Jul 14 - Serious cave crawling**

Friday, July 14, 1972 - Page 196
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

Bethlehem Cave helictites

(1:00 PM 7/15/72)
As it developed, very little work was accomplished Friday. It rained just enough to prevent any progress on much -- only two more sections were completed in the side walk. The second Tim arrived, Thursday I guess. I read some more in "I'm OK, I'm OK," & "The Little Prince." I took a brief nap but it was cut short by Greg & Mike. M.R. managed to get some clothes washed. I wandered through the cave alone (I think that is forbidden -- I'm not sure tho, so I'm innocent) -- I explored the three entrances of the cave, and learned a lot I didn't know before.

I walked around down below everything, where the old buildings are and met three squirrels and a rabbit. The squirrels were Irving, Albert and Horatio, but they didn't let me get any closer than 3 feet. I watched them for about a half hour. Horace, the hare, was more sociable -- he chewed on plants, hopping close to me. After a quarter of an hour, tho, he went away.

A map of 4 known miles of passages in Bethlehem Cave
(More continue to be discovered even today)

We went spelunking -- Me, John, Greg, Mike, and Jim. We saw lots of great things, and in the Sonora Room I got the feel of real cave crawling -- we had to go into contortions on a ledge above a deep lake to enter a narrow opening into a wonderland of stalactites, stalagmites and helictites. Beauteous. We wandered around for four hours, and it would take too long to describe it all.

The water went out on us at Beth, so we couldn't shower. We got to bed after midnight.

TOMORROW: Laying 50 more feet of sidewalk

Here is a formation in Bethlehem Cave.
What would you call it? Here's an easy way to remember:
"Stalactite" has a C in it (as in Ceiling)
"Stalagmite" has a G in it (as in Ground)

Jan 09 - All Points Bulletin

Sunday, January 9, 1972
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

4:30 PM
Last night we went cave crawling where I got very muddy, and acquainted myself with the local folk. Before that, Matt and I set up his stereo equipment in a cabin. I slept in one of the rooms in Tom's, etc's, cabin -- that's where Matt & I will be staying. I left the cave before Matt, leaving with Tom, Penny, Mary, and someone else. I got to bed at about 11:30, and Matt got back at about 1:00 A.M. I got up this morning at around 8:30 when Matt came in to change clothes -- he's slept in the retreat house or somewhere.

We had breakfast at 9:30 (oat meal & scrambled eggs), then threw around paper airplanes for awhile. I got to work stripping the insulation from the wire I'd use on the tire chains while the gang in the retreat house sat around and listened to Brad play the guitar.

Mass broke things up at 11:30 A.M., during which I went to the cabin, listened to the stereo, and finished stripping the wire. Since I didn't have the keys to the car, I went to my room to do the writing I had to do (diary & Latka letter) -- but Tom arrived, and I went to see Matt. Father Gilbert talked with us, and we found out there is an All Points Bulletin out on the car, and we are truant [The APB means that any police officer in the US could arrest me, anywhere at any time, for car theft. I was a "wanted man," but luckily nobody thought of looking for me in the mountains of South Dakota].

Matt's parents have contacted mine (via Meg), and they all know where we are, we have their consent, and everything's fine, except for the police. Matt's mother is going to try to get that taken care of, but there are definitely going to be some legal problems involved.

We can stay here as long as we want, so we'll pro'ly be here a month or more. 'S alright -- I think I'll like it.