The Caves of CBSP,
A listing of their descriptions, as of January 1999.
BIG BAD AIR HOLE (SAB 005) Length: ? Depth:
30+'
Description: The entrance to the cave is a 15 foot long, 8 foot wide
crevice. A hole at one end drops an undetermined distance, but is apparently
about 40 feet. Equipment is required to enter the cave. The previous owner
(Tolle S. Lemons, Sr.) reports the presents of water in the cave at times.
When visited on September 1, 1963 by Orion Knox, David McKenzie, and James
Reddell a carbide lamp would not burn below the 25 foot level because of
bad air. It was not explored further. When the cave was visited on February
27, 1972, by James Jasek and Jimmy Schroeder, water was present about 25
feet below the surface.
Ref.: TSS files
BISCUIT CAN CAVE (SAB 006) (Biscuit Can Hole)
Length: 80' Depth: 40'
Description: The cave entrance is a crevice about three feet wide and
fifteen feet long which drops about fifteen feet to a ledge. At one end
of the fissure it continues to drop, first along a slope and then vertically
to a depth of about forty feet. Back to the northwest a silt-floored passage
extends about twenty-five feet before ending. There was a pool of water
at the bottom of the fissure.
History : October 14, 1962: Tom Phillips, Terry Raines, and James Reddell
explored and surveyed the cave.1988: Cave is relocated by cavers during
the monthly CBSP TSA volunteer work project.
Map January 23, 1963: Tom Phillips, Terry Raines and James Reddell
surveyed the cave with Brunton & Tape. D. Smith drafted the map January
23, 1963.The cave survey occurred a second time. Jay Jordan and others
mapped a cave they believed to be Biscuit in 1988. Ref : TSS files. Colorado
Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project trip reports.
CAT CAVE (SAB 009) Length: 30' Depth: 50
Description: The entrance to Cat Cave is a 1 feet wide, 3 feet long
crack which is connected by a narrow passage to a surface opening too small
to enter. A house cat inhabited the passage when it was first explored.
The entrance crevice connects after a few feet to a distinct level at 17
feet. A sloping passage extends on to a pit about 30 feet deep. Air in
this pit is poor, but a carbide light burns. Two small passages extend
from the bottom of the pit, but both are too small to enter. One is a 6"
in diameter hole dropping into an apparent lower level. When the cave was
entered a strong air current flowed up from this lower level. Equipment
is useful but not necessary in the pit.
History: It was explored on December 1, 1963 by James Reddell, Orion
Knox, and David McKenzie. The cave was entered on February 27, 1972, by
James Jasek and Tom Pack. Biology: The cave is inhabited by spiders, harvestmen,
crickets, collembolans and millepeds. Ref.: TSS files.
CICURINA CAVE (SAB 018) (Rattlesnake Hole) Length:
600' Depth: 35'
Description: The main entrance is a small round solution hole, approximately
2-1/2' in diameter. Its location is on the north side of Gorman Creek bed
and drops about ten feet into a room about ten feet in diameter. This room
occasionally harbors Rattlesnakes. In the bottom of the room a tight sloping
passage leads down about thirty feet. The passage opens into a wide silt-floored
room about seventy feet long. The room is thirty to fifty feet wide and
from a few inches to six feet high. Large areas of the room and, in fact,
large areas throughout the cave, contain silt up to or very near the ceiling.
From this large low room a winding silt-floored passage leads for 130 feet
to a junction. To the left a narrow passage goes about twenty feet before
opening into a large low passage. To the right the main passage continues
for about fifty feet before a seven foot drop beneath a twenty-five foot
high dome occurs. It is possible (but not recommended) to climb up this
dome and enter an irregular three foot high upper level passage. This passage
in turn leads to a shallow second entrance about ten feet in diameter.
During the first cave visit, this entrance was apparently not open. From
the bottom of the dome is a short climb to the left. This leads up into
a two to four foot high silt-floored area that eventually leads back to
an eleven foot high dome. Beyond the dome a low crawl extends into the
junction before the seven foot drop. The main passage beyond the dome room
extends as a very wide passage that, after a short distance, splits into
two passages. To the left it is about six feet high while the right hand
passage is from one to six feet high. After about thirty feet they both
intersect a junction passage that extends to the left about fifty feet
before becoming too small. To the right it goes about 120 feet as a dropping
passage containing an intermittent stream. Exploration ended at a pool.
A later exploration entered a side passage that continued for an unknown
distance as a water crawl. Survey remains to be done in the water passage.
Cicurina is not a large cave, but it is an interesting one and very different
from most caves in the country. There is still possibility of making additional
discoveries in it.
History: Tolle S. Lemons Sr., entered the cave but he did not fully
explore it .February 17, 1963: David McKenzie, Tom Phillips, Terry Raines
and James Reddell explored and mapped the cave. September 1, 1963, Orion
Knox, Tom Phillips and James Reddell, visited the cave again. August 21,
1987: Bill Elliot located the cave during a TSA volunteer work project.
This was the first trip to Lemons Ranch in many years for cavers, just
after TPWD purchased the property for a state park site. Bill located and
flagged a small entrance on the north bank of Gorman Creek. The second
entrance to the cave could not be located leaving doubt to this being Cicurina.
December, 1987: During the second of the monthly TSA volunteer work trips
cavers located the flagged entrance. The second entrance remained elusive.
Another cave entrance in the area, more closely resembled the Cicurina
description. January 9, 1988: Jay Jordan rappelled down the twenty foot
drop into the cave, on an extremely cold weekend. Butch Fralia located
the second entrance to the cave approximately 150 feet to the southeast
identifying the cave as Cicurina. Cavers installed SAB018 identification
tags at each entrance. Map: February 17, 1963: David McKenzie, Tom Phillips,
Terry Raines and James Reddell surveyed the cave using Brunton & Tape
Survey. Dick Smith plotted the data. Karl Kunath and Peggy Walkington drafted
the map.
Biology: The cave is of some biological interest and harbors interesting
species of troglodyte and troglophile. The common cave millipede (Cambala
speobia) is extremely abundant throughout the cave. The troglophile spider
(Achaearanea porteri) is also abundant. Its webs may be found throughout
the main passage where they hang from walls and ceiling. A complete faunal
list follows: Snails- not collected Millipedes- Cambala speobia (Chamberlin)
- troglodyte Abacion ? texensis (Loomis) - accidental Centipedes- not collected
Collembolans- Pseudosinella violenta (Folsom) - troglophile Odonata- Coenagrionidae
- Telebasis ? salva (Hag.) accidental Spiders- Cicurina sp. (blind) - troglodyte
Cicurina varians Gertsch and Mulaik - troglophile Achaearanea porteri (Banks)
- troglophile Crickets- Ceuthophilus (Ceuthophilus) sp. - trogloxene C.
(C.) secretus Scudder - trogloxene C. (Geotettix) cuniluclaris Hubbel -
trogloxene Fleas- Pulex ? Simulans Baker - trogloxene Beetles- Carabidae
- Bradycellus rupestris - ? troglophile Harpalus caliginosus F. - accidental
Rhadine howeni (Barr and Lawrence) - troglophile Tachys (Tachyura) ferrugineus
Dej. - troglophile Staphylinidae - Belonuchus sp., nr. moquinus Casey troglophile
Biocrypth magnolia Blatchley - ? troglophile Lathrobium sp. - ? troglophile.
Stilicolina condei Jarrige - troglophile Frogs- not collected Bats- Pipistrellus
subflavus (Cuvier) - trogloxene Archaeology:
Bibliography: Reddell, J.R.1965. "A checklist of the cave fauna of
Texas. I. The Invertebrata (exclusive of insecta)." Texas J. Sci., 17(2):
143-187. "A checklist of the cave fauna of Texas. II. Insecta." Texas J.
Sci., 18(2): 25-56. "A checklist of the cave fauna of Texas. III. Vertebrata."
Texas J. Sci., 19(2): 184-226. "A checklist of the cave fauna of Texas.
IV. Additional records of Invertebrata (exclusive of Insecta)." Texas J.
Sci., 21(4): 398-415. "A checklist of the cave fauna of Texas. V. Additional
records of Insecta)." Texas J. Sci., 22(1): 47-65. Ref.: TSS files Colorado
Bend State Park, work project trip reports.
Corral Crawl Cave (SAB 023)Length: 30'Depth:
0
Description: Corral Crawl Cave is a dry, dusty, 25 to 30 ft crawlway.
Map: Photography: Geology: Hydrology: Meteorology: Biology: Archaeology:
Bibliography: Reddell, J.R., and J.H. Estes, eds. 1962: ,"The caves of
San Saba County. Part I." Texas Speleological Survey, 1(6): 11.Ref.: TSS
files
Corral Hole No. 2 (SAB 025) ,(Small Corral Hole)Length:
5'Depth: 15
History: Although originally reported by Bob Hudson to be a vertical
pit requiring 75 ft of rope to enter, this hole was found in the approximate
area shown on his location map. It is only about 15 ft deep and floored
with silt. It was checked in 1962 by James Reddell, Stiles Roberts, and
other members of the University of Texas Grotto. Description:
Bibliography: Reddell, J.R., and J.H. Estes, eds. 1962: , "The caves
of San Saba County. Part I." Texas Speleological Survey, 1(6): 11.Ref.:
TSS files
Corral Hole No. 3 (SAB 026) , ,Length: 5' ,Depth:
15'
History: Another of the Corral Holes reported by Bob Hudson to require
75 ft of rope to enter, this is only a fissure-like opening 15 ft deep
and floored with silt. It was explored in 1962 by James Reddell, Stiles
Roberts, and other members of the University of Texas Grotto. ,
Bibliography: ,Reddell, J.R., and J.H. Estes, eds. 1962: "The caves
of San Saba County. Part I." Texas Speleological Survey, 1(6): 11. ,Ref.:
TSS files
Crevice Cave (SAB 027) ,Length: 20' ,Depth:
90
Description: The cave is entered by a narrow fissure which drops about
20 ft to a slope. This in turn leads to a vertical drop of about 30 ft
to a flat shelf. Here it intersects a perpendicular fissure which drops
an additional 40 ft to the bottom of the cave.
