On Sunday we we fanned out through the forest heading towards our destination. I happened to run into a sink hole and then spotted a new cave near by. We spent some time exploring that one. After a VERY TIGHT squeeze in we were awarded with some great formations including cave bacon. We found a cave registry inside and signed it with our official cave club name Zombie Caving. It hadn’t been signed for over a year so its not a very well known cave. Just inside this cave we found a Barred Tiger Salamander. We didnt have time to get the camera out to take pics but we have seen them in the area before.

After a few hours we continued our hike, I happened to find another cave but it had been filled in with mud and dirt from all of the rain. We are going to go back and dig it out a little but to see if it goes anywhere

We finally made it to the hole Jonathan spotted last trip and explored it for a ways. They reported back that they didn’t spot any formations but it looked like it kept going. While we were waiting outside for Jonathan we ran across a Ring Necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus Mildly Venomous).

We made a quick trip back to camp for lunch then headed out to a bigger cave that we didn’t explore completely last trip. After several hours exploring new passages and picture taking everyone agreed it was about time to head home.

When we were leaving Mike spotted 2 more from the road that looked interesting. We didn’t have time to go in them since it was already past 4 but will check them out on another trip

We took yet another trip down to southeast AZ for another caving trip and did Onyx the first day and Bells again the next day.  Because of the difficulty of Onyx, the girls stayed behind at the campsite while Chris, Steve, and went on ahead with Joe (Jared couldn’t make it because of a torn achilles).  This cave required us to be harnessed up a few times and ropes had to set up  for some climbing and traversing.

The cave had the most formations of any we had been in, mostly because of the tight security.  The cave was gigantic and we probably only saw just a small percentage of it.  Almost the entire ceiling was covered in small straw formations.  There were also shields everywhere.  The obstacles included many squeeze points and a few climbing opportunities.  One of the places we had to traverse along the side of a wall to avoid the deep hole below

Among the rooms we got to see, the Cathedral room was the biggest.  It was lined with formations all the way around.  We stopped there for a rest and some food and then continued the trail loop.

Joe also pointed out where Devil’s Drop was and told us how a guy died falling into the 200ft deep hole.  Apparently he fell a little way first and then when he was trying to climb back out, he plummeted the rest of the way down.  They didn’t even check to see if he was alive.  By the time they finally got the rescuers in they had already pronounced him dead.  Oh, and by the way, Joe’s motto was, “Everybody’s going to fall eventually.”

Anyway, we finished our “tour” after a good 4 hours in, and headed back out to the camp for some real camp food.  Joe joined us and told us more about his various caving trips and experiences.  He left and then we got the camp ready to catch some z’s for the next day’s trip into Bells.

Scout Cave was one we had to do since its a very well known cave in the area. The rooms were mostly dead but after a few tight hand and knee crawls we found some living formations.

The second cave we had to fight off a plague of flying insects that insisted on flying in your nose, mouth and ears, they were so thick you could feel them all over your arms as you moved.

The last cave was the best so far, lots of passages and rooms to explore. Very easy to lose your sense of direction in as we discovered on our way out

They always say “Your’e crazy! What if you get stuck?!” Its hard to explain why we enjoy crawling through a hole no bigger then a pumpkin, spending hours underground on our hands and knees slopping through mud and water just to see a different colored rock.

For me its the thrill of exploring something few have ever seen. Discovering a new cave or passage is a thrill we enjoy. Being deep underground in a foreign eco-system, seeing new insects and animals that spend their entire life underground is an amazing experience.

Just recently an entire new genus of cricket was found in a cave in near the Grand Canyon.

Spending hours underground and seeing formations resembling wings of angels or even bacon is the reward for many cavers. Others find being deep underground away from the busy city life a very relaxing experience. Taking time to sit with your light off and listening to the dripping of the water from a stalactite very peaceful.

Though with exploration comes responsibility. Every caver needs to help maintain the delicate ecosystem. Never leave trash, disrupt wildlife or remove crystals.

With proper education and conservation caves environments will be around for future generations to enjoy