Lost River - Karst Information Portal

Two Bit Pit
c l i m b - d o w n i s
approximately 20 feet
deep and leads a short
distance to the top of
the undercut fourth
drop. This 15-foot pit
descends into a small
room containing a
stream passage and
a breakdown pile.
The G survey leads
from the top of the
breakdown slope,
while the K survey
leads off the bottom
of the pit, along with
The squeeze before the dome room at the bottom of the third pit. the continuing A
Photo by Danny Dible,
survey, which is the
main route to the
bitter end. Following the A survey will put one
in a low belly crawl about 25 feet long, which
leads to the top of the fifth drop. The rope is
rigged near the bottom of the fourth drop and
is routed through the crawl and down the pit.
The explorer must either back into the crawl
and attach to the rope while lying sideways, or
turn around in very tight quarters at the edge of
the pit and attach to the rope. A small stream
flows down the 26-foot drop and manages to
moisten your clothes while you are positioning
side to place your pack and scoot it forward.
You may have to put one arm outstretched and
one to your side to get through more easily.
Some people like to squeeze up on the right
side ledge calling it a bypass, but I’m not sure
that is the best way to go.
About 10 feet beyond the last squeeze, the
passage abruptly drops down into a wet, muddy
belly crawl that is best entered by slithering
head first while arching your back. It is unlikely
you will stay dry in this 150-foot-long sleazy
shale crawl, which
gradually becomes
hands and knees size
before opening into
a tall canyon passage.
This less soluble shale
layer prevents many
caves in Indiana and
TAG from reaching
their depth potential.
As the bottom of the
shale passage drops
out, it allows the water
to drain down the
canyon and permits
one to straddle out
into the canyon and
stay dry. The canyon
Joe Oliphant in the passage between the fifth and sixth pits.
Photo by Danny Dible.
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