Lusk Caverns
Lusk Caves is a magnificent example of a marble
cave and is located in the Philippe Lake area that includes an
eight mile hike along easy trails with excellent interpretive
signs along the route that usually takes about four hours
roundtrip. The entrance is a gaping hole in the ground, and as
you enter the darkness, the temperature drops quickly, with a
small slow flowing stream located at the base, that has been
digging the caverns from the earth for thousands of years. It
was about 12,500 years ago when the caves would be formed, when
the glacial waters created rivers as the ice melted, with the
water trapped below thick sheets of ice, forcing the water to
enter any cracks or crevices that it could. That water would
begin eroding the soluble marble, and leave outcroppings of
harder marble. After many years, the water would slow down, so
that the erosion would be slowed, with a distinctive tunnel
keyhole shaped to provide the evidence that this occurred over
time many years ago. The upper part of the tunnel is wide, from
the heavy waters that flowed through them, while the lower parts
are narrow, that was caused by the slower moving waters. The
cave system stretches onward for about 500 feet, with a maximum
depth of 35 feet below the surface. There aren't any rock
formations like stalagmites or stalactites since the caves are
still young, but there are some calcium carbonate formations
growing from the ceiling in some areas, which are the start of
baby stalactites. There are numerous side tunnels that spread
off from the main one, as well as climbing ledges and crevices
to see if anything could be discovered, although it has been
explored many times before.
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