Cave Ridge

Provided by Hester Mallonée

Post-Convention Cave Ridge Trip - Sunday, August 13th

Hellhole Cave and Cascade Cave are marble caves, amidst a group of ten or more caves at fifty-three hundred feet of elevation on Cave Ridge in the Cascade Mountains.  The marble appears in masses and in intermixed streaks of black, grey, and white.  The rock has been substantially uplifted and deformed with intrusions of other rock as well.  Speleogenesis in these rocks is recent (geologically speaking), thus the caves appear erosional almost everywhere with rare, small calcite formations.  Several of the caves, including Hellhole, do show a rare deposition known as allophane, an aluminosilicate clay deposit which forms lacinate patterns and masses of small terracing over base rock.
 
In addition to their geologic interest, these caves are fun!  They're like a grownup jungle gym with strange decorations.  The marble erodes into sculptured levels that cavers can clamber through; the streaks of marble swirl and dip around you; the white marble glistens; the allophane comes in beautiful miniature shapes and in bizarre colors from butter yellow through oxblood.  It is like climbing around in painted curving geometry.  These are very special caves.
 
The hike to these caves is through beautiful alpine scenery and attains spectacular mountain views.  It involves two thousand feet of elevation gain in a mile and a half.  Terrain includes a probably dry streambed, a large boulder field, a slick dusty section, some slightly exposed cliff trail, and some woods.  Sturdy hiking boots with ankle support and with soles in good condition are recommended.  If you prefer to cave in Wellingtons, do not hike in them.  Persons with any significant knee or hip problems should probably make a different cave trip choice.  If you have heart or lung problems, just don't come.  Fit hikers who are used to hills can handle this hike.  Youth is not required; some middle-aged cavers who know how to pace themselves are quite addicted to this hike.  Note: If not used to hills, do some inclined hiking or Stairmaster at home in preparation, or pay a price in sore muscles.  The price is usually held to be worth paying.  Some cavers pay it again and again.
 
Cave entrances are tight, but not extremely so.  Those too large to fit in probably can't make the climb anyway; though there has been one very tall and muscular exception who could not squeeze through the entrance crack of Cascade.  Women over size 18 and men with over a 44 chest/belly should make a different cave trip choice regardless of fitness.
 
The trip will go to Hellhole Cave first, and then possibly Cascade Cave.  Hellhole involves a fifty-foot simple rappel.  There is walking, clambering, and a little crawling.  Cascade has a short entrance crack, then a thirty-foot pit down climb, with many footholds and knee holds, a stout hand line, and an offset in the middle that breaks up the vertical extent.  There is a second thirty-foot drop which agile long-limbed persons might free climb, but most will do on rope.
 
These caves are in the high 30 to low 40 degrees F.  Not wet, but damp.  Wear thermals or fleece under durable heavy clothing, preferably water-resistant.  Plain nylon cave suits are good. Coated nylon and PVC are acceptable, but if you cave hot, you might find them a bit too warm and they will be heavier to carry on the hike up.  Cavers who are resistant to cold may get away with a coverall, or work pants and jacket, over their thermals, though these are less ideal.  There is no serious mud; most surfaces are grippy rock and some are quite sharp.  Gloves and knee pads are mandatory; elbow pads are nice.
 
You can cave and hike with the same pack, in which case it must hold caving clothes, vertical gear, food, water, and your safety gear.  Alternatively, you can use a hiking pack with a smaller cave pack inside it.  If you hike and cave in the same clothes, you will be less than comfortable on the way down, though the trip leader has done so on occasion.  Keep clean clothes in the car for after the hike.
 
The hike is metabolically demanding; eat a solid breakfast.  Bring a good lunch, and more snacks and water than you think you need.  Three quarts of water are mandatory in August.  Four are better.  Electrolyte supplements or snacks with salt are good.  There is no convenient water source once on the trail.
 
The hike will start at nine a.m. and reach the top about eleven-thirty.  If the group is fit but slower, the schedule will adapt.  Caving will start after lunch and go as long as cavers have the will, skill, and desire.  If both caves are entered, all or part of the hike down will be in the dark.  Bring enough batteries for this.  If time permits, the group will gather afterwards for pizza and libations at Jay Berry's, an affordable nice restaurant on the way back to Seattle.
 
It ought to go without saying, but mandatory also are three sources of light, two helmet-mountable.
 
Directions to the trailhead will be available at convention. Trip sign-up sheets will be posted at convention in the trips area near registration.
 
Contact Hester Mallonée at hestermallonee@yahoo.com for more information.