Surprise Pit, Fern Cave, Alabama

Adam Haydock
Jul 6
1 min read

Eight of us headed to Surprise Pit in Fern Cave — Justin, Melissa, Molly, Cindy, Phil, Walter, and more. The road conditions slowed us down but we made the hike to the waterfall entrance in good time. Following the water to where it drops off, then the shelf traverse past the breakdown to the rigging. Bolts at the top, pads around the edge, and 404ft of rope dropping into the inner space room. At one point you're in the middle of nowhere on rope with fog above and below and rope going up and down into the void. Everyone made it down. We held a ceremony to scatter JT's ashes into the water at the pit — his last wish for a cave he loved mapping. May JT rest in peace in one of his favorite places.

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Surprise Pit, Fern Cave, Alabama

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