It’d been awhile since I visited Breathing Hole, but I was confident that I’d eventually find the way. I was glad Aaron had pointed out that just within the entrance people often descend ahead or to the right. I remembered that I wanted to stay to the left. The route isn’t obvious. Looking to the left, you see a wall but upon closer examination one finds a hole behind he breakdown. We squeezed down and I soon found the next climb down, recognized the route, and knew I was on the right track. We climbed down, squeezed around and through breakdown, and finally traversed a ledge emerging into a larger room. I think Joe and Justin were glad I knew the way. It’s somewhat complex but easy enough to figure out once you’re on your way.
We followed the stream and beautifully, washed limestone rocks noting many fossils, chert nodules, and something I wasn’t aware of. The two geology students pointed out that the parallel grooves in many of the breakdown blocks and walls were rhythmites. “Rhythmites display layers of varying thickness, reflecting the high spring tides and low neap tides that mark the lunar month.” Neat! We followed the progressively enlarging passage and eventually emerged into a huge borehole. Joe and Justin thought the passage that led to it was the big borehole. I’d forgotten how huge the borehole really is. We hiked along the shallow cobble lined stream and eventually climbed up onto a flat, dry mud floor and began to follow a flagged trail. We passed some crystals and some cool mud cracks, descended back down to the stream, and climbed up another tall mud bank to a large room with 3 massive stalagmites.
We followed a side trail to a small formation area and then continued ahead to the waterfall. Little water flowed today. The last time I’d visited the cave, torrents of water gushed from the ceiling canyon. We had all ran through the waterfall to be cool on that trip. We retraced our steps back to the where we entered the large borehole and continued downstream. The passage became smaller for awhile and the water was much lower than my previous trip. I came upon a massive breakdown slope and climbed over top it and once again witnessed tall, wide, canyon borehole. I descended the breakdown, crossed the chamber, and climbed up the other side to see the top of the mud fill. I took a picture looking back out into the room and a picture of the mud fill to entice Nate then routed back to our entry point checking out a mud filled side lead on the way. A small dirt crawlway continued ahead on the left side of this passage as far as I could see.
We quickly routed back to the entrance and begin the climb-ups. The tightness of some of the climb-ups makes them somewhat more challenging. Joe mistook my LED light for entrance light midway up as I waited on them. Back at the entrance, I took a picture of Joe emerging from the concealed breakdown hole to show Nate where to go. We were soon basking in the warm afternoon sun. My GPS had come to it’s senses and displayed 23 ft accuracy. I marked Breathing Hole and also BB Hole as we passed it. I’d felt a little air emerging from Breathing Hole as we exited but no air was noticed at the entrance of BB Hole. I wondered why BB Hole was gated and later found out that people kept getting stuck at the bottom of the culvert chute so it’d been gated to prevent spelunker entry.
Breathing Hole
Joe squeezes down through a tight area below the small formation room.
Joe squeezes down through a tight area below the small formation room.
Breathing Hole
Justin tries to keep his feet dry as we traverse the Breathing Hole borehole.
Breathing Hole
I swear this guy was hanging here last time I visited the cave. He's hanging on a piece of flagging tape.
What a crazy place for a bat to hibernate! Look at his leathery underside. Those feet are kind of scary.
Breathing Hole
Joe poses at the top of the mud slope in the large Breathing Hole borehole.
Breathing Hole
Justin and Joe sit and look at the small formation display.
Justin ascends the dirt slope above the 3 massive stalagmites.
Breathing Hole
I wanted Nate to get a feel for how big the passage near the downstream mud fill really is. Notice the tiny light near the upper right corner and my glove near the lower left.
Breathing Hole
Here's the end of the cave. It's pretty crazy that this enormous passage is filled completely with dirt and rock.
Joe emerges from the concealed breakdown squeeze near the entrance.
Breathing Hole
Justin climbs up out of the entrance as Breathing Hole exhales.