Delimetrius
07-24-2013, 06:06 AM
I know there have been other beta's about this cave. I used one and I found it lacking in some areas so I wrote my own. The original has pictures to go along with the text but It wont let me :(
Darby Beta
The darby cave system is a serious cave system. There is a reason there is a sign that says in the entrance that technical climbing equipment is required. In the cave you will be getting wet, squeezing through spaces, repelling off of large repels, stemming over water and rocks, and doing this for at least six hours (If you already know the way and rush it) though don't be surprised if you spend over twelve.
Ice Cave Entrance
There are two entrances to the cave system. The more glamorous one that you see on the way up (the one with the waterfall coming out of it) is the exit. Just before heading up the switchbacks to the wind cave there should be a branch in the trail. Take it and it will follow the rock field on the valley floor. There will be a line of trees growing up the rock field toward the cliff. Ice is just beyond that around the bend in the cliff. Its just under half a mile to the ice cave entrance but you will have to climb the rock scramble at some point, there is no graceful way to do it.
View looking up valley from Ice entrance
The entrance is a crack in the cliff (not nearly as big as the other) with a rock to climb up to actually get into the entrance.
Entrance to Ice Room
The cave at this point only has one way to go. you will have some water under foot at first but this will firm up to ice fairly quickly. There will be a short easy up climb up some boulders then you will be on the frozen river. This will continue with bends here and there with the occasional slide down of about a foot or two becoming more frequent as you go. You will then hit the first rappel. It is short and is at about a 45 angle downward. The anchors are on the right side wall.
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial]In emergencies where you need to get back and you have already pulled ropes there is a rock wall to the left (facing into the cave) that is climbable but is slick and should be reserved for emergencies. Continuing along the frozen river, you will continue having slight descents until you reach the 2nd rappel part one. The anchors are again on the right. The rappel is little more than a slide down to a flat ice sheet. I would not recommend just sliding down this as right after that sheet is a sheer drop of at least sixty feet into the ice room. Once down the
Darby Beta
The darby cave system is a serious cave system. There is a reason there is a sign that says in the entrance that technical climbing equipment is required. In the cave you will be getting wet, squeezing through spaces, repelling off of large repels, stemming over water and rocks, and doing this for at least six hours (If you already know the way and rush it) though don't be surprised if you spend over twelve.
Ice Cave Entrance
There are two entrances to the cave system. The more glamorous one that you see on the way up (the one with the waterfall coming out of it) is the exit. Just before heading up the switchbacks to the wind cave there should be a branch in the trail. Take it and it will follow the rock field on the valley floor. There will be a line of trees growing up the rock field toward the cliff. Ice is just beyond that around the bend in the cliff. Its just under half a mile to the ice cave entrance but you will have to climb the rock scramble at some point, there is no graceful way to do it.
View looking up valley from Ice entrance
The entrance is a crack in the cliff (not nearly as big as the other) with a rock to climb up to actually get into the entrance.
Entrance to Ice Room
The cave at this point only has one way to go. you will have some water under foot at first but this will firm up to ice fairly quickly. There will be a short easy up climb up some boulders then you will be on the frozen river. This will continue with bends here and there with the occasional slide down of about a foot or two becoming more frequent as you go. You will then hit the first rappel. It is short and is at about a 45 angle downward. The anchors are on the right side wall.
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial]In emergencies where you need to get back and you have already pulled ropes there is a rock wall to the left (facing into the cave) that is climbable but is slick and should be reserved for emergencies. Continuing along the frozen river, you will continue having slight descents until you reach the 2nd rappel part one. The anchors are again on the right. The rappel is little more than a slide down to a flat ice sheet. I would not recommend just sliding down this as right after that sheet is a sheer drop of at least sixty feet into the ice room. Once down the