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Head underground, explore a whole new world in Tri-State’s natural caves

By TRAVIS HUBBARD - The Herald-Dispatch

File photo/The Herald-Dispatch Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill, Ky., is a major attraction for cavers from all over the country.

When all the sun and fun of summer have passed, your outdoors options often dwindle. But winter is the best season for one activity where the sun never shines.

Because natural caves maintain a comfortable temperature year-round, winter is just as nice a time to go caving as any season. And this region is blessed with plenty of caving options.

"The best time to go caving is when it’s cold outside, believe it or not," said Lisa Pruitt-Thorner, president of the Eastern States Speleological Organization Grotto, a local caving club. "It’s always 54 to 56 degrees underground, and because of that it’s best during the winter."

Pruitt-Thorner, who lives in Ashland, said there is also less vegetation in caves during the winter.

"Exploring and finding new caves is one of the great attractions of caving," Pruitt-Thorner said. "Caves exhale and inhale based on barometric pressure, and because they exhale a mist during the winter it is great for finding new caves."

Carter Caves State Resort Park in Kentucky in Olive Hill, Ky., is a major caving attraction for cavers all over the country. Carter Caves has tours ranging in price from $3 to $10, and most are done Memorial Day through Labor Day during the summer.

Caves in Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties in West Virginia also are explored each season.

Tours are often given, but much of the outdoor activity is unsupervised. Caving enthusiasts warn that guidelines and precautions should be taken before exploring a cave.

Chris Chandler of Ashland preaches "The 5 Rights of Caving," a memory tool he authored and published. They are the right knowledge, the right experience, the right equipment, the right time and the right people.

That means that it is important to have proper knowledge of the cave, an adequate level of experience for exploring the cave, the necessary equipment and the appropriate caving partners. Knowing when caves are safe is also important.

"The dangerous thing about caving is its such a separate environment than the normal places you would explore," Chandler said.

Coy Ainsley, a park naturalist at Carter Caves, said beginners should have the proper equipment -- a helmet with a chinstrap, three sources of light, long pants and preferably boots -- and should make sure they have advanced knowledge of the cave they are going to explore because weather conditions from miles away can cause flooding.

Finding new caves and exploring the unexplored is one of the main attractions to caving, Ainsley and Pruitt-Thorner said.

And the climate-controlled atmosphere makes caving an outdoors activity for any season.

 

 

Tour de Commonwealth

What a weekend. I was everywhere this weekend. On Friday traveled from E. Ky. S/W to Red River Gorge. Attended the RRG Climber's Coalition event "Rap N Rawkus". It was fabulous, some really entertaining rap, and rap music usually isn't my thing. A fine up and coming rap artist Odub performed.

I hung out with some good friends Friday evening, up Saturday morning and went climbing. As usual, I was a big chicken. I repeated the climb on the RRGCC property and I climbed one called Muddah. I was scared to death but I really enjoyed it. I have a few war wounds plus a strange animal burn on the back of my leg caused by an ant or caterpillar or something. I felt a significant burning sensation while sitting on a rock. It caused chills all over my body. I couldn't see anything there. Today there is what looks like a burn, about the size of a quarter and shaped like a triangle. I imagine I came in contact with a caterpillar, brushed against it while climbing around.

Sunday, I got up, took a quick shower and headed to Speleofest. I was pretty bored when I arrived because most of the cavers were either: a) caving, b) doing nothing or c) hung over. I helped prepare the banquet and got the karaoke stuff set up, then I went for a walk, read some of my book, went into Lonestar Cave, and twiddled my thumbs. It was really quiet at the camp ground because so many people were caving.

I bought some cool stuff from Howee's Harnesses (chalk bag belt, sleeping bag sheet, stuff sack for chalk bag, new bomber knee pads, etc.). I ran the karaoke for Speleofest from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. or so. Got lots of complaints about the music going on so late.

Got up Monday and began the drive home. I had my Montrail running shoes with me so I stopped at Carter Caves State Park to try them out. I ran the 4-C trail, taking a couple of short cuts but doing most of the trail. I estimate my trail run/hike to be about 5 miles. It was absolutely beautiful and I encountered no people at all. Not one soul (in human body form) crossed my path. I saw several deer, squirrels, chipmunks, snakes, bugs, wild turkeys, spiders, fish, birds, and other animals but no people.

I probably ran 2/3rd of the way and walked the other third. Whenever I saw something really beautiful or I encountered an area likely to harbor snakes, I walked. I was also really tired from the weekend and an inner voice kept saying "just walk, it's ok". I hate trail running/hiking alone. I wish I had somebody to do it with. I really have a pathological fear that while running, since I am alone and quiet, I will come upon a poisonous snake and surprise her into biting me. I will be all alone on the path with a snake bite, and have to hobble miles until I find help.

