The term “cave” refers to a natural opening, usually in
rocks, that is large enough for human entry
Chipmunk Caves are a series of small limestone caves along the
shore of the Chillwack River. Make sure to bring a flashlight with
out as the bigger cave you can crawl through and come out at the
top of the stair case. This is approx. 10min easy trail walk from
the trail head, you will need to crouch down to get into the caves
and may be slippery depending on the weather.
Types of Caves
There are several different types of caves: volcanic, glacier,
crevice, erosion, and solution.
How Caves are formed
Caves are formed by the dissolution of limestone. Rainwater
picks up carbon dioxide from the air and as it percolates through
the soil, which turns into a weak acid. This slowly dissolves out
the limestone along the joints, bedding planes and fractures, some
of which become enlarged enough to form caves. Minerals vary widely
in their chemical response to groundwater. Calcite, for example, is
soluble in a weak acid such as H2CO3 - carbonic acid. Thus,
limestone which consists primarily of calcite (CaCO3) is vulnerable
to chemical attack by groundwater. Carbonic acid can form by a
reaction between water and carbon dioxide. As rainwater, already
slightly acidic (pH~6), passes through the atmosphere and the soil
layer, it mixes with carbon dioxide and forms carbonic acid (Fig.
1). The acidic water passes through fractures, crevices, and
cavities and dissolves the limestone very slowly, enlarging the
network of passageways. Most solutional caves require more than
100,000 years to grow large enough for a human to be able to pass
through
Scientific Value
Caves offer a unique habitat for rare flora and fauna, whose
study has contributed to our knowledge of biological adaptation and
evolution. One type of animal that has adapted to life in the dark
zones of caves is the sightless troglobite, some species of which
have evolved extra-long sensory antennae atop their heads for
finding their way around.
For scientists, caves offer opportunities for different kinds of
exploration. In medical research, the study of extremophiles --
organisms that that live in conditions outside of a normal range of
temperature or pH balance -- is a growing area of interest. Several
cave dwelling species are presently being tested for their ability
to combat cancer and malaria.
How to log this Earth Cache
Post a photo with your cache log of you and/or your caching group in the cave or on the stairs.
Email me what type of Cave this is from the list above
Let me know how stairs there are going up the cave
Please help keep this area clean.