The Gorge Series.
“As stated above, the exit of Cougar creek from Mill bridge takes place at the bottom of a narrow crack, or gorge, running at right angles to the general direction of the stream. The Gorge is 300 feet in length, about 50 feet wide, and is spanned by two natural rock bridges. The sides are composed of badly shattered limestone. On emerging from its subterranean course beneath Mill bridge, the creek flows through the Gorge 80 feet below the floor of the valley. At the lower or north end is the opening that leads to the largest and most interesting of the series of passageways forming the Nakimu Caves. The Gorge forms a very striking feature of the external scenery, and several places are accessible from which views may be had into its depths that are wild and impressive in the extreme. The opening is a dome-shaped break in the wall forming the north end. Into this the stream tumbles with wild fury over a confusion of huge fragments of rock piled up in the passageway. It creates leaps and falls and a dissemination of spray that makes the opening to the outer world, as seen from below, appear through a luminous mist. The aperture is some thirty feet wide and about the same height.
View from Road—Mt. Avalanche, Eagle Peak, Mt. Sir Donald.
“Proceeding downwards, at the foot of the falls, the channel resumes its normal direction of a little south of east. It is necessary here to cross the stream, which swings northward into lower depths, and from now on the passageways are quite free from wet, though somewhat damp from the moistness of the Atmosphere. At the turn of the Creek’s direction you enter a chamber 150 feet long, 25 feet wide and from 10 feet high at the upper end to 30 feet at the lower end. This chamber is dimly illuminated by the daylight from outside. It is in a bad state of ruin, and the floor is heaped with debris thrown from the ceiling and sides. The roof is composed of one immense slab of rock sloping with the dip of the strata. The creek has broken through the northeast wall nearly in the middle of the chamber and disappears into the blackness with a dull reverberating roar. Fifty feet beyond the creek, the passage turns north again and it is necessary to descend a rock face of some 12 feet. On it are natural notches or footholds that would seem as though they had been cut with a cold-chisel for the special purpose; for persons unaccustomed to climbing, it is well to use a rope to steady the descent at this spot. The creek is now heard far down, welling through some rock-cut with a dull, intermittent pounding, resembling the blows of an immense sledge-hammer. Forty feet to the right, through a low roofed passage about 2 feet high, you creep into the ‘Dropping Cave.’ It is about 30 by 40 feet and 6 to 10 feet high, and so named from the fact that water drops from the roof in all directions. The floor is composed of broken rock fragments, and the walls and ceilings of dark blue limestone marked in places by irregular streaks of white crystalline calcite. At the eastern end, a very narrow passage between fallen masses of rock, affording barely room to squeeze through, leads to ‘The Witches Ball-room.’ It is 1½ to 2 feet wide, 3 to 4 feet high and some 20 feet in length.
“The Ball-room is roughly triangular in shape with sides of about 60 feet, and an estimated height of 50 feet. The largest portion of the space is occupied by an enormous rock that has fallen from the roof. This rock has a generally level surface, and is just the spot where a group of witch-hags might be expected to caper round the ghastly fumes of some hellish cauldron at a Sabbath meeting; hence the name, in sympathy with the ill-omened and weird surroundings. On all sides, except that of the passage, are deep cracks partly choked up by fallen blocks but still exposing many deep and pitch-black holes leading to the unknown, where the underground stream is heard roaring dully. By one of these, at the northeast corner of the chamber, W. S. Ayres and C. H. Deutschman penetrated to ‘The Terror’ and ‘The Old Mill,’ the former 60 odd feet below the Ball-room. Their explorations in this quarter are shown on the accompanying [map], in red, and a description of them will be found in Mr. Ayres’ supplementary report. Many of the fallen blocks show crystalline calcite markings similar to those found in the Dropping Cave.
“Leaving the Ball-room the passage leads southeasterly for a distance of 125 feet to where there is a parting of the ways. The upper end is a vaulted chamber, 15 to 20 feet wide and about 20 feet high, a crack on the left, leading to the depths below, has been partly filled by fallen rock debris. The broken blocks of which the floor is composed show crystallized dark blue limestone, veined with white ribbons of calcite. For the lower portion, the passage lies between separated limestone strata from 3 to 7 feet apart; the floor, of broken boulders and slabs is very irregular. Both roof and floor are water-worn and show erosion markings. They descend until they meet 20 to 30 feet below. The subterranean stream is heard with a muffled roar on the left. On the right, three passages, met at intervals, lead to two circular funnel-like chambers, the more distant of which has been named ‘The Pit.’
