Church Cave Passage Closure
and
Cave Reopening

September 24, 2002

by John Rasmussen
mailto:John@BigBaldy.com

On Friday, September 20, 2002 I received a call from Mary Allison of the Hume Lake District. She requested that we go up to the cave and mark the breakdown area and evaluate the condition of gates.  My wife Marcia and I were able to do this on Saturday, September 21, 2002.

The Forest Service will now allow trips into Church Cave, except for the closed section. Follow the standard procedures for getting a permit. The closed section will be reevaluated next Spring.

The closed section extends from the Root Entrance to approximately 10 feet beyond the Guillotine.

The Scotch Light Room is also flagged:

The inner side of the cave, ten feet beyond the Guillotine:

The sign:

Passage Closed
 by order of

Hume Lake District Ranger

Text Box: Giant Sequoia National Monument Hume Lake District Ranger 35860 E. Kings Canyon Rd. Dunlap, CA 93621 (559) 338-2251

On April 29, 2000, a cave survey party witnessed the partial collapse of this passage.  The ceiling of the passage dropped 6 inches and the most used route narrowed.  On June 2, 2002, some of the same cavers discovered that a second collapse had completely blocked that route. This area may still be unstable.  If you must pass this area for emergency reasons, do not touch the side walls, ceiling, or breakdown. Have as few people as possible in the small room ahead.

The passage will be reviewed in the Spring of 2003 for possible reopening.

Sign placed on September 21, 2002
by John and Marcia Rasmussen

http://www.bigbaldy.com/churchcave for more information.

 

The Guillotine After The Rock Fall

We were able to take a close look at the passage.  The primary breakdown consists of two large rocks that were not part of the main passage ceiling, but were wedged into the passage. The rock shown below was originally touching the ceiling and dropped six inches during the first collapse. It did not move during the second collapse.  However, this rock has the potential to break free and fall into the remaining passage. I believe that this rock and possibly one other rock attached to the ceiling pose the primary hazard. The rock in the ceiling has not moved but is close to a rock protrusion that may be holding the rock below.

This is the "loose" rock pictured from the gate side of the Guillotine. The Guillotine passage was directly below this rock.

This picture was taken from the opposite side of the passage from the picture above. This rock (the Guillotine) dropped during the second collapse and blocked the passage. It was directly below the rock pictured above. There were also a few smaller rocks that moved. However, there appears to be no other indications of rock movement or ceiling collapse. This rock fall is limited to five horizontal feet of passage.

 

My opinion of the Guillotine area is that it is not as bad as originally thought, but still poses a significant hazard. It is possible that by Spring the existing rock may fall and possibly block the remaining passage. Though, if the rock falls it may open a "new" route above. The other hazard that this area poses is that a group coming from another entrance could find this route unexpectedly blocked.  It is then a very long way back out!