It's a dumb fear but I wouldn't worry about it if I had a companion. There are a few advantages to running alone. Mostly it allowes me to concentrate more on the environmental beauty and to quietly approach the deer and other animals.
Maybe one of these days someone will run with me. Until then, I won't let a little thing like being alone hold me back. It seems like I do most things alone.
Below are pictures of my trail run.

After the run. (posture necessary for camera phone, body must be off center so phone doesn't obscure shot). Just a pic of the author. 

Cave entrance somewhere off trail?  

Really cool swinging footbridge which the trail crosses - loved it. 

A tangle of trees over the trail, Pet Semetary like, dark there. The trees are very likely from the 2003 Valentine's Day ice storm. 

I won't think about it today. I'll think about it tomorrow. After all tomorrow is another day. 

What About Billboards?

What do two married women over thirty do on a Friday night for entertainment? That was the theme of our struggle last night. My sister Heather and I went to Huntington for a "girls night out". We were properly coiffured, painted, and dressed and we wanted to have some bonding time and a little fun.

Our entire family met at Rocco's Italian Restaurant in Kenova, West Virginia. (It's a fine, fine, place if you ever get there). We were all hungry when we arrived so I unfortunately spent most of my hunger units on bread dipped in balsamic vinegar and olive oil. By the time the salads came I wasn't even hungry. The food is really good at this restaurant and I ordered spinach ravioli. There were perhaps 8 raviolis and one gigantic meatball on the plate. I ate two raviolis and about 15% of the meatball before officially declaring surrender.

While Heather and I were shouting ideas about our night out across the table (opposite ends) I mentioned that I had left my belt somewhere and my pants would fall down if I didn't buy one. She told me that she had my belt on, I had left it at my parents home that morning. (I got dressed there after running with Heather). With the low rise jeans, if you don't have a belt, you are bound to display some offensive vistas when bending over, crouching, etc.

I asked Heather if she would be willing to just run to General Dollar store so I could look for a belt. I was wearing one of my favorite tops. It's a Worth two piece, one layered over the other. The bottom layer is a black camisole type piece. The top layer is a buttoned silk water color zebra print. I love it and it has a unique look. Heather didn't think it would be appropriate to wear a General Dollar belt with my Worth top so we went to a designer dress shop in town.

The dress shop specializes in bridal and prom gowns with only a small room featuring street clothes. The casual clothing there is unique and beautiful but they don't carry too many smaller sizes. None of the belts sufficed to hold up my jeans. I coaxed Heather into giving my belt back while we tried on numerous tops in the dressing room. We each ended up spending a good deal of money on tops and jewelry. I bought earrings, a belt (brown leather with a pale blue crystal buckle - wouldn't go with my shirt), and a very beatnik crazy looking beaded top. Heather bought a black sleeveless sweather adored with teardrop crystal beads. She decided to wear it.

We spent an hour there and left with no belt and less money. Always forgetting or leaving something, I dropped my wallet in the parking lot as I was boarding my auto. I didn't know it until I arrived in Huntington and was preparing to stuff my credit card and ID in my back pocket. Heather told me not to worry. She said she had money and I was way too old to get carded.

At one local bar named Icon, I looked around and said "I think I am the oldest female in this whole place". (There were at least 50 people there, 75% of which were females under 25). Heather looked around and lowered the boom. "Lisa", she said, "I think you are the oldest person in the whole building". That really hit me like a ton of bricks. She was right. It was a sickening wake up call.

That was pretty much the end of our fun last night. We tried so hard to have fun, we nearly popped a blood vessel. We drove around town looking for a hopping establishment. Finding none, we parked and walked around, looking for some place where people were happy, entertained, dancing, singing or at least looking for two old broads to talk to. We drove and walked and drove and walked and our quest got more and more pathetic with each step.

Finally I said, "you know we could get dressed up and sit on that billboard". "What, are you crazy?", Heather inquired. "I would do that you know", I said, "it would be fun and memorable, at least". Sighing, Heather responded, "okay but if we are going to sit on that billboard, I'm going to change my shirt". That struck me as a really funny statement; perhaps one I had never heard. "If we are going to sit on the billboard, I'm changing my shirt" became the theme for the evening.

We didn't sit on the billboard in the end, fearing arrest, a fatal fall, hyopthermia or just plain stupidity. After floundering in the city for another hour or two, we gave up and went home. We should have gone to the movies. We should have stayed home and played monopoly. We should have played twister. We should have arm wrestled. We should have......

