you’re hilerious! That was really roughing it.
9 • Nathan Nasby • November 04, 2008 • 11:28 AM
If you want a really creepy expirience stay at the Imperial Hotel in London! Wow, we had blood on the walls and in the sheets in our room. The Window was broken, and I’m not even going to mention the shared bathrooms!!!!
10 • Anna • November 05, 2008 • 8:01 PM
Haha! Nathan, this is just the beginning… Soon you’ll be cool with using towels unwashed from the last occupant, sleeping on bedbug-ridden mattresses, and, well, haha!
11 • Heidi R. • November 17, 2008 • 10:00 AM
Great story.
12 • A • November 17, 2008 • 7:01 PM
I just watched this a few days ago (was looking up vids of Marrakesh and then followed the rabbit trail) and thought about you guys… Odd, but fitting, to see it here as well!
13 • Kristin C. • November 17, 2008 • 10:13 PM
Haha!!! That is hilarious!!! :-D
14 • Debbie • November 25, 2008 • 10:27 PM
I have a problem with getting cave crickets in my basement and hate them. I don’t think I want to be their friend. But neat story on your adventure. God Bless!
Debbie
15 • Laura • November 29, 2008 • 12:49 AM
Wow! :D
16 • Estin • November 30, 2008 • 8:58 PM
That’s crazy.
17 • Trish • December 04, 2008 • 12:11 PM
Um…Ew. That is SOOO disgusting.
18 • Kristen B. • December 07, 2008 • 6:52 PM
You are a great writer, Kelli.
19 • Heidi R. • December 09, 2008 • 11:45 PM
Thanks, so are you.
20 • Heidi R. • December 09, 2008 • 11:46 PM
Oh, and I love your pics.
21 • Quentin Cooper • December 18, 2008 • 7:58 AM
This seems to have been written by people who have caved only once in their life or read about it in an armchair. What about the main thing warm clothes (be it a wetsuit or neo-fleece). Gloves completely unimportant as I have caved without them for 20 years and never wished I’d brought them. What about a survey of the cave? Going with someone experienced? Leaving a CALL OUT? that not feature in your essentials? Incase people ahave an accident in a cave then nobody knows about it….come on guys….
22 • Blue (Royal) • May 06, 2009 • 11:07 PM
Nice film guys. The water side looked like fun. I love a good natural water slide. Good job with not making it look to rigged.
23 • Royal Magnell • May 06, 2009 • 11:57 PM
That was fun… now we run so the cops don’t catch us!
24 • Rachel • May 19, 2009 • 9:36 PM
Hey! Hoping you get this soon. Just wondered what kind of camera, flash, etc. was used for these pictures. Also how the cameras were kept dry and clay free. Thanks so much!
25 • Beau • August 04, 2009 • 12:16 AM
Enjoyed it. I am curious if this is the Wilder cave in Pelham, AL?
26 • Dannity Kane • February 27, 2010 • 2:06 AM
Give me a little of that and I’d feel like a king.
27 • Stephen Nasby • May 28, 2010 • 9:09 AM
Good job.
28 • Stephen Nasby • September 02, 2010 • 9:58 AM
That looked like quite an adventure, exciting. Swim looked very refreshing. Cool camera, you can even go underwater with it.
29 • Katie Carter • September 18, 2010 • 10:11 PM
It is in Grady County Georgia, between Pelham, and Cairo. It is owned my my aunt. It is very pretty, it is not open to the public because people can’t seem appreciate it without breaking pieces off, and spray painting.