Peiper Cave with Crew 7
Jeff McQuiston approached me about guiding a cave trip for Crew 7. I went to one of they're meeting to talk to them about caves and safely conducting a caving trip. I was very surprised at the enthusiastic interest these young men and women had in caves. All but a small hand full had visited commercial caves. All of them were actively interested in “High Adventure” activities. The next logical step was a wild cave trip. After all was arranged we were off to Peiper.
The end of March is unpredictable, as far as weather. By the time Saturday came around the sun was shining and it was brisk and in the high forties. Good weather for caving.
We all met at the rest stop and caravaned to the cave. There we suited up and passed out the helmets and headlamps for our guests. As we got to the entrance we reviewed all the conservation and safety issues concerning the cave. We divided up into three groups and staggered our entrance into the cave. My group was last in.
As we got in and up into the main “brake down room” we stop to take a couple before pictures and talked a little more about what they will see and do. This groups was excited about doing all the challenging passages they could find.
We headed back the “Hanging Rocks” room and climbed over muddy boulders.
They pocked into every passage and crack they could find to see if they could discover a way to the next room. Eventually we made it to the chimney and the lower catacombs. Belly crawled through the lower level and back up to a main passage. Still poking into every nook and crevice.
Eventually we made it back out of the cave and was greeted by some of the “top side” people who had lunch waiting for the Crew and the guides. They hung out and had lunch and laughed at how muddy each other was until it was time to pack up and head on out.
Caving with Crew 7 was a great experience and I hope we're able to do a trip with them again in the future.
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They pocked into every passage and crack they could find to see if they could discover a way to the next room. Eventually we made it to the chimney and the lower catacombs. Belly crawled through the lower level and back up to a main passage. Still poking into every nook and crevice.
Eventually we made it back out of the cave and was greeted by some of the “top side” people who had lunch waiting for the Crew and the guides. They hung out and had lunch and laughed at how muddy each other was until it was time to pack up and head on out.