History: This cave was explored in February 1962 by Bud Frank and Tom
Phillips.
Bibliography: ,Reddell, J.R., and J.H. Estes, eds. 1962: "The caves
of San Saba County. Part I." Texas Speleological Survey, 1(6): 11.Ref.:
TSS files
Crowbar Cave (SAB 028) , ,Length: 25' ,Depth:
110' ,
Description: 6,The entrance to this cave was originally a small crevice
blocked by large rocks. A crowbar was used to move the rocks, opening a
hole large enough to enter. A 3 ft wide fissure drops 30 ft into a narrow
room. From this room a 30 ft drop leads to the bottom of the cave, where
fill blocks any possible leads. The maximum width attained by the cave
at any point is 25 ft.
History: This cave was explored by Stiles Roberts, Bill Bell, and other
members of The University of Texas Grotto in the spring of 1962.
Bibliography: Reddell, J.R., and J.H. Estes, eds. 1962: "The caves
of San Saba County. Part I." Texas Speleological Survey, 1(6): 11. ,Ref.:
TSS files
CRYSTAL CREVICE (SAB 029) , ,Length: 25' ,Depth:
10' ,
Description: The entrance to Crystal Crevice is located a few feet
from the road to Lemons Fishing Camp and can be readily seen from the road.
It is a fissure and drops down a few feet into a crevice- like passage
about 25 feet long, about 2 to 3 feet wide, and up to 6 feet high. The
walls are completely covered with large calcite crystals and the cave is
therefore very attractive. The total depth is about 10 feet.
Bibliography: Ref.: TSS files.
DOVE CAVE (SAB 038) ,(Dave Cave) , ,Length:
30' ,Depth: 10
Description: The entrance is a 5 feet in diameter vertical sink dropping
down a few feet to a slope which extends back about 25 to 30 feet as a
passage 3 to 5 feet high and 5 to 6 feet wide. The cave is dry
History: The cave was originally reported by a hunter on the ranch
and was explored on September 1, 1963, by James Reddell, David McKenzie
and Orion Knox.
Biology: Fauna includes black-widow spider (Latrodectus mactans F.)
other spiders (Agelenopsis aleenae Chamberlin and Ive), harvestmen, and
cave crickets.
Bibliography: Anonymous. 1963: "Over 30 San Saba caves located." Texas
Caver,8(9): 89-90.Reddell, J.R. 1965: "A checklist of the cave fauna of
Texas. I. The Invertebrata (exclusive of Insecta)." Texas J. Sci.,17(2):
143-187. ,Ref.: TSS files
Copperhead Cave (SAB 046)Length: 75'Depth: 35
Description: Copperhead Cave is entered by an 8 ft by 15 ft sink with
a steep silt and rock slope leading down about 15 ft. A crawl extends from
the bottom of the sink. After about 10 ft the crawl opens into a 10 ft
wide, 10 ft high passage sloping at 43 degrees d own for about 30 ft where
it opens into a 25 ft long, 17 ft wide, 10 ft high room. The room is floored
with mud containing numerous bones. Any passages which might continue are
filled with silt. Total depth of the cave is about 35 ft.
History: The cave was explored by James Reddell and other members of
the University of Texas Grotto in the spring of 1962.
Map: The cave was mapped on June 7, 1970 by Jimmy Schroeder, Berry
Hawkins, and Tom Pack
Biology: The only fauna observed were cave crickets, ticks, a few bats,
and thousands of fleas. It is known locally as Copperhead Cave because
of its rumored use as a copperhead den.
,Bibliography: ,Reddell, J.R., and J.H. Estes, eds. 1962: "The caves
of San Saba County. Part I." Texas Speleological Survey, 1(6): 11. ,Ref.:
: TSS files ,9360
GORMAN CAVE (SAB 054) Length: 3000' Depth: 10'
Gorman cave is one of the best known and most frequently visited caves
in the state. It has probably been locally known since the 1860's. Apparently
authentic dates as early as 1876 may be found in the cave. The earliest
written report on the cave appeared in the First Annual Report of the Geological
Survey of Texas, 1889. Since this is one of the earliest reported cave
explorations in Texas the account of it is reprinted in its entirety:
"Caves are very numerous in the limestone of the Carboniferous and
some of them are very extensive . . . I entered only one of them, and traversed
it about three-fourths of a mile. Sometimes the roof would be high overhead,
and then again we would have to crawl upon our hands and knees. There were
lateral openings at different places, but we kept in the main opening.
Most of the way the bottom was dry, but here and there a pool of water
would be found standing in a basin of calcareous rock. Stalagmites covered
the floor and stalactites hung from the top. We came to a place where there
was a descent of the bottom of the cave for several feet, and lowering
our candles into the opening, found on account of the gas they would not
burn, so we retraced our way to the entrance." (Cummins, 1889)
The cave has been visited numerous times by local people and by visitors
to the Gorman Falls Fishing Camp. As a result there has been considerable
vandalism, and much debris has been left in the cave. The cave was among
the first to be discovered by organized spelunkers in Texas. Riggs (1951)
reports its discovery by the newly formed University of Texas Cave Club.
Since that time the cave has been visited by most of the cavers in Texas
and is a regular site of grotto trips. Some of these have been recorded,
but most have gone unnoticed. The cave was mapped by the University of
Texas Grotto in 1954, but a more detailed and accurate map of the cave
was prepared by the Dallas-Fort Worth Grotto in September 1960. Detail
and cross sections were added to the map b y James Redell. The underwater
passage was partially explored in March 1962 by Tom Phillips and other
members of the University of Texas Grotto. Further explorations of the
underwater passage were made on August 24, 1962, by George Yeary and Norman
Robins on. In November, 1987, Volunteer research cavers began working on
the park and through August, 1993, visited the cave on numerous occasions.
In February, 1992, a bat gate was installed approximately eight-hundred
feet inside the cave. Bat gates are common on caves but this is believed
to be the first of it's kind, located as far as it is inside the cave.
On several occasions, cavers have removed all trash from the cave - i.e.
bottles, cans, etc. After each occasion, visitors, probably arriving in
boats on the river, have entered the cave and left deposits of more trash.
Description: Gorman Cave is located in a bluff on the west side of
the Colorado River. A narrow steep-walled gully leads from the narrow flood
plain and into the mouth of the cave. Large breakdown blocks litter the
floor of the gully, indicating a ceiling collapse. The entrance itself
is about ten feet high and fifteen feet wide. Immediately inside, the passage
becomes somewhat wider. The walls of the entrance room are covered with
massive calcite crystals with faces up to two inches a cross. Although
coated with mud, many of them have been chipped away by vandals, leaving
beautiful crystal faces exposed. After about seventy-five feet, the passage
drops to a hands and knees crawl for about ten feet before the passage
opens back up. Immediately after the crawl a breakdown slope on the left
connects with a depression on the surface; this depression is located at
the base of a short cliff about fifty feet above the level of the cave
entrance. The opening i n this depression has been enlarged by digging
to allow the cave resident bats an easier entrance. After the crawl, the
cave opens to a twenty foot wide, twenty foot high passage floored with
river sand and gravel. To the right are some of the more obvious of the
caves formations. A large flowstone rises from the floor to smaller formations.
During recent years, the flowstone and formations have taken on new growth.
Several small travertine dams have formed pools, and fish ponds, which
lie across the cave passage. River perch and catfish have been found in
these ponds after rises of the Colorado River inundated this part of the
cave. About two-hundred feet past the fish ponds, an elliptical stream
passage is reached with a high crack on the left side of the passage. After
a sharp turn to the left, the Bath Tub, a low, wide circular pool of water,
may be seen on the left. A ceiling drop occurs shortly after this and immediately
after this drop in ceiling height the passage opens into the Big Room.
This is a forty foot wide, fifty foot high, one-hundred foot long domed
room floored with guano and gravel. The room is inhabited by a small colony
of bats during the summer. A winding stream passage extends from the Big
Room about two-hundred feet, bypassing a small side passage which ends
after one-hundred feet in the Mouse Room. Just beyond the Mouse Room, a
bat gate has been installed. After the bat gate, at the end of the dry
stream passage is an area known as Separation Lake. This area ranges from
dry, to a one to two feet deep pool of water. During and immediately after
a resurgence, Separation Lake floods to the ceiling. In the past, this
lake was inhabited by numerous crayfish. Gravel banks on the sides of the
pool contain quartzite sand and quartz pebbles. About one-hundred feet
beyond Separation Lake, the first of a series of holes drops into a lower
level stream passage containing running water. Here and for the next few
hundred feet much breakdown has occurred, making it necessary to climb
over and around the large blocks. Immediately after the breakdown area
is a fork in the passage: the passage to the left dead ends after about
one-hundred feet. The passage to the right extends to more breakdown, which
can be climbed over or beside the main passage. Beyond this breakdown area
there is another junction formed by a large mass of flowstone. A passage
above the flowstone leads through deep mud, while that to the left extends
through a narrow crack to meet the upper passage in the summer. A squeeze
out of this passage leads to a large passage. To the left it slopes downwards,
becoming a narrow winding tube containing pools up to eight feet deep.
After about one-hundred feet a small stream enters from the left and extends
another few hundred feet before siphoning; the upstream part of the passage
also siphons. To the right the main passage extends as a large stream passage
floored with flowstone and rock. A thirty foot in diameter lake, containing
water several feet deep, may b e bypassed on the right by means of a crawl.
From here a large winding stream passage, CO2 Alley, extends for several
hundred feet before encountering the same fugitive stream seen earlier.
To the right(downstream) the passage soon becomes to small to negotiate,
while to the left (upstream) it is seen as a six to eight feet deep siphon.