“It is now necessary to return to the surface and seek ingress to the caves by means of Entrance No. 3, not far from the Gorge on the eastern side. Entrance No. 3 is close by Lookout point and is the first accessible opening seen on the journey up the valley. A descent is made some 10 or 12 feet by a rough ladder, placed by Deutschman, to a small cavern where there is just room for three persons to crouch. Off this, a very narrow slit, through which it is barely possible to squeeze, opens to a narrow chute. Down this chute, by means of a rope placed around the body, a descent can be made some 20 feet, to the brink of space. From the final ledge a stone will drop a long way before it strikes. The total distance from the opening to the brink of the Pit is 60 feet.
“When surveying the Gorge series, the writer discovered a very peculiar passage, shown on the [map] as the ‘Marbleway.’ It was of a perfectly eroded structure, composed of a number of small connected potholes in a dark bluish-grey limestone, shot in every direction by ribbon streaks of white crystalline calcite. The walls were dripping with moisture and rendered the limestone dead black and the veins of calcite vivid white, the whole resembling a rich glistening marble. This passage was followed to the larger one shown on the [map], and that in turn to the circular chamber named ‘The Pit.’ It seemed probable that this was the spot where stones, dropped from the ledge attained by Entrance No. 3, first struck, so Deutschman was sent to reconnoitre and, not long afterwards, his face could be seen near the extreme apex of the roof peering down through the dim halo of his tallow dip. A stone tied to a cord and subsequently measured showed the drop to the floor of the Pit to be 120 feet.
“The chamber is about 20 feet in diameter and rises like a gigantic funnel to something over the height named. The walls are similar to those of the Marbleway, and some of the effects are very peculiar, reminding the beholder of forked lightning on a dead black background. At the bottom of the Pit was seen a very queer slab of rock, shaped almost perfectly like a monumental tombstone, and having directly in its centre, as though carved by hand, a cross (+). The descent from the floor of the Pit to the main passage, although slightly precipitous in one or two places, is quite easy, the distance being 120 and 130 feet by the main way and Marbleway, respectively. The walls of the Pit funnel are water-worn and, at one time, a stream flowed into it by Entrance No. 3, doubtless being the cause of the formation of the chamber. The stream, which now only carries off the surplus flow from the melting snows, has found another subterranean opening and joins Cougar creek in its underground way, somewhere beyond the Ball-room.
“At the meeting of the ways above referred to, the lower or eastern one is named ‘The Slanting Way’ from the fact that the passage is formed by a separation of the limestone strata, and lies across their dip. The upper passage has an arched roof and has been named ‘The Subway.’ Both are difficult to traverse: the former on account of the broken debris and sloping rock of which the floors are formed, and of two uncomfortably narrow places which can be squeezed through with difficulty; the latter on account of the close proximity of floor and ceiling and the necessity of bending nearly double for a considerable part of the distance while traversing it. The lower passage is the easier of the two. The strata forming the Slanting Way are from five to ten feet apart. The slabs of both roof and floor are water-worn and bear spatulated erosion marks, like incipient honey-combing. On the east, or left side, as you advance, are deep cracks in the strata, at the bottom of whose depths Cougar creek may be heard echoing loudly through the vaulted ways. Stones dropped into these seem to rebound for a long time before resting. About the centre of the Slanting Way the cracks in the strata expand and a descent may be made to the bed of Cougar creek below the Turbine. The Turbine is reached by a rather difficult passage requiring some skill in climbing. The end of the passage is an irregular opening in the rock. Across a chasm, at whose bottom flows the main stream, a number of water-spouts rush out with great force and a noise resembling that produced by water falling into the pit of a turbine. For an account of this section see Ayres’ report. Near the south end of the Slanting Way is a curious pothole on the left-hand side. Directly beyond it the floor and walls are covered by an incrustation of carbonate of lime, varying in thickness from 2 to 6 inches. It is of a light creamy colour, shading off in some places to a delicate salmon. The formation has a florescent appearance and resembles, mostly, cauliflower heads set closely together, a simile derived from W. S. Ayres’ report. Owing to the beautiful floral decorations, this particular spot has been named ‘The Art Gallery.’
“Similar decorations are found throughout the Caves, though not so extensively as at this and a few other places. At some, there is only a thin veneer of the carbonate formation and, at others, rock-milk (agaric mineral) is seen on the floors and boulders. The writer did not observe any stalagmites, nor any stalactites worth speaking of. The longest did not exceed 15 inches, and resembled, more than anything else, a thin icicle of that length; its chief interest being that it was clear and transparent, as though made of ice, and as brittle as glass.
“The Subway is about 10 to 15 feet wide and from 7 to 2 feet high; the roof is arched and covered by moisture drops, which are very unpleasant when they find their way down your back. The floor is of broken rock, rising to a ridge along the centre of the passageway.
