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Enter Hixson
After being filled with the spirit of a cave club party, when my resistance was low, I was introduced to Jim Hixson and the voluptuous Linda Hixson. Now Jim was planning a trip to Windy Mouth Cavein West Virginia and needed some more fools to go along. The trip already had the notable 'Easter Pig' on its roster and a Tennessee volunteer, John Powers. "Of course, I'll go," I found myself saying in a stupefied voice, "any time, just let me know." Thus, early the next morning, I found myself being whisked away in a strange car (the inside had mohair seat covers) with strange looking cavers and a funny looking kid named Linda.
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G.P. "jim" Hixson Photo by R.E. Whitmore |
After breakfasting at the Court Restaurant, we drove to the farthest stretches of the road and then some, and changed into our caving duds. Looking around I noticed a glove here, a pair of panties there and other assorted goodies. Questioning Jim, he gave a quick and crisp reply: "Most cavers who get out of Windy Mouthare usually so tired that they don't give a damn about their equipment and just throw it down on the ground, stomp on it, and grind it into the dirt." I knew that the trips into Windy Mouthwere credited as being rather long and tedious but this seemed ridiculous.
After being given knee pads, a most essential piece of gear, we headed off towards the cave. The river was high that day and the path around was submerged. We had to climb the cliff, and while up there, Easter Pig gave a full detailed account of how he fell off a similar cliff and plummeted into a river below. We, of course, weren't the least bit nervous because we knew that we were only 100 feet above the river.
Into the crawlway we squirmed. Our carbide lamps dimly lit the passage as we struggled over the broken rock floor. But, will wonders never cease, the passage became large enough so that we could walk in ape-like manner. The passageway continued to grow and soon we came to First Canyon. After crossing this narrow drop we came to Second Canyon and rested for a few minutes. A few descended to the second level at this point to begin mapping. After mapping for about seven hours we returned to the canyon which was our meeting place. The other cavers soon arrived and we compared notes. Each party had mapped about 1500 feet of the designated passages. While we were talking I learned that the other passage was a wide and spacious one; ours had narrowed down into a crawl. We departed from the cave around 3:00 AM. After a hasty and unappetizing meal at a place called The Bone, we slept in the WVACS fieldhouse.--
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Think You're
Big enough. Big Boy Phil Lucas examines now destroyed landmark in Lewisburg, WV Photo by T.B. Vigor |
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