An underwater passage extends past one small air pocket into the first
Air Room. A walking passage about one-hundred-fifty feet long extends from
here to a second siphon, which has not been explored. Several maps have
been drawn of this cave. The published map is in "The Caves of , Second
Edition." Gorman Cave is formed in the Ellenburger Group. Although not
fully understood, the speleogenesis of this extremely important cave is
interesting. Apparently formed in the phreatic zone, as evidenced by ceiling
pendants and solution pockets through the cave, especially in the area
known as the Swiss Cheese, the cave shows evidence of complete or near-complete
clay filling in an early stage of its development. The cave was also filled
at this or possibly and earlier time by breakdown and gravel, remnants
of which may be seen in the floor, walls an ceiling. Some of the gravel
and breakdown is locally cemented by calcite. At this stage, the down cutting
of the Colorado River dissected the cave, which became an outlet source
for a stream. The extension of the Cave on the east side of the river is
now a narrow, steep walled gully with no open cave extending from it's
head. This part of the cave presumably has been filled with mud and sealed
by breakdown. After the down cutting of the river had opened the cave,
a stream began removing the clay and cemented fill. The source of the water
for this stream is presumed to be the numerous small caves and fissures
lying above the cave. Almost certainly related to Gorman Cave is Clark's
Branch Well Cave, lying in a direct line with the main trend of Gorman
Cave and less than a mile distant from the end of Gorman Cave. With the
collapse of portions of the cave walls and ceiling, the stream running
through the cave found it easier to utilize several small side passages
which still serve as the channel for the cave stream. The main passage
is frequently flooded in times of heavy rain when the cave stream becomes
too large to limit itself to the small side passages it usually uses. Some
flooding also occurs in the first half of the cave when the Colorado River
is in flood. One such flood described by Beck (1970). Of no small interest
are the large calcite crystals found on the walls and ceiling of parts
of the cave, as well as quartzite sand and sandstone, are quite unusual
in Texas caves, and a full study of this cave and its sediments is badly
needed. During periods of heavy rainfall, the cave will resurge. Water
levels rise at the back sump and flow through CO2 Alley. It then flows
through a lower passage to come out at sumps in the squeeze area. The resurgence
appears to bypass the area between the squeeze and CO2 alley all together.
This can be ascertained by observing the period between the Squeeze and
CO2 Alley. This area is very muddy and holds water for long periods of
time. Since 1988 , the area has gradually been drying out. There have been
several resurgence between 1990 and 1993 and the area keeps getting drier.
Since the Volunteer Cave Research project began in 1987, numerous air quality
measurements have been taken. CO2 and O2 measurements have been taken throughout
the cave. The greatest accumulations of CO2 occur in the area known as
CO2 Alley. Accumulations in this area have reach as much as six-percent
though five-percent are more typical. As would be expected, the variations
are seasonal and are affected by weather changes such as heavy rainfall.
It is observed that rainfall has a greater effect than seasonal temperatures.
In December, 1990, measurements were taken immediately after local temperature
had fallen to 0o F. The CO2 decreased from five-percent (the previous measurement)
to four-percent. After a large rainfall that caused the cave to resurge,
CO2 dropped from five-percent to two-percent in the CO2 Alley area. Heavy
rainfall has washed all but a few small accumulations of decaying vegetation
from the cave. The accumulations remaining do not seem adequate to generate
the amount of CO2 typically present in the cave. Biology: Biological collections
were made in the cave on October 19, 1962, and on March 15, 1963, by James
Reddell and David McKenzie. "Blind crayfish" reported from this cave are
almost certainly white individuals of the common speci es, Procambarus
simulans simulans. These frequently lose their pigment as an apparent result
of absence of carotin in their diet. Additional collections are badly needed
in this extremely interesting and biologically significant cave. A faunal
li st of identified material follows: SnailsHelicodiscus eigenmanni Pilsbry
- troglophile IsopodsAsellus bisetus Steeves - troglobite AmphipodsStygonectes
bifurcatus Holsinger - troglobite S. russelli Holsinger Holsinger - troglobite
CrayfishProcambarus simulans simulans (Faxon) - troglophile MillipedsCambala
speobia (Chamberlin) - troglobite SpidersCicurina sp. - troglobite C. varians
gertsch and Mulaik - troglophile Meioneta sp. - troglophile CollembolansPseudosinella
violenta (Folsom) - troglophile CricketsCeuthophilus (Geotettix) cunicluaris
Hubbell - trogloxene MosquitoesAedes, poss. vexans (Meigen) - trogloxene
BeetlesCarabidae - Tachys (Tachyura) ferrugineus Dej. - Troglophile Pselaphidae
- Cylindrarctus sp. - troglophile Staphylinidae- Belonuchus sp. nr. moquinus
Casey - troglophile Orus (Leucorus) rubens Casey - troglophile or trogloxene
Stilicolina condei Jarrige - troglophile RingtailBassariscus astutus flavus
Rhoads - trogloxene >Also observed but not collected were flies, centipedes,
bats, frogs, and mites.
LEMONS RANCH CAVE (SAB 073) Length: 750'Depth:
100'
Description: The entrance to Lemons Ranch Cave is a eight foot diameter
sink along one side of a draw. Entry into the cave requires climbing down
about fifteen feet. There are hand and foot holds, all the way down but
they are difficult to see. At the bottom of the entrance, a sloping passage
leads down into a junction room. 6,In the junction room, there are two
passages to the left and right of the main passage. To the left a narrow
one foot high passage ends after about ten feet. To the right a six to
ten foot wide, one foot high crawl extends twenty foot before ending. The
main passage continues as a stoopway over rubble to a second junction.
,In the second junction room, passage separates to the left and the right.
To the right passage opens into a very wide irregular mud-floored room
about thirty feet in diameter and up to six feet high. There is a mud-floored
crawl passage leading from the room to a blind pit about sixty feet deep.
4,From the second junction room, the left-hand passage forms the main passage
of the cave. It leads down through a one foot high, three foot wide, steep
chimney. This passage extends as a one to three foot high crawl for about
thirty feet. After an additional thirty feet it opens into a five to ten
foot wide, three to five foot high passage. This passage has a narrow,
usually dry stream channel cut into the floor. After about 160 feet the
ceiling height increases to six to nine feet and passage width in places
to fifteen feet. After about 100 feet the passage ends in a twenty foot
high dome and a flowstone block. The stone block becomes partially choked
by mud after about ten feet. Digging extended this crawl but additional
work will be required before passing the flowstone block. A strong air
current issues from the crawl and it should eventually lead back down to
the main passage. The main stream passage contains several areas of formations,
including many stalactites and some helectites. (See map Caves of San Saba
County).
History: 9,October 13, 1962: James Reddell, Tom phillips and other
members of the University of Texas Grotto visited the cave. This is the
first known visit by organized cavers. In the passage leading back to the
pit they found two handwritten notes. One undated note read: "Turn back.
It's not worth it. Passage ends in vertical sink. W.J. Pruitt, David Walker,
Dick Walker, Glen Price. Sink is 60 ft. - 75 ft. No features at bottom."
The second note read:
"June 10, 1961 - we explored this hole to here searching for a new
entrance to Gorman Cave.
Johnette Matthews Age 14Jim Sutter Age 15 , Route 3 Post Office Box
211 , Lampasas, TexasLampasas, Texas Robin Matthews Age 18Doyle Roper Age
17 , 4706 Shadow Lane1907 Aggie Lane , Austin, Texas Austin
Texas September 1, 1963: James Reddell, Orion Knox and David McKenzie
visited the cave. July 18, 1964: Bill Russell and other members of the
University of Texas Grotto visited the cave. November 1965: Ed Alexander,
Jonathan Davis, Charles Jennings, Hugh Davis and Charles Loving surveyed
the cave. , 1,November 1987: Cavers "rediscovered" the cave during the
monthly TSA volunteer work project at CBSP. Terry Holsinger located the
cave. Re-exploration has occurred since then. Joe Ivy has attempted to
explore possible leads around the sink area at the back of the cave. None
of the so called leads have proven to be worth further pursuit. November,
1988: John Brooks and Jay Jordan, performed a line survey in the cave.
They came up with 750 feet of passage indicating the cave was never completely
mapped. The old records show the cave to be 550+ feet long
Map: November 1965: C. Loving, C. Jennings, E. Alexander, and J. Davis
surveyed the cave using brunton and tape. The published map is in the TSS
survey titled The Caves of San Saba County.
Biology: Collections of invertebrates were made in the cave on October
13, 1962, by James Reddell; on September 1, 1963, by James Reddell and
David McKenzie; and on July 18, 1964, by Bill Russell. The cave is dry,
but it does contain three troglodyte species. Additional collections should
yield other species of interest. A complete faunal list follows: Millipedes-
Cambala speobia (Chamberlin) - troglophile ,Spiders- Cicurina sp. - Troglodyte
,- C. varians Gertsch and Mulaik - troglophile ,- Meioneta sp. - troglophile
,Phalangids- Mesosoma roeweri Goodnight and Goodnight - accidental ,Thysanurans-
Nicoletia texensis Ulrich - troglodyte ,Crickets- Ceuthophilus (Ceuthophilus)
sp. - trogloxene ,- Ceuthophilus (Ceuthophilus) secretus Scudder - , trogloxene
,Beetles- Caribdae - Rhadine howdeni (Bart and Lawrence) - , troglophile
,- Tachys (Tachyura) ferrugineus Dej. - troglophile
Bibliography: Anonymous.1965. "Grotto news: University of Texas Grotto,
N.S.S." Texas Caver 10(11): 222 ,Reddell, J.R.1965. "A checklist of the
cave fauna of Texas. I. The Invertebrata (exclusive of insecta)" Texas
J. Sci., 17(2): 143-187 ,Reddell, J.R.1966. "A checklist of the cave fauna
of Texas. II Insecta." Texas J. Sci., 18(1): 25-56.,Reddell, J.R.1969.
"A checklist of the cave fauna of Texas. IV. Additional records of Invertebrata
(exclusive of Insecta)." Texas J. Sci., 21(4): 389-415.Ref.: TSS files.
Colorado Bend Volunteer TSA project trip reports and notes.
LEMONS COON CAVE (SAB 074) Length: 30'Depth:
20 :
Description: An elongated 10 foot by 15 foot sink leads down a slope
for a vertical distance of 20 feet where it opens into an elongated breakdown-floored
room 15 feet high, 15 feet wide and about 30 feet long. A raccoon was seen
in a narrow dead-end passage leading from one end of the room. The cave
was visited on September 1, 1963 by James Reddell, Orion Knox and David
McKenzie.
Map: Sketch map is adequate for this small cave
.Biology: Spiders, Harvestman and crickets were observed inhabitants
of the cave. A raccoon was also seen in the cave when it was visited in
September 1963.
