Big Smittle Cave

Urban exploration in Missouri
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Former User #1
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Big Smittle Cave

Post by Former User #1 »

A group of us (myself, Viper, Junkman, and Punctual) took a day off to explore big smittle cave yesterday. Gabe and I previously explored little smittle and Lowell cave, but always ended up drooling on the gate to big smittle. It's the 5th largest cave in MO... this thing is just massive. We got in around 10 am, out at about 6:30, and we still didn't reach the back of the main passage! We got the back of the Meander Canyon Passage after a tight belly crawl. The formations in the Formation Passage are amazing. It's great to see a cave that some jerk hasn't spraypainted all over. The mud was insane... I think everyone but gabe got stuck in it (sorry again for kicking mud in your face, jason!). Well, here's some pics:
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4-18-2007-05.jpg
This is a horrible picture, but this is at "the queen's chair" formation
This is a horrible picture, but this is at "the queen's chair" formation
Before mud
Before mud
Strange white fuzzy mold
Strange white fuzzy mold
Former User #1
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RE: Big Smittle Cave

Post by Former User #1 »

More pics
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Me, feeling squished
Me, feeling squished
4-18-2007-14.jpg (11.65 KiB) Viewed 14572 times
Smile!
Smile!
more formations
more formations
outline of entrance
outline of entrance
4-18-2007-10.jpg (4.74 KiB) Viewed 14572 times
more formations
more formations
Waterfall in the meander canyon passage we climbed up
Waterfall in the meander canyon passage we climbed up
Rimstone dams and cave coral
Rimstone dams and cave coral
Gabe and my finger over the lens
Gabe and my finger over the lens
At "the queen's chair"
At "the queen's chair"
junkman306
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RE: Big Smittle Cave

Post by junkman306 »

Those turned out pretty good. I'd love to go back and explore the rest of it. To bad there is a 10 year waiting list to get in.
What's the point of making a point if the point you are trying to make is pointless? Do you get my point?
Former User #1
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RE: Big Smittle Cave

Post by Former User #1 »

Pretty much, ya. I think we should put our names in the hat now and pray that we can still walk by the time we get a key again. :P
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Punctual
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RE: Big Smittle Cave

Post by Punctual »

Image

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WR holds Burger Record at WF cody's
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Punctual
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RE: Big Smittle Cave

Post by Punctual »

Image
Lily Pads

Image


Image
WR holds Burger Record at WF cody's
Image
junkman306
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RE: Big Smittle Cave

Post by junkman306 »

Damn Punctual those turned out real good. :D
What's the point of making a point if the point you are trying to make is pointless? Do you get my point?
Former User #2
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RE: Big Smittle Cave

Post by Former User #2 »

Oh hell ya , those are good!

Wish i was there today
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Sirius
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RE: Big Smittle Cave

Post by Sirius »

wow that looks like an amazing cave. where is it? if the waiting list is so terrible i may want to hop on now...
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Punctual
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RE: Big Smittle Cave

Post by Punctual »

Image

RACCOON

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Close up of mold

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Flowstone/drapes
WR holds Burger Record at WF cody's
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caver
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Re: Big Smittle Cave

Post by caver »

Just a correction, not trying to be a dick or anything but having been in 4 of Missouri's 5 longest caves,,,,Smittle is not number 5. Rough count has at #29 for Missouri.
Caving impaired,,,too old, too fat, don't care.
junkman306
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RE: Big Smittle Cave

Post by junkman306 »

Has that changed since last month? It was #5 at the last grotto meeting to include newly mapped areas.
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RE: Big Smittle Cave

Post by Former User #1 »

Yep. The prez of the grotto said they've changed recently. I think that Smittle is 5 now, but it used to be shorter before they did an actual survey. For instance, Carroll Cave has moved way up now that they've surveyed more.
junkman306
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RE: Big Smittle Cave

Post by junkman306 »

I don't know. Maybe it's # 7?
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Former User #1
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RE: Big Smittle Cave

Post by Former User #1 »

Can't find a webpage that has an updated listing. Even MSS hasn't updated their's recently. In the KC newsletter, The Guano, from a couple months ago, I think they mention that it's 5th.
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