AlaskaPeeks: June 21,2013 Fri. Day 10

Woke up this morning to a thick fog

View got better as fog burned off

Breakfast at the El-Capitan camp site

Great Company, Bruce & Kathy

On our way to explore the cave at El-Capitan

The beginning of a 370 ft. stair climb

Amazingly this area was at one time a logging camp, there are remnants of them using quite a bit of power. But at the same time the area is filled with a lot of old growth trees here

Halfway up everyone is still smiling

The next two pictures show tree roots growing out of the rocks, the roots are so strong that they are actually splitting the rocks.

Getting closer to the cave mouth

Preparing to enter the cave

No handrails or ramps in this cave. This is the beginning of the cave, balancing on boulders for the first 30 ft. Pictures impossible only lighting was from headlamps and hands need to be free to balance. WE went 600 ft into the cave led by Dan and Nicole from forestry dept. El-Capitan is one of the only largest living cave in North America.

You can tour this cave without any charge as long as you make reservation with Forestry Department.

On the way down from the cave

A great experience ! in a spiritual and magical forest

I went down to the dock at the campground and noticed that there was a sign indicating you were at El-Capitan. Apparently they bring people here from some of the lodges to visit the cave

Kathy made us excellant grilled cheese W/ tomato soup for our lunch

Thanks Kathy

Leaving camp with Devils Club Sharon found at the base of El-Capitan.

These were stems that someone used for tea by scraping the thin bark of and then discarding the rest of the plant. Sharon felt it was disrespectful to leave the beautiful so we took it with us.