December 14, 2000

WKU Students Discover Giant Cave In Wayne County

Bowling Green, Ky. - Geography and geology students from Western Kentucky University have discovered what may be Kentucky's largest cave passage.

In the past three months, WKU students have been mapping a newly discovered cave in Wayne County. On Dec. 3, a long, low crawlway led explorers to a passage that is up to 90 feet tall and has a floorspace of 2.5 acres. The largest room in Mammoth Cave, Chief City, is 2 acres.

The explorers, led by Western Geography and Geology students Joel Despain of Three Rivers, Calif.; Shane Fryer of Louisville and Alan Glennon of North Little Rock, Ark., are no strangers to big cave discoveries.

Despain, a graduate student in geoscience, has led two expeditions to southeast Asia, exploring many of the largest caves in the world. "Though I've been around for major discoveries, this is the largest cave passageway I have ever personally found," he said.

"Though it's big, it's not easy," said Fryer, a senior. The explorers have to negotiate numerous climbs and cross an underground river before the cave leads to the final 300-foot-long bellycrawl and large passageways beyond.

Western cavers began traveling to eastern Kentucky several years ago after examining the geology of the region and noting the potential for great new discoveries.

"In Kentucky, most cave explorers visit Mammoth Cave, but many other areas of Kentucky have been ignored," Glennon said. "More giant caves might be right under our feet, ready to be discovered."

Cave exploration can be dangerous for the inexperienced. "We always go in groups and carry specialized lights and gear," Fryer said.

The group also is careful to protect the cave. Right now, a single-file set of footprints is the only evidence the cave has been visited.

Further discoveries, however, have had to wait because students postponed exploration until final exams are complete. Their next expedition is planned for the holiday break.

For more information, contact Alan Glennon at (270) 745-4169.