Caves at NSS 2006: Trout Lake Guler

More PRE and POST Convention trips to the Trout Lake Lava Caves
Mt. Adams Guler Trout Lake Park Group Camp
Aug 4th-5th and 12th-13th, 2006
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Here is an opportunity to be one of just a few humans to see newly discovered passages and unique formations in pristine lava caves. If you like mazy caves with many challenges, these are the trips you need to be on. You will want to take pictures so bring your camera in some type of rugged case. The below picture is taken in Deer cave as Claude imitates a human sandwich.

Happy Cave, Bashful Cave, Wicked Cave, Deadhorse Cave, Deer Cave, Upfalls Cave, and many others will be visited in lava country during the pre and post convention trips to the Mt. Adams area of SW Washington.

These trips will have tight squeezes that lead to recently discovered passages with even more formations. Also for cavers that have never been in lava formation caves, we will see formations that do not occur in limestone caves. The next picture is Claude exiting the 2400 ft Bashful Cave.

The next 3 pictures are some of the formations you'll see in Bashful and Deer and Happy Cave.

You will need basic caving gear for these caves, a helmet, 3 light sources, hard-shelled knee pads, elbow pads and gloves. Coveralls are probably a good idea and a pair of boots that you don't mind scratching up. Vertical gear will not be required but bring along your adventurous spirit.

The next 2 pictures are a little taste of the amazing Upfalls and Wicked Cave.

Trip Details:

Pre-Convention - Meet at the group camp at the county park in Trout Lake, WA on Friday the 4th of August between 10 and 11 AM. For those coming on Saturday the 5th, the meeting will be at the same place and time.

Post Convention - Meet at the group camp at the county park in Trout Lake, WA on Saturday the 12th of Aug. between 12:00 and 1:00pm. Trips will be scheduled all afternoon.

To travel from the convention to Trout Lake/Mt. Adams area, take I-5 south to the I-205 freeway near Vancouver, WA. Take I-205 further south across the Columbia River into Oregon then, after a few miles into Oregon, take Interstate 84 east to Hood River, Oregon. See further details from Hood River to Trout Lake and the camping park below. Meet at the group camp at the county park in Trout Lake, WA on Sunday the 13th of August between 10 and 11am.

Trout Lake, WA can be found by traveling through the scenic Columbia Gorge in Oregon via Interstate 84. Cross the Columbia River at the Hood River Bridge. Then follow Washington Hwy 141 north from White Salmon to the small town of Trout Lake. There is only one store. Other detailed directions to the Mt. Adams Guler Trout Lake County Park can be found at http://tinyurl.com/qzd76.

Camping can be anything from B&Bs/motels to primitive in the Gifford Pinchot Nat'l Forest. Right behind the Trout Lake Post Office is a county park with camping spaces and pay showers. We have reserved the group camp Friday and Saturday night for the Pre-convention trips. We have reserved the group camp Saturday and Sunday night for Post-convention trips. Plates will be put up at the entrance to the county Park indicating the caver’s camp space. The fees are small and will vary depending on number of campers per site. Please notify me by email if interested in the county park ASAP. The Trout Lake B&B's are listed on the internet.

Also, if you go to our picture galley at http://www.lavacaves.com/Gallery/ you can see more pictures of these caves.

Please send notification if you are coming to any of these trips by Email or phone to the following:

WVG Pre/Post Conv. trip Coordinator
Dennis Glasby dennis_caver@msn.com
503-644-1066 ... on answer machine