Left of the Trap - Mammoth Cave
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- čas přidán 29. 05. 2018
- Caving Vlog #66
The longest crawl in the world, Left of theTrap (LOTT) in the Crystal Cave section of Mammoth Cave, is explored to the end. Mammoth Cave is the longest cave in the world so it seems appropriate for it to contain the longest crawl.
For more information about project caving with CRF:
www.cave-research.org
For information and tours of Mammoth Cave:
www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm
Caves are delicate and potentially dangerous places. For more information on wild caving, vertical caving techniques, and cave survey, visit the National Speleological Society website:
caves.org
To find a local grotto (caving club) visit:
caves.org/committee/i-o/grott...
White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a disease that is devastating to bats. To learn more about what you can do to help, along with information on how to properly decontaminate caving gear, visit:
caves.org/WNS/index.shtml
Cave Videography Gear I Use:
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Everyone say it together, "I am a caving monomaniac and I want to see where that passage goes."
Dear God. I caved for 30 years and even I cannot conceive of a three mile long crawl. You guys are beyond awesome.
50 years between the previous trip to the end of Left of the Trap and ours. Should be at least 50 more years before the next trip. I'll be retired by then... thankfully.
Thanks for sharing this adventure. It was great to see my dad's old stomping ground. Best of luck in all of your adventures!
I discovered Sides Cave in 1991, along with James Wells, and surveyed Canis Minor, Canis Major, and Deanaland. I'm so happy this trip happened! Good luck in your future exploration of this fascinating area of Flint Ridge.
Nice! That connection trip is still waiting to be done. There may yet be a way. We didn't have as much time or energy as I'd have liked to explore once we were out there. It would make more sense to keep pushing from Sides Cave, but maybe not this week given the rain situation.
I have to qualify "discovered." The spring above and the cave were known from 1889, when the Johnson family got their water from the spring above. They are buried not far from there, and you should ask Stan to direct you to their graves. I believe the proper name for the spring is "Fannie Johnson's Spring" and if it wasn't before, it should be now. You can crawl in there if you want.
Also according to Sides, in 1926, a Louisvillian named Eddie Blair attempted the entrance (maybe with an electric flashlight?) but 'found the entrance too low and backed out'. As far as I know, I was the next person to attempt it, October 21, 1991. We went about a hundred feet in past the Indonesian Fish Filter and turned around in blowing wet crawlway. Our dog Athena joined us, having crawled 150' in complete blackness, which is why, to James and I, it will never be Sides Cave, but Athena's Cave. James gave me naming rights and that's what I named it. That's why everything in the cave is named for dogs.
Scotchman's trap is probably the driest cave passage I have ever seen and when they say last change to stand up they meant it. I had no idea that passage went that far
Oh my goodness, I always wondered about that passage, when I read 'The Longest Cave'. It's mostly not as tight as I imagined, but to crawl that distance is one heck of an accomplishment. Thanks for taking me along!
Great video, Bruce and Jeremy are two of my long time caving brothers.
The 1953 camp spot is one of the coolest shots of any caving video I’ve seen. Fascinating stuff!
Thanks for having this on video.. Good job guys.. Keep on doing what u all are doing..
I used to run with the Roppel crew but fell out of caving in about 2010 after an accident. Good to see there is at least some high-quality presence of this important part of human experience on CZcams.
what happened in the accident? injury from falling? lost?
@@townhomes13 Dislocated shoulder from a fall and self-rescue.
A great video, as are so many of them that you've been doing... about a place I read about (& dreamed about) many times before I ever got the chance to *actually* go caving. Thank you.
Thanks Brian!
There's probably less than a couple hundred people in the entire world that would do what you're doing. A couple hundred divided by the world's population puts you guys in a very very small percentage who are man enough to do those things. Hats off to you! Stay safe and thanks for sharing this video!
Nicely done!
Your telling me you went all that way and didn't take some bang!
Was on Left of Trap trip exploring cross passages in early/mid 60s, long with lots of gypsum sand! Also did closure re-survey of Crystal/Salts. Many other great trips, name in back of subject book.
Very cool!
wow... .gonna get that book....
15 hours of crawling just seems so far above and beyond any athletic endeavor I can imagine or have heard about before. Are there any moments that are particularly challenging mentally? How do you keep negative thoughts away
Awesome video! loved all the backstory.
Thanks Sean! I've been trying to add a little context to my videos. That was something you inspired.
