I could write many stories about Pettyjohn Cave, however I would like to explain here why this large cave is my favorite. For a horizontal caver like myself, Pettyjohn has a lot to offer. Good climbs, challenging passages, waterfalls, formations, intriguing passages, extremely hard to reach places most of which I have not seen, possibilities for new discoveries, and good mud.
Good climbs
For some looking for climbing challenges, the entrance hall has a lot to offer. This long room over 500 feet long and averaging 50 feet wide with 30 foot high ceilings has two easy ascents just to get to the back. Near the entrance there is a good climb to an upper training room that connects to the main entrance room on the roof level. Most visitors pass quickly through this area to get to the back of the room or to head to the main waterfall.
To get to the creek levels there are challenging climbs if you avoid the ropes left there by previous cavers. Some of these strings have been in place for a long time and should not be used. An especially challenging climb is going up to the Racoon Room, this large room in the middle level of the cave gives access to most of the middle levels of the cave. Pettyjohn’s cave is divided into three levels, the entrance hall is high and mostly dry, the middle levels, which are dry passages, make up about 1/3 of the known cave and go all the way down the mountain to the north . A difficult climb from this northern section is to the Sala del Echo, the largest room in the cave. A 100 by 200 foot room with high ceilings. And the lower stream passages that make up most of the cave.
The waterfall climb leads to a second waterfall that is much easier to climb and to an upstream passage called the Schreiber Extension that has yet to be fully explored.
Challenging passages
From the main entrance hall there are many ways to go further into the cave and at the beginning of each of these passages you will have a challenge. The pancake squeeze on the way to the waterfall, some hard squeezes or climbs, depending on which route you choose, to get to the Volcano Room. Each route from the main room is like a cave of its own. If you like mazes, try The Labyrinth on the lower southeast level of Pettyjohn. If you are looking for a true adventure, explore the far northwest section called The Outer Limits. And for some good technical climbing, explore the rooms above the Double Echo domes.
Waterfalls
If you like underground waterfalls, you will love Pettyjohn Cave. There are two good sized waterfalls on the way to the Schreiber Extension. A noisy waterfall about 4 feet high beyond the Chute and on the way to the outer limits. And another that you have to climb to enter the Labyrinth.
Training
The formations are scattered throughout the cave. The Entrance Hall contains the largest in the cave. It is worth seeing the signature room and the passage to it through the formations. And there is a beautiful training room just before you get to the Volcano Room. Other pleasant formations will surprise you along the routes to the many sections of the cave.
Fascinating passages
The worm tube is a 150 foot long drag that is very narrow and leads to the echo room and beyond. Z-Bends are an interesting alternative to the Pancake Squeeze when you go to the waterfall or the Racoon Room. There is a downward sloping grip that is a real challenge to get back up when visiting the East Stream and Crowell Domes passage. The little hole that runs from the bridge room to the Mason-Dixon passage is clean. And the creek canyon passage on the way to the waterfall is fun.
Extreme places
The extreme places are for cavers who like fourteen hour rides and want to be pushed to the limit. Pettyjohn Cave offers four of those areas. The Labyrinth, which I have only visited at the beginning.
The Discovery Room above the Emerald Pool, where you have to use the old existing rope or do some tough technical climbing. An extension pole was first used to reach this area. And I understand that there is much to discover beyond the Emerald Pool.
The Outer Limits, which I’m not even sure what level you hit. I have explored the creek pass to narrow mud grips that eventually set me back and high dry passages that might as well be the trail. It was ten-hour trips and he still hadn’t found the Outer Limits. I ran into Richard Schreiber once when he was coming out of the cave and he was excited to get back under the mountain and I think he was referring to the Outer Limits. I have a copy of most of your survey notes, but I think I am missing one that describes how to get there.
The Schreiber Extension is a long creek passage with many paths and climbing spots along the way. The end is a low current passage that has been excavated and pushed into a second low room blocked by another low current entrainment. This passage continues around the edge of the mountain and takes in water along the mountainside. The cave is even lower than the valley but below the edge of the mountain.
Possibilities for new discoveries
The most promising area that I think could be developed is the East. There are many sinkholes along the mountain to the east of the entrance and Crowell Domes is the easternmost part of the cave, with the exception of the Labyrinth and the Screech Owl Cave. There’s a possible echo room track I’d like to push one day, but it would require some rock removal. There is also a large sink at the top of the mountain to the east of Pettyjohn that I believe the water has been traced to the sink below the entry room in Pettyjohn. Pettyjohn provides drainage for most of this side of Pigeon Mountain all the way to Ellison Cave, which drains the north end of the mountain. Recent discoveries have been made in the Schreiber extension, the discovery room, and the anamatosis room. I have 36,117 feet of level survey plotted, almost seven miles (6,935 miles), and a total survey length of 7,127 miles.
Good mud
Pettyjohn Cave is known for its mud. There are some places where you will lose your shoes in the sticky stuff. Crawling down paths you simply slide into the mud with two knee grooves from all the traffic. I have seen the lower level flood with the water receding from the creek canyon passage, which is narrow and can restrict the flow of water. Always check the weather forecast before going to the main waterfall. You can read about cavers getting lost in the waterfall area for days and exploring parts of the cave by clicking on the pictures inside the cave by visiting my website. I also have other links to stories about Pettyjohn on the main page.
