Norman Cave
There's a lot to say about this cave. I was impressed. The directions were a bit hard to follow for two reasons: the provided distances were quite off of the actual mileage and we came from the west instead of the south where the directions started us.
From Summersville, it took about 2.5 hours to drive there the way we went. Most of the group, except for the sunflower-seed-eating Kingsley, slept while I drove. We finally got there and entered the cave at 5:01 PM. We had no idea what was inside.
 |
Once you get into the main entrance of Norman Cave, it's a
huge cavern of big rocks and a downhill climb. About a quarter of
the way down is this column on the right side of the cave. There are
a few passages behind and down below this spot but it was easier to go to
the left side and down further. That's where we found two water
falls. I'm convinced that there is at least another behind/below
this formation.
This is from left to right, Lesley, Chad, Kingsley and Sue. |
 |
Same formation but I'm in this picture. |
 |
There has to be a camera with a better flash available!!! |
 |
This was found toward the back/bottom left of the large cavern. |
 |
This is a better picture of that same formation of flowstone. |
 |
What are you thinking this is? I took a picture of it because of the texture and after getting the pictures developed, realized that on a larger scale, it doesn't have the same appeal. It's actually about 15 inches in diameter and was horizontal on the floor but that orientation wouldn't make you look twice now would it? |
 |
This is a shot of the floor of the cave near the big
waterfall. It was interesting that this sort of smooth, circular
patterns existed on the majority of the walls and floors in this area. I don't know who's back, butt and foot that is in the lower right since none of us were wearing red......As it turns out, that red material is my rope throw bag being carried by Sue. |
 |
Another example. This is even more unusual as the angle of photography was taken while laying on the floor shooting upward. These holes are almost round but the one in the upper left of the photo does not continue it's cylindrical shape to the very top of the rock... as if it was cut out from the bottom. |
 |
This is a picture from the top of the large waterfall looking straight down about 25 feet on the right. |
 |
This is the 25 footer..... It's sad that the flash on these camera's is not better. |
 |
I think this picture makes it look like spirits are coming out of Lesley's head. Anyway, she is walking through about 2.5 feet of water. You can barely see Sue just to the left of her. Sue is just stepping into the cool water. |
 |
Now they are about 10 feet closer than they were in the previous picture. Lesley has stepped up out of the water and doesn't want to get any wetter. |
 |
Chad and Lesley wait for me to catch up after I explored a side passage. |
 |
On our way back upstream above the 25 foot waterfall, we found this 2 foot waterfall. |
 |
Opps, sorry. I probably should have warned you that there was pornography on this page. Here are two bats propagating. |
Overall, I found that even though we saw about 8% of this cave, it is really impressive. There's lots of adventure and water! Harry Sowers was telling me that there are some rooms so big that we will have to spread out left and right so that we know which way to go. I have not yet seen a room that big and am really looking forward to it. I hear there is over 13 miles of passage in this cave. We have seen so little of it so far and were impressed. Frank, Dale and John (from the York Grotto - of which I am a member) were kind enough to give me some more information about which ways to go next time. Most of the passages are walking tunnels and huge rooms - Frank said one is about 500 feet long. Yeah baby!
Want to see more of this cave? I did and went back... Click here