Video - Nice Clay Banks - not so nice video quality

[sskasser]

If you bump into a clay bank underwater it will put a mark in it. If you bump into a clay bank in a dry cave (like the one in my second picture) the entire thing can come loose and fall to the floor. Dried, cracked clay is very fragile if it is stacked vertically any distance. From my experience, most of these clay banks that occur in Florida dry caves are just hanging on by a thread at the edge of a shelf.

I guess you could say a clay bank with a mark in it is better than no clay bank at all, but the best option is a clay bank with no marks.

Thanks, that makes sense. The ones I'd seen, even in a dry cave, were still "wet". I didn't think about dried out ones not hardened into rock.

[Bobby]

I have not seen evidence of that - is it visible on the video?

It is in the video @ 00:11 but unless you knew it was there I doubt many would notice it now. They are still beautiful and some of the best preserved clay banks in there that are not way off the beaten path.

[Dsix36]

OK, I must be more than a little daft. I watched the video 5 times and just now was able to figure out what cave system it is. I have been in there numerous times and can not recall ever seeing those clay banks. Can someone PM me with an approximate distance or something?

I feel like a complete noob to post this, but my curiousity is driving me frickin' nuts. I know that I can expect all the "pull your head out of your arse" and pay attention remarks, so let it fly!

[FW]

OK, I must be more than a little daft. I watched the video 5 times and just now was able to figure out what cave system it is. I have been in there numerous times and can not recall ever seeing those clay banks. Can someone PM me with an approximate distance or