Cave experts and opponents of a mining expansion in Glenwood Springs made a surprising discovery in October: A previously unknown cave.
Grand Junction caver Richard Աand Rifle resident Rob McFarland, both members of the Colorado Cave Survey, went in search of the cave after noticing peculiarities in a geological survey paid for by the mining company RMR Industrial as part of its proposed quarry expansion.
The cave entrance is about 6 feet wide and 10 feet long, and descends like a chute into the ground. At the bottom, Rhinehart and McFarland found numerous animal bones, including a bear, sheep and other small animals.
With at least 150 feet of cave discovered, and much more suspected, Witches’ Pantry is the most significant cave north of Glenwood Springs after the Fairy Caves. The last time a cave was discovered in the area was on the eastern rim of Oasis Creek in 1985, according to Rhinehart.
Ա of the cave discovery Dec. 6, and plans to ask that it be designated a significant cave. Although that designation alone may not have any weight to stop a mining operation, in which case the cave would become a casualty of the expansion, Rhinehart said.
Read more about the cave’s discovery and its future on .
