Question about Tumbling Rock

[MDiver429]

Going back to Tumbling Rock in two weeks, last time we were there we made it to where the Suicide Crawl passage should be but couldn't find it. We instead ended up in a breakdown room with lots of graffiti. I think it said "Mary can prevent Forrest fires" on the wall along with a bunch of arrows pointing that down was out (you kind of came up thru a manhole to get into this room) We scowered that room forever trying to find the suicide passage and couldn't. We think we shouldn't have gone up in that room at all. Any suggestions or help in finding it?
Thanks!

[trogman]

First, you should have gone down to the right (looking into the cave) out of the Christmas Tree Room. From there you would go through a sand crawl about 75" long, and then this opens up into walking passage for a couple of hundred feet or so. Then follow the elephant tracks up and to the left. This is where the 2nd crawling portion begins, which goes through a breakdown area. This crawl has one intermission room, which is ~6' long, where you can stand up for a moment. Then you go through the rest of the crawl till you come into another open room; you will come into this room high and work your way down to the stream level. (The room is maybe 70' long.) When you get to the end, there is what looks like a dead end wall/rock. Here you can either go through a small tight crawl on one side of this rock, or you can climb up to the top of the rock. Either way you go will take you to the same place. This is the last crawl in the Suicide Passage series. Halfway through this breakdown crawl, there is a zigzag. At the end of this, you will emerge into a large room which is the beginning of Allen’s Alley.
I don't recall ever seeing the graffiti you described. The only one that I remember is on the way out going back into the 2nd crawl, there is one that says "Danger, 15 MPH," and another further on that says "Resume Safe Speed."
I hope this helps.

Trogman

[MDiver429]

Wow that helps a lot! Thank you! We made it thru the sand crawl area. We went thru the walking passage for a few hundred fee. That is where we got lost. I know that graffiti we saw was old too because it was dated in the late 60's or 70's. I talked to the property manager he said he had heard about that graffiti but hadn't seen it himself. So somewhere in that area where you walk after the sand crawl is where we made a wrong turn. We'll be going back on the 18th so i'll let you know if we make it thru!

[trogman]

It is easy to get lost and turned around in that breakdown in the Suicide Passage area. You aren't the first one, believe me! It shouldn't be too hard to locate that 2nd crawl, though. Just take the climbup on the left side of the passage, and it will soon become evident that several hundred thousand others have come this way before.

One other note- the last crawl just before you pop up into Allen's Alley also becomes a sand crawl just before the end.

You could just skip all of that and go by way of the infamous Blue Crawl! Every caver should do it at least once.

Trogman

[MDiver429]

In your honest opinion how big of a person can fit thru the blue crawl? The caves in florida where I live are all pretty small. Like the initial sand crawl I thought was nothing compared to some of the squeezes out this way. I'm sure all caves have their tight squeezes though.

[MDiver429]

The blue crawl is up the mud bank behind the christmas tree right?

[UnderGroundEarth]

The only one that I remember is on the way out going back into the 2nd crawl, there is one that says "Danger, 15 MPH," and another further on that says "Resume Safe Speed."
I hope this helps.

Trogman

The asphalt ooze and the pillar of fire are must sees too! You'll see some video of the suicide crawl in my video below, starting around 2-1/2 minutes...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCaPB6Rr ... ature=plcp

[trogman]

The only one that I remember is on the way out going back into the 2nd crawl, there is one that says "Danger, 15 MPH," and another further on that says "Resume Safe Speed."
I hope this helps.

Trogman

The asphalt ooze and the pillar of fire are must sees too! You'll see some video of the suicide crawl in my video below, starting around 2-1/2 minutes...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCaPB6Rr ... ature=plcp

Yes, Kelly-that is the one I was talking about. While I don't condone grafitti in caves, I always got a kick out of that one.

As far as the Blue Crawl goes, it is hard to say how big of a person will fit. MAYBE a size 14-16 woman, and roughly the same size for a man. It is up the steep rubble hill from the Christmas tree room. At the top of the hill, take a right and look at the base of the wall for a very small hole. This is a VERY tight squeeze known as Johnston's Junction. After this you will pop out into a large breakdown room called the Emperor's Room. If you can get through this squeeze, then the Blue Crawl should be no trouble for you. The Blue Crawl itself is on the opposite end of the Emperor's Room, up the wall about 15' or so. On the other end of the Blue Crawl is a drop of ~15' that is best done with a handline. From here, just go downhill through the breakdown and you will come out in Allen's Alley just above where Suicide Passage comes in.

Trogman

[BrianFrank]

How tight is the Blue Crawl? The property manager told me that in the 80's someone got stuck and they had to pull him backwards by his feet. I understand that it scratched him up. My son did the Blue Crawl in November. He is 5' 10" and weighs 160, fairly skinny. He told me that it was very tight and he was pressed from both his back and stomach getting through it. He also told me that the hole to the Blue Crawl at the end of the Emperor's Room was a scary climb that freaked him out a little bit. My son keeps reminding me that I COULD NEVER fit through it.

[MDiver429]

im always willing to try lol if i dont fit or it gets to tough i try back out but it makes me wonder if you can back out if that guy had to be pulled out!

[mgmills]

How tight is the Blue Crawl? The property manager told me that in the 80's someone got stuck and they had to pull him backwards by his feet. I understand that it scratched him up. My son did the Blue Crawl in November. He is 5' 10" and weighs 160, fairly skinny. He told me that it was very tight and he was pressed from both his back and stomach getting through it. He also told me that the hole to the Blue Crawl at the end of the Emperor's Room was a scary climb that freaked him out a little bit. My son keeps reminding me that I COULD NEVER fit through it.

I don't remember it being that tight . . . I probably weighed about 140 when I went through though and wore a women's size 10/12 (men's medium pants) at the time. You did have to crawl on your side. I remember one spot in the middle where I could lie on my stomach to rest. There were some good sized people on our trip. I thought the contorting needed to get through "johnsons junction" was tighter than the crawl. You have to go through it to get to the crawl.

As for the climbdown, I don't remember it being that scary and we did not use a handline (note: I hate exposure when not on rope). . . in fact I helped to find the route down as the trip leader who was the only one who had been there before was at the beginning of the crawl helping people get in. We did use a handline to do the climb up to the entrance to the crawlway .

For men, tight spots are usually limited by chest measurement (because fat squishes and bone doesn't). How does that compare to your son?

[BrianFrank]

For men, tight spots are usually limited by chest measurement (because fat squishes and bone doesn't). How does that compare to your son?

Yes it was his chest that is the limiting factor.

[MDiver429]

Made it to Pillar of Fire this weekend! Found the suicide crawl no problem and made it thru!! Also saw the asphalt ooze.

[trogman]

Way to go! The Pillar of Fire is quite a sight. Glad you made it; every caver should see it at least once.

Trogman

[MDiver429]

Thanks for all your help! :) we were able to go in there feeling confident that we could find our way after your advice :) checked out rustys and signal light to they were awesome!