Kentucky — Derek Bristol

kentucky cave projects

Kentucky contains several of the world’s longest caves and there are several very active exploration efforts currently underway.

Mammoth Cave

The longest cave in the world is Mammoth Cave near Cave City, Kentucky. It currently boasts a surveyed length of 412 miles (663 kilometers). Mammoth Cave is protected as a National Park and all exploration and survey is managed through the Cave Research Foundation. I have been working as a cartographer with the CRF since 2011 and am working on two map sheets that includes Carlos Way, which is in the northeastern corner of Mammoth Ridge, and the New Discovery West section, which is along the far western edge of Mammoth Ridge. I often participate in other cartographer’s survey objectives as well.

We surveyed 5,688 feet over two days of caving in the western-most part of Mammoth Cave on a Cave Research Foundation expedition led by the legendary Mark Jones. Most of this was resurvey that will lay a foundation for pushing into the unknown, but we did add 1,025 feet of new/virgin cave that was mostly walking-sized passage.

Mammoth Cave is the longest cave in the world at 412 miles, and growing. This trip was conducted under a permit from Mammoth Cave National Park as part of a Cave Research Foundation expedition. For more information on projects led by CRF at Mammoth Cave and elsewhere, please visit: http://www.cave-research.org Caves are delicate and potentially dangerous places.

Caving Vlog #66 The longest crawl in the world, Left of theTrap (LOTT) in the Crystal Cave section of Mammoth Cave, is explored to the end. Mammoth Cave is the longest cave in the world so it seems appropriate for it to contain the longest crawl.

Caving Vlog #52 It's been a year since I started the "Caving Vlog", and this is video #52. Two teams traveled to Albert's Domes, the site of the second connection between Flint Ridge and Mammoth Ridge via Janet's River. Between the two teams we surveyed a total of 1,900 feet.

Caving Vlog #1 Surveying in the world's longest cave with the Cave Research Foundation. For more information about project caving with CRF: http://www.cave-research.org For information and tours of Mammoth Cave: https://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm Caves are delicate and potentially dangerous places.

Roppel Cave

Roppel Cave is connected to the Mammoth Cave System, but most of the cave and its entrances are on private land, so the survey and exploration is mostly managed without direct involvement of the National Park Service. Much of the exploration is coordinated through the Central Kentucky Karst Coalition. The Daleo entrance is now owned and managed by the Southeastern Cave Conservancy.

Caving Vlog #50 A survey trip in the 96 mile-long Roppel Cave. We accomplished 500 feet of re-survey in the large and complicated Fleeceway passage and took a scenic loop to exit the cave. Areas visited via the Weller Entrance included North Downey Avenue, Market Connection, Black River, Brucker Connection, Pirate's Pot and Crecelius Dome.

Fisher Ridge Cave System

While I am not leading any of the exploration in FRCS, I have participated in a number of survey trips, and it is an extremely active project led by cavers who were originally centered in Detroit, but are now scattered across the US. Since it’s discovery in 1981 it has grown to a surveyed length of nearly 130 miles, is the 10th longest cave in the world, and 5th longest cave in the US.

Caving Vlog #67 Steve, Johanna and Derek take a 14 hour survey trip to the base level of Fisher Ridge Cave System. FRCS is the 5th longest cave in the US, and 9th longest cave in the world at 128.6 miles in length.