Dana Heights/Gifford Hole Cave

The Dana Heights (Gifford Hole Cave) Saturday Oct 9th 2004 We went to "The Dana Heights or Gifford Hole Cave". As you may be able to guess, it's a "pit hole" cave. It's just a sink hole not near any rocks, or large rock outcropping like at Rim Rock. This one looks like a hand dug well. It drops down about 8' to a "landing" or room, and then there is passage going two ways, North and South. Some know it as "The Dana Heights Cave", and others know it as "The Gifford Hole". Here is what I have written about it in my cave log book: I found out about the hole from an "old-timer". I was told that it was a hole in the ground that he and his buddies would climb down into. He said it would fit about 6 guys. When they worked in the area (Logging? Oil?) he said they would go down there in the cold weather to eat lunch. He said they did this back in the 1940's. When I first visited this cave, there was old rotting lumber around the opening, that may have been a cover for many years (to keep the local kids out). There is about 216 feet of mapped cave here, with the possibility of at least 200' more, and possible additional passage. My Gifford Hole Cave Map drawn in 2007 A cave trip from 2007 Artie in the entrance Cave markings Cave markings Artie climbing down The next caver waiting her turn Another caver down the hole Checking for more passage A typical cave passage in a tectonic cave A happy caver Another happy caver A caver completely unaware of the big spider behind her! Graffiti from Michigan! Two cavers at the lunch spot The rest of the team at the lunch spot- downtown Dana Heights!

All text and photos on this page © John V Stoneman

 

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