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Tyson Spring Cave |
| Tyson Spring Cave, located in S.E. Minnesota, is a historically significant cave, which has captivated local inhabitants for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. A major stream flows out of its remote picturesque entrance, located at the base of towering limestone cliffs. In 1987 explorers successfully pushed through a water filled passage and walked along miles of breathtaking passages. Due to the water filled constriction, exploration and survey efforts were extremely sporadic until this cave system was purchased by the Minnesota Karst Preserve and a safe entrance shaft was created. After exploration is complete and a survey is conducted it is thought that this cave system will be 3.5-5 miles in length. |
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This is the earliest photo of Tyson Spring Cave in existence. It was taken by a local Chatfield, MN photographer using a new stereoview method. The man in the photo may indeed be Mr. Tyson himself. |
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Aaron
Brueck and Roger Kehret stand in front of the cave mouth. (Circa 1980’s)
Roger theorized that if the rock talus were removed from the stream just
outside the mouth of the cave it would cause the water level inside the
cave to recede slightly. This would allow explorers to venture beyond
a water filled passage located about 900 feet inside the cave. |
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Aaron
Brueck stands in front of the stream resurgence. Roger and Aaron have
removed a lot of rock, however the water was still too high in the cave
to allow access beyond the water filled passage. |
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Fellow
cavers Larry Laine and Steve Porter used SCUBA to dive through the water
filled passage in 1985. When they returned they reported that the large
main cave passage continued for an undetermined length. In Sept. 1987
Roger Kehret, Dave Gerboth and John Ackerman were successful in lowering
the water enough so that an air gap developed in the water filled passage.
John was the first non-diver to enter the cave and explore deep into the
cave system. After exploring for miles, John located the “end” of the
cave. The main passage was again blocked by water. Here John passes through
the air gap near the beginning of the cave. |
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Nineteen years passed before John returned to Tyson Spring Cave. Since the main cave passage was once again impassable due to high water, John Ackerman, Clay Kraus, Ted Ford, Dave Gerboth and Charles Graling removed the talus pile so entry could be made once again. John began negotiations with the landowner to purchase the cave. |
| John ventured deep into the cave to survey for a suitable man-made shaft entrance. A rope was strung through the low air space as a safety precaution. |
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Using
sophisticated underground equipment it was learned that the cave passed
through the landowner’s farmyard. |
| In
fact, the main passage passed directly under his barn. He requested that
we locate a more suitable entrance site. |
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And
so we did. This site is located just west of the barn, but a sufficient
distance away to create some privacy. |
| The
proposed new entrance spot was pinpointed inside the cave using specialized
equipment. This unique radio gear sends signals through solid rock, which
can be captured and deciphered by surface personnel using a fine tuned
antenna. John and Clay calculated that the cave ceiling was 114-feet below
the surface. |
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Corn
is removed near the proposed entry site and a red flag is planted at the
exact place that the new shaft will be drilled |
| A
test hole is drilled to verify the accuracy. The cave passage was located
114-feet directly below the drill bit! |
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Clay
Kraus lowers an infrared camera down the hole to confirm that the new
entrance will be in the exact spot as planned. Note the barn in the background |
|
Loose soil is removed down to the limestone layer and a rig designed to
install steel casing handles the task. Now another drilling rig can park
over the top of the steel casing, and can continue the access shaft straight
down. |
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The
heavy duty drill rig is poised to begin drilling the 30” diameter access
shaft. |
| The
drill rig can be seen towards the left of the photo. |
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Charles
Graling at the controls. |
--- Underground --- |
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John
Ackerman and Clay Kraus |
| Ancient
formation. |
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Located
within feet of entrance. |
| The
sights and sounds are breathtaking. |
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Clay
admires the massive formation. |
| Passages
in this cave are very spacious. The temperature of the constantly flowing stream is 48 degrees. |
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Calcite draperies. |
| The
main trunkline is lined with formations. |
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Majestic
formations serve as the gateway leading deeper into the cave. |
Huge
limestone slabs. |
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A
variety of muti-colored formations deep within the cave system. |
Broad
expanse of calcite flowstone. |
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Doctor
Jay Kennedy climbs an unexplored dome about 2 miles into the cave. The
dome ceiling is approximately 80' to 100' from the cave floor. There may
be an upper level horizontal passage at the top. |
A massive dry room located 5 minutes from the new entrance. |
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There
are numerous water inlets that feed into the main stream passage. Because
most inlets originate from undiscovered tall dome pits, explorers will
follow this lead in an attempt to discover another dome. |
Dave Gerboth encounters an incredible dome located towards the rear of
the cave system. |
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| Tyson
Spring Cave History Home |