TRIPS

Hello All,

During the clean up at J4 on Sunday Dec. 5th Al Swope, Mike Packard and I heard the sounds of running water at the bottom of a deep narrow crevasse too small for any of us to fit. After searching further Mike discovered another way to possibly enter and after digging out some mud and breakdown we were able to get a better look. It looked promising but we had no gear for that kind of adventure so we bagged it until the next night.

Monday night came and we returned to drop down and see what was there. We rigged some rope and Tim top belayed Mike and I down the crevasse. Mike went first and I followed soon after. The crevasse was approximately 50 feet deep, tight overall and coated with a thin layer of mud. Mike and I followd the widest route and easily dropped it (although we would not find it so easy to climb out ). The floor surface was thick, deep, sticky mud the kind that sucks your shoes off. About 20 feet down you could see a connection to another parallel crevasse with sounds of running water (In my opinion there's likely to be a series of parallel crevas's). About 30 feet from the landing zone was a "1 foot wide" stream running almost perpendicular to the passage. Aprox. 50 feet after crossing the stream there was a deep, water filled, funnel shaped sump aproximately 10-15 feet wide and impassable (without gear) to the other side where there was more to explore. Mike in his never ending urge to dig wanted to ask Tim to lower an army shovel so we could dig around a little in the mud. I was concerned about the ascent out and voiced my opinion as such. Mike agreed and moved back to the landing area where he began his ascent. The walls were muddy as were our shoes and clothes which made it a very difficult climb out. He struggled getting started but was soon on his way up. As mike progressed I snapped a couple pictures as I did earlier of what we saw. He managed to get halfway in fairly good time but the crevasse was tighter at the top and the real struggle was about to begin. At times he climbed, grunted and wedged himself up a few inches only to slip down again where he started. We were all feeling the frustrated. Timmer was doing the best he could with the belay and of course Mike was doing all he could and I could only helplessly watch. After a long hard struggle and near exhaustion he was out. Now it was my turn!

During his long, difficult ascent filled with explatives and language of origins foreign to me, I was left to my thoughts at the bottom of the crevasse. The longer I thought the more nervous I got. I actually began to free climb up just to feel like I was getting closer to being out. I got to a good spot about halfway up where I was able to wait Mikes ascent out. Now it was my long anticipated turn with the rope!!!! But it was not to be that easy. In my haste to get closer to being out I was pretty much committed to where I was and where the rope dangled was too far for me to reach. Mike tried swinging the rope and fortunately I was able to move over just enough to snag it. With the rope in hand I felt some relief.........My relief would be short lived. As I prepared to make my first move to the top my light went out. Suddenly I find myself using the foreign language I had learned during Mikes ascent earlier. I was genuinely scared at this point. I had to release the rope I worked so hard to get so they could lower me a light. As Timmer prepared a light to lower, Mike illuminated the crevasse for me with his headlamp. Until it also went out!! .......Now I am finding religion!! Mike changed his light and Timmer lowered the rope again this time with a light on the end. Once again Mike illunimated the crevasse and swung the rope to me. Now I had to change my helmet light in the tight, slippery quarters I was in. After fumbling for a couple minutes I was with light and ready to finish my ascent to freedom. I did a series of "pull-ups" after each I would wedge myself as best I could and yell "slack up" to my hero's above. This worked surprisingly well and I was able to negotiate the worst part relatively easily. It took 90 minutes for two of us to get out. A feeling of euphoria came over me as I emerged from the grips of the cravasse as well it did Mike and Tim I think. There wasnt a moment of silence as the three of us gabbed the whole way out and back to the cars. We went for a beer after and rehashed the whole thing like kids the next day at school after being chased for pranking halloween night.

The world is a much more beautiful place today

Joe Wilson

fitntrim34@aol.com

PS anyone wanna go I'm ready to do it again!