Capture California, the Game-2012
Adventure: 096 – Moaning
Cavern
Team: Thing One, Thing Two
Date: June 29, 2012
Location: Angel's Camp/Vallecito
The first modern discovery of Moaning Cavern was in 1851 by gold miners. When they found out that there was not gold at the bottom of the cavern, they moved on to other possible happy diggings. Of course, judging by the pre-historic bodies which have been found at the bottom of the cavern, others found the cavern, but maybe only briefly lived to see it. Then in 1919, the cavern was rediscovered and realized it could be a pretty good tourist attraction. It is thought that the first tourists were lowered down in ore buckets, with candles of whale fat to light their way. Access was made “easier” when a 100', 144 step, steel spiral staircase was installed. The stair case was built from a World War I battleship. Now visitors take a 235 step staircase, including the spiral staircase, down into the pits of the cavern.
From there you see such rooms as the the Meat Grinder with its stalagmites ready to tenderize you, Godzilla’s Nostril's-a muddy tunnel which has a repugnant fragrance, Pancake Squeeze—you can guess how come, Santa's Nightmare-with a narrow vent, and The Guillotine-a head-size tunnel missing only a blade. The general public is allowed only into the first 165' of its 411' depth. But one can also do spelunking and zip-lining at the facility.