Show C12 — The Herald Journal Logan Utah Friday October 31 2003 BRG who has ctlved in the area for about five years iMNew people need to know F ' what’s needed for that much ' Grotto Continued from Cl vertical" "r “Leave nothing but foot- prints take nothing but pic-tureS kill nothing but time" said Gooch stating the BRG’s ' S y F motto : It’s that depth that makes ' The preservation issue is the region’s caves which exist important to the BRG as well erasing the out of die mainly in the hills surround- - i as to Hancock and the ORC I As he led the out Grove die of ivemi1 group intentionally ‘ ing Tony cave Hancock walked slowly j I Despite having made the Gooch said locations are passed around by to read the hames left trip just a few hours earlier scratched into the ancient reek the uphill climb looks as for word of mouth through longi i time hunters who will pass a tip on to an experienced caver rs who will share t or about a little known gem that higher level of slot canyon hallway and then another jump down as the'air gets cooler the walls smoother and time and distance lose all meaning until the groups exits into the main cavern The cavern looms especially huge after contenting down the cave Its 60-fohigh red rock ceilings are illuminated by the collection of headlamps and flashlights that bounce around the dark walls the lights dancing to the “oohs” and “aahs" coming after each new discovery in a dark corner and any sense of claustrophobia is forgotten “It’s like going to another lanet" says Hancock lulling is halogen headlamp while he sits down to test in the eerie quiet This is what members of the Bear River Grotto the local “ ' chapter of the National Spelunking Society consider an easy trip The geological makeup of Logan Cinyon and Northern Utah creates an abundance of vertical dQrops in Cache Valley’s limestone caves making the navigation of Providence Cave as initially difficult as it may seem unique in the area under-publiciz- 1 ed rr"" -- give of a muddy slope com- mon to the earth’s surface j returns underfoot and a beam of light is visible ahead The j headlamps are turned off each member of the group makes the final push through the hole5 in the original sink and die shock of the bright afternoon sunlight beaming through the alpine trees welcomes diem to eign in the electric light now as it did initially and the group moves slowly The squeeze is no less intimidating or difficult die second time around in fact the cramped crawl ova the rocks is a little' more painful on knees and elbows afta hours in the cold damp HaHrawmBut eventually the rock hallway widens the familiar walla by explorers unconcerned with how they affected the geology He scratched out a name too late to presave the rockibut not too late to at nit some of the V evi-duck- ed - die surface j i ' old-time- ot Cache caving?'? The Bear River Grotto invites anyone interested In spelunking in Cache Valley to join the organization dedi- - cated to exploring and local Fast Forward Charter High School pre-servi- ng caves ri Meetings are held at 7:30 pm on the third Thursday I of each month In the North-ea- st Conference Room at'! I Logan City Hall 255 N' f y Main Logan 1 The Outdoor Recreattoriy j Center at Utah State Unhrer-sity Is planning one or two caving trips fa the spring semester Though dates v7 ’ " have not been scheduled more Information Is avail- s 4 t able by calling in Logan Utah has openings for students for the 2003-200- 4 and 2004-200-5 school years This public high school was organized to be an option to students identified as being "at risk'of completing their High School education ' y non-traditio- '? j y V: f f'iv 7 : J iA ' V Si? jiwfo three-ho- ur ' ' ed well-prepar- ed y y "Outstanding Educational Small Classroom Sizes Safe Environment State Certified Teachers Excellent or may hike from any road or trail And others are j exploring Gooch calls a combination of s luck and “trial and ora" ' "There’s mote out there than there is manpower to V ' search for” said Gooch who V said he knows of caves that he four guessed maybe three other people in the world are 7 aware of and not surprisingly couldn’t give directions to In addition to the naviga--V tibns and safety concerns fear of more vandalism — by I scratching names into a wati lighting torches that can dam-- 4 :!age rock formations or mina : ” ''Vy - ' ' y - Program Z the high school offers: ' Meets the State Core-Curricul- Computer Training Strong Emphasis On Technology Video & Recording Training & Studios Accredited to Issue High School Credit Ratios Non Traditional Teaching Methods V Customized Options for Students A Highly Trained & Professional Staff: Teacher-To-Stude- ‘y ' at both the local and state levels as an : Me be a two- - Outside of Providence Cave and Logan Cave die local I scene is overwhelmingly suit- -' and ed to the V experienced cava Most descents must be done by rap-j pelting and then using highly t Non-Threateni- ng 797-326- liLu i “ 'y Recognized by leaders in education i ' y: nal State-of-the-- art nt & Diploma's K ' t ) (Jv : y technical ascension ropes to get back to the surface Local caves range from the 140-fodrop at Boomerang Cave to the 200-foshea drop at Lucifer’s Ledge to Nelson sfj Cave near Blind Hollow yv which is estimated at descend-- : " ing baween 300 to 1100 feet' making it one of the deepest a ot ot in the stater:yy £ ‘They’re extremely danga--' ous because of the depth": said Shawn Gooch of the i al deposits : ' keep the fcavers - 255 tight-tipp- r's- oi’-’- ?1 Exciting Program! a tittering ’i i 55 N Main Logan Utah iyy Students Accepted from any Utah School District Fast Forward Charter High School Opening Doors of Opportunity ed : v y ’jSciv W ' iAm '‘ ' '' - 'a - 1 Cache Legacy contains 245 historical pictures of the people who have helped make Cache Alley what it is today These unique photographs were submitted hy the Herald Journal readers and tell an interesting picto- rial history of the valley Don’t miss this opportunity to give this unique gift to a friend or a loved one Pick up cost 'c- F - Mail Cost Qjr) Herald Journal 75 Vest 300 Nordi : Be One Total copies Total ($) enclosed Hake checks payable to: The Herald Journal Logan Ordered by: NAME ADDRESS CITY Payment method: Box 487 UT 84323-048- 7 attn: Angie Duncombe included $4 shipping 1 of the First to get your copy of “A Cache Legacy” Quantity of copies to be picked up at The Herald Journal at $2995 Quantity to be'shipped at $3395 P0 752-212- Account No j Checkmoney order —LJ I I l 1 EQ I I I I CD Q jfiSSj I I I QBS Exp Date: Signature Ship to: NAME- - 1 ADDRESS CITY PHONE -- SIATL ZIP Herald Ariijournal Enjoy complimentary Refreshments while you look through your copy of “A Cache Legacy” f : |