Pig Hole Cave - 8/17/2024
Sam Roscher Reporting
On Saturday, August 17th, six of us embarked on an adventurous journey to Newport, VA, to explore the enchanting Pig Hole Cave. Accompanied by Harriet, Madison, Eric, Karl, and Margo, we were joined by three VPI cavers for a memorable tour of this fascinating cave.
Upon our arrival at the cave around 11 a.m., we began rigging the entrance drop. Noticing several dead trees around the entrance, we opted to secure our ropes to a more stable tree further from the edge. The first person started the 120-foot rappel at 11:47 a.m. The entrance rappel was a breathtaking descent down a moss-covered rock wall. At the bottom, we were greeted by two curious snakes. Once the last person had completed the rappel by 1:04 p.m., we decided to help the smaller snake. An extra-large sock was sacrificed for the cause; the snake was gently placed inside, and the sock was tied to the bottom of the entrance rope for safe ascent.
We then entered the cave by crawling beneath a large pile of rock break down. We wove our way through a narrow passage perfectly suited to the shorter members of our group. We soon reached a 60-foot-long, steep mud slide, which everyone gleefully navigated. This brought us to the Mud Bridge entrance, where a permanent handline helped us safely descend 20 feet and traverse across the bridge, which spanned two deep pits—one 90 feet and the other 50 feet. One by one, we crossed the Mud Bridge, climbing over another rock breakdown to reach a spacious room where we took a well-deserved snack break, waiting for the last person to complete the crossing.
Eager for more, we decided to drop our packs and take a side detour to the cave's most stunning feature: the Queen’s Bath. We crawled through a winding tunnel and turned left at a T-intersection, continuing for a few more minutes until we arrived at the Queen’s Bath. This mesmerizing chamber was adorned with stalactites, drapery formations, and brimstone pools. We spent time exploring the room's various sights.
Reluctantly leaving the Queen’s Bath, we made our way back to our packs. Karl and Margo took a brief detour, discovering another room with a 40-foot pit before rejoining the group. We then proceeded towards the cave's exit, pausing to admire fossil formations along the way. We reached the 5-foot vertical exit, and each of us emerged one by one.
Back at the entrance, we derigged the ropes and safely released the snake into the field. After gathering our gear, we headed to Blacksburg for dinner at a local pub, where we were joined by a few more VPI cavers. Our adventure concluded with a delightful ice cream treat from a nearby shop. The trip was an unforgettable experience, and everyone agreed it was well worth the drive.
