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The tranquil, free, disabled person friendly campground and a pack
of happy coyotes provided the perfect setting for a full frontal assault on the first
class pseudo-granite caves we know as Millerton. Since most everyone on the trip
who included, Tom LaFrank, Scott McBride, Michael White (Moose), Mike White, Allen
Hager and Tony Williams (Myself) had all over dressed for the cave thinking it would
be a lot colder than it was, the pace that we started out through the cave... was
found to be a little too much.... especially with Tony leading the way through. (If
you want a slow meandering trip through a cave, do not put Tony in the lead). Tony
had only one thing in his mind and that was to get to the squeeze that had turned
him around on his last trip six years earlier. So half way through, a nice break
cooling down in a relaxing pool was enjoyed by all especially Mike who was wearing
a 6.5mm wet suit with coveralls over the top.
The "squeeze" which is just past a spot they call "Dave's
Fell Well" ended up dividing our group in half. Making for a more nimbler group
going through the rest of the upper part of the cave.(Tony's way of saying; not so
fat!) Tom`s valiant effort to make it through the squeeze shouldn't go unrecognized
with several failed attempts at making the squeeze to join Michael, Scott and myself
on the other side. Actually everyone should be commended for their individual acts
of camaraderie. Allen for driving six hours to join us arriving at 3:00am for one
day of caving with friends. Mike for letting us drag his son through the tight stuff
that Mike couldn't fit through and Michael for keeping up with the fast moving group
and for not dying on us before his 14th birthday which was coming on Tuesday the
4th of July. And Scott for finding all the dead rats in the plunge pools in the middle
cave and myself for finding all of the rattlesnakes at every exit. Every ones efforts
made for a great time with no bad incidents and brought forth the revelation of needing
better communications on future trips through such caves. But, all in all it was
a great trip.
Tony Williams
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