Everything in Moderation

Apparently, Ben Franklin, perhaps in "Poor Richard's Almanac" listed 13 virtues of life as follows: Temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, humility.

I find Ben Franklin fascinating but I also find that, if this report is real, that several of the virtues conflict. At any rate, I believe in the motto "everything in moderation", which I have oft written about on my blog. However, I rarely seem to follow it. In reality I do most to moderation, some to excess.

My mother thinks I am always excessive. I have taken up running. I do lots of exercising but have only been running 1 or 2 x a week. I have been running about 3 miles at a time. Tuesday, I decided that I would really give running a try and I ended up running 9.6 miles. Well, Wednesday and today I have suffered from a pulled groin. I had to pick my right leg up yesterday to get in my Passport. Guess you would call that excessive. I was amazingly up to speed; heart, lungs and leg muscles pumping right along with my mind. Unfortunately, while those organs have been tricked into believing they are 20 something (or 30 something), my connective tissue knows it's real age.

Maybe next time I'll only run 8 miles.

Dancing, Tammy Jo's Studio

My daughter Chloe is a member of a local dance company, based at Tammy Jo's Studios. The senior company does a particular number which gives me chills. It uses scaffolding and is based on Alanis Morissette's song "Forgive Me Love". The song was on A. Morisette's album/CD "Jagged Little Pill" and is sung without accompaniment. I have always loved that song although it is very sad. It seems as if we've all been there. We've all had a time when love felt secure, only to discover it was not.

The dance is carried out with a number of dancers, each taking a line or so of lyrics and dancing/acting them out. For example, the first line, I went to your house is danced by the first dancer moving toward the scaffolding. The second dancer walks up the scaffolding ladder when Alanis sings "walked up the stairs".

It's a beautiful and extremely emotional dance. It's a beautiful and extremely emotional song. I am usually not an emotional person but this song and dance did me in. Here are the lyrics.

Your House/Forgive me Love

I went to your house

Walked up the stairs

I opened your door without ringing the bell

I walked down the hall

Into your room

Where I could smell you

And I shouldn't be here,

without permission

I shouldn't be here

Would you forgive me love

If I danced in your shower

Would you forgive me love

If I laid in your bed

Would you forgive me love

If I stay all afternoon

I took off my clothes

Put on your robe

I went through your drawers

And found your cologne

I went down to the den

I found your cd's

And I played your Joni

And I shouldn't stay long,

you might be home soon

I shouldn't stay long

Would you forgive me love

If I danced in your shower

Would you forgive me love

If I laid in your bed

Would you forgive me love

If I stay all afternoon

I burned your incense

I ran a bath

And I noticed a letter that sat on your desk

It said "Hello love, I love you so love, meet me at midnight"

And no, it wasn't my writing

I'd better go soon

It wasn't my writing

So forgive me love

If I cry in your shower

So forgive me love

For the salt in your bed

So forgive me love

If I cry all afternoon

Chloe on rappel 

Me on rappel 

Me in pole barn  

Lisa D on rope looking lovely and confident 

Myself (L) and Lisa (R) waiting 

Chloe in pole barn 

A Fine Weekend

Took my daughter Chloe with me this weekend to ESSO Grotto's vertical workshop. We had a great time. We left Friday afternoon and returned Saturday evening. We spent the night in an old Shriner's clubhouse of sorts, which Chloe said, "smelled like elephants". It was a great place though and we used the entire stage as our bed. Chloe, who is 6, prepared our bed with our sleeping bags and padding.

After we got our camping area ready, we went to the rear of the building where the grotto members had rigged rope for practicing change overs, and trying out gear. We were the only girls there, with a dozen guys or so. They were all my friends, so Chloe and I were comfortable. She was excited to try the rope out so Brian Saul put her on rope with a locked off rack one time and a figure 8 another time. We would lift Chloe up (she weighs only 45 lbs), take up the slack and then she would slowly slide down, lock off and swing. She loved it.

I got on the practice rope too and Brian Saul helped me see how switching over from rapelling to ascending is handled. It's very tricky and one must be careful not to drop devices or fall off the rope (no kidding). Luckily, I was only a few feet off the ground. After everyone had an opportunity to play with the rope, several of us, decided to go caving. It was about 10:00 p.m. Chloe and Joe (another kid) were watching movies on her DVD player. Mike, Matt, Charlie, Jeremy and myself went to a nearby cave. It was clear that the cave floods frequently. In order to reach the upper cave passage, one must climb to a 12 foot ledge, although there are no hand holds or foot holds. There was a plethora of debris from the earlier cave floods, including one full-sized tree. Jeremy, Matt and Charlie inched up the tree (like a circus performer), while Mike used several other pieces of wood to climb at a different spot. Not of the debris was anchored well and it all wobbled terribly. Mike is strong and has excellent upper body strength so he pulled himself right up. I had a harder time of it and Mike had to assist me, although I think I have pretty good upper body strength for a woman.

