Adventure: Tytoona Cave

Most valleys in Pennsylvania have names. Many bear the namesakes of early settlers; others just seem arbitrary altogether. But the Sinking Valley in the Central Mountains of the state might be the most appropriately named of them all. This rural stretch between Altoona and Tyrone quietly sits just like any other, but below the forests, meadows and streams is an intricate network of underground passages. So much so that one just might think the valley will soon sink into the earth. Sinkholes, springs, and even arches abound, but best of all, the valley presents an adventurer with a collection of caves for some spelunking.

Of all of these subterranean wonders, Tytoona Cave is the crown jewel of the Sinking Valley. The name is combination of the two closest towns, Altoona and Tyrone, and once actually offered tours of its flooded passages. Today it remains open to experienced cavers in a nature preserve, with some of the 'trail' from its commercialized days still remaining in the interior to keep feet dry.

When Lavaricky and Scooby finally coaxed me into coming to camp at their beloved hometown park at Prince Gallitzin, I knew that a caving trip into the Sinking Valley was a must do. And it was too tough to convince those two girls to follow me into the depths of Tytoona Cave.

After the Jump, pics from our trip into the cave plus a stop at the Arch Spring. Click Read More!!

---

No way was I going off an adventure anywhere near Altoona without going to the giant-ass Sheetz in town. Shmonsters and coffee are THE best way to start the day.

We left town and made our way by Jeep on the backroads to the Sinking Valley. Before getting into the nature preserve though, we stopped amongst the farmland along a small creek running through the valley. A very special feature is here; a real rarity in the Eastern US: a natural stone arch. The Arch Spring is an impressive span of solid rock with the stream flowing right underneath. This is actually a leftover from an ancient cave, and divers have confirmed that the stream is actually the outflow from Tytoona. Which means Arch Spring was probably once a part of the Tytoona Cave too. Crazy!

A short drive and a shorter hike brought us right into the heart of the preserve and right at the mouth of Tytoona Cave. That cool cave air is always refreshing on a hot summer day. The sheer size of the entrance was astonishing, as was the fact that the stream was flowing into it rather than out. I had enough gear for myself as well as Lavaricky and Scooby so we suited up right outside.

 I took the lead with Lavaricky and Scooby close behind, and we headed into the passages which got smaller and smaller as they went along. Walking unobstructed quickly turned to crawling through an underground stream. And after slogging through that freezing water, we turned back when we reached the first sump of the cave. No diving. Not a chance. I was satisfied above water!

 Very, very awesome. Couldn't go all that far into the cave due to the limitations of the water filling it. But it was certainly a very different feel than many or even most other wild caves around the state. Anyway, we headed back to our campsite at Glendale Lake to get cleaned up and relax for the night. Excellent, lakefront camping!

 Caving, rare geological features, and camping on a lake... gotta say, Lavaricky and Scooby may hail from the absolute middle of nowhere but it sure was a nice trip!

Tally-ho!
-Crash