My Indiana atlas had been left at home but with Tom and Sean's help we drove directly to the Gary Pit parking area along the Blue River. We geared up and hiked towards the pit. We hopped around as we ascended the hill, trying to avoid the inevitably thick poison ivy patches. The GPS point was pretty accurate. From here, Aaron's description of the entrance location soon led me to the cave perched on the side of a bluff. I looked down through a decent sized hole and saw darkness. It looked like a nice pit; there was just one problem. We'd lost Terry.
I hadn't realized he'd fallen behind Tom and Sean. I climbed back up the hill and started the search with a pronounced "BO!" but received no answer. I crossed the hilltop Bo-ing as I went and was relieved to hear leaves rustling and to then see him ahead. I led him back to the pit where Tom had already rigged the drop. Terry soon descended he pit followed by Sean and myself.
I was immediately impressed. I rappelled through a hole in the bluff and entered a large 17 W x 12 L clean shaft. It was quite beautiful! I rappelled 68' down the wall and set up a slaved strobe shooting up from the bottom of the drop. I was surprised by the light tan coloration of the pit walls in the pictures I took of Tom's descent.
Terry began to rig the second pit. I showed him how to tie the ropes together using a figure eight bend and soon photographed his descent. The second pit was equally neat. Terry descended over a limestone plank and disappeared below. I took pictures as both Tom and Sean descended because I hadn't yet got the perfect shot. I heard "Off Rope" and followed them down.
The pit had one surprise left. I knew there was something special when I heard Sean exclaim. The far wall was covered in beautiful, flowstone from floor to ceiling. Sean posed next to it while Terry ascended. I then shot Tom's ascent and Sean and I quickly climbed back to the entrance room. I took a few more pictures as Tom ascended and checked out a passage at the far side of the pit while I waited on Sean and Terry to ascend.
Near the top, I found Sean perched on a ledge waiting for me. He'd climbed in a lower entrance and wanted me to try to photograph the entrance light reflecting off the opposing formations and wall. I gave it a shot and ascended out. We de-rigged, geared up, and I led the charge back to the cars. I was pretty far ahead of the others so I walked over the bridge above the Blue River and enjoyed the dusk scenery. Sean soon joined me and we met Tom as we walked back to the vehicles.
Gary Pit
The entrance to Gary Pit resides on a steep bluff overlooking the Blue River.
The scenic view from outside Gary Pit.
Gary Pit
Tom and Sean prepare to enter Gary Pit.
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Gary Pit
Tom descends the beautiful 68' entrance shaft in Gary Pit.
I was quite impressed with the first pit. It's an awesome pit.
Gary Pit
Terry was the first to walk the plank and rappel the second pit.
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Gary Pit
Tom descends over the limestone plank into the second pit.
Tom's helmet disappears below the edge of the plank.
Gary Pit
Sean poses next to an impressive flowstone column.
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Gary Pit
Sean poses next to an impressive flowstone column.
Tom ascends the 31' pit.
Gary Pit
Tom makes his way towards the edge of the plank.
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