This page created December 2009. Pictures made in 1996.

I refer to this cave as Taylor's Cave, which is not far from Somerset. I don't know if it has a name. Mr. Taylor passed away a few years ago. Back in 1996 when he told me about it, he didn't mention a name. He told me that some time previously a group of people made a study of this cave, and it was they who had the bars and gate installed across the opening. Some of their derelict lighting remains are still in there--not much, just some wires mostly.

I won't say where this cave is. It was already damaged when I first went in there.

I found where several small stalactites had been broken off, and I don't think it was natural. Next to the path between the two main rooms, we found a plastic shopping bag with a stalactite inside. Someone intended to take it out, but left it for some reason. Nice formations were not found everywhere, in the various caves we entered. We saw plenty of cave passages that had few if any formations. We saw a fair amount of little stuff, but two-foot stalactites, columns, etc. and nice looking flowstone were not plentiful. It is a shame that some people want to break off souvenirs and take them home. Cameras are made for collecting souvenirs--pictures.

This photo was made in the second room. It looks to me like fresh breaks on that formation, fresh when this picture was made in 96. There were others. This cave is exceptional, based on what little I saw in this area. The first room mainly, has a lot of nice stuff.

There could be more to this cave, and probably is. All I saw was two large rooms connected by a short, small, walkable tunnnel. I did see a small, stoop level tunnel (somewhat), but it was filled in with dirt. Somebody had attempted to dig a way through it, but didn't finish. No telling what it goes to.

This photo shows the lead-in from the entrance to the first big room.

High above the floor of this entry section I saw this group of formations, unlike anything I had seen in the Somerset area. It reminded me of Carlsbad--pictures I had seen. This is small compared to Carlsbad, but the look of this cluster hinted at it. If it was at head level, I wouldn't have been surprised to see names painted on it, or under it. I found a drapery in one cave with words on it.

It is just a short distance from the entrance to the begining of the first room. The floor slopes upward considerably. I was amazed to find more formations. Sometimes you find a lot in a small area. This scene is sort of like looking down a throat. That opening at the back is a small space that houses a pool of water, with various little formations.

This is the same area, different perspective. This shot shows the formations on the right wall.

This is a closer view of the big mound out in the middle area.

This is a close-up of some of the drapery on the right wall.

This the connector tunnel between the two main rooms. Visible is a light box and some wiring. In the center, on the floor, is one of my flashes on a mini tripod.

This tunnel is short, maybe 50 feet. It opens up more on the back end. The path then curves left and down. There is a drop-off there, maybe 15 feet, maybe more. The first time that David, my caving partner, and I went, I headed down first. David slipped and fell, and started sliding toward the drop-off. I wanted to try to stop him; wasn't sure if I could, without getting dragged over myself. Before he got to me, he grabbed something and stopped himself. We were both relived. He wore sneakers in caves. They don't have much tread. Another thing to consider.

This photo was made from the drop-off I just mentioned. I had my camera set up on a tripod. You can see two figures in the picture. Both are myself. You can see a bit of light trail made by a small flashlight as I was walking from one location to another. The camera shutter was open the whole time. I stopped at one place and fired the flash a time or two, then moved to another spot, and repeated the procedure. That is one way to light up a large space. It is better to have at least two people in different positions, and each one fires his flash a number of times, depending on the size of the space. No light trail that way.

This image is facing the back of the second room. At the back, the floor slopes upward. I'm not sure, but I think up there is where the tunnel with all the dirt is.

There are many small projections hanging down from the ceiling in various places.

Notice the ledge on the right. Part of that ledge is maybe 10 feet above the floow. One time, back in 96, I went back in there by myself to try to get a few better pictures. Nobody knew. It isn't a complicated cave, and the only risky part was going down to the back room. I didn't intend to go there. I just wanted some more pictures of the formations in the first room. That time, I got up on this ledge. I was walking along, towards the back, holding my left hand right above some rock about waist high, in case I slipped and needed to grab something. I slipped, and automatically grabbed some rock, but the rock broke off, and I fell down on the ledge, just a couple feet from the edge. That could have been a disaster. This is a warning to people new at caving not to take anything lightly. Anything can happen, and some times will. I usually didn't go alone. It is a cardinal rule not to. But I thought it would be ok just to go in that particular place, a short way from the entrance, and get a few more pictures. I almost fell 10 ft or so, and could have broken a hip or something, and nobody knew I was in there. It is best to be careful, and think about what you are doing, and operate by basic safety rules. It just baffles me that some people will go in a cave and drink beer while they are moving around. That is really asking for trouble. I suspect it is mostly by young people, and they feel invincible.

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