Of all the caves that I have explored, Tumbling Rock Cave in Alabama ranks quantity 3 on my listing of favorite caves. I have manufactured several visits to this famed and Alabama’s most visited cave. Tumbling Rock Cave is more than 6 miles very long and is primarily walking passage. At one time it was referred to as Blowing Cave. There is a stream that flows virtually the whole length of the cave and sorts a spring just underneath the entrance. This is the only cave that I know of that includes oil, the Asphalt Ooze happens in Allens Alley in the vicinity of the back of the cave and covers the ground with a layer of dust hiding it. It drips from the ceiling and flows down a lengthy slope to the flooring of the cave. I keep a sample of it in a bottle labeled Alabama Crude!
Immediately after a visit with the house owners and spending our parking fee, we climb a limited distance up the side of the mountain, open up the gate and crawl through the 3-foot higher entrance. The 1st space, Ante Room, is substantial going for walks passage that crosses more than the stream. Treatment should be taken from the commence, if you eyes have not adjusted to the dim, you may possibly phase into the crevasse that crosses the route. This is a 3 foot vast drop that you move about. You then stick to the stream to the Saltpeter Is effective. These are big Civil War vats which have long rotted away leaving the square mounds of dirt remaining.
My to start with check out was in July of 1971 with the Dogwood Town Grotto and it was on this vacation that I fulfill John Wallace, a very long time close friend and caving husband or wife. John shared that when he was dating his wife, Youlanda, he distribute out a desk cloth in close proximity to the Saltpeter Functions, and set up a candle gentle meal that he experienced carried into the cave.
A limited distance from the Saltpeter Operates we climb up out of the stream passage and into a large place with two huge formations termed the Elephants Ft. If you climb up to the top of just one of the ft, in the vicinity of the ceiling a single can enter a compact crawl that goes up previously mentioned the ceiling and over the stream passage into what is now referred to as Vujade’ Extension.
Continuing up stream we climb above the Wildcat Rockpile and go the Minimal Hall of Mysteries. There is Formation Grotto off to the remaining and we have explored The Sewers to a 15-foot fall. We then returned to the stream and went by way of the Wind Tunnel to the Totem Grotto, Craters of the Moon. Chucks New music Box is in a side passage to the still left and nicely well worth the stop by to see the tall then columns. At this point you want to be with anyone who is common with the cave in purchase to find the Concealed Door, if you pass up the Hidden Door on the way back again out of the cave 1 finishes up in a lifeless finish stream passage.
Just over and above the Concealed Door and just ahead of entering the Terrific Hall of Mysteries, is the Kings Shower. When the upper passage to the Topless Dome and the reduce passages had been mapped it was uncovered that there have been only inches between the two. So a sledge hammer was used to make a shorter slash up to the Topless Dome. The stream from the Dome now operates down and drops by means of the hole generating the Kings Shower. Pulling up through this hole and likely a short distance to the appropriate provides you to the bottom of the Topless Dome.
The Dome is 396 toes superior and was climbed by Don Davison and Cheryl Jones all over 1979 above a two-yr period. The climb is 555 ft long, which tends to make it the longest underground specialized route in the United States. Go through about Topless Dome Revisited in the Oct 1982 NSS Information.
For a prolonged time the Excellent Corridor of Mysteries was the close of the cave. Now there are two passages to carry on to the again of the cave. Both equally are hard, I will explain the Blue Crawl first as it was the very first to be found. Straight throughout the place, to the left of the Christmas Tree development and up the mud slope, is Johnstons Junction, a limited squeeze into the Emperors Space. Cross the Emperors Home and climb up in a crevice and into a 75-foot long spherical crawl that a single will have to decide which arm goes initial at the get started. Because you can not improve positions once again till you arise out the much side of the Blue Crawl. When exiting the Blue Crawl it is a narrow ledge and in buy to get your body out of the hole just one has to prolong out around the ledge. I have created the crawl a single time, but in no way once more. Nevertheless I assume that anyone really should try it after.
Exiting the Blue Crawl and into the Inter Sanctum breakdown space and on the much aspect climb down and underneath the Shock Waterfall into Allens Alley.
The second route that was identified or I really should say was dug open is the Suicide Passage. Back again in the Emperors Area climb down and alongside the proper aspect of the Christmas Tree formation to the stream stage. Abide by the sandy crawl together the remaining facet of the stream right until you can climb up into the rock pile. Soon after many limited bends and climbs one enters Allens Alley. This is a shorter route and is ordinarily most well-liked to the Blue Crawl.
Allens Alley is a good long canyon passage with the stream flowing down below. About 50 % way as a result of one particular has to climb up in the vicinity of the ceiling and crawl via a two-foot restriction. It then opens again up once more into a huge long home. Check out out for the Asphalt Ooze together the suitable facet, which crosses the route.
The reward at the end is the Pillar of Fireplace, and it is well really worth the climb up Mt. Olympus. This huge vivid crimson formation sets at the major of a mud mountain named Mt. Olympus. This is ended up most cavers quit following a four-hour journey in and an additional four hrs to get out. If 1 wants to see the bitter close, Terry’s Tiger Teeth, then just prior to climbing Mt. Olympus, go about to the proper side of Allens Alley and appear for the D-T passage. This is a restricted crack down crawl for about 300 ft. Just after emerging back into walking passage once again in Grants Tomb, the stream is down and to the appropriate, identified as Grants Pool. Terry’s Tiger Teeth is on ahead to the still left.
The cave carries on, though the passage could not be found out, extra than the length of the identified cave to a modest cave named Timber Cave on the much aspect of the mountain. Dye tracing of the water moving into Timber Cave was traced to Tumbling Rock Cave. If you are hunting for a good 8 hour wild cave excursion, then I would propose Tumbling Rock Cave.