Today we decided to ascend into the Earth as we went to Wind Cave National Park. I would like to take this time to describe our guide into all things cave. His name is Rod. Rod is a physical scientist for the National Park Service. He LOVES CAVES and has worked for Wind Cave for about 15 years. If you have seen frozen, Rod is very similar to the giant man that says "youhoo big summer blowout." The first part of our tour consisted of us staying in the light of day (or just above ground) to learn the history of Wind Cave. This cave is the 5th longest in the world. The 2nd longest in Jewel Cave, located about 17 miles away. Prepare yourself because I am about to relay almost everything I know about Wind Cave:
Although the cave was "officially" first discovered by Jesse Bingham around 1881, the Native Americans living near the cave had known about this mysterious place since the beginning of their culture. The natural entrance to the cave is really just a small hole in the ground a few feet wide. The Native Americans believed that their ancestors first emerged from this hole. The cave was very spiritual for them, and they told a story of a woman who would come out of the cave and provide plentiful buffalo. Because of its high spiritual presence, I do not think that any if the Native Americans had entered the cave at that time.
In 1881, Jesse Bingham (not sure how it is spelled) and his brother were out hunting. Jesse followed an injured deer into the brush and noticed that despite the calm day with no wind, the tall grasses next to him were being blown. He found the hole (entrance to the cave), and when he looked in, his hat flew off. He did this trick for other people, however, one day instead of flying off, his hat was sucked in. Wind Cave derives it's name becuase of the air that either blows out or in at the natural entrance. The cave resonds to barometric pressures. With low pressure, it breaths out, and with high pressure, it breaths in. In this way, it is a good way to indicate weather change. In the early 2000s, scientist were able to use the wind flow to estimate the length Wind Cave. Today, the estimation is that as little as 10% of the cave has actually been explored, with 146 miles having already been explored! Along with this, the cave has five distinct layers, and each cavern has like 8 different routes that can be taken to other parts of the cave.
There is a belief that Wind Cave is connected to Jewel Cave; however, there are no known entrances that can fit humans. Kelly believes that maybe all caves are connected and there is really a secret underground world beneath us. I would have to second her theory and also add that I think Frodo is down there somewhere as well.
Rod finally took us into the cave!! We spent about 3 hours underground with him leading us to different passages not on the tour route, and relaying to us all of his crazy stories. He has actually discovered many miles of the cave- rock on Rod.
In the 1890s, the McDonald family bought the cave as they saw its great potential despite its lack of any jewels. Their 16 year old son, Alvin, was immediately enamored with the cave. He explored the majority of it using only a candle, and left his initials on the walls. While we were walking, Rod would point out Alvin's initials scratched next to one of the highest passages. Unfortunately, only four years later at age 20, Alvin died of Thyphoid Fever after trying to promote the cave at the Worlds Fair in Chicago.
Rod led us back into the light and departed in the most iconic way with his catch phrase "it's always a pleasure when you are working for the best cave in the world!" At this time, we all heard faint theme music playing.
I know this post is dragging out so I will try to be brief. Our next adventure for the day was visiting the Mammoth Site. This site is one of the largest insitu sites (the paleontologist leave the bones on site) in the world. Millions of years ago, a sink hole, believed to be 180 feet wide and 87 feet in height, formed and trap any animals that tried to drink from it. So far, scientists have found 58 Columbian and 3 Wholly Mammoths. Our amazing guide on this journey was a rockin lady named Siri. We had some cool tour guides today.
Or ride home was an even further adventure as we had to stop in the middle of the road to let a herd of buffalo by, and the pulled over to take pictures of an amazing sunset.
Mammoth Site
ELLY AND ROD
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