Bibliography: Ref.: TSS files.
LEMONS RANCH FISSURE (SAB 075)Length: 20'Depth:
30
Description: This is the only obviously negotiable fissure in a fairly
extensive fissure complex located near the bed of an old abandoned railroad.
It consists of an elongated entrance about 10 feet long and 3 feet wide
which drops unclimbably for about 30 feet. It extends a short distance
in one direction as walking passage but then it slopes down and becomes
very tight and has not been explored further. Many other fissures exist
in this heavily wooded area and some may lead to caves.
History: The cave was explored in 1962 by James Reddell and Tom Phillips.
: Bibliography: Ref.: TSS files
Little Bad Air Hole (SAB 076) Length: 10' Depth:
30'
Description: A 1 ft wide, 3 ft long crack drops 30 ft into a slightly
elongated fissure 2 ft wide and 10 ft long at the bottom. The walls are
smooth and the presence of bad air made the climb very difficult without
equipment. The floor is of soil and there are no formations. A carbide
lamp would not burn 10 ft from the floor.
History: The cave was explored September 1, 1963, by James Reddell,
David Mckinzie, and Orion Knox.
Biology: Harvestman and Cave Crickets were observed.
Bibliography: ,Anonymous.1963. " Over 30 San Saba caves located." Texas
Caver, 8(9): 89-90. Ref.: TSS files
LOWER CAVE (SAB 079) Length: 50'Depth: 20'
History: It was visited on September 2, 1963 by James Reddell and Bill
Russell. Description: The entrance to Lower Cave is an irregular breakdown
sink on the side of a shallow draw. A crawl down leads into an area of
several low rooms. The cave is essentially unexplored and may be fairly
extensive.
Bibliography: ,Ref.: TSS files.
MIDDLE CAVE (SAB 083) Length: 100'Depth: 35
Description: A sink entrance leads down about 15 feet to a passage
extending two ways. Downstream it leads as a narrow crawl containing formations
to an unclimbable drop of about 20 feet. Upstream a low bedding-plane crawl
floored with silt extends for at least 5 0 feet with no sign of an end.
The cave is very promising and should be carefully explored
History: It was visited on September 2, 1963 by James Reddell and Bill
Russell.
Biology: A beetle, Rhadine howdeni (Barr and Lawrence) was collected
in the cave
: Bibliography: ,Reddell, J.R.1966. "A checklist of the cave fauna
of Texas. II. Insecta." Texas J. Sci., 18(1): 25-56.Ref.: TSS files
SOUR CAVE (SAB 099) Length: 50' ,Depth: 20
Description: The entrance to Sour Cave is a tight crevice about 20
feet deep. At the bottom a duck-under leads into a low passage about 30
feet long. This opens into an irregular room 4 feet to 6 feet high and
about 15 feet in diameter. Several passages extend from this room, one
of which leads to another tight fissure entrance. The cave is not well-explored
and should be mapped. It was visited on October 14, 1962 by James Reddell,
Terry Raines and Tom Phillips.
Bibliography: Ref.: TSS files.
SWEET CAVE (SAB 105) Length: 50' ,Depth: 20
Description: Located in the same area of fissures as Sour
Cave, the entrance to Sweet Cave is a narrow fissure dropping 15 feet
to 20 feet. A crawl from the bottom leads into a 6 foot high room about
20 feet in diameter and containing several formations. Leads from this
room have not been checked, but are promising. It was visited on October
14, 1962 by James Reddell, Terry Raines and Tom Phillips
Bibliography: Ref.: TSS files.
TURTLE SHELL CAVE (SAB 108)Length: 50'Depth:
20
Description: Turtle Shell Cave is a single main room enterable from
two entrances. One entrance is a fissure about two feet wide and five feet
long. The other entrance is a tight crevice ten inches wide and two feet
long. Both are about twenty feet deep. The single room is about thirty
feet in diameter and two to five feet high. Opposite the main entrance
a circular chimney slopes steeply down for a total of about fifty feet
before ending in a short crawl.
History: October 13, 1962: Tom Phillips, Terry Raines and James Reddell
explored the cave. They found a turtle shell on the floor giving the cave
its name. ,After the winter rains of 1992, cavers noted two small, low,
passages have opened. These passages previously did not exist. They were
apparently plugged and heavy water flow opened them. They have not been
explored.
Biology: A small collection of invertebrates included a blind millipede,
Cambala speobia (Chamberlin), an epigeon millipede, Narceus amaricanus
(Beauvios), and collembolans, Pseudosinella violenta (Folsom).
Bibliography: ,: I0,0,2160,2160 ,Reddell, J.R.1965. "A checklist of
the cave fauna of Texas. I. The Invertebrata (exclusive of Insecta)." Texas
J. Sci. 17(2): 143-187.Ref.: TSS files.
UPPER CAVE (SAB 112) Length: 100'+Depth: 20
Description: The entrance to Upper Cave is a fissure about three feet
wide and fifteen feet long. It drops about fifteen feet where it intersects
a low wide crawl extending in both directions. Neither way has been checked
for more than fifty feet, but it continue s and may be fairly long.
History: September 2, 1963: James Reddell and Bill Russell checked
the cave. A small biological collection was made
Biology Five Species of invertebrate have been identified from Upper
Cave. A blind millipede, Cambala speobia (Chamberlin) is the only troglobite
known to the cave. Other fauna includes a spider, Cicurina varians Gertsch
and Mulaik, two carabid beetles, Rhad ine howdeni (Barr and Lawrence) and
Tachys (Tachyura) ferrugineus Dej., and a staphylinid beetle, Belonuchus
sp. nr. moquinus casey. All four of these species are troglophiles.
Bibliography: ,Ref.: : TSS Files Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer
work project trip reports.
Dagger Cave (SAB 134)Length: 38'Depth: 27
Description: The main entrance to Dagger Cave is a crevice 11.5 ft
long and 4 ft wide which drops 27 ft to a floor of a small rocks. A second
entrance about 2 ft in diameter is located about 10 ft away which drops
down a very step slope of rubble. Equipment is required. At the bottom
a 10 ft passage extends down a small slope for about 20 ft, passing beneath
one 20 ft high dome and then ending abruptly at the base of a dome which
must reach almost to the surface. The cave is formed along a joint striking
S52 degrees 30' W and is a total of 38 ft long.
History: This cave was explored and mapped on March 29, 1970, by Jimmy
Schroeder and D. Bettinger.
Biology: Bones were observed on the floor.
Bibliography: Ref.: TSS Files.
DEVILS STAIRCASE (SAB 151)Length: 15'Depth:
20
Description: This is apparently one of the fissures making up the McLarrin
fissure System. The entrance is 15 ft long and 20 ft deep. A passage 100
ft long extends S 48 degrees W from the bottom.
Biology: Bones were observed on the floor.
Bibliography: Ref.: James Jasek
DYNAMITE CAVE (SAB 152) Length: 150'Depth: 15
Description: There are two entrances to the cave, a small vertical
chimney approximately 150 feet to the west of the main entrance. The main
entrance is a large friendly sinkhole approximately fifteen feet long and
twelve feet deep at the deepest point. Entrance to the cave requires stepping
down to a ledge about four feet lower than the surface. Reaching the floor
of the sink requires a step down about three feet lower. The floor of the
sinkhole is a gentle slope leading to the entrance of the cave. Entrance
requires hands and knees crawl for about six feet. Once inside the cave
is a long room with ceiling heights six to ten feet high and perhaps 100
feet long. There are a few dry formations and the floor is of dry loose
dirt. At the back of the room is a climbable chimney that goes straight
up and returns to the surface. Map: Sketch map has no north arrow or map
scale, but may be adequate for this small cave. November 12, 1988, Pooch
Amy, Dave Finfrock, Mike Goff, and Ken Larson surveyed the cave. The two
entrances each has a survey benchmark installed. There isn't an available
map of the cave.
History: ,February 17, 1972: James Jasek and Jimmy Schroeder visited
the cave. ,September 11, 1988: During the monthly TSA volunteer work project,
Jim Schroeder happened to visit the park office while project cavers were
there. Jim is an old time caver of the Lemons Ranch. He led Terry Holsinger
to the cave and related other caving information about the area. ,October
8, 1988: Cavers visit the cave and verify it to be Dynamite Cave. ,August,
1990: Butch Fralia and Danny Sherrod visited Robert Lemons. Mr. Lemons
stated time exaggerate the story of the 300 sticks of dynamite. Mr. Leroy
Yarborough, former publisher of "VANISHING TEXAS," a historical magazine
first related the tale. He suggests the amount of dynamite to have been
less than the story. Robert was at the fishing camp when the even reportedly
took place. Tolle Lemons and Robert's brothers did the blasting. He thinks
the amount would have been more like a maximum of five to six sticks. 4,The
story relates that Dynamite Cave was originally a narrow fissure entered
only by the skinniest of people. The Lemons were treasure hunters and felt
Dynamite Cave had to be the site of the mother lode. They managed to get
300 sticks of dynamite into the cave and convinced a skinny girlfriend
of one son to drop into the cave and set caps. Ignition of the dynamite,
yielded a large friendly entrance, a nice cave with eight foot ceilings
but no gold. The name originated derived from the means of creating the
entrance.
Biology: Two Buzzard chicks were observed in the cave during the summer
of 1989. Christmas 1989, a Raccoon was found nesting in the cave. A large
quantity of Cave Crickets and Harvestman reside in the cave.
Bibliography: Ref.: James Jasek. Colorado Bend Volunteer Project Trip
Reports. Robert Lemons.
LEMONS PIT (SAB 160)Length: 12'Depth: 15'
Description: This small single chamber room cave is located along a
long abandoned railroad. It is on the side of a hill some 100 yards from
the railroad. The entrance is 4 feet in diameter and drops 15 feet to a
small round room about 8 feet high and 12 feet in diameter. A small passage
too small to enter leads from the room.
History: It was visited February 27, 1972 by James Jasek and Jimmy
Schroeder.
