Trip Leader: Ralph Powers
On Trip: Damian Forkner, Maggie Holt, Danny Clark, Caralee Crye (CC), Ralph Powers Special guest cavers Dave and Ryan Shurtz
This trip was weeks in the planning by my room-mate Damian and he invited a host of people, all of whom are deaf, including himself. Come Saturday morning only ones present were Damian, Maggie, Danny and CC (whom I had invited personally). Still a nice group and lots of fun.
CC had brought her Van which allowed all of us to go in one vehicle, as the road was going to be paved the whole way. We met at my house at or around 8:30 am (caver time) and managed to get on the road by nine.
Within an hour and half later we arrived at the cave and sorted out gear. For everyone (myself excepting) it would be their first trip to this cave and for Damian and Maggie it would be their first trip to a real wild cave. Danny told me that he had gone caving before in Oregon (read: Lava Tubing). CC of course has been caving off and on for the past 18 months with me. She's normally accompanied by her son Byron but since he didn't finish his chores (his) Dad decided that he was to stay home, until they're done.
I chose this cave mainly because it's the only beginner cave now accessable without a 4 wheel drive and permit. Perfect Arch would'nt have cut it. Besides it's not as big.
After getting everything together at the entrance we headed on in. Since everyone was deaf and primiary communication was with our hands I felt like I didn't need my hearing aid but after TOO much silence I turned it back on... low.
Tying a hand line with my favorite old 9mm the group managed to negotiate the down-climb without too much trouble. From there I let them basically take their head and go expllore where-ever. When I caught up with them after shedding my own pack Seems that letting them go where they wanted was going to be okay... as long as it was behind me leading the way.
So through the main passage to the "break-room" and then taking the opportunity to give conservation messages where they apply. From there they scattered to look around and CC and I took a small room below to have a look see and then were joined by Danny who was beginning to have a blast. Damian and Maggie (who are together in all kinds of weather) were finding caves to be a nice quiet spot to ... err... suck face.
After seeing that little room, we rejoined them and I then led Damian and Maggie to the same spot letting CC and Danny go poke around while waiting for us.
Then took them down to a small little hole where I had seen a (sleeping) bat some years ago. No bat but lots of fun as we each took a turn working our way down that (approx) 48" diameter tube. Maggie being the slender of us managed to get down it with maybe five inches of space to spare. She was having loads of fun finding out that she can get into some really tight spaces with ease.
Danny who's a former H.S. champion wrestler was the only one of us who had a bit of a struggle getting in and out.
From there we gotten a nice surprise when we visted the area where the graffiti clean up took place. In that one alcove that has that huge I (heart) Amberlee spraypainting Damian took a peek under some calcite formations and spied a bat. It was sound asleep and tucked in a nice little spot just out of sight unless you bent down at an un-natural angle to see it. CC and I took pictures and Maggie who'd never seen a bat up close and in the wild spent the longest time lying on her back studying it. When we left it was still curled up tightly asleep. I guess it's one of the advantages of using sign-language to communicate as no words were "spoken" to disturb a bats slumber. I was very pleased to see one there in the cave and while I couldn't really identify it I'm guessing it's either a Townsend or a plain brown bat.
Afterwards we played around in the area past the entrance climb to good effect. Danny slipped and fell while trying to go up a chimney with smooth soled tennis-shoes (all that he had) and jammed one of his fingers. Other than that he wasn't seriously hurt.
More pictures and then everyone was content and happy. Ok lets head on back out and find something to eat in Nephi.
Enroute to pick up my pack I saw bright LED lights and when I climbed down to where my pack was heard a voice and I went over to it. Lo and behold! Dave Shurtz and with him Ryan and their small black and white dog.
I went back to get the others to make introductions.
Seems that Dave and Ryan were short of something to do and chose Oak City to visit since each of them haven't been to the cave in ten years they said.
Dave said that they saw my hat outside the entrance and knew that there were at least cavers inside and the 9mm was an even surer clue. He didn't expect it was me. But none the less we were tickled to see each other.
After saying adios to the Shurtz' we made our way out of the cave. Danny and Damian were the only ones worse for wear as their jeans were torn to pieces. We got final pictures on the hill and then made the drive back home, after a quick detour to look over the old Charcoal huts that were along the way.
(Pictures to be up loaded soon)
| Photography | ||||
 Group Photo |  Trying to scare the trip leader... NOT! |  Happy couple | ||
 Tight fit |  Maybe too tight |  Wildcat found in cave | ||
 After the trip... torn pants and tired but happy cavers |  The bat that we saw Caralee Crye (CC) |  Dave and Ryan Shurtz on their own visit CC | ||
 The Shurtz's caving dog CC | ||||