Our last day in North Alabama headed to Stevenson to visit the world-famous McBrides Cave — a classic pull-down through trip popular with cavers and with international attention from the rescue that took days to complete 10 years prior. Met up with Troy Fuqua, Jennifer Denton, and Derek Reneer. Small entrance but what a trip. First three drops between 20-40ft. Worked down through a waterfall section to the lunch room where we suited up for the water portion. Canyon passage wi

On the way back to Chicago from TAG, we stopped by Speleofest at Lonestar Preserve. Saw Tim Stoops and Bill Baus running around looking for more caves to visit. Unloaded the car and waited for Phil to show up — if he didn't make it in 20 minutes we were heading north. Phil Goldman and Clinton Barber showed up from their trip to Frenchmans Knob and we surprised them with some beer and bourbon at their campsite. Ended up decommissioning their rope obstacle course which took a f

Camped at Alfred Crabtree's property on Cane Creek the night before, sleeping in the Subaru. The goal: Swamp Springs, the main drainage for Rumbling Falls — a 16-mile cave system whose hydrology was being investigated for connections to Black Rock River Cave and Windy River Cave. Cave divers had pushed a sump from Windy River Cave and believed they connected to Black Rock River Cave, leaving a line and arrow at the insurgence. We were not able to access Black Rock River Cave

The TAG region of Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia contains some of the most spectacular vertical caving in North America — hundreds of pit caves, stream caves, and sump systems concentrated in the limestone karst of the southern Appalachians. Jackson County Alabama is the heart of TAG caving with iconic caves like Fern Cave, Surprise Pit, and McBrides Cave. An introduction to this first Alabama caving expedition in May 2015.

We loaded up the cars in dense fog out of Sheboygan Harbor — fog usually means calm lake conditions, and it did. The lake laid down for us as we set out to the shipwreck of the Home. About an hour to the location. Chris and I buddy up and enter the water after Walter, Leo, and Ellery. Crystal clear and very cold at the surface — colder and clearer than yesterday. At around 100ft the stern of the Home and bottom emerged from the haze. I always get a kick out of descending as a

Torode Pit is a vertical pit cave in northern Alabama in the TAG caving region. A single-pitch drop into a pit room. Visited during the May 2015 Alabama caving expedition alongside Fowler 2 Multi-Drop Waterfall Cave.

After years of talking about the SS Wisconsin I finally got out to see her — 5 miles off Simmon Island Harbor in Kenosha. Great to get dive time with Leo Quartullo again and dive with Jack Schafer on his 25ft Bayliner. Jack has been diving the Great Lakes for over 30 years and brings incredible perspective to shipwreck diving. In 1929 the SS Wisconsin sprung a leak and took 9 lives to a depth of 130ft. She is a passenger and cargo metal steamer that still has multiple cars in

On October 25, 1887, the Vernon set out for Mackinac Island making periodic stops to pick up cargo and passengers. The 158ft wooden passenger and cargo ship found herself in a gale 8 miles northeast of Two Rivers Wisconsin and took between 40 and 50 people down with her into frigid sub-40-degree waters to a depth of 205ft. The only survivor was found two days later on a small boat. She might have been overloaded and her cargo doors were open. In my opinion, she is one of the

The day came when we were able to talk to the Proctors about visiting their caves up on the mountain by their house. We stopped by the previous night but nobody answered so we left a note. The following morning Josh Schultz, Ken Williams, Troy Fuqua, and I pulled up to the Proctors house to discuss accessing the caves from their property. As we were talking about where to park, another guy pulled up and wanted to know what was going on — initially on the defensive but after e

Fowler 2 Multi-Drop Waterfall Cave in northern Alabama — a vertical cave system with multiple drops through active waterfall passages. One of the lesser-known but highly rewarding TAG caves visited during the May 2015 Alabama caving expedition. Part of the extended TAG caving circuit that covered McBrides Cave, Sheldon's Cave, Major's Pit, Guy's Cave, Gross Skeleton Cave, Torode Pit, and the Diggins Pit.

