Too tired to climb out of the Knoxville cave

[Ernie Coffman]

Here's another cave rescue, in a Knoxville cave, which is interesting to read about. The comments made by the readers are actually more fun to read than the article itself. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/may/2 ... sh-ascent/

[Bill Putnam]

The name of this cave is Ten Mile Pit, also known locally as Rabbit Cave. It is also sometimes erroneously referred to in the media as Gettysvue Cave due to its proximity to the golf course of that name (though or course the cave was there long before the golf course, so this is clearly incorrect). There have been several similar rescues there over the years, most recently in 2005 and 2002 (as reported the in American Caving Accidents).

The cave entrance is gated, but the gate keeps getting broken open. The entrance is a series of climbdowns totaling about 75 feet of descent to a stream passage at the bottom. It's an easy caves, but "spelunkers" often try to free climb the entrance and fall or become stranded. Some use ropes to descend and think they can "Batman" back up hand-over-hand. That usually results in a rescue as well. The cave is on privately owned property, and it is my understanding that the owners regard it as closed.

[Bill Putnam]

A little more information on the May 22, 2009 rescue at Ten Mile Pit, Tennessee:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/may/2 ... -for-woman

[NZcaver]

Here's another cave rescue, in a Knoxville cave, which is interesting to read about. The comments made by the readers are actually more fun to read than the article itself. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/may/2 ... sh-ascent/

No kidding.

I do love the photo of the subject being transported to the ambulance... in a golf cart!