Spelunking for Glyphs at Lava Beds National Monument in Tulelake, CA
Although experienced “cavers” collecting scientific data don bump hats, kneepads, and carry fancy equipment, amateur spelunkers explore the caves at Lava Beds National Monument just for fun and usually do it unencumbered. In fact, you won’t even need a flashlight to see glyphs inside Big Painted Cave and Symbol Bridge Cave. Created by Modoc Indians about 1,500 years ago, most of this black, white, and red rock art is close to the cave entrances and easy to spot. More challenging caves exist if you dare, or just drive across the park to Petroglyph Point—a massive panel of 5,000 glyphs completely above ground.
Snow blankets the ground as I begin descending the stairs into Valentines Cave (named after the day of its discovery in 1933) It's below freezing outside, but as I find myself inside the cave, I notice a thick band of water droplets inside the sand of the lava tube's mouth. I wonder about it as I switch on my headlamp, walking into the darkness before me. And then the oddest thing happens, I feel the temperature and humidity rising around me. Suddenly it feels like a balmy spring day, or perhaps early summer as I walk the 1/3 mile of the narrow winding subterranean passage. The tube is on a six-month air cycle, and it is summer air that is around me. (In six months, during the height of summer, winter's coolness will greet the visitor.) Awed, I put my jacket back on before slipping from this dislocated season back into a bright snow covered day.
Although experienced “cavers” collecting scientific data don bump hats, kneepads, and carry fancy equipment, amateur spelunkers explore the caves at Lava Beds National Monument just for fun and usually do it unencumbered. In fact, you won’t even need a flashlight to see glyphs inside Big Painted Cave and Symbol Bridge Cave. Created by Modoc Indians about 1,500 years ago, most of this black, white, and red rock art is close to the cave entrances and easy to spot. More challenging caves exist if you dare, or just drive across the park to Petroglyph Point—a massive panel of 5,000 glyphs completely above ground.
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