ROAD TRIP PHOTOS – 12 AUGUST – MARBLE CAVE – WESTCLIFFE, CO
The main reason for our route home was THIS adventure. Mike’s father Earl and his older brother Earl had discovered this cave over 40 years ago. Mike had taken me up to it once – over 20 years ago. He had talked for years of taking the kids up there and THIS was the time to do it. We drove home by back roads so we could visit all these old spots. I couldn’t find a motel in Westcliffe so we stayed in Canon City for two nights to make this adventure possible.
I’ll let Krista tell this in her words – and pictures will follow.
“So the trip down to TX was a lot of fun. My favorite part was Marble Caves. GPa G and Uncle Earl found the cave a long time ago (they are Conquistador caves). GPa G would take Dad up to it when Dad was little. Dad and Uncle Earl discovered Marble Hall on one of these trips. The last time Dad went was about twenty years ago. Dad decided to take us kids up to see Marble Caves. Pretty much as soon as I heard we were going to hike up to the caves I had flashbacks of Boston and said it was going to rain when we got up there. At 1st I heard that it was a 20 miles hike, then 18, and then it settled on 12. I’m not sure how long it was, in truth I think it was more like 9 or 10 miles. We took the Honda instead of the van (the van has a V-10 engine and lots of clearance) because only five of us were going (Dad, Josiah, Jamin, Jared and I). We came to a dirt road that said,”privately owned don’t park on this road 1.5 miles”. The road looked pretty bad so we decided just to walk the 1.5 miles instead attempting to take the Honda. We had gone about ¼ mile when Dad managed to get a hold of Uncle Earl and they were on their way. They had a pickup. Uncle Earl, cousins Crystal, Jerome, and Dominique, drove their pickup up the road and Cy, Jamin, Jared, and I stood in the back and held onto the metal rack to carry stuff on top (I’m unsure of what there called).It was a lot of fun and once again it reminded me of Boston - only this time of the subway. The road ended up being much longer than 1.5 miles, it was more like 3or4. We were very appreciative of Ford Pickups. The 1st 2 miles of the hike were pretty easy but the next 2.25 miles were real killers for me. I blame it on the altitude we were at - 11000 feet at this point (the caves were at 11,800 ft). We finally broke timberline and ate lunch!!! Dad and Crystal saw a bear. After lunch we started heading up some more WOHOO. On the way up Crystal and I were to the side in the rocks instead of the loose dirt when the boys above started yelling wolverine. I wasn’t really paying attention (I was singing I Believe I Can Fly in memory of P. Nate). Earl called up and told us to move to the center - Now. We did, just a little sad at having to give up the solid groundL. But then the Dads below saw the animal and said it was a marmot and we could go back overJ. We arrived at a cave and climbed through it which was really fun. Cy and I crawled/wiggled to the very back of the cave (once again being short came in handy). We then went over to Marble Hall and there was writing on the outside that said, “400 feet to the white marble hall ß 8/11/1897”. Jerome, Dominique, Cy, and I climbed to the back of Marble Hall. The ground was covered in bat scat at one level and the other level was all crumbly. We were all covered in mud - I loved it. We got out of the Hall and some storm clouds that the Dads had been watching but figured would miss us did miss us. However, some more came up over the ridge behind us. :o We tried to go ahead and make our way across the side of the mountain to Marble Cave where there is a Maltese cross painted on the wall. But the storm hit and it was one nice thunderstorm with hail. It was decided, with no discussion, that staying above timberline in a thunderstorm was Stupid. So down we came; I was laughing inside all the way about the irony of it. We made it down to the truck soaking wet and thanking God for Ford Pickups.”
The main reason for our route home was THIS adventure. Mike’s father Earl and his older brother Earl had discovered this cave over 40 years ago. Mike had taken me up to it once – over 20 years ago. He had talked for years of taking the kids up there and THIS was the time to do it. We drove home by back roads so we could visit all these old spots. I couldn’t find a motel in Westcliffe so we stayed in Canon City for two nights to make this adventure possible.
I’ll let Krista tell this in her words – and pictures will follow.
“So the trip down to TX was a lot of fun. My favorite part was Marble Caves. GPa G and Uncle Earl found the cave a long time ago (they are Conquistador caves). GPa G would take Dad up to it when Dad was little. Dad and Uncle Earl discovered Marble Hall on one of these trips. The last time Dad went was about twenty years ago. Dad decided to take us kids up to see Marble Caves. Pretty much as soon as I heard we were going to hike up to the caves I had flashbacks of Boston and said it was going to rain when we got up there. At 1st I heard that it was a 20 miles hike, then 18, and then it settled on 12. I’m not sure how long it was, in truth I think it was more like 9 or 10 miles. We took the Honda instead of the van (the van has a V-10 engine and lots of clearance) because only five of us were going (Dad, Josiah, Jamin, Jared and I). We came to a dirt road that said,”privately owned don’t park on this road 1.5 miles”. The road looked pretty bad so we decided just to walk the 1.5 miles instead attempting to take the Honda. We had gone about ¼ mile when Dad managed to get a hold of Uncle Earl and they were on their way. They had a pickup. Uncle Earl, cousins Crystal, Jerome, and Dominique, drove their pickup up the road and Cy, Jamin, Jared, and I stood in the back and held onto the metal rack to carry stuff on top (I’m unsure of what there called).It was a lot of fun and once again it reminded me of Boston - only this time of the subway. The road ended up being much longer than 1.5 miles, it was more like 3or4. We were very appreciative of Ford Pickups. The 1st 2 miles of the hike were pretty easy but the next 2.25 miles were real killers for me. I blame it on the altitude we were at - 11000 feet at this point (the caves were at 11,800 ft). We finally broke timberline and ate lunch!!! Dad and Crystal saw a bear. After lunch we started heading up some more WOHOO. On the way up Crystal and I were to the side in the rocks instead of the loose dirt when the boys above started yelling wolverine. I wasn’t really paying attention (I was singing I Believe I Can Fly in memory of P. Nate). Earl called up and told us to move to the center - Now. We did, just a little sad at having to give up the solid groundL. But then the Dads below saw the animal and said it was a marmot and we could go back overJ. We arrived at a cave and climbed through it which was really fun. Cy and I crawled/wiggled to the very back of the cave (once again being short came in handy). We then went over to Marble Hall and there was writing on the outside that said, “400 feet to the white marble hall ß 8/11/1897”. Jerome, Dominique, Cy, and I climbed to the back of Marble Hall. The ground was covered in bat scat at one level and the other level was all crumbly. We were all covered in mud - I loved it. We got out of the Hall and some storm clouds that the Dads had been watching but figured would miss us did miss us. However, some more came up over the ridge behind us. :o We tried to go ahead and make our way across the side of the mountain to Marble Cave where there is a Maltese cross painted on the wall. But the storm hit and it was one nice thunderstorm with hail. It was decided, with no discussion, that staying above timberline in a thunderstorm was Stupid. So down we came; I was laughing inside all the way about the irony of it. We made it down to the truck soaking wet and thanking God for Ford Pickups.”
On the top of the world!
Krista climbing back into marble hall
Jared at mouth of marble cave
Cy at mouth of cave
Mike's brother Earl, son Jerome, daughter Cyrstal and her son Dominque
Mike & children at the entrance to the marble hall
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