GeoCaving: The AGA Goes Underground! Event Cache
CaverScott: What a great event. Thanks to everyone that helped!
GeoCaving: The AGA Goes Underground!
Hidden
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Saturday, October 17, 2009
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(other)
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Come to a geocaching event that gives you a very rare opportunity to visit a former commercial cave! We will open the gate just after 4:00 pm. You can show up anytime that night and do not have to leave until 10:00 am on Sunday. Yes, primitive camping is permitted. (Note: Only one porta-potty is on site, be prepared!) We will have a bonfire area as well. I will lead a cave trip on the hour starting at 7:00 pm. No equipment or experience is necessary.
Items to bring: Camp Chair, Jacket (rain or cold), Folding Table, Side Item or Dessert for Pitch in Dinner at 6:00 pm.
We have decided to host a pitch-in dinner at 6:00 pm. I will be updating the menu items on Dixie Cachers: (visit link)
According to various newspaper accounts, Alabama Caverns (a.k.a. Crystal Caverns, a.k.a. McClunney Cave) was discovered by “white men” back in 1840. “The caverns were well known to the Indians living in this area. During the Civil War saltpetre was mined from the floor of the cave and hauled to a nearby powder mill called ‘Shanty Patch Powder Mill.’ There the saltpetre was turned into gunpowder for the Confederate Army. During the 1920’s, Crystal Caverns was one of the first and most popular of the recreational areas. So much so that in 1927 The Birmingham News had a Sunday Gravure Section devoted to Crystal Caverns. At that time there was a museum, picnic area and dancing at the cave.”1
As in many former commercial caves, at some point in time the owner stops managing access to the cavern. We believe this happened around 1968. Without a caretaker or gate, the local population starts to “invade”, as was the case with Alabama Caverns. The vandals were so intent on gaining access to this cave that they burned down the wooden supports for the iron gate. Unfortunately, modern day vandalism is apparent throughout the cavern but came to a halt in 1997 when the new owner (Richard) installed a gate. In addition, Richard took it upon himself to reconstruct the cave trails. He rebuilt or repaired the two sets of wooden stairs that the original tour operators had installed. Additionally, he re-installed electric lighting reminiscent of the 1920’s; bare bulbs on pigtails (The last time I saw this was in Oregon Cave, West Virginia in 1983.)
Located mere minutes from Clay, Alabama, the cavern itself is nestled high up on a hilltop. The modern day explorer must first obtain permission from Richard before venturing up the three switchbacks of stairs which leads you to the walk-in, gated entrance.
In the winter of 2000, I first had the opportunity to visit the cave. I was appalled at the area that the grotto would refer to as “The Pit.” At least 20 feet deep based on an undated map; this area was practically full of charred and crushed water barrels as well as vintage cracker containers from when the cave served as a fallout shelter.
Apparently during the inactive years, vandals decided it would be fun to throw the cracker containers and barrels into the pit area. At one point, it appears, an accelerant was used to ignite the massive pile. Luckily for the vandals, the cave has high ceilings and really good airflow to allow the smoke to quickly escape. In March 18, 2000 the Birmingham Grotto heeded the call and gathered in mass at the cave. Over 20 volunteers removed an entire trailer full of mutilated cracker containers, wood, and barrel remnants.
On a second trip in October, we focused our efforts on “the Pit.” This time; however, we started moving rocks. We formed a human chain and would pass them up to whoever was willing to move them. The hearty volunteers would store the rocks under the overhangs and along the pathway. Why? Remember that vintage map? Well, it indicated a lot more depth and a spring. This along with some early memories of the cave containing a pool at the bottom of the pit led us to want to try and restore this area of the cave.
Our crew managed to excavate a good 10 feet of depth and even dug out a small fissure which ultimately led nowhere. Many, many more rocks abound in this area along with wooden planks that have probably been buried for two decades or more. I must say that as far as the unglamorous task of moving rocks goes, no one got more into it than Terri. She literally attacked the pile and wanted more than anyone else to return the next day. She was convinced more cave passage lay below. Is there potential? Probably not realistically but it sure is fun to think about it. Take this quote for example: “The adventuresome and lovers of mystery will be glad to know that geologists say the present cave is only the “top floor” and there are undoubtedly many rooms below yet undiscovered.”1
Considering the current map of the cave did not use Vertical control, I was interested in remapping it for the owner. Additionally, a survey trip will often times push into uncharted territory. Terry R. was enticed into sketching the cave and started the survey during the rock moving restoration trip. Once we got out of the entrance area, with all that magnetically appealing metal, we were cruising down the strolling and oft times flat, passageway. The biggest problem we faced, was that the lead tape (me) was quite a bit taller than the compass “babe” (Chrissy), and I would habitually set stations that were a bit on the high side for our instrument person.
After passing through the gate, you steadily descend over stone steps that may have been carved back in the 20’s. Within 100 feet you arrive at the first set of wooden stairs, at the bottom of which you are now 31 feet below the entrance.
Roughly 30 feet after the stairs, the cave passage angles northeast and starts its snake-like journey through the mountaintop. Within a few more feet, a natural bridge is observed. About 15 feet in length, this was one of the locations from the 1927 photo shoot.
Beyond this natural bridge the cave becomes 58 feet deep and pretty much levels out until you reach the area labeled on the new map as the “Flowstone Plug.” This once pristine speleothem has a very small lead that even Chrissy could not penetrate.
Richard related a story along these lines: “We trudged up the hill during a torrential downpour so we could see where the water goes. To our surprise it (the Formation Plug) was dry. So we waited, and waited, and waited until two hours had past. Just as we were ready to leave I heard a noise and witnessed water shooting out of that hole. That was some sight indeed as a four to five inch diameter stream forcefully shot out of that hole!”
Downhill from the Flowstone Plug is what the restoration crew lovingly referred to as the “Pit.” Richard has rebuilt the viewing platform complete with handrail. Underneath and to the west of the platform is a hole that leads to a small chamber that included a short passage which only Chrissy could explore (note the dashed lines on the map).
Leaving the overlook, you can view the cave’s second natural bridge in about 30 feet. Continuing an uphill trend, you then encounter the second set of stairs (These take the tourist higher in elevation) about 30 feet later. At the top of these stairs the visitor enters the Capital Room. This chamber is so named for a speleothem that resembles the Capital Building in Washington DC. At first I thought it had been vandalized during the cave’s dormant years; but upon closer inspection of old photos that Richard had, we concluded it had been vandalized before it was photographed as a commercial cave.
Practically below the “Capitol Dome,” is a small chamber in the lower level. During the first restoration trip, we removed at least a dozen (three to six foot long) wooden planks from this area. Yielding no leads and no water, it is intriguing nonetheless.
About 50 feet beyond the Capital Room, you once again encounter man-made, descending stairs that were carved out of the thick mud. For the first time, the explorer will have to stoop over to navigate about 25 feet of snake-like passage before being able to resume standing. This area is very moist and the floor becomes muddy for the first time in the trip. Additionally, an upper level can be accessed by chimneying up the right hand wall. This upper level chamber has some active speleothems and pristine flowstone.
At just over 1,000 feet long, this is a fairly short commercial cave. However, considering its proximity to Birmingham and interestingly high chambers this is a very fascinating cave nonetheless.
From the coordinates: Drive 350 feet North. Take the gravel road straight ahead (do not vear west on the pavement). Follow the gravel road through the red gate and the road will curve left (west) in a few hundred feet. Park close together to conserve space.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Pnyy zr ng 9BAR4-FRIRA4RVTUG7