Bibliography: Ref.: James Jasek
A "MOTHER PIT" (SAB 161) ,Length: 10' ,Depth:
30
Description: The entrance to this cave is a very narrow crack which
drops 30 feet into a small 10 foot in diameter room. Equipment is required
to enter this pit.
History: ,June 1971; visited by James Jasek and B. Trippet
Bibliography: Ref.: James Jasek Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer
work project trip reports.
VARMINT TRAP CAVE (SAB 178) Length: Depth: 75'
+/-
History: February 13, 1988; The cave was located by David McClung during
the monthly TSA volunteer work project. The cave was entered the same day
by Jeff Duvall, Keith Heuss, and David McClung. Description: David McClung
explored the full extent of the cave while other cavers remained at various
levels. A very old trap was found in the lower part of the cave, giving
it it's name. Other pieces of trash are evident in the cave but there was
no evidence of prior visitation to the cave. (K. Heuss 3/88)
Map: ,A sketch map was drawn from memory by David McClung after he
exited the cave
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
Sore Toe Cave (SAB 179) Length: Depth:
Description: The entrance is located in a sink. The entrance drop is
a 20 foot chimney 4 or 5 feet in diameter. A unentered pit estimated to
be about 45 foot deep is to one side of the floor of the entrance pit.
(Alvis Hill, 11/88)
Map: Photography: Geology: Hydrology: Meteorology: Biology:
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, work project trip reports,
notes.
SKUNK HOLE (SAB 180) Length: Depth:
History: November 10, 1989: During the regularly scheduled TSA volunteer
work project, Keith Heuss and Wayne Hill had arrived early and installed
a bench mark at SAB 180. They noted a skunk in the area and named the cave,
"Skunk Hole."
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
Parsley Pit (SAB181) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Horseshoe Chimney (SAB182) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Gorman Creek Crevice (SAB183) Length: 3036' 'Depth:
98'
BLUE RIBBON FISSURE (SAB 184) Length: Depth:
Description: Trip date: December 4-6, 1987 2,We proceeded on to the
unnamed expected 75 foot deep pit we located on the previous trip from
a lead from Steve Densmore. Butch and Jarvis entered the cave first. With
hopes of a promising lead, Rune and I entered the pit. A 13.5 foot chimney
lead s to a ledge which divides the fissure room into two pits, both of
which lead to the same room. The larger passage is easier to negotiate.
Down another 29.5 feet is the floor of the fissure room. A hole to one
side of this dirt and rock sloping floored room leads into a canyon passage.
Exploration beyond this point was stopped due to bad air at a level about
half way down this 5 foot tall hole. Rope and fresh air will be required
before further exploration will be possible. Air quality measurements were
taken by hanging a sensor into the canyon passage at the bottom of the
hole. Oxygen content measurements were taken using a MDA Scientific, Inc.
model 330 oxygen analyzer with a sensor probe at the end of a 6 foot cable.
Carbon Dioxide content was measured within a Draeger Multi Gas Detector
using a Draeger Detector tube to measure carbon dioxide. Its sensor is
on the end of a 10 foot tube resulting in measurements being taken lower
in the pit. Oxygen was measured at 14 .5 percent (21 percent being normal),
and carbon dioxide measured at 8.25 percent (0.035 percent being normal).
Recommended low level for oxygen content is 19.5 percent for breathable
environment. Outside air temperature on the day the readings were taken
was the upper 70's. Hopes are that cold weather will clear the bad air
out later in the winter.
Bibliography: Ref.:
ICOTTA RAZOR RIFT (SAB 185) Length: 87.26m Depth:
17.24m (map)
Description: Ricotta Razor Rift is a system formed along a fault or
joint with one fissure entrance and one sink hole collapse entrance. The
fissure entrance drops about 6 feet to a tight spot - a square hole in
breakdown about 2 feet in diameter. Below the hole is a small room from
which a fissure extends in the same trend as the entrance toward the other
entrance. Dropping through the fissure is some what difficult as the fissure
is only about 1 foot wide and drops 8 to 10 feet. From the bottom of the
fissure opens a room about 25 feet long by approximately 10 feet wide.
At the opposite end of the room, a fissure (same trend) leads upward and
connects with the sinkhole collapse entrance. The floor has another tight
fissure (same trend again) which runs almost the length of the room. At
one end of the fissure it is passable at about 1 foot wide and drops about
12 feet. It opens at the bottom onto an 8 foot climb down into a fairly
extensive room. Average ceiling height is about 5 1/2 feet. The room is
feistly maze-like and goes in numerous directions though infeesling crawls
on the floor of the room, a flowstone covered pit drops 6 to 7 feet to
a small room with a tight belly-crawl extending off. The cave is tight
in several places and is technically difficult. (Joe Ivy, 3/13/88).
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
NAPOLITAS Cave (SAB 186) Length: 74' Depth:
30
Description: The cave was named Napolitas (cactus fruit) Cave, for
the prickly pear cactus growing at one edge of the entrance fissure. It
is entered by a eleven foot chimneyable vertical fissure. An entrance room
offset from the surface entrance by about five feet has multiple passages
extending from it. This room is almost cylindrical, about five feet in
diameter. Across the room from the entrance, a small pit 1.6 feet deep
leads to a passage two feet tall that extends at 210o azimuth for 19.6
feet and has three leads off the end. This lead is considered beautiful
because of the erosion of micro-fractures on the walls. The first lead
to the left and at the end of the passage is two feet wide, 1.5 feet tall,
extends 2.6 feet before becoming mud filled. The other two passages are
one foot high and one foot wide and quickly mud choke. Thirteen feet into
this passage, a 1.5 foot wide passage to the right leads 6.5 feet to a
small pit that drops down into a passage parallel to the main passage.
The length of the passage is described as "coffin" length.
History: August 13, 1988: The cave was surveyed during the monthly
TSA volunteer work project by Mike Cagle, Corky Corcoran, Jay Jordan, Dennis
and Joshua Thompson. April 8, 1995: TSA Cave Research Volunteers, Peter
Baron, Butch Fralia, Chris Jagge, Sharon Mastbrook, and Tina Schmid, visited
the cave to gather data for a more detailed description.
Biology: White sightless millipedes were observed in the cave. Some
were being eaten by small spiders in the cave.
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
UNNAMED CAVE (SAB 187) Length: 20' ,Depth: 25
Description: A vertical crevice entrance about 4 feet by 2 feet at
its widest narrows to 16 inches by 10 inches at one point. A small scrub
oak tree growing out of the entrance to one side had to be trimmed before
the pit could be entered. A room about 20 feet in diameter is located About
25 feet below the surface. A pile of breakdown about 4 feet high in this
room has its high center below the pit entrance. The cave is not located
in a creek so as to take much water. What water does enter the cave obviously
drains into the breakdown. A lead in the breakdown may continue with some
digging, but a large boulder covers any entrance. (Alvis Hill 11/88).
History: ,March 12, 1988; The cave was found by Keith Heuss during
an overland survey between two caves in the area. The cave was tied into
the overland survey and is accurately located. Rocks dropped in the cave
at the time revealed some depth to the pit. November 12, 1988; The cave
was entered for the first time by Bill Larsen and Alvis Hill. The cave
was explored to a depth of about 25 feet. Biological collections from the
cave were destroyed by a large boulder when it dislodged and slid down
the breakdown slope. The boulder now blocks a possible lead in the cave.
(Keith Heuss 11/88)
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
MYSTERY HOLE CAVE (SAB188) Length: 114' ,Depth: 24
Description: The cave is approximately 114 feet long by 24 feet deep.
The passage narrows to a mud fill to low to negotiate. Beyond the mud fill,
15 feet more of passage can be seen before it rounds a bend. A small mouse
was observed walking along a ledge near th e end of the cave. Air quality
about half way down the 6 foot deep entrance drops to 18% oxygen and holds
constant to the end of the cave. The entrance is covered the entrance with
rocks
History: ,November, 1988; Clay Chambers, Keith Heuss, Jay Jordan, and
Dave McClung installed a brass screw bench mark near the entrance then
surveyed the cave.
Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project trip reports.
UNNAMED CAVE (SAB 189) Length: Depth:
Description:
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
CAVITY CREEP CAVE (SAB 190) Length: 114' Depth:
70'
Description:
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
MM HOLE (SAB 191) Length: Depth:
Description
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
MOUSE HOLE CAVE (SAB 192) Length: Depth: 60
Description: Joe Ivy, Allan Cobb, Linda Palit and Dave Milhollin entered
and bottomed out Mouse Hole. Total estimated depth is about 20 meters (60
feet). A mouse size hole is an obvious water drain at the bottom of the
cave. A fissure passage takes a healthy amount of air but is only a few
inches wide. They mapped their way out of the cave. A mouse was observed
in the cave, from which the cave earned its name on the first visit to
the cave.
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
UNNAMED CAVE (SAB 193) Length: 4'Depth: 12
Description: A small vertical cave in Gorman Creek near SAB218
(Blue Fungus Cave), and SAB194 (Sore Back Cave).
The pit entrance is covered by a large rock. Two holes, one about ten inches
in diameter and another about 12 inches by 2 feet lead under the rock to
t he top of the pit. The pit is twelve feet deep with a small passage three
feet wide by four feet long. The floor is dirt covered from soil washed
in from the surface. A twelve inch by eight inch hole in the floor at passage
end provides water drainage from the cave. At various times the hole terminates
with dirt fill but after a heavy rain, this may be washed out and the hole
seen to continue for a short distance before disappearing under rock.
History: November 1988: Alvis Hill, with the TSA Cave Research Volunteer
Project, explored the cave and provided a preliminary description. Part
of the root system of a nearby tree blocked the entrance and was trimmed
to facilitate entrance. April 8, 1995: TSA Cave Research Volunteers, Peter
Baron, Butch Fralia, Chris Jagge, Sharon Mastbrook, and Tina Schmid, visited
the cave to gather data for a more detailed description.
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
SORE BACK CAVE (SAB 194) Length: 25' Depth:
10
Description: The surface expression for Sore Back Cave is a fifteen
foot long, three foot wide (widest point) fissure trending south to north.
A small passage leads downward in the north end of the fissure. The entrance
passage leads downward in a southerly direction for about ten feet. At
the bottom is an intersection room, an enlargement of the passage tall
enough to stand in. A passage to the abrupt right of the room is to tight
to traverse. A left passage extends for about ten feet to a vertical fissure
pass age leading down. Very small people could continue downward in this
passage.