Pat finally showed up from the Great Smokies and jumped in the car so we could head to Sheldon's Cave. After an exhausting one-minute drive we arrived at the field, suited up, and hiked up to the entrance. We rigged high and descended past the main horizontal level and down into the 125ft pit bottom. Lot of trash at the bottom that a cleanup effort would improve. A short hike down into the passage took us to another drop but our rope didn't reach that far and there were no bo

Gross Skeleton Cave in Alabama has an extensive horizontal system with a swimming passage near the exit. Could notice a faint smell of fresh organics as we got closer to the exit. A flicker of light reflected across the water which got more defined as we made our last turn towards the exit. After lunch we hiked to the swamp and around the shoreline to the road which eventually took us back to our cars. Freaking awesome day of caving. Got back to the hotel and went over to the

On November 22, 1912, the Rouse Simmons was determined to get to Chicago with her load of Christmas trees. Captain Schuenemann and a crew of around 15-20 people set out for Chicago but never made it. She remained a mystery for almost 60 years while Christmas trees would periodically wash up on shore — including the captain's wallet, which came up in a fisherman's net. The Wisconsin Historical Society documented the Rouse Simmons extensively and identified clues to her final v

Major's Pit is in Jackson County Alabama in the heart of TAG caving country near Scottsboro. A vertical pit cave typical of the TAG region's spectacular limestone karst. Part of the May 2015 Alabama caving expedition that covered more than ten caves over a long weekend.

Parked on the side of the highway and quickly found the entrance. Three pitches: around 80ft, next one right next to the bottom of the first at around 30ft, and the last around 20ft. Rigged the 250ft rope and snaked it down all the drops which worked perfectly. The cave reminded me of a baby South Pittsburg Pit from the bottom with canyon fluted walls. Got to the bottom and made our way over to a series of dome rooms all rising to near the surface. I was impressed — turned ou

Guy's Cave in northern Alabama is a multi-drop cave system with several vertical pitches. Part of the May 2015 Alabama caving expedition with Josh Schultz, Ken Williams, and Troy Fuqua. The TAG region is known for its variety of vertical cave systems concentrated in a relatively small geographic area, and Guy's Cave is one of the lesser-publicized but enjoyable multi-drop systems in the region.

Back in Rockport State Recreation Area forest near Alpena Michigan lies 12 relatively un-explored Devonian Era sinkhole karst features — flooded sinkholes that might contain archaeological clues from the last Holocene and the possibility of dormant cave passage. Certified cave divers Adam Haydock, Chris Parks, and Mike Apke brought gear to the Big Sink for an initial checkout dive. I stayed topside while Mike and Chris descended. Visibility 20ft at surface to 25-40ft depth. T

Pless Cave near Blue Springs Indiana — trip leader Dave Everton. Six cars of cavers. Walking entrance with rimstone dams, collapse entrance, flowstone climb to upper level, slot canyon passage into final formation room. Some sections required swimming and crawling with head turned sideways, ears in the water. Bacon drapery quite pretty. Thanks to Dave Everton for sharing this cave once again. 🎒 Gear for this: Petzl Tikka Headlamp · Petzl Vertex Helmet

Day 3 in Alpena Michigan. The SS Florida — a 271x40x15 wooden steamer sank May 1897 when the George Roby rammed her starboard aft in 10-12 minutes. She rests at 197ft bottom, deck at 176ft. Dove into 2-4ft waves and descended to find a massive, intact wreck — WOW. Swam her deck past artifacts lying everywhere in the holds. Three decks, multi-story cargo holds, fun swim throughs. Bridge house with axe visible under the window. Got into the tight bridge house quarters before th

Cave Capers 2015 in Springville Indiana. Brought Amreen as a first-time vertical caver to the Hoosier National Forest Swallow Hole — private property arranged through Cave Capers staff. She passed tree training and joined us on the 42ft first drop. Stream blocked by logs at the bottom. Over 20 people filtering in and out until darkness. Another wonderful Cave Capers weekend. 🎒 Gear for this: Petzl Tikka Headlamp · Petzl Vertex Helmet