Next I need to work on my energy and enthusiasm.
Not at all. Your delivery was spot on.
Bad ass man!
Thanks! It was nice seeing you there Nick.
I watched this a couple years ago and just watched it again. Too bad you couldn't rig some blasting equipment to break open the connection, but I'm willing to bet the National Parks system wouldn't allow it. That would also be a pain to do it safely too.
wow
What equipment was used? Main lighting, settings used and amount of back up batteries?
Wondering what was the music used. Good fun in a good cave.
"Are You Happy (Instrumental Version)" - Niklas Ahlstrom. From a subscription to Epidemic Sound.
this video scares the crap out of me... love the video and your channel!
Would never want to crawl for that long
Nope. But curious if you used your Swaygo. I would imagine it would have been much easier to drag than the fabric packs.
I did, but one of the two sewn loops broke so I had to clip the biner through a strap hole to keep the contents in. I also suspect it isn't waterproof anymore. Some sections are better for dragging while others are better for wearing. Side-packs and Swaygos each have pros and cons.
The sewn loops are covered by the warranty if you want to send it to me. Or you can sew them back yourself. Holes can easily be patched with Aquaseal. Glad you had a great trip. Fun to watch from my couch.
Oooh would have joined you but........shoulder surgery ya know. Hats off to you on this one.
How did bag carrying logistics work in the crawl? Would you have a bag side mounted most of the time or was it a case of shift it to where is most convenient for 15 hours?
For this cave and this crawl specifically, a side pack such as those made by On Rope 1 works well. It's also possible to drag a pack tethered to a foot, but the crawls here are generally wide enough that this isn't necessary.
Great video Derek! I've only recently been to Mammoth caves for the first time last week on a guided tour. I found the crystal cave entrance later on a hike down the gravel road. The next day I went to spring Mills state park in Indiana and did my own unguided tour of a cave there. I'm absolutely hooked. I'd love to know how one would be able to get the permission to do these spelunking expeditions in these caves. For example, I would have loved to do this cave expedition. How did you gain the permission to do this? How could I form connections to have opportunities to explore caves like this?
Hi Jordan. Very glad to hear you've discovered caving and that you want to do more. If you look in the video description I include links to the National Speleological Society and the Cave Research Foundation. The best place to get started is through the NSS, which has local chapters (Grottos) across the country. If you're in the Mammoth Cave region then the Louisville Grotto is excellent. The NSS and its Grottos is the best place to meet other cavers to learn safety, conservation and techniques. The CRF runs expeditions in Mammoth Cave on a monthly basis, but would be better to approach once you've developed some basic skills and experience in wild caving and cave survey.
@@DerekBristol Thank you for helping. I'll get in contact with one of these grottos and hopefully I can do some cave exploration this summer.
@@DerekBristol I just wanted to give you an update since the 6 months ago that I commented on your video. I joined a grotto and have been in several caves now. I'm going to go through two more caves this weekend. Thanks for helping get started! This will be a lifetime hobby for me now! The grotto I joined had to chuckle when I said that I've heard of the NSS through CZcams because "that's a first haha". So thanks! Maybe we will cross paths one day
jordan burgess That’s great! Thanks for the update.
jordan burgess Also, I’ve started a website to help with questions like yours - here’s a link to the “Getting Started” section: www.derekbristol.com/getting-started
The Descent Part 3
Totally Right On
Why doesn't someone use drones / robots for this? Would be safer and more accurate?
First reason is that an autonomous device that can explore that far in those conditions hasn't been built yet. Second and more important reason is that it would take away all our fun.
@@DerekBristol You guys would have to carry them down there. Pretty easy to imagine a small drone with radar, a light, a camera, and a several hundred foot range. They could go into crevices people cannot.
Radio controls don't work through solid rock.
And is that Matt Mezyldo???
The one and only.
Derek Bristol how cool. He went with me on my first trip out to
The cocklebur quad when I took that over. Great guy!
No way....
Stay out of caves ! 💝👍 no u dont & closterfobic is a nightmare waiting to happen, its pretty outside , iffy inside , fresh outside , gasses inside , less dangerous outside more inside, get the picture, & heads up ! 💝 no sunshine inside , for long periods of time, ☀️
I need a few good men to travel grassy cove cave with me.im pretty sure i made the connection between that cave and the goufres cave system.past the nashcille extension.
Sign me up
nopenopenope
I like caving, not for me though! 💝👍