History: August 13, 1988: The cave was surveyed by Clay Chambers, Jay
Jordan and Dave McClung with the TSA Volunteer Cave Research Project. May
13, 1995: TSA Cave Research Volunteers, Nila Dennis, Butch Fralia, Benjamin
Heuss, Keith Heuss, and Sharon Mastbrook, visited the cave to gather data
for an enhanced description.
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
UNNAMED CAVE (SAB 195) ,Length: Depth: Location:
Description
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
CENOTE DE CARNE (SAB 196) Length: 40'+Depth:
13'+
Description: The entrance is a cross shaped formed where two fissures
meet perpendicularly. An 8 food chimney down leads to a wide room about
40 feet across with some ceiling heights of 4 feet. A small pit at one
side of the room leads 5 feet down to sloping passage. This passage leads
to a second room where a shallow pit sumps. The clear water contains some
organic debris. On the other side of the 40 foot wide room, a small squeeze
leads to a breakdown chamber. A strong airflow is noticed at this squeeze
and across the breakdown chamber where a 6 foot tall room leads to a skylight
which is too tight to negotiate. Many bones were observed throughout the
cave, some were old and were well embedded in the flowstone deposited on
the floor.
History: August 13, 1988: The cave was surveyed during the monthly
TSA volunteer work project by Mike Cagle, Clay Chambers, Corky Corcoran,
Jay Jordan, Dave McClung, Dennis and Joshua Thompson. May 13, 1995: TSA
Cave Research Volunteers, Nila Dennis, Butch Fralia, Benjamin Heuss, Keith
Heuss, and Sharon Mastbrook, visited the cave to gather data for an enhanced
description.
Bibliography: ,Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
DOG & BUTTERFLY CAVE (SAB 197) Length: 17'
Depth: 11
Description: The entrance to Dog and Butterfly Cave is a fissure ten
feet long, one foot to five feet wide trending at 256o azimuth. The entrance
drops eleven feet to a breakdown floor. Horizontal passage extends at 74o
azimuth for seventeen feet. The passage floor drops six feet from the entrance
to the end over it's seventeen foot length. A possible passage in the floor
extends two feet before becoming to tight to traverse.
History: August 13, 1988: The cave was surveyed during the monthly
TSA volunteer work project by Mike Cagle, Clay Chambers, Corky Corcoran,
Jay Jordan, Dave McClung, Dennis and Joshua Thompson. April 8, 1995: TSA
Cave Research Volunteers, Peter Baron, Butch Fralia, Chris Jagge, Sharon
Mastbrook, and Tina Schmid, visited the cave to gather data for a more
detailed description.
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
UNNAMED CAVE (SAB 198) Length: Depth:
Description
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
DON'T FIT PIT (SAB 199) Length: Depth:
Description: A vertical crevice entrance measuring 1 foot by 2.5 feet
located in a shallow sink which drops about 6 feet. A ledge offsets the
drop before continuing down another 12 feet. A crevice trending northward
continues about 20 feet but is about 10 inches wide is too tight to enter.
To the south side of the floor, another drop continues an estimated 30
feet and is possibly chimneyable. Air quality readings taken about 6 feet
into this pit indicate oxygen content of 14.8%. Exploration ended at the
top of this pit. (Alvis Hill 11/88).
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
????? (SAB200) Length: ?'Depth: ?
CRIPPLED DEER CAVE (SAB 201) Length: 80'Depth:
55
Description: The two entrances to this cave are situated in an area
of exposed karst in a wooded field. The southern entrance is a 2 foot by
10 foot chimney which drops about 10 feet. At the bottom, a crawlway trends
due north toward a second entrance but is impassable. A second fissure
passage trends west but is also impassable. The second entrance is located
about 15 feet due north of the first entrance. 2,The second entrance leads
to a chimneyable crevice about 2 feet wide dropping about 20 feet to a
small room. Two passages each about 40 feet in length, lead off this room.
The passage to the south leads towards the first entrance. Some formations
and a dome about 10 feet high are found in this passage. A room 15 feet
by 20 feet with a 2 foot high ceiling leads off to one side of the entry
room. An estimated 35 foot deep pit drops from this room but was not entered.
Air quality readings taken about 6 feet into the top of this pit indicated
oxygen levels of 13.2%. A stream passage can be seen at the bottom of the
pit and may be a continuation of the cave. Air quality readings in the
rest of the cave were no worse than 20% oxygen content during t his trip
to the cave in November 1988. ,From the entry room, the other 40 foot long
passage may be traversed for about 5 feet before becoming to tight. (Alvis
Hill, 11/88).
Photography: Several entrance and entrance area photographs were taken
by Keith Heuss during November 1988.
History: February 13, 1988: The cave was discovered during the monthly
TSA volunteer work project. That month a monumental ridgewalk was executed
in the Lively Pasture and 25 caves including this one were located.
Bibliography: ,Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
Cow Bone Cave (SAB 202) Length: ,Depth: 12'
Description: The entrance is an 8 inch by 1 foot round shaped hole
in a rock. The cave takes a little water. The pit seems to end about 12
feet down. Air quality at the bottom of the pit is good. (Alvis Hill, 11/88).
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
SPACE HEATER CAVE (SAB 203) Length: 20' ,Depth:
39.5
Description:
History: ,February 13, 1988: The cave was discovered during the monthly
TSA volunteer work project. That month a monumental ridgewalk was executed
in the Lively Pasture and 25 caves including this one were located. The
cave was completely filled with trash. An old space heater abandoned near
the entrance is the source of the name.
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
ORIENTEERING CAVE (SAB 204) Length: Depth:
Description:
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
SHARI'S DIET CAVE (SAB 205) Length: ,Depth:
Description:
Bibliography: ,Ref.:
CHIMNEYER'S DELIGHT (SAB 206) Length: 480'Depth:
50
Description: A 50 foot chimneyable drop leads to an intermittent stream
passage which goes two directions. They explored downstream 200 to 300
feet with no end. At least 4 side passages were noted but not explored.
Clay and Alvis had explored the upstream passage about 200 feet with no
end in sight earlier Saturday morning. 8,Jay, Clay, John and David McClung
entered Chimneyer's Delight. They mapped down the 50 foot drop. Upstream
230 feet of passage leads to a point where the passage is 20 feet wide
but only 1 foot high. Downstream 250 feet the passage is 18 feet wide but
only 1 foot high. In both directions, no end is in sight and good airflow
was observed, especially upstream. Goat skulls and a lot of dry pristine
white travertine dams were observed in the passage. A downstream side passage
leads into a large room but a constriction prevented entrance into the
passage. Walking passage with large breakdown and formations were beyond
this impasse. Total surveyed length is 480 feet and total depth is 50 feet.
Map: Survey notes and sketches available. Jay Jorden has originals and
Butch Fralia has a copy.
History: March 12, 1988: Terry Holsinger discovered cave. Alvis Hill
gave the cave it's name on the first expedition in when he said it was
a Chimneyer's delight. ,May 12, 1988: Clay Chambers, Alvis Hill, Jay Jordan
and Dave McClung begin survey of cave. ,June 11, 1988: David McClung and
Clay Chambers explored the downstream passage of Chimneyer's Delight and
were successful in breaking through a tight squeeze into the big room discovered
on the previous trip to the cave.
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
UNNAMED CAVE (SAB 207) Length: Depth:
Description: Need description cleanup! June 11, '88: Our next trek
was to explore the pit found the previous weekend near the upper gold mine.
We were joined by Danny, Bruce, Terry and Dale and headed for the cave.
Butch descended the pit with the air quality meter with its sensing probe
dangling below his feet as he rappelled. About 12 feet down, the meter
began singing as air quality reached 19.5 %. A short distance deeper oxygen
content fell to 18 %. Air quality held a steady 18 % until near the floor
it was 17.5 %. The danger zone is 16 % oxygen content of the air. At this
level, a candle will not light and it is time to leave the cave. At a depth
of 55 feet Butch could derig from the rope and explore the cave. On exiting
the cave, Butch described the cave as one of the prettiest caves of the
park. The cave is quite wet and muddy and very much alive, containing several
formations. While Butch was exploring the cave, I installed the danger
sign, the cave location benchmark and the SAB tag. A note for future, the
SAB 213 installed should be replaced with SAB 207 which is next in sequence.
This will be done on a future trip.
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
DALE'S BIRTHDAY CAVE (SAB 208) Length: Depth:
Description: Need description cleaned up! August 14,88 0,Meanwhile
back at the caves, the remainder of the crew were excited about the potential
of Dale's Birthday Cave. Jay entered the pit with oxygen sensor at side.
Just below the entrance lip, the air quality read 17% oxygen as the sensing
probe dangle d below his feet. As he reversed direction to make his ascent,
he was peering into an estimated 40 foot deep fissure. The pit was about
7 foot long and tight but negotiable. 6,Prior to departing, they installed
the marker SAB 208 about 11 foot at 303 degrees azimuth from the entrance.
Statistics have shown that caves move very little once tagged down. We
haven't lost a tagged cave yet. This cave is another candidate for the
bad air evacuation experiment which will be performed on Blue Ribbon Pit
in the near future.
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
????? (SAB209) Length: ?'Depth: ?
FERN CAVE (SAB 210) Length: 15' ,Depth: 20
Description: ,The cave is located at the juncture of two joints. The
entrance is approximately 15' long and 8' wide and drops approximately
20'. The north end is a borderline climb but the consensus of those who've
visited the cave is that it should be rigged. It is basically one room
with crevices following the fracture lines. Small flowstone and stalagmites
were noted along the fractures. The floor sloped down to a small drain
plugged with dirt and debris. The potential for further cave passage is
limited. There are several small holes on the surface which feed into the
cave. One entrance to the east of the main entrance could be accessed on
rope. (Alvis Hill 11/9/91)
History: ,This cave was located on a ridge walk during the Colorado
Bend State Park Work Project during the initial ridgewalk of the area.
