Fountain, Madison and Grand Caves

Fountain, Madison, and Grand Caves
Photography/Sport Trip
Grottoes, VA
August 5-7, 2011

Grotto Members present:
Ken Walsh
T. Robert Harris, PhD
Ava Pope
Matthew Lubin
Mark Daughtridge
Martin Groenewegen
Lisa Foley

Also starring:
Kevin Harbin, guest of T. Robert Harris, PhD
Ericka Hoffmann, former grotto member and photographer extraordinaire

Ken and I were the first grotto members to arrive at the camp site- a lovely ball field in Grand Caverns Park, located in Grottoes, Virginia, just north of Charlottesville. We were greeted by members of the Baltimore Grotto and trip co-coordinators Carol and Craig, long time friends of Ken’s. There was much excitement and anticipation throughout the evening as other grotto members and guests arrived from Chapel Hill/Durham, Charlotte, Washington DC, and Wilson.

Breakfast in the morning was provided by the incomparable Battarbee’s. Serving family-style food on the honor system, the coffee was hot and the biscuits were scrumptious. Truly the perfect breakfast to get us ready for a long day of caving.

Heading back to camp and gearing up, trip photographers Ken and Ericka were delighted to have so many eager and willing helpers to sherpa gear into Fountain Cave. Along the way, we acquired two wayward members of the Baltimore Grotto, whom we successfully reunited with their group. The Baltimore Grotto was there on a dig to reunite Fountain Cave with the neighboring TI-59 Cave. Voice contact has already been made! Mark D. lent a hand digging for a while, and the group uncovered all sorts of artifacts. We noted that while Fountain Cave is beautifully decorated, it has also suffered damage over the years. Currently, it is one of the Virginia Region's annual conservation project caves, and we could see the efforts to fix broken formations.

Then it was picture time! Ken set up the first shot with Ava, in her bright blue cave suit, as his model. As it was the first photography shoot for several folks, who had to be taught to use digital flashes, this took some time. The effort and patience paid off, as the results were amazing. Ken was thrilled to capture his best shot of the trip. Ericka was next to set up a scene using me as a silhouette model. She used a film camera and flashbulbs for her shots, so it was tricky to judge the amount of light. Both photographers observed how much the cave seemed to absorb light, and worked together to make sure the shot came out beautifully. I can add cave model to my resume! Another highlight of the photography session was experimenting with shadows. Ava and I made a convincing stalagmite shadow, and Mark took his rightful place as King for a few shots. Matthew got involved, and the two staged a monster’s attack and subsequent beheading! Next, Rob and Kevin took turns vying for Ava’s affections in the Romeo and Juliet shots on Rapunzel tower, while Martin found himself trapped in a giant spider’s web! Although we had to sign out by 5, Fountain Cave was stunning, and the photographers were able to capture its beauty and magnificence. Everyone had a great time helping out and learning more about caves and cave photography! PICS at http://tritrogs.org/gallery2/v/FountainCave2011/.

Dinner was a team effort, and together we all prepared a fabulous meal of burgers, hotdogs, salad and corn. Martin decided to try cooking a regional weed, Lambs Quarters. He didn’t get sick so it must have been okay. He did, however, manage to slice open his thumb with an oversized camp knife. Always quick to the rescue, Ken fixed Martin up with the help of Mark, who provided the crucial duct tape.

After dinner, we were off to explore Madison Cave. Madison Cave is of incredible historical importance as it is the very first cave surveyed in the New World! Additionally, it was signed by none other than George Washington himself, who had a knack for cave surveying as well as winning wars and founding countries. Thomas Jefferson also took an interest in the cave, and described it in his Notes on the State of Virginia. Published in 1787, the map he drew is the earliest known American cave map. In his own words:

“The entrance of the cave is, in this side, about two thirds of the way up. It extends into the earth about 300 feet, branching into subordinate caverns, sometimes ascending a little, but more generally descending, and at length terminates, in two different places, at basons of water of unknown extent… The vault of this cave is of solid lime-stone, from 20 to 40 or 50 feet high, through which water is continually percolating. This, trickling down the sides of the cave, has incrusted them over in the form of elegant drapery; and dripping from the top of the vault generates on that, and on the base below, stalactites of a conical form, some of which have met and formed massive columns.”

Upon our entry to the cave, the first signature seen is that of James Madison. Not the President James Madison, however, but rather his 3rd cousin and bishop in the Protestant church. Continuing on past Madison and Washington’s signatures, Mark once again got to put his first aide skills to good use. Bob, an older gentleman from the Baltimore Grotto, slipped and cut his arm. The wound was pretty severe, but quick to the rescue, Mark successfully bandaged it up and the group was able to continue enjoying the cave. We came to two narrow passages leading to a lake. The lake never changes levels, not matter how much rain the source may get, and was used during the civil war for saltpeter mining. The lake also features unique and beautiful calcite rafts floating on top.

Although it looks quite shallow, the lake at this point is over 90 feet deep and reaches a depth of over 200 feet. It’s also home to the Madison Cave isopod. Once thought to be unique to Madison Cave and listed as an endangered species, the isopod is now know to live in caves and wells within a 200 mile radius of Grottoes. The species is the only member of its genus and is the only freshwater cirolanid isopod north of Texas.

We were so lucky to be able to tour Madison Cave- despite being the first commercial cave in America, Craig informed us that only 50 or so people had seen the cave in the last 40 years!

The next morning brought about a return trip to Battarbee’s for another delicious breakfast before packing up camp. We were then treated to a behind the scenes tour of Grand Caverns with Craig and Carol. Grand Caverns was discovered in 1804 by Bernard Weyer while trying to retrieve one of his traps. Weyers Cave, as it was then called, opened for tours in 1806, making it the oldest continually operating show cave in the U.S. During the Civil War, the cave was visited by both Confederate and Union soldiers on the same day. There are over 200 verified civil war signatures in the cave. The most famous signature is W W Miles, of the 14th Pennsylvania Calvary, who visited and signed the Caverns on September 26, 1864. The caverns were also visited by troops under General Stonewall Jackson during June 1862, and General Duvall, a Virginian of the 5th New York Volunteer Calvary, in 1864.
In addition to the historical importance, Grand Caverns, a solutional cave, is noted for its rare ‘shield’ formations. The cave boasts over 200 of these unique structures, the most in the eastern United States. The shields are formed when water is forced out of a crack in the cave wall. As the water is forced out of these cracks, the calcite crystallizes and a plate begins to grow. The results are stunning.
Also notable is the cavern’s vertical bedding. The caves of the Shenandoah Valley were formed in mostly horizontal limestone layers. At Grand Caverns the layers of bedding are vertical, not horizontal, turned on end by tectonic forces. The group enjoyed seeing an optical illusion in the white lily room and General Jackson’s horse. In an effort to discover a new cave, I tried to fit down a small passage at the request of our gracious hosts. I was excited to go where no one had gone before! My efforts were unsuccessful though, and I was glad Ken was on hand to rescue me from the hole. The group seemed to enjoy my stalagmite impression. Maybe I’ll be able to give it another try during Heritage Days, an annual festival held in Grottoes every year, culminating with a ball inside the Caverns.
Craig ended the tour by pointing out the bat gates, and explaining they are constructed to let bats in but keep people out. While it was sad to leave such an amazing place, we learned a lot about cave photography, local history and geology. A great time was had by all!!