The Underworld of Oregon Caves National Monument

by ROGER J. CONTOR
Published by Crater Lake Natural History Association
Produced in cooperation with the National Park Service
Copyright 1963 by Crater Lake Natural History Association Printed in U.S.A.
© CRAFT PRINTERS, INC 1205 Klamath Avenue Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601
Roger J. Contor attended the University of Idaho and Montana State College, concentrating in the fields of zoology, botany, forestry, and big game management. His association with the National Park Service began as a seasonal employee in 1949 in Yellowstone where he served intermittently in various capacities into 1955. Later that year, he joined the permanent staff of the National Park Service as a park ranger, serving in Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, and Bryce Canyon National Parks.
In 1960, Mr. Contor became management assistant for Oregon Caves National Monument, where he remained until early 1962. He then returned to Rocky Mountain National Park, also as a management assistant. He is a member of The Wildlife Society and Phi Beta Kappa and has authored wildlife articles for National Parks Magazine , Field and Stream , Outdoor Life , Wyoming Wildlife and Denver Post .
CAVE TOUR
ENTRANCE TREE ROOT RIVER STYX BRIDGE WHALE DRY ROOM WIGWAM 110 ft. EXIT BANANA ROOM NIAGARA KINGS PALACE GRAND COLUMN CHAPEL RIMSTONE PARADISE LOST GHOST ROOM EXIT TUNNEL
Paradise Lost
Three tired men unsaddled their horses where the mountain stream disappeared into the ground. They had fought their way 15 miles over wild, rugged mountains since leaving Williams Valley at dawn. Yet rest was far from their minds. Hurriedly they stuck tallow candles into lanterns made from tin cans, untied a lariat from a saddle, then walked down the valley. They stopped where the stream, now larger, reappeared from a shadowy crevice under a cliff.
“This must be it,” said one of them eagerly, “just like Davidson said.” And with mixed feelings of excitement, fear, and the overwhelming grip of adventure, they followed flickering candlelight into the dark opening. Tales of persons lost for days in other caves were fresh in their minds, so they uncoiled a ball of string as they went. Later they could follow it back out.