Cavers involved in the location were Butch Fralia, Keith Heuss, Terry Holsinger,
and Jody Robinson. ,
Bibliography: Ref.:
UNAMED CAVE (SAB 211) Length: 150'+Depth: 53'+
Description: SAB 211 is entered through a sink approximately 3 feet
wide and 6 feet long. Entry through a hole two feet in diameter leads down
approximately eight feet into a room with some formations. Bat Guano on
the floor of this room indicates bats have sometimes used this cave for
temporary shelter. The floor of the room slopes down until it's approximately
15 feet below the surface. To the left of the room (viewed from the entrance)
is a drop of 8 feet to a shelf followed by another drop of approximately
20 feet to reach a stream passage. The drops are climbable but the last
drop should be belayed for safety. The stream bed below the drop is approximately
43 feet below the surface. The stream bed has passage running north and
south. Following the down stream passage to the north, it drops approximately
4 feet and some 40 feet of hands and knees crawl, another drop is encountered.
This drop is approximately 10 feet deep with passage again leading off
to the north. After approximately 10 feet, the passage constricts due to
mud blockage but larger passage continuing on can be seen past the blockage.
To the south, the passage is the traditional San Saba bedding plane crawl.
After leaving a roomy hands and knees room approximately 12 feet by 10
feet, the passage drops to approximately 1 foot ceilings by about 20 feet
wide. In another 20 feet, passage remains wide but once again can traverse
on hands and knees. The passage to the south was explored for approximately
100 feet, it continued on as hand s and knees as far as could be seen but
alas the exploration was discontinued due to time limitations. Air quality
never dropped below 20.5% during this visit. Trips during the late fall
have seen air quality drop to 16.5% approximately 20 feet below t he surface.
Future trips will see this cave surveyed and pushed to it's traversable
end.8809 0,From here, some of us dropped into Gorman Creek and hiked upstream
along the creek bed. We made our return trip near the fence line. We refound
a cave near the area where Danny's Carlsbad Connection Cave is supposed
to be located. We tagged the cave SAB 211. On our way back to the vehicles,
we found a multi entrance cave which is flagged with green flagging tape.
None of us could remember when this cave was found. 8,After a lunch break
Butch, Quinta, Leigh Beth, Terry and I returned to SAB 211 and entered
it. We had great expectations in the cave. We encountered a 30 foot deep
pit about 40 feet into the cave. We rigged the pit and Butch prepared to
descend. With the oxygen meter over his shoulder, he soon encountered bad
air. He was at the top of the pit with the meter's sensor dangling about
6 feet below him. The meter was reading 16.5% at that point. We contemplated
the situation for what seemed hours. We then decided to leave the pit for
exploration when the cooler weather cleans the bad air out of the cave.
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
Danny's Carlsbad Connection (SAB 212) Length:
?'Depth: ?
BEGINNERS LUCK CAVE (SAB 213) Length: 75'Depth:
12
Description: The cave entered through a fissure entrance approximately
twelve feet long, one foot wide, and ten feet deep. Inside the entrance,
passage branches left and right. The left hand passages ends in a large
circular room with ten foot high ceilings. At the end of this room, a small
passage led into a fissure like room fifteen foot long which began as walking
passage but due to a twist to the side, ended in a two foot high passage.
Each passage continues for thirty-five to fifty feet before ending. Some
flowstone and a few small stalactites are present. The stalactites were
about one foot long and appeared to have been broken off. They were alive
with water dripping off the ends and have about two inches of new growth.
Passage in the cave was about 3-1/ 2 feet high.
History: July 9, 1988: Donna Anderson, Don Denton, Ralph Jones and
Danny Sherrod surveyed the cave.
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
BFC (SAB 214) Length: ?'Depth: ?
????? (SAB 215) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Two Fissure Cave (SAB 216) Length: ?'Depth:
?
BE EXCELLENT CAVE (SAB 217) Length: Depth:
Description: Need good description!!!!!
History: July 8, '89 Saturday Morning, the camp was bare as the night
before. Park Superintendent Tarin, drove to the camp at about 8: 30 A.M.
and asked if we'd got our weekends confused? This was not the case however
and arrangements were made to meet at the residence at 9: 30 to pick up
the air meter and other equipment. The plans for the morning included visiting
a cave located in Gorman Creek (Lively Pasture) during the June Trip. The
cave represented a promising lead since during heavy rain, it tends to
take all the water in the upper part of Gorman Creek. 2,The party, including
Superintendent Tarin, met then proceeded to the creek bed and cave entrance.
The small entrance appeared to require vertical equipment and Alvis Hill
was small enough to get through the entrance with equipment. Armed with
the Air Meter, he dropped the entrance to a breakdown floor some thirty
feet below. The oxygen level dropped to nineteen and one-half percent but
there was heavy airflow coming through the breakdown. Alvis dug through
the breakdown and made an opening which allowed him to continue climbing.
He continued to report his progress but finally reached a depth where he
could no longer be heard. When Alvis finally emerged he had a promising
report of the cave. 8,The cave drops for about thirty feet until a breakdown
floor was encountered. At first glance it appears otherwise, but the entrance
is climbable. Alvis dug out part of the floor which was a talus to the
passage below. He climbed for approximately 70 feet until he reached a
point where rope is definitely required. At a depth of one hundred feet,
the passage drops for approximately twenty to thirty feet requiring vertical
equipment. From there, the passage widens continuing downstream under Gorman
Creek in the direction of Horseshoe Chimney. The passage sloped downward
but there is air flow and the air quality never dropped below nineteen
and one-half percent. 4,The cavers hadn't expected the cave to continue
on in such a blatant manner and had come prepared for other work in the
pasture. Butch Fralia was attired in cutoffs sans cave gear. The party
decided to attend to a couple of other chores then return to camp for a
change of clothing and equipment. The other chores didn't pan out because
of equipment failure. The intent had been to install "Do Not Enter" signs
on cave entrances but the drill refused to cooperate with the battery becoming
fully discharged before one hole could be drilled. In the Lively Pasture,
Superintendent Tarin joined the group then everyone headed for Be-Excellent
cave initially to install an "Entry Prohibited" sign and help pass gear
down into the cave for the exploration team. Doug Allen, Alvis Hill and
Dawn Hill entered the cave where they would spend most of the day. They
entered the narrow entrance to begin the 80' trip down to the bottom. The
trip down consists of a 12' climb down to a ledge from which an offset
passage leads down another 20' to a narrow slot. The slot continues down
for another 30' until a short sloping passage leads to a 15' drop which
is climbable but where a hand line is always rigged for safety. At the
bottom of this drop, two passages lead off. One of the passages was previously
traversable but it's now filled with mud brought in with the last rain.
The other passage is a crawl through stream bed gravel for approximately
300-400' where there is an 8' chimney, up into a fissure with a domed ceiling
20-30' high. From this room, a 20' climb down leads into a low crawling
passage which extends for about for about 60' to a room which has a great
accumulation of surface mud. There is a big fissure in the room which is
about 40' deep and stream bed can be seen at the bottom. This trip lasted
nearly all day as every nook and cranny was explored to assure no side
passages were missed. There is moving air throughout the extent of the
cave and air appears to be blowing out of the fissure. The Saturdays exploration
was discontinued due to lack of equipment to descend the 40' drop. This
promises to be an extensive cave though the entrance size limits entry
to smaller people. There is moving air throughout the explored extent of
the cave and it heads downstream under Gorman Creek Bed toward Horseshoe
Chimney and the Gorman Creek Crevice network. Impressive as it is, too
small, diehard cavers, it will never be one of the tourist attractions
of the park. It is of interest geologically and hydrologically since it
takes in most of the water coming down Gorman Creek during heavy rain.
November 11, '89,At this time, Alvis, Dawn and Doug returned from Be-Excellent
Cave relating tales of the pit they had discovered back in the cave which
they couldn't traverse without rope. After a short rest, the troops were
gathered and everyone returned to Lively Pasture. Alvis and Doug, being
smaller than nearly everyone present, made their way into the small Tie
slide Fissure. Doug was able to drop for some distance and see there was
a large passage leading off in one direction while another passage in the
opposite direction was blocked but could possibly be opened with work.
The passage was approximately 12' high but could not be explored due to
very bad air. November 11, '89,The following morning; Carolyn Biegert,
Cathy Chauvin and Alvis Hill again returned to Be-Excellent Cave with a
rope to carry back and descend the 40' pit. They made the trip back and
Alvis dropped the pit to discover more crawl passage going off. The passage
was the traditional San Saba bedding plane crawl. This passage wasn't explored
further.
Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project trip reports.
BLUE FUNGUS CAVE (SAB 218) Length: 11'+ Depth:
15'+
Description: The entrance to Blue Fungus Cave is a small fissure three
feet long by one foot wide. The chimneyable entrance depth is ten feet
deep. At the bottom the passage bells out then slopes downward toward the
NE. (68o) for eleven feet. At the end of the passage the floor drops about
three feet and continues on but it is two narrow to continue. A small flow
stone occurs on one side wall at the end of the passage. The short passage
is tall enough to walk in and air can be felt blowing in the cave.
History: August 13, '88: Visited by participants in the TSA Cave Research
Volunteer Project. The cave was probably surveyed on that date .April 8,
1995: TSA Cave Research Volunteers, Peter Baron, Butch Fralia, Chris Jagge,
Sharon Mastbrook, and Tina Schmid, visited the cave to gather data for
a more detailed description.
Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project trip reports.
Tight Slide Crevice (SAB 219) Length: ?'Depth:
?
Glory Hole (SAB 220) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Ranger Walk (SAB 221) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Rabbit Run Grotto (SAB 222) Length: ?'Depth:
?
Be Snaky (SAB 223) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Cave No. 6 (SAB 224) Length: ?'Depth: ?
????? (SAB 225) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Embryo Cave (SAB 226) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Many Names (SAB 227) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Golden State Motor Oil Can Cave (SAB 228) Length:
?'Depth: ?
DD29 (SAB 229) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Cave of Sonora (SAB 230) Length: ?'Depth: ?
PG Pit (SAB 231) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Lone Bat II (SAB 232) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Polish Pit (SAB 233) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Red Gate (SAB 234) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Caves R us (SAB 235) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Extraction Pit (SAB 236) Length: ?'Depth: ?
