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July
12, 2000
The
trail starts at the junction with Snoqualmie Mountain Trail. There
is a sign on the tree indicating that Guye Peak trail is going to
the right. This rough and steep trail starts at the edge of the
woods and crosses an open rocky slope, climbing up following stone
cairns. In about 0.3 mile it reaches a saddle between Cave Ridge
and Guye Peak. A short trail leading to Guye Peak summit goes to
the right. The trail to Cave Ridge continues to the left going through
the woods and coming out onto the open slopes at times. There are
several patches of snow there and the trail is hard to see at times.
In about 0.7 mile the trail reaches the mountain top with several
campsites, that offer a good view of the Snoqualmie Mountain, Lundin
Peak, and Red Mountain. There is still a lot of snow there and only
some caves are open .
Warning:
The cave entrance pictured in the photo is an extremely dangerous
cave called Hellhole, for good reason.
The
small opening at the bottom of the sinkhole opens up into the "ceiling"
of the cave 66 feet up and above a huge pile of breakdown. Entering
this cave is something only cavers with a lot of vertical experience
should even think about, as you must be roped, harnessed, and on
full rappel before even attempting the squeeze entrance. Once through
the squeeze you emerge in the center of the ceiling hanging 6 floors
up and it's a free rappel all the way down. There is NO way to exit
without jumars, rope walkers, or other vertical ascent gear and
the appropriate experience and skill in using these systems, and
there is NO alternate entrance. Coming back up through the squeeze
while simultaneously using ascent gear is extremely difficult and
dangerous.
Two
other caves on Cave Ridge have deceptive entrances that turn into
pits up to 120 feet deep, and all have drops and pits present. None
are walk in style caves as seen back east, and all are unsuitable
for casual use due to this.
Cave
rescue is difficult and dangerous in the best of conditions, and
impossible in the worst. Washington has no search and rescue teams
for caving accidents, and deaths have resulted on the East Coast
from outdoor search and rescue teams using inappropriate methods
and technologies for cave rescue attempts.
Washington
is a very cave poor state, especially for limestone caves and we've
been battling increasing garbage and accidents in the few that we
have, due to lack of educated users and those who just plain don't
care. I'd hate to see an accident at Cave Ridge result in the closing
of caves in one of three small areas in the entire state that have
limestone systems.
By
Chris Erikson
For more information please refer to National
Speleological Society.
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