Last update 1/30/08

Vader Returns to Fulton Cave

Every summer the Mad Rats host a caving event.  This years event was called the Rage-N-All and was held at Bison Lake in the Flat Tops Wilderness. I wasnt able to arrive until late Friday night and most of the cavers were already around the campfire. Friday night was short as I didnt even get up to camp until about 11 p.m.  Around 1 a.m. I bumped into Mike Frazier and was able to buy a guidebook. I was looking forward to doing Fulton Cave the next morning and he told me that the trip to the cave would be leaving around 6:30 a.m.  I could tell he was just putting me on. I turned in about 1:30 and decided to wake up early anyway just to see if he was

kidding around.  I got up about 7:00 and not even a mouse (or Rat) was stirring in camp. I thought maybe I had been left behind.

Finally at about 7:30 other cavers started stirring. Many of the cavers on Saturday were going to Fulton, but if we had waited until all of them were ready to go at once we might not have left camp til about noon.

At 10:00 I was able to get two other cavers ready to go too.  I headed towards the cave with Matt from Grand Junction and Tonya from Rifle. Matt rode his dirt bike and I gave Tonya a ride over the Ute Trail to get to the parking area for the hike to the cave. The hike was uneventful and pleasant, but about two hours long. We all arrived at the cave and started to get geared up to enter. Matt and I had each packed a wet suit for the trip, but at the entrance Matt made the decision to leave the suit behind.

Every time I wear a wet suit caving it never fails, I put on my wet suit and then figure I should go relieve myself before going into the cave. So off came the wet suit and I headed around the corner to find the boys room.

Just about then Matt ducked into the cave. Tonya needed some privacy to change anyway. When I got back, Tonya and I headed into the cave. Matt was not to be seen anywhere, that is not until we caught up with him in the Boot Room.  I guess waiting in the cave for us to come in was just too much for him and he decided to do the cave solo.  There were plenty of cavers behind him anyway.  There were a total of about 15 cavers or so in Fulton that day.

For about 1000 feet the cave is stream passage. The water ranged anywhere from ankle to about waist deep. There was one other deep area that looked like it could have been eight feet deep or so, but it was easily climbed over. After reaching the back section of the cave you climb away from the stream and up into the Boot Room. This section of the cave makes the trip all worth it.  It is beautifully decorated. The pictures dont do it justice. 

We spent about 3 hours in the cave, but that was enough. We still had a 2 hour hike ahead of us and

about an hour drive over a 4x4 trail to get back to camp. After arriving at camp I headed straight down to Glenwood Springs to meet up with the family for the weekend.  Its too bad, too.  The Mad Rats were having a burrito cook-out and the food smelled awesome.

FULFORD CAVE TRIP

On August 12, 2006, Vader, CaverOne and new caver Erin Morrison escorted Rocky Mountain News photojournalist Darin McGregor into Fulford Cave near Eagle to shoot some photos for an upcoming article.  Read the article from the August 19, 2006 Rocky Mountain News here.

In early August, Cavesr4all got an email from Brian James, a photo editor over at the Rocky Mountain News. He was looking for some photos to support a story about Colorado Caving.  After exchanging a couple of emails it was decided we would take a staff photographer with us on our newbies trip to Fulford Cave so he could get some photos first hand.

On Saturday morning the two of us met Erin and Denis (our newbies) at the Morrison cut off of I-70.  There we were joined by Darin McGregor, the photographer from the Rocky. The trip to the cave was uneventful and by 10:45 we were at the culvert entrance.

 We lost one of our five adventurers at the entrance as Denis made the decision after sticking his body in the Culvert that caving was not for him and he would be going for a hike that day. After getting ourselves, Erin, Darin and all his equipment down the ladder it was decided that we would head for the Devils washboard.

After a quick lunch we headed back up the pit into the breakdown room. It took some time, as it usually does, for us to find the right passage to Sacrifice Slab. We visited the Cathedral Room, then headed for the Stovepipe and down into the Attic.

Having had some experience at rock climbing, Darin proved to be a very capable caver. Getting back from the Attic into the stovepipe he was able to aid Erin and Steve on their short climb.

Our new adventurer Erin proved to be up to the task as well.  Her enthusiasm was contagious.  She was especially excited about seeing the underground waterfall, and she was not disappointed.  She accepted every challenge which presented itself and excelled at her first time caving.  Looks like we have a real caver on our hands.

Steve was, well, Steve.  Always doing things a little backwards....

Photojournalist Darin McGregor (above) exits the stovepipe in Fulford Cave.  Steve, (left) foolishly attempts to exit the stovepipe head-first. 

Upon our exit from the cave, Denis was waiting for us in a steady downpour.  We were not looking forward to camping at Yeoman Park in the drizzle, but by the time we got back to camp, the rain had stopped and the sun came out just in time for Steve to get in a little fishing.

In all, it was a good day of caving.  We covered nearly all of the mapped passage in Fulford Cave.

Cavesr4all CLASSROOM PRESENTATION

On May 11, 2006 Vader (Dan) and CaverOne (Steve) presented a 45-minute educational slide show to Mrs. Sadels  8th grade Earth Science class at Beth Eden School in Wheat Ridge.

The presentation consisted of 40 slides, accompanied by our own narratives explaining the origins of caves, the formations found in caves, and caving equipment and techniques.  It was all presented on a foundation of safety and conservation, to not only educate students about caves, but to also promote responsible caving.

The presentation was well received, and we were each the recipient of a thoughtful thankyou card signed by all of the students in the class.

Both of us were grateful for the opportunity to promote caving in our community and we thank Mrs. Sadels for inviting us to speak to her class.