 IMG_1212.JPG |
 IMG_1216.JPG |
 IMG_1224.JPG |
 IMG_1229.JPG |
 IMG_1230.JPG |
| Douthat State Park... probably more fun if other people come down the night before too... | Some helectites on the wall, right around where Bob decided (for the first time) that he was going the wrong way. | Nikki's nice enough to pose for a wall shot while we wait for Bob | ||
 IMG_1239.JPG |
 IMG_1242.JPG |
 IMG_1247.JPG |
 IMG_1254.JPG |
 IMG_1256.JPG |
| Little... somethings... does that count as a column? | Greg climbing down the chop block (I think that's what Bob termed it) | Nikki's waiting around again | A 2 or so foot column and pure white stalactite in a tiny room only Todd and I visited | Stalactites and straws, same room |
 IMG_1257.JPG |
 IMG_1260.JPG |
 IMG_1261.JPG |
 IMG_1274.JPG |
 IMG_1284.JPG |
| Helectites and other creations, same little room | Another, larger column and more white formations | More helectites, this time in the first room with spar pools | The same | Finally, I'm last to lay eyes on the spar |
 IMG_1288.JPG |
 IMG_1290.JPG |
 IMG_1294.JPG |
 IMG_1305.JPG |
 IMG_1306.JPG |
| So I took a lot of pictures of the dogtooth spar | Luckily for you, I didn't keep most of them | ...Just four | A new room, with more straws, columns, stalactites, etc | This room also had some pretty, pure white formations... small bacon, stalagmites, straws, stalactites.... |
 IMG_1308.JPG |
 IMG_1311.JPG |
 IMG_1313.JPG |
 IMG_1315.JPG |
 IMG_1320.JPG |
| .... flowstone | Someone else's light adds a touch of unreality | Some larger formations in the same room | Uh oh... looks like some cavers thought they had Paxton's all to themselves! | After more fumbling about, we found the passage with big, older pools filled with dogtooth spar |
 IMG_1321.JPG |
 IMG_1322.JPG |
 IMG_1323.JPG |
 IMG_1327.JPG |
 IMG_1334.JPG |
| These pieces are much larger than those in the first room... some are a few inches in size | Some are a little smaller, but nonetheless impressive, though dirtier | There's even a little water in some of the pools, which boasted cleaner crystals | Moving on, we next hunted for the Christmas room. The cave is so mazy, it took awhile to find, during which time I spotted these crystals | |
 IMG_1336.JPG |
 IMG_1338.JPG |
 IMG_1341.JPG |
 IMG_1344.JPG |
 IMG_1348.JPG |
| Not sure what they are... needles of some sort, rather small, but impressive | Some larger needles in another room | And even more | And more... | A-ha, here's the Christmas room! (flash photo) |
 IMG_1349.JPG |
 IMG_1350.JPG |
 IMG_1351.JPG |
 IMG_1353.JPG |
 IMG_1356.JPG |
| Here it is again (frontal lighting, long shutter) | Didn't see it before? How about backlit? (thanks Sean) | Maybe one more look, with Todd's flashbulbs | Todd lights up another formations to peek through | Chris exiting Paxton's |
 IMG_1357.JPG |
 IMG_1358.JPG |
 IMG_1359.JPG |
||
| Nikki by the entrance | Group shot - Nikki, Chris, Sean, Bernie, Bob, Ehren, Greg, Lauren and Todd | It's still us... | ||