(cave near Big Frog) (SAB237) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Big Frog Fissure (SAB 238) Length: ?'Depth:
?
CENTENNIAL CAVE (SAB 239) Length: 70'+ Depth:
53
Description: The cave entrance is a vertical sinkhole, located in a
brushy area. The entrance is about fifteen feet long and three feet wide.
From the entrance, the cave drops forty feet into a room approximately
twenty feet in diameter with seven foot ceiling. In the southwest corner
of the room is a ten foot deep pit. To the north end of the room, a short
"boneyard" passage leads five feet to a slippery muddy drop about ten feet
deep. Past the drop is a room approximately forty feet in diameter. Ceiling
heigh ts range from three feet tapering down to nothing. Some flowstone
and a rimstone dam is present.
Biology: Rhedine Beetles, and mice are observed in the cave.
History: The cave was discovered by Terry Holsinger in 1988. At discovery
time, the cave was tentatively called "Early Riser, Move A Rock Slot."
On the October 1991, scheduled volunteer TSA work project, Carolyn Biegart,
Pat Geary, and others rediscovered the cave. The cave was filled with trash
and appealed to the cavers interest in cave restoration. In November 1991,
the cave clean up began. The clean up was completed and the cave entered
January 11, 1992. ,Carolyn Biegart, Pat Geary, Keith Heuss and Jim Wolfe
were the first to enter the cave. Exploration continued and preliminary
cave description written January 12, 1992.
Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project trip reports.
PSYCHO (SAB 240) Length: 100'+ Depth: 153
Description: The cave is entered through a tight downward sloping tube
approximately thirteen inches in diameter. About twelve feet down, a small
shelf allows room to put on vertical equipment and attach to the rope.
The drop, forty to fifty feet deep, leads to a down sloping crevice leading
in the direction of the Colorado River. There is a stream passage at the
bottom of the crevice with several bridges indicating multiple former stream
levels. There are large formations in the largest room along the passage.
The stream continues as a belly crawl in four to six inch deep mud, the
drops eight feet to a dirt sump. There is no continuation of the passage.
There are possible high leads along the older stream levels.
History : December 1991 The cave was discovered by Andy Lauer, Mary
and Richard Speece and Ed Young. This was during the regularly scheduled
TSA Volunteer work project. They noticed a flat rock that appeared to have
a hole under it. Moving the rock aside, they discovered a tube about thirteen
inches in diameter leading down. Dropping rocks into the cave lead the
cavers to believe it was quite deep. 1,January, 1992: During the TSA Volunteer
work project, Richard Speece, Jim Wolff and others entered the cave. They
didn't go far. During the same weekend, Travis Kinchen, Andy Lauer, and
Terry Holsinger entered the cave and using vertical equipment reached the
floor of the cave. The cave received it's name because of the small down
sloping entrance requiring "psyching up" to enter.
Biology: Unidentified frogs or toads were observed.
Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project trip reports.
Rune's Bad Air Cave (SAB 241) Length: ?'Depth:
?
Sheep's Den (SAB 242) Length: 32 feet: Depth:
Description: Sheeps Den is a small shelter cave formed at a pour-off
point in a stream bed. The shelter extent of the cave goes about
12 feet back and is 8 to 10 feet wide. One small crawlwey is about
15 feet long and makes a semicircular route having two entrances
in the shelter area. A second crawlway extends about 20 feet and
ends in a dome room about 2.5 feet high and about 5 feet across.
The crawlways are about 2 feet by 2 feet in size. The floor was covered
with sheep manure and the bones of a whole sheep are inside the shelter.
History: October 12, 1991: This cave was located on a ridge walk
by Butch Fralia, on a monthly Colorado Bend State Park work trip.
Donna Anderson, Mike Anderson, Terro Doversberger, Butch Fralia, Keith
Heuss and Mark Porter were in the area trying to relocate Ranger's Walk
Cave and/or Yellow Ribbon cave to ascertain their location and place cave
number tags. All in the party visited the cave and Donna Anderson
pushed the small crawlways leading.
Ref.: Colorado Bend Volunteer TSA project trip reports and notes.
HARVESTMAN CRAWL CAVE (SAB 243)
Length: 21' Depth: 0
Description: The entrance to this cave is located on a cliff side about
15 ft above the base level of a creek which drains into the Colorado River
approximately 500' down stream. A passage about 18" x 18" goes back about
11 feet. It then narrows to 12" high and continues another 10 feet. Many
bones were found in the cave. The ceiling an floor of the smaller passages
was covered with Harvestman giving the cave it's name.
History: October 12, 1991: This cave was located on a ridge walk during
on a monthly Colorado Bend State Park work trip. Donna Anderson, Mike Anderson,
Terry Doversberger, Butch Fralia, Keith Heuss and Mark Porter were in the
area trying to relocate Ranger's Walk Cave and/or Yellow Ribbon cave to
ascertain their location and place cave number tags. All in the party visited
the cave and Donna Anderson pushed the small crawlway leading off.
Ref.: Colorado Bend Volunteer TSA project trip reports and notes.
Puberty Pit (SAB 244) Length: ?'Depth: ?
zzzzzzzzz (SAB 245) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Cave of no Return (SAB 246) Length: ?'Depth:
?
Snail's Pace (SAB 247) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Heavenly Snaks Cave (SAB 248) Length: ?'Depth:
?
Dinky Hammer (SAB 249) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Moose Twit Cave (SAB 250) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Hernia Hole (SAB 251) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Elmo's Hole (SAB 252) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Porcupine Cave (SAB 253) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Nila's VFC (SAB 254) Length: ?'Depth: ?
G-String Cave (SAB 255) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Emblem Cave (SAB 256) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Earth Day Delight (SAB 257) Length: ?'Depth:
?
(cave by roadway) (SAB 258) Length: ?'Depth:
?
REW Cave (SAB 259) Length: ?'Depth: ?
(cave behind REW) (SAB 260) Length: ?'Depth:
?
Ice Box Cave (SAB 261) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Cheap Thrill (SAB 262) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Description: This small cave consists of a single drop. At the floor
of this cave there was a small "stream" flowing. The cave continues beyond
the end of survey,. However it will require some enlargement of the passage
to be humanly passable
Little Labyntnth Cave (SAB 263) Length: ?'Depth:
?
New Orleans (SAB 264) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Yellow Ribbon (SAB 265) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Flakey Rocks (SAB 266) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Gaspipe (SAB 267) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Red Flowstone Cave (SAB 268) Length: ?'Depth:
?
Cactus Toe Cave (SAB 269) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Gravel Suck Hole #2 (SAB '270) Length: ?'Depth:
?
End of Road Cave (SAB 271) Length: ?'Depth:
?
Hard Wedge (SAB 272) Length: 3'Depth:
10
Description: A small fissure about six feet long drops ten feet into
a three foot horizontal passage. The only redeeming benefit of the cave
is that it's cool on a hot day.
History: April 8, 1995: TSA Cave Research Volunteers, Peter Baron,
Butch Fralia, Chris Jagge, Sharon Mastbrook, and Tina Schmid, noticed three
caves in the SW corner of Lively Pasture. These caves have probably been
lost since the massive ridgewalk in the pasture, February, 1988. On "rediscovering"
the caves, they gathered description data.
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
Coon Scat Crevice (SAB 273) Length: 50'+Depth:
16.4
Description: This cave has two entrances in a large fissure system.
The north most entrance has good acoustics to hear voices talking in other
entrance fifty feet away. The tight fissure entrance drops 16.4' into a
narrow passage. The passage is hard to negotiate because the widest part
is about three feet off the floor. The end of the passage could not be
seen. This cave could be traversed with a lot of "work!".
History: April 8, 1995: TSA Cave Research Volunteers, Peter Baron,
Butch Fralia, Chris Jagge, Sharon Mastbrook, and Tina Schmid, noticed three
caves in the SW corner of Lively Pasture. These caves have probably been
lost since the massive ridgewalk in the pasture, February, 1988. On "rediscovering"
the caves, they gathered description data.
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
Spider Web Cave (SAB 274) Length: 47'Depth:
30.3
Description: A small fissure entrance drops 20.3 feet into a ten foot
passage at 260o azimuth. The passage terminates in a small room with draperies,
flowstone and crystals on the wall. From the room another passage at 320o
azimuth extends for 6.5 feet to a ten foot deep pit. At 20o azimuth in
the pit, a tight fissure can be looked into. The fissure is about sixteen
feet long with flowstone on the walls and the ceiling extends almost back
to the surface. Another squeeze at the end of the fissure and another fifteen
or so feet of passage can be seen with possible passage leading right or
left.
History: April 8, 1995: TSA Cave Research Volunteers, Peter Baron,
Butch Fralia, Chris Jagge, Sharon Mastbrook, and Tina Schmid, noticed three
caves in the SW corner of Lively Pasture. These caves have probably been
lost since the massive ridgewalk in the pasture, February, 1988. On "rediscovering"
the caves, they gathered description data.
Bibliography: Ref.: Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
(???) CAVE (SAB 275) Length: 18'Depth:
16
Description: : The entrance is located in a fifteen foot long fissure/sink
trending east to west. A sixteen foot climb leads down into a west trending
stoop walk passage leading about ten feet before the floor drops about
three feet into a passage eight feet high, three feet wide and eight feet
long. Nothing noteworthy was observed about the cave.
History May 13, 1995: TSA Cave Research Volunteers, Nila Dennis, Butch
Fralia, Benjamin Heuss, Keith Heuss, and Sharon Mastbrook, located the
fissure, in the area of SAB197 and SAB196, while visiting other caves in
the area to gather description data
Bibliography : Colorado Bend State Park, TSA volunteer work project
trip reports.
????? (SAB 276) Length: ?'Depth: ?
????? (SAB 277) Length: ?'Depth: ?
????? (SAB 278) Length: ?'Depth: ?
????? (SAB 279) Length: ?'Depth: ?
????? (SAB 280) Length: ?'Depth: ?
FF-BAC (SAB 281) Length: 138' Depth: 67'
Arizona Cave (SAB 282) Length: ?'Depth: ?
Good 'n Tight (SAB283) Length: 168'+ Depth:
38'+
CBSP
Home