Hello 5275761566-ga,
This was a wonderful search project since it led me to some wonderful
camping areas in an out of the way corner of California. The Bigfoot
Cave is fairly obscure so finding it took a circuitous route and even
so I cannot pinpoint it for you. However, I can give you explicit
directions on how you can do this for yourself.
The Bigfoot Cave is the 9th deepest cave in the US. It is located in
the Marble Mountain Wilderness which is part of the Klamath National
Forest. The headquarters are in Yreka, California.
I?ve found several links from people who have visited the Bigfoot Cave
and they all caution about how and where to access them. One option is
to contact the US Forest Service office. A better option that one of
the spelunkers recommends is that you contact one of the Grottos of
the National Speleological Society to get full and up-to-date
information. I?ve included the contact information for the NSS.
The Marble Mountain Wilderness is a beautiful and remote area that
offers a lot to outdoor adventurers. Many of the reviews about it
recommend getting local maps to make your visit easier. I?ve found
lots of sources, included sources for topo maps and I?ve listed these
so you can choose whichever seems most suitable for your planned trip.
Visiting the Bigfoot Cave sounds like a wonderful adventure. I trust
that the information I?ve found will provide you with everything you
need.
All the best.
~ czh ~
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BIGFOOT CAVE
============
http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/13007,-1.php
caves in Marble Mountains
"The National Speleological Society's Portland Grotto has mapped over
80 caves within the Marble Rim, all containing stalactites and other
flowstone formations. The biggest, Bigfoot Cave, is larger than the
cave at Oregon Caves national Monument. It was only discovered in
1976.
Most cave openings are marked by vertical drops and are very
dangerous. Also, dripstone formations inside are extremely fragile and
take hundreds of thousands of years to form. The Forest Service and
Speleological Society ask that only serious cavers visit these sites.
For information, contact the NSP's Portland Grotto, Mount Shasta
Grotto or a Yreka Group called the Klamath Mountains Conservation Task
Force."
Hope that helps..."
Alpine
10:04:03 AM
02/21/02
***** You can click on Alpine?s name and send them an e-mail to ask
for additional information.
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http://www.caves.org/io/iolookup.php?state=CA
The National Speleological Society
Grottos In Or Near California
***** The contact information for the Grotto?s recommended by Alpine are here.
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http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/13007,-1.php
caves in Marble Mountains
"Big Foot cave is a beautiful system, however, as most have said it is
extremely dangerous if you aren?t an experienced caver, even then it
poses risks many are not ready to take. Almost all the entrances are
drops ( we ran out over 400' of rope on our trip just getting in) and
require advanced skills in repelling and ascending, also the cave is
so huge that it is very easy to get lost inside.
There are lots of places in Northern CA that offer great underground
experiences for the amateur, or for those wanting to improve there
skills. The Lava Beds National Monument has an extensive system open
to the general public, plus enough wild caves to keep most folks
occupied for months. If you are interested in in seeing some pictures
I took in Big Foot, you can go here....Caving album"
mtnsteve
10:15:22 AM
02/22/02
***** You can contact mtnsteve for additional information.
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http://community.webshots.com/album/31751469OuXyPpmltd
Caving -- Caving in and around Northern CA.
***** The caving album is at this link.
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http://www.epinions.com/content_180965379716
Marble Mountain Wilderness
The Marbles are located in south western Siskiyou County. There is
several ways to get to the marbles and several trailheads. The best
way to get to the Marble Mountains is to come through Yreka California
on Interstate 5. You take highway 3 and head south towards Etna. Here
you can get into the Marble trailheads through the Salmon River,
Quartz Valley or Callahan. I would definitely suggest getting a map if
you are going to venture into the Marble Mountains.
***** Be sure to read the whole comment from this reviewer. They
provide excellent first-hand information about the Marble Mountain
Wilderness.
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http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Rapids/8017/marblemountains.html
Welcome to The Marble Mountains
The Marble Mountains
For an ultimate wilderness experience in the lower-48, the magnificent
Marble Mountain Wilderness of my early boyhood jaunts is the place to
be....even in our ever-changing world of today.
The Caves
There are numerous caves within this wilderness area. As ground water
percolates through the marble, it washes the rock's calcium carbonate
into solution and carries it away, leaving a sinuous system of
underground caverns and tunnels. I have located several in my search
for ore and placer deposits.
There are two cave organizations that are presently mapping this
underground system for the last several years with new technology as
it become available. It has been relayed to me that over 33 miles of
caves have been recorded to date. Some, due to the tilt of the marble
layer, descend over 1250 vertical feet from the cave openings. It has
been documented that skeletons of elk, timber wolves, and big horn
sheep have been found within these "Death Traps".
I have had the opportunity to have accessed a small number of smaller
caves with certified professionals. Even though I have a working
knowledge of "caving" I would under no circumstances attempt such an
undertaking on my own and/or without professional instruction and/or
without the immediate presence of on site professionals. One small
mistake, and it is almost certainly a wilderness trip without a
pleasant ending.
If indeed one is interested in caving, there are several well known
organizations and schools that are available. I believe the Humboldt
State University (Arcata, California) on occasion offers an extra
curricular course on basic caving. The U.S.F.S. pretty much
discourages caving but will make available current caving information
if one is persistent.
The proper contact might be:
United States Forest Service
-Supervisors Office-
Klamath National Forest
1312 Farlane Road
Yreka, California 96097
(916) 842-6131
Hours: 8:00a.m. to 4:30p.m.
Monday thru Friday
note: Do not be intimidated by U.S.F.S peronnel. Remember they are
serving basically at the will of the American public as custodians of
our valued natural resources. In previous years, I had the honor of
working for the U.S.F.S. in a supervisory capacity and have viewed how
some custodians become "tainted" in their duties and attitudes toward
the general public while attempting to implement their own rules of
wilderness land usage.
