New Mexico caving

[RedRoxx]

Late March I got an email from a caver I know who was part of the discovery group for possibly the largest formation known in caving today. He was taking a group of 5-6 to this cave, for a day trip. I was invited. I said "Hell yes" then started planning.
The formation referenced above was off limits, they are still surveying in the special moonsuits. We had access to the back part of the cave tho. We were underground 10 hours.
The cave has a huge entrance and is gated at several points. We cruised along in the big honking walking passage, a little muddy but not bad. We had two lengthy crawls, one 600 feet and one 1500 feet. At a breakdown we had a little scrambling and a squeeze, no vertical in this cave.
Spectacular in the back, formations covered in cave "velvet"---looked soft but no touching.
Next day we did some ridgewalking, located a couple of small caves, then tried our hand at a gypsum tube at the edge of a lava flow. A little chimneying in this one.
Great weekend and a great trip. Hope you enjoy the pics.

http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albut60/velvet2.jpg

http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albut60/crystal_edge.jpg

http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albut60/keyhole.jpg

http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albut60/clouds.jpg

http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albut60/solenite_needles_2.jpg

http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albut60/velvet_flow.jpg

http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albut60/velvet5.jpg


http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albut60/Helectite_hall_1.jpg

http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albut60/edge_of_the_sombrero_in_the_sombrero_room.jpg

http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albut60/resting_in_the_crystal_crawl.jpg

http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albut60/Don_near_Helectite_Hall.jpg

[jumar]

That looks like an awesome cave! Thanks for the pics :2thumbs:

[Deathcricket]

That looks like an awesome cave! Thanks for the pics :2thumbs:

X2. Amazing stuff.

[accadacca]

Thanks for posting. Epic caving! :popcorn:

[uintahiker]

Wow! Some of that almost looks like snow!