SmugMug > all-time keyword > icecave > Ice Cave Blues - Three Sisters Wilderness, OR
SmugMug > all-time keyword > icecave > As we neared the end of our Moon Walk to Ice Cave, daylight was quickly declining.  Many thanks to Amy Ballard, Bradley Phillips, and the many other folks of the U.S. Forest Service  who made this and other Moon Walk outings possible.

Return to  Black Hills Journal and enjoy other historical essays and related information about our region.  Or, if you prefer, continue to the next gallery page for more photographs and information about other Moon Walks.
SmugMug > all-time keyword > icecave > While the Moon Walkers came to the cave en masse, we retreated at our own leisure and separately.
SmugMug > all-time keyword > icecave > About 45 minutes after we departed the parking area, we arrived at Ice Cave.  We've since discovered that there are many Ice Caves across the country.  As caves go, this is a small one -- but very interesting.  We understand this cave has been a popular destination for Custer area residents for decades.  One of our group said the cave was a favorite getaway for teenagers -- and he also recalled that many Fourth of July celebrants would picnic at Ice Cave -- making ice cream on site!
SmugMug > all-time keyword > icecave > We learned that caves are a valuable habitat for a variety of animals.  And while caves seem to have remarkably constant temperatures, it's thought that the cool temperatures are contributing to the White Nose Syndrome that's decimating the bat population in the eastern United State.  We've even read about plans to heat some caves to enable to bats to stave off the fungus that's already taken a heavy toll.
SmugMug > all-time keyword > icecave > This would appear to be a family outing for these folks -- and that lad on the lap is probably the youngest caver of our group.
SmugMug > all-time keyword > icecave > Another new word for us is "speleologist," which means "cave scientist."  These folks say South Dakota is one of the premier cave regions in the world boasts some of the longest and most interesting caves.  Most of the caves in this region -- like Ice Cave -- are formed of limestone, and there are in excess of 100 caves in the Black Hills.
SmugMug > all-time keyword > icecave > Did we mention that people of all ages participate in the  Moon Walks?  For those who think they'd like to hike the entirety of a big cave, that sounds like fun!  But be prepared to spend a few weeks there, because some of these caves are huge!  For example, Jewel Cave -- depending on who's counting and when -- is the second longest cave in the world.  At last count:  more than 120 miles long!
SmugMug > all-time keyword > icecave > Preparing for the return trip!
Ice Cave Blues - Three Sisters Wilderness, OR
 > Ice Cave Blues - Three Sisters Wilderness, OR
Ice Cave Blues - Three Sisters Wilderness, OR
See photo in gallery

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