journal: STEPHENS GAP RENDEZVOUS: THE TRAIL OF (SWEAT) & TEARS

][ Trip Report

Harley-Davidsons as far as the ears could hear.

Scottsboro, Alabama is a hotbed of caving activity due to the high concentrations of caverns throughout this mountainous region. This weekend, there were also high concentrations of bikers.

I departed from Chattanooga, TN, less than an hour and a half away from Scottsboro. Along the way, I was wondering why I had been cruising by so many bikers in packs of 4 to 8. This weekend is part of the "Trail of Tears" ride which extends from Chattanooga all the way to Waterloo, Alabama.

When I met up with Eric, Melissa, and Andy, the Scottsboro portion of the welcoming parade was only a couple of gear-shifts from getting started. I had cut it close after getting turned around on Rt. 40 on my way over here, but luckily we were able to clear out of the meeting point before roads began getting closed off.

The area we were headed to is privately owned---the powers that be had graciously allowed us permission to explore before the entire area was closed for hunting season. From the parking spot, iit was about a 1.5 mile hike through the woods to the main pit. On the way, we passed another pit called Pipeline, which according to Andy and Eric, also makes for a great vertical practice area.

Once we got rigged up after reaching the site, I got to partake of my first rappelling experience. About half-way down, I got caught in this gorgeous sun-ray which illuminated a large circular spot on the inside of the cavern. Imagine standing in front of a giant slide-project lens and having your entire being, dangling on rope, projected as a rainbow-edged silhouette into an otherwise dark cave wall. Eric was on belay for me as I reached the pedestal.

And then the ascending: mostly I confirmed that ascending a 20 foot rope inside of a loft office space is a shorter distance than ascending a 140 foot rope through wet crags and open air. Sounds like a very pragmatic argument, I'm sure, but sometimes your legs just won't be convinced until they feel it for themselves.

Throughout the day, we ran into a fellow caver whom Andy was acquainted with named Brad (whose girlfriend's name escapes me) who was also in the area. The other couple we ran into Patricia (whose fiancee's name escapes me even though I think he's a DCG caver) ended up hiking back down to the parking site once we wrapped up for the day.

Afterwards, I picked Andy's brain about caving, the Grotto, and general layout of the region over Chinese buffet food. Mostly, I was also soaking in the fact what a great experience my return to caving had been.

And as my heart breaks each time I have to hose mud out from the inside of my trail-running shoes, I am officially in the market for an inexpensive pair of sturdy boots that I can bang around on future expeditions.

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