As we prepared to enter the cave Sean told me that you used to have to enter Salt Creek Cave through what is now No Sweat Cave which isn't a very nice cave. I put my wet stuff on and followed Sean into the cave. We were immediately in narrow walking canyon passage. Not far ahead, Sean climbed up to lead us by a formation area. We descended back to the stream and followed the canyon to a crawlway.
I went first. It began as a damp hands and knees crawl and lowered to almost a belly crawl. To exit the belly crawl, I had to slip up through a cancerous flowstone squeeze with dripping water. I was now in walking passage again. I got my camera out and photographed Sean and Tom squirming through the constriction.
We climbed up and followed a rather ornate upper level to its termination and then descended back down and soon began traversing midway up the canyon as the passage enlarged and became more interesting. At a particularly interesting profile, I tried to take Tom's picture but failed due to a lack of airflow and a build up of fog. We continued ahead following another upper section of canyon to its terminus before dropping down again.
We encountered a side passage. I ascended up the slick slope and climbed to a difficult and untraveled drapery climb-up on the right and found that going left dropped you back into the main canyon. I descended to stream level and we continued downstream passing a tall side canyon and entering a more sporting stoop-walk and crawling section of cave. I ditched my dry box and freely traversed ahead to a hole in the floor which led to a T. Both right and left looked rather tight and would require squeezing on your side. Since we weren't doing a through trip we routed back to the side canyon.
I again ditched my dry box and traversed ahead. I encountered a few climbs and squeezes and eventually emerged in walking canyon again which ended in flowstone fill. I retraced my steps and climbed higher into the canyon to hide from Tom as he caught up and crossed beneath me. He soon found me and we quickly routed back to the junction where a somewhat chilled Sean waited .
Soon we found ourselves back at the formation squeeze. Sean grabbed a quick bite to eat and disappeared. I followed and quickly caught up with Sean in the walking canyon. We exited quickly and started changing. Tom showed up a minute or two later. He'd had to adjust his pack on the way out. We enjoyed the mid-afternoon warmth as we hiked back to the car.
Salt Creek
Sean prepares to enter Salt Creek Cave.
Sean squeezes through a tight formation constriction.
Salt Creek
Tom worms through the tight constriction.
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Salt Creek
Tom happily emerges from the squeeze.
Not much airflow in this part of the cave.
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