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http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/25528,-1.php
?Bigfoot Cave, Marble Mountains 29th through the 1st, Aug/Sept
Big caving grotto get together, 5 grottos, Oregon and CA.
Hiked in at night, mules hauled gear in day before.
Much partying, caving and more partying.
Day trip to Sky High Lakes, great loop
No mules when we leave, we are the mules...hauled out 90+ lb.
Note to self: take smaller pack next time.
Map
http://community.webshots.com/photo/18786349/90428642qSXcSR#
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http://speleonet.typepad.com/speleonet/2005/01/
Random Images
... the Discovery entrance to Bigfoot Cave System, Marble Mountains,
Northern California, USA, photo by Kathy Shultz.
http://www.caves.org/grotto/cccc/Images/Gallery/cal_2.jpg
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http://www.nss2003.com/cavetrips/prepost/marbles.html
-- People will assemble in Marble Valley in the Marble Mountains
Wilderness at noon on August 9.
-- More than 20 miles of cave in several significant systems
(including Bigfoot Cave) in a spectacular alpine valley.
***** The phone number of this trip leader is included on the web site
link. You could call him to get some personal recommendations.
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http://www.uppercumberlandcaving.net/facts.html
The Top Ten Deepest and Longest Caves in the U.S.
Deepest in the U.S.:
1. Kazumura - Olaa Cave System (Lava Tube), Hawaii, 3614 ft.
2. Umi'i Manu System (Lava Tube), Hawaii, 1869 ft.
3. Huehue Cave (Lava Tube), Hawaii, 1623 ft.
4. Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico, 1594 ft.
5. Columbine Crawl, Wyoming, 1551 ft.
6. Emesine Cave (1881 System) (Lava Tube) Hawaii, 1433 ft.
7. Great EX(pectations) Cave, Wyoming, 1408 ft.
8. Omega System, Virginia, 1260 ft.
9. Bigfoot Cave, California, 1205 ft.
10. Neffs Canyon Cave, Utah, 1165 ft.
==========================
MARBLE MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS
==========================
http://www.garytrinity.net/off-trail.html
Marble Mountain Wilderness, California
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http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=41.56694&lon=-123.19556
UTM 10 483598E 4601698N (WGS84/NAD83)
USGS MARBLE MOUNTAIN Quad
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http://www.thecampingguide.com/articles/outdoors/Marble-Mountains-CA.asp
Marble Mountain Wilderness Area
Numerous trailheads and access trails, as well as the Pacific Crest
Trail, lead to the magnificant white marble, lakes and wildflower
meadows alpine basins in Marble Mountain Wilderness. This 250,000 acre
region was one of California's first designated wilderness areas. You
can be completely alone in rarely visited Tichner Hole, or join the
"crowds" (perhaps a dozen or so on a busy weekend) camping at popular
Sky High Valley in the geologically diverse Scott River District of
the wilderness area. Visit the Ukonom District location of Sugarloaf
Mountain, which is considered to be the center of the earth by the
Karuk Indian Tribe. Hike or horseback ride through thick forests to
subalpine glacier basin lakes in the Happy Camp District at the
northwest corner. Bring your fishing pole; 89 lakes are stocked with
trout! Contact the Klamath National Forest at 530-842-6131 for trail
maps and a campfire permit. No wilderness permit is required.
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http://www.thebackpacker.com/pictures/album/muc7mh8p,1.php
Marble Mountain Wilderness
=======================
KLAMATH NATIONAL FOREST
=======================
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath/about/
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath/maps/
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath/contact/
Klamath National Forest
The Klamath National Forest covers an area of 1,700,000 acres located
in Siskiyou County, Northern California and Jackson County, Oregon.
The forest comprises some five wilderness areas, Marble Mountain,
Russian Wilderness Area, Trinity Alps, Red Buttes Wilderness Area and
Siskiyou Wilderness Area.
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.stateparks.com/klamath__supervisor_headquarters.html
Klamath National Forest Supervisor Headquarters
***** See maps and contact information.
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http://www.totalescape.net/cgi-bin/miva?Merchant2/merchant.mv+Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TE&Product_Code=map_klam&Category_Code=NFS
Klamath National Forest Map
======================
BOOK AND MAP RESOURCES
======================
http://www.shastacascade.org/siskiyou/siptg.htm
Siskiyou County Map
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http://www.mytopo.com/index.cfm
Custom Topo Maps
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http://sorrel.humboldt.edu/~geodept/students/THESES.HTM
Barnes, Michael D.
Geology and Minerology of Bigfoot Cave, Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Calif.
1981
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.wildernesspress.com/book186.htm
Marble Mountain Wilderness Topographic Map
This map covers the entire Marble Mountain Wilderness in far northern
California. (Scale 1:62,500)
Companion map to Marble Mountain Wilderness.
http://nt1.adventuresports.com/pub/wildernesspress/book107.htm
Marble Mountain Wilderness
DAVID GREEN & GREG INGOLD
Hike to deep stream-cut valleys, broad glacial basins, peaceful
old-growth forests, and breath-taking ridgecrest panoramas in Marble
Mountain Wilderness in far northern California.
This book covers all the maintained trails in the wilderness with
directions on how to get to the trailhead, and a trail description.
Includes a four-color topographic map of the region at the scale of
1:63,360.
Topographic Map also available separately.
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http://store.usgs.gov/
U.S. Geological Survey
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SEARCH STRATEGY
===============
"bigfoot cave" trinity alps
marble mountain wilderness map
marble mountain wilderness caves
Klamath National Forest |