We reached a passage which is a very, very low water filled crawl and which links to another cave. I really wanted to do the connection but everyone thought I was crazy, desiring to slither through a very tight, water filled passage at midnight. Once we got to the other cave, we could have even been required to swim. Mike considered doing the connection but finally turned me down. Frankly, I was really relieved. It had seemed like we were playing a game of chicken.

The next day, everyone got experience learning to rig the ropes and rappel. I rappelled about 4 times and Chloe rappelled twice. She was scared but worked through her fear and felt a real sense of accomplishment afterward. One time her feet slipped and she smacked into the cliff, knocking the wind out of her. She continued on down with finesse though and went right back to it. It's time I bought her a harness I guess and some good tread hiking boots.

We got back home Saturday night, tired and happy. I went right back to my insomnia and slept only a couple of hours Saturday night. Don't think I've slept more than 6 good hours in the last 6 months. The following are photos from our weekend.

Trying to find inner peace once again 

Where Am I Today?

I just don't know. It's been a struggle to find out. I've looked for myself under the bed, in the closet, under rocks, in the clouds. I thought I was all put together. Now, I seem to have allowed pieces to float away in the fog. Just when you think you've got your stride, misfortunes like illness, heartbreak, and disorganization silently sink slender spears into delicate flesh. They hang on and they are pesky, hard to get rid of. It doesn't take much for such a setback.

I recall the film "When Harry Met Sally". Harry discussed the difference between high maintenance women and low maintenance women. Sally asked which she was. Harry answered that she was high maintenance but thought she was low maintenance, which was the worse kind of woman. I remember so many things about that film but one of the things which most sticks with me is Harry's high/low maintenance theory. Which am I? I wish I were low maintenance but I don't think so.

Trying to replace negative feelings about life, myself, with exercise and trying out new sports, adventures. Wishing the blues away.

Red River Gorge and Carter Caves 

Weekend

I went to Red River Gorge this weekend. Learned much about rock climbing (maybe 1.5% of the knowledge and experienced needed). The Gorge was beautiful, the weather beautiful. I enjoyed my time there.

Worth Tank 

Daily Column 

the little gum chewer 

My Daughter's ABC habit

My 2 yr old daughter, Camille, has developed a nasty habit which is driving me over the edge. I wasn't really aware of the problem until my oldest daughter's dance competetion. While the eldest was dancing, Camille busied herself by repeatedly flipping the auditorium seats up and down. It didn't make any noise, we weren't in anyone's way and and it kept her occupied. I let her go on, thinking there were worse things she could do.

About an hour later I was talking to her and realized she had gum in her mouth. "Where did you get that gum", I asked. "I got it", she said defiantly. I repeated my question. "I gave it to myself" she said. The gum was a bright green color. I returned my attention to the dancing and during a break interrogated my friends and family to learn who gave the toddler gum. All denied. She continued chewing the gum.

She came over to talk to me and I realized that the gum was now a gray color. "Uh, Camille", I said, "what happened to the green gum?" "It's still there", she said, pointing to her mouth. The wad looked bigger now. "Did you get more gum, where did you get it?". "Over there, I got it over there", she indicated in a general direction toward the seat rows.

I watched her as she returned to flipping the theatre seats up and down. I kept my attention primarily on her until I noticed her scraping something from the bottom of the seat. It was gum. Her chewing supply had been collected from the theatre seats, left behind after becoming stiff and tasteless. If those people only knew that they were supplying my little daughter with an ABC habit.

When I realized what Camille had been doing, I was thoroughly disugsted but I found the situation quite amusing. After recovering from my laughing fit, I explained to her, as sternly as I could that already chewed gum is trash, it's not to be eaten again, it's full of germs. My mother, a hospital infection control expert, said "let's just hope the gum is too old even for bacteria".

I pried the gum out of Camille's mouth and threw it away. I thought the problem was isolated, over. Nope. During a dinner at Steak and Shake, she disappeared under the table, returning with a wad of gum in her mouth. I swear, I tried to stop her but it all happened so fast. The gum blob was scraped off and deposited into her mouth before I could get to the other side of the table. I immediately took it out of her mouth but I'm sure the germs hopped off as soon as they felt the warm and wet environment. Anything's better than a hard, cold table. As I dragged Camille from the restaurant she slipped out of my grip, dropping to hands and knees to look under another table. It's as if she's discovered a gold mine and can't get enough of it.

I'm looking for an ABC Anonymous support group to help her