The
next big breakthrough occurred in 1979 when several former members
of the Windy City Grotto were exploring below Half Mile Hall and
checked a small hole leading upwards. The short crawl ended with
an upper-level lead heading northwest. After a few weeks this lead
was again pursued and was found to contain some walkable passageway.
On the floor of the passage was a black hole extending down to another
passageway. Further investigation revealed the passage to be an
amazing 50 feet high, 50 feet wide and 300 feet long. This passageway,
later called the Elephant Trunk, was the largest lower-level passageway
found to date. Mapping continued in this area into 1980. Nearly
three more miles were surveyed.
The 1980's brought some very notable discoveries.
In 1980 cavers found almost a mile of walkable passageway. Because
the area contained many parallel passages and interconnections,
it was named the Spaghetti Bowl. Shortly after this cavers discovered
the Silent Expressway, which was then the farthest western extent
of the cave. Amazingly enough, even though the Silent Expressway
is two miles from the natural entrance, it is quite windy. Such
air movement means that there is a great deal more cave to explore
beyond this area.
Another
notable event during the 1980's occurred when exploration concentrated
on the north end of the cave. In this area cavers found the largest
and most beautiful collection of aragonite
formations yet to be found in Wind Cave. These magnificent crystalline
formations gave rise to room names, such as Polar Ice Cap and Santa's
Frosted Forest. In 1984, explorers in the northern section finally
discovered the passageway that connects Wind Cave to an entrance
called the Snake Pit.
Caves that extend beyond 50 miles are quite extraordinary.
By the first of August 1987, Wind Cave was only eleven and a half
feet from becoming 50 miles long. Seizing this moment as a celebration,
Wind Cave National Park sent out invitations to hundred of cavers
and rangers who had explored Wind Cave over the previous 25 years.
Ironically, the 50 mile commemoration occurred at Wind Cave's natural
entrance because survey records revealed that the entrance had never
been surveyed. The needed eleven and a half feet were quickly gained
and a hearty cheer was heard by the cavers gathered at the Natural
Entrance.
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