| I could write many stories about Pettyjohn Cave, | | | | formation room just before you get to the Volcano |
| however I would like to explain here why this great | | | | Room. Other nice formations will surprise you along the |
| cave is my favorite. For a Horizontal caver like myself, | | | | routes to the many sections of the cave. |
| Pettyjohn has plenty to offer. Good climbs, challenging | | | | Intriguing Passages |
| passages, waterfalls, formations, intriguing passages, | | | | The Worm Tube is a long 150 feet crawl that is very |
| extreme hard to reach places most of which I have | | | | tight and leads to the Echo Room and beyond. The |
| not seen, possibilities for new discoveries and good | | | | Z-Bends is an interesting alternative to the Pancake |
| mud. | | | | Squeeze when going to the waterfall or the Racoon |
| Good Climbs | | | | Room. There is a down sloping squeeze that is a real |
| For some looking for climbing challenges, the entrance | | | | challenge to climb back up when you visit the East |
| room has plenty to offer. This long room over 500 | | | | Stream passage and Crowell Domes. The small hole |
| feet long and averaging 50 feet wide and 30 feet high | | | | leading from the Bridge Room to the Mason-Dixon |
| ceilings, has two easy climbs just to reach the back. | | | | Passage is neat. And the stream canyon passage on |
| Near the entrance there is a good climb up into an | | | | the way to the waterfall is fun. |
| upper formation room that connects to the main | | | | Extreme Places |
| entrance room at the ceiling level. Most visitors rush | | | | The extreme places are for the hard core cavers that |
| pass this area to get to the back of the room or to | | | | like fourteen hour trips and want to be pushed to their |
| head off to the main waterfall. | | | | limits. Pettyjohn Cave offers four such areas. The |
| To reach the stream levels there are challenging | | | | Labyrinth, which I have only visited the start of. |
| climbs if you avoid the ropes left there by previous | | | | The Discovery Room above the Emerald Pool that |
| cavers. Some of these ropes have been in place for a | | | | you have to use the old existing rope or do a hard |
| long time and should not be used. One especially | | | | technical climb. An extension pole was first used to |
| challenging climb is getting up into the Racoon Room, | | | | reach this area. And I understand that there is much to |
| this large room in the mid level of the cave gives | | | | be discovered beyond the Emerald Pool. |
| access to most of the middle levels of the cave. | | | | The Outer Limits which I am not even sure at what |
| Pettyjohn Cave is divided up into three levels, the | | | | level you reach. I have explored the stream passage |
| entrance room which is high and mostly dry, the middle | | | | to tight muddy squeezes that finally turned me back |
| levels which are dry passages making up about 1/3 of | | | | and high dry passages that could also be the way. |
| the known cave and reaching under the mountain to | | | | These were ten hour trips and I still had not found the |
| the north. A difficult climb from this northern section is | | | | Outer Limits. I meet Richard Schreiber once when I |
| up into the Echo Room, the largest room in the cave. | | | | was leaving the cave and he was excited about |
| A 100 by 200 foot room with high ceilings. And the | | | | getting back under the mountain and I believe that he |
| lower stream passages which make up the largest | | | | was referring to the Outer Limits. I have a copy of |
| portions of the cave. | | | | most of his survey notes but I think that I am missing |
| The waterfall climb leads to a second waterfall that is | | | | one that describes how to get there. |
| much easer to climb and an up stream passage called | | | | Schreiber's Extension is a long stream passage with |
| Schreiber's Extension that is yet to be completely | | | | many leads and places to climb up into along the way. |
| explored. | | | | The end is a low stream passage which has been dug |
| Challenging Passages | | | | out and pushed to a second low room blocked by |
| From the main entrance room there are many ways | | | | another low stream crawl. This passage continues |
| to go deeper into the cave and at the start of each of | | | | around the edge of the mountain and takes in water |
| these passages you will have a challenge. The | | | | from along the mountain side. The cave is still lower |
| Pancake squeeze on the way to the waterfall, some | | | | than the valley but under the edge of the mountain. |
| tight squeezes or hard climbs, depending on which | | | | Possibilities for New Discoveries |
| route you choose, to get to the Volcano Room. Each | | | | The most promising area that I feel could be |
| route from the Main room is like a cave of its own. If | | | | developed is to the East. There are many sink holes |
| you like maze's try The Labyrinth in the southeast | | | | along the mountain east of the entrance and Crowell |
| lower level of Pettyjohn. If you are looking for real | | | | Domes is the most eastern portion of the cave with |
| adventure, explore the extreme northwest section | | | | the exception of the Labyrinth and Screech Owl Cave. |
| called The Outer Limits. And for a good technical climb, | | | | There is a possible lead from the Echo Room that I |
| explore the rooms above the Double Echo Domes. | | | | would like to push some day, but it would require some |
| Waterfalls | | | | rock removal. There is also a large sink on the top of |
| If you like underground waterfalls, you will love | | | | the mountain east of Pettyjohn that the water has I |
| Pettyjohn Cave. There are two good size waterfalls | | | | believe been traced to the sump below the Entrance |
| on the way to Schreiber's Extension. A loud waterfall | | | | Room in Pettyjohn. Pettyjohn provides drainage for |
| about 4 feet high just beyond the Chute and on the | | | | most of this side of Pigeon Mountain until you get to |
| way to the Outer Limits. And another one that you | | | | Ellison Cave which drains the north end of the |
| have to climb over to enter the Labyrinth. | | | | mountain. Recent discoveries have been made in |
| Formations | | | | Schreiber's Extension, Discovery Room, and the |
| Formations are scattered through the cave. The | | | | Anamatosis Room. I have 36,117 feet of level survey |
| Entrance Room contains the largest in the cave. The | | | | plotted, almost seven miles (6.935 Miles) and a total |
| Signature Room and the passage to it are well worth | | | | survey length of 7.127 Miles. |
| seeing for the formations. And there is a beautiful | | | | |