“From the meeting of the ways, just beyond the Art Gallery, the passage continues southeasterly, ever increasing in interest. In the next 200 feet, it varies in width from 15 to 30 feet with a height of 10 to 15 feet. On the right is a narrow twisting side-opening named ‘The Gimlet.’ On the left are two concave sections of old potholes, leading into the most subterranean depths. They are profusely decorated by florescent carbonate incrustations, the first one being named ‘The Dome’ from its perfect formation. Minor passageways lead from them at a still greater depth. The most southerly one connects with ‘Judgment Hall,’ to be described further on (see [map]). In this section the underground course of Cougar creek crosses the corridor, at a considerable depth below, and the roar of the hidden waters is transferred from the left to the right hand.
“A narrow opening, 1½ feet wide and 15 feet long, now leads to ‘Carbonate Grotto’ where are seen very fine calcium decorations. The Cavern containing the grotto is about 60 by 30 feet, with a height varying from 10 to 15 feet. For the next 130 feet the passage varies from 8 feet wide and 5 feet high at the upper end to 20 feet wide and 5 feet high at the lower end. The sides are hung with rock shelves, and spotted with lime incrustations; the bottom is much impeded by fallen blocks. You now find yourself in a cul-de-sac and apparently at the end of the series. Not so, however, for by squeezing through a narrow opening on the right, barely noticeable in the darkness, you are enabled to descend to probably the largest cavern of all, at a depth of 57 feet below the corridor just left. The chamber, 200 feet long, 20 feet wide and 40 to 50 feet high has been named ‘Judgment Hall,’ on account of a pillar which might stand for the pillar of justice. The floor is littered by blocks broken from the roof and sides which lie piled in great heaps at the north end. The roof is roughly arched, and the sides rise upwards in parallel ledges resembling shelves. Roof, sides, and the rocks piled on the floor, are covered by the white calcite and, in many places, present most beautiful patterns and beds of florescent formations. The north end is connected by a rough passage with one of the potholes referred to below the meeting of the ways.
“Near the centre of the western wall, a narrow gap leads to a very beautiful, though small, chamber named ‘The White Grotto’ by W. S. Ayres. The carbonate decorations here are of great beauty and delicacy. The passage in which the chamber is found is 40 feet long, 15 feet wide and 10 feet high. The final cave has been named the ‘Bridal Chamber’ by W. S. Ayres, owing to the purity of its lime draperies and the general beauty of its floral decorations. It is small, and beyond this point exploration has not yet been carried. The passage breaks off in a precipice falling to a deep chasm, at the bottom of which a subterranean stream, probably Cougar creek, may be heard.
“This is the farthest point to which the present survey has been carried. It is 240 feet from the Wind crack, previously referred to as being seen on the way up the valley, and is only 54 feet above it; it is safe to assume that there is a connection between. The wind issuing from the crack is probably due to a water blast caused by the subterranean stream falling into the chasm at the end of the exploration.
“There are two other passages, or rather sets of passages, that have not yet been mentioned, viz.: ‘The Ice Cave,’ situated above the deep entrance from the Gorge. It is reached from the valley floor and is not of large dimensions, presenting only one chamber of any size, which has been christened ‘The Temple.’ The series has been named the Ice Cave from the fact that the initial passage entrance is blocked by ice all the year round, and an entry is effected over this blockage.
“The second set of passages are entered immediately below the Goat falls, which pour into them until late in October, when they become ice-bound. Last October, the writer followed two of the passages—one for about 150 feet, the other for about 50 feet—but could get no farther without material for bridging. The formation resembles the passage leading to the Auditorium, but on a smaller scale, viz., a series of well formed potholes connected one with the other. It is assumed that the flow from the Goat falls, the big bulk of which passes through these two channels, empties into the main waterway at the Turbine, but its course may possibly be more direct. If it does not, however, it is difficult to know where the water flowing in at the Turbine comes from.
“It is still something more than half a mile from the end of the present exploration to the final point at which the subterranean waters of Cougar creek are returned to the surface bed. There may consequently be accessible passageways that are yet undiscovered but, as the surface grade over this unknown interior is much steeper and the subterranean creek bed is approaching the surface, it seems probable that, if existing, they will be found inaccessible.
“The fact of W. S. Ayres having at two places within the Gorge series reached the actual bed of the subterranean stream would point to there being no further passages below that level. It would, therefore, appear that the largest accessible portion of the series is now on record. Much of the part shown in red on the accompanying [map] is difficult of access and dangerous to unskilled climbers. Indeed, for that matter, there are plenty of difficult places throughout.”