Digging in Alabama

A

Amy

New member
There are caves on the other side of the mountain. Anything from beautiful short caves to around 200-ft drop, and there is multidrop possibility. There are caves in the area where shit passage opens into borehole so that's the one we are hoping for...maybe multidrop too? :) can dream.

Depth potential in total is around 350-400ft, assuming no sandstone exists (Hartselle is spotty in the area) to stop it. There are no mid-way resurgences, all the water comes out the base of the mountain in mostly people-impassable springs.
 
Alex

Alex

Well-known member
I do find it strange how the cave looks very similar to caves here. In spain for example they look completely different underground than the caves here, distinctly orange. Same with Austria, different colour but there yours very similar grey to ours. I guess its similar type of limestone.

It varies by region too, Here dark grey, Mendip dark blue and Peak - well never seen the colour of the actual rock as its always covered in mud lol.
 
Les W

Les W

Active member
Alex said:
I do find it strange how the cave looks very similar to caves here. In spain for example they look completely different underground than the caves here, distinctly orange. Same with Austria, different colour but there yours very similar grey to ours. I guess its similar type of limestone.

It varies by region too, Here dark grey, Mendip dark blue and Peak - well never seen the colour of the actual rock as its always covered in mud lol.
Click to expand...

Alex, most of the European limestone in the Alps and Northern Spain is fairly young, Jurassic or Cretaceous Limestones. The Limestone in Central and Eastern US is the same Carboniferous Limestone as we have in the UK. The US and the UK were joined together when the Carboniferous Limestone was deposited in a large basin or shallow sea. The limestone is the same.
 
A

Amy

New member
Les W said:
Alex said:
I do find it strange how the cave looks very similar to caves here. In spain for example they look completely different underground than the caves here, distinctly orange. Same with Austria, different colour but there yours very similar grey to ours. I guess its similar type of limestone.

It varies by region too, Here dark grey, Mendip dark blue and Peak - well never seen the colour of the actual rock as its always covered in mud lol.
Click to expand...
Alex, most of the European limestone in the Alps and Northern Spain is fairly young, Jurassic or Cretaceous Limestones. The Limestone in Central and Eastern US is the same Carboniferous Limestone as we have in the UK. The US and the UK were joined together when the Carboniferous Limestone was deposited in a large basin or shallow sea. The limestone is the same.
Click to expand...
Indeed! If you watch the video i posted in media, it actually covers this regions basic geology. :) and TAG has (basically) the followinf layers:
Pennington (sandstone)
Bangor (limestone)
Hartselle (sandstone)
Monteagle (limestone)

Hartselle is spotty in many areas ans typically thin where it does exist. When caves break through it is our deep stuff. Pennington is in general the sandstone cap if you will. Sandstone, which of course doesnt get eaten away like limestone does, where it cracked is where the water got in, also contributing to our large shafts.

In this mountain the Harstelle is quite spotty. We are in Bangor for this dig. Hence the depth potential.


Okay my reply got put in the above quote n i cant fix on mobile. Oops.
 
A

Amy

New member
announcing...

Unterstein
The deepest cave in Huntsville, and project greatly supported by some of yours truly (Rostam, Paul Fairman, Footleg, Badger, and Ferret!) because you all are the best!

At -348 and counting, beating out the next deepest, Varnedo, by 58 feet! And there is still more depth potential.

It also has the largest chamber in Huntsville, probably largest in Madison, it is a good size chamber for anywhere in TAG to be fair. It is the size of a good size ocean liner, and about that shape too. :)

It is the most scary and the most beautiful cave.

We have all had near death experiences. Agoraphobia. And it beats the crap out of you every time you go.

It's all rigged alpine style SRT now (We have rebelays and Y-hangs in a TAG cave!) and most delicate ares have signs and are taped off. Basically, we did it how I wish caves were done here, because I could! You don't need a single rope pad  ;) People don't put survey tape here, but we got white tape so it is easy to clone out of photos and looks nice to the eye, and it is truly as gorgeous as it is terrifying.

Part of the Big Room by Amy  Hinkle, on Flickr

Amy at Crazy Formation by Amy  Hinkle, on Flickr

Area of the White Sun by Amy  Hinkle, on Flickr

big rock by Amy  Hinkle, on Flickr

Little Pools by Amy  Hinkle, on Flickr

Nest of Pearls by Amy  Hinkle, on Flickr

Pearly Whites by Amy  Hinkle, on Flickr

Ruffles and Stals by Amy  Hinkle, on Flickr

Popcorn by Amy  Hinkle, on Flickr

Shells of Pearls by Amy  Hinkle, on Flickr

Main Drop by Amy  Hinkle, on Flickr

More on my Flickr :)
 
Mike Wood

Mike Wood

New member
Very impressive and yes it looks fantastic and scary. Super pictures and a great achievement, thanks for posting these  :)
 
Leclused

Leclused

Active member
Congrats Amy and team. All the hard work finally pays off. Glad to read that you also kept conservation in mind ;). And perhaps this new cave can serve as a fine example of modern (21th century) cave exploration for other US (and non US) cavers.

Keep up the good work.

The photos show a beautifull cave and yes for me it looks like a typical Alpine cave. I see a lot of similarities with the caves I work in on the PSM. Btw did you find a river or streamway already  on the base of the limestone layer?

I can't wait to see more and good luck with the further exploration.

Dagobert L'Ecluse
Sc Avalon  - Belgium
 
A

Amy

New member
I have the survey i currently have finished, but it needs some more stuff (vertical profile most notibly). Myself and brandi are weiting up an in depth report full of the stories of discovery and exploration for the NSS news. Feel free to pm me for the map if you want to see what i have thus far.

Yes two brits have been in there and both said the entrance series is very...british. Hahaha!

We did get down to the stream on south side. Unstable breakdown is a major issue of human jenga to even touch. But there is a crawl under good monteagle for someone small and sporty. North and south end flow towards each other so somehwere in the middle underneath Death Boulders is where it goes. 

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top