|
|
Return to Field Camps Menu
| Trip Name: | Lilburn Cave: California's Marble Masterpiece
|
| Trip Code: | 55 |
| Trip Summary: |
Lilburn Cave, in Sequoia National Park, is California's longest cave. This small camp offers an unparalleled opportunity for three days of camping, backpacking, and challenging sport caving in Lilburn's spectacular banded marble. An additional day will be spent touring Sequoia National Park.
|
| Start Date: | July 12, 2009 |
| End Date: | July 17, 2009 |
| Starting Location: |
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California USA
|
| Ending Location: |
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles, California USA
|
| Minimum Size: | 6 |
| Maximum Size: | 10 |
| Contact: |
Benjamin Tobin
|
| Setting: | Lilburn Cave is located in
Sequoia National Park in the beautiful Sierra Nevada, the highest mountains within the 48 contiguous United States. The park is home to the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), the largest tree in the world. The hike to the cave passes through a large stand of old-growth redwood trees and extensive coniferous forest. Daytime temperatures in the area may be as warm as 35°C (95°F). Nights may be as cool as 15°C (60°F). The weather is normally dry, although occasional thundershowers do occur. The cave is located at an elevation of 1,600 meters (5250ft), has a temperature of 5°C (40°F), and is damp or even wet, depending on where you go.
|
| Trip Details: |
Lilburn Cave is located in Redwood Canyon, 6.4 kilometers from the nearest trailhead. The hike passes through the largest uncut grove of giant sequoia trees in the world. Sequoia National Park manages the cave as a scientific preserve, and the Cave Research Foundation (CRF) has been conducting studies there for over 25 years. The CRF has mapped over 32 kilometers of passage, and there is still more cave to be found. This camp will conduct three trips into the cave: a through trip between the two entrances; a trip to the part of the cave known as the South Seas for a look at the internal workings of a flush-and-gush spring; and a trip to the Enchanted River, famous for its marble banding. Although there is little vertical caving in Lilburn, the cave is challenging, with many exposed climbs and tight squeezes and much loose rock. One entrance requires negotiating a cable ladder. Other trips will use handlines and fixed ladders.
The last day of this camp will be spent sightseeing in the Giant Forest section of Sequoia National Park, with visits to
Moro Rock, Crescent Meadow, and other sites.
|
| Accommodations: |
Participants in this camp should be prepared for primitive camping. Base camp will be the Lilburn Cabin, a reconstructed miners' shack located near the cave. The cabin has limited sleeping space and a rustic kitchen. Most people will choose to tent camp near the cabin. Water is available but must be purified before use. There is an outhouse and a cold-water outdoor shower. Because of the remote location, no other accommodations are available.
Food will be cooked communally each evening over a camp stove and will include simple fare such as pasta and sauces, soups, and Mexican dishes. Breakfast and lunch foods will be simple and quick to allow for early starts on the caving trips. Hot water will be available at breakfast. Examples of foods include muffins, oatmeal, and cereal for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch with meat, cheese or peanut butter.
On the final night, participants of this trip and the Field Camp 56: Cave the Sierra Nevada trip will camp together at the home of Joel Despain, Cave Specialist for Sequoia National Park. Participants will celebrate their week together in a local Mexican restaurant.
|
| Special Considerations: |
- Participants must supply their own sleeping bags and mats, and are encouraged to bring tents. Loaner tents and a limited amount of cabin space will be available for those who do not have tents.
- Participants should bring their own alpine caving equipment, including a complete set of vertical gear, and be prepared for long, cold, wet, trips. Polyvinyl cave suits with synthetic long underwear, such as polypropylene, are ideal. Cotton clothing should be avoided.
- This trip requires an 8 km (5 mi) backpack into Redwood Canyon, and a similar hike out. Participants will be expected to carry their own equipment and to help transport group food and other supplies.
- Participants should bring their own backpacks. A limited number of loaner backpacks may be available by advanced request.
- This trip is not suitable for children, and no one under 18 years of age will be permitted in the cave. However, non-caving spouses and older children who enjoy hiking and dramatic scenery will find plenty to do on the surface.
|
| Travel Information: |
Plan your travels to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport
(LAX) no later than noon on July 12. You should plan to fly from LAX to San Antonio International Airport (SAT) after 6:00 PM on July 17,
or on July 18. You will be responsible for your own accommodations in Los Angeles. Transportation by van
between the airport and the trailhead will be provided. From the trailhead it is an 8-kilometer (5-mile) hike
to the Lilburn Cave Cabin.
|
 The 15th ICS Organizing Committee wants everyone to enjoy their trips and excursions, but cares about the safety of all visitors and the
protection of the caves, their contents, and the land in which they occur. ICS Trip Leaders will have the right to refuse entry to a cave or
property, or remove any person from a cave or property if that person's skills, equipment, or actions are likely to harm that person, other cavers,
the cave, its contents, or the property. For general information on accepted caving equipment, techniques, and conservation methods in the US,
see http://www.caves.org/safety/ and http://www.caves.org/info/policy.shtml.
|
|
| |
|
|
