2023-02-01, 04:51 PM
Having just enjoyed a geology video from our very own community geologist Andrew on a lava tube in Oregon
I got to wondering about caverns under the mountains of Death Valley. I realize lava tubes don't fit the DEVA geology but I'm hoping for at least one cool cavern, the type that are large enough to allow human exploration without damaging the glories of formations like the ones in Carlsbad, Lehman, Mammoth, Kartchner, etc.
And one that is much more accessible than this one which contains fragile formations dependent upon underground humidity to maintain structure. This exploration is supposedly lead by an NPS ranger, Dave Ek*, who back in 2006 assisted at Devil's Hole with the pupfish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hq2TXDXBs0
I hope that somewhere there is at least one unexplored or discovered narrow entrance that will open up to the underground wonders of Death Valley. With this list of rock formations in DEVA one would think some cool caverns might be possible?
https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/ge...ations.htm
If DEVA's sister National Park, Great Basin, 380 miles to the north can have a cool cavern within similar rock formations why can't DEVA?
https://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/l...-tours.htm
Maybe the new intern who scores this Natural Resources Management Assistant opening can locate a new cavern?
https://wfscjobs.tamu.edu/jobs/natural-r...onal-park/
However after reviewing the: https://www.nps.gov/deva/general-managem...troduction
it's apparent that I'm on the wrong side of this issues: "Cave Resources: Avoid development of caves and perpetuate natural conditions."
So in summary, if I ever stumble across such a "cool cavern" I'll inform DEVA Natural Resources and keep my mouth closed and online trip report silent on this one.
* https://www.gettyimages.in/detail/news-p.../564046303
I got to wondering about caverns under the mountains of Death Valley. I realize lava tubes don't fit the DEVA geology but I'm hoping for at least one cool cavern, the type that are large enough to allow human exploration without damaging the glories of formations like the ones in Carlsbad, Lehman, Mammoth, Kartchner, etc.
And one that is much more accessible than this one which contains fragile formations dependent upon underground humidity to maintain structure. This exploration is supposedly lead by an NPS ranger, Dave Ek*, who back in 2006 assisted at Devil's Hole with the pupfish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hq2TXDXBs0
I hope that somewhere there is at least one unexplored or discovered narrow entrance that will open up to the underground wonders of Death Valley. With this list of rock formations in DEVA one would think some cool caverns might be possible?
https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/ge...ations.htm
If DEVA's sister National Park, Great Basin, 380 miles to the north can have a cool cavern within similar rock formations why can't DEVA?
https://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/l...-tours.htm
Maybe the new intern who scores this Natural Resources Management Assistant opening can locate a new cavern?
https://wfscjobs.tamu.edu/jobs/natural-r...onal-park/
However after reviewing the: https://www.nps.gov/deva/general-managem...troduction
it's apparent that I'm on the wrong side of this issues: "Cave Resources: Avoid development of caves and perpetuate natural conditions."
So in summary, if I ever stumble across such a "cool cavern" I'll inform DEVA Natural Resources and keep my mouth closed and online trip report silent on this one.
* https://www.gettyimages.in/detail/news-p.../564046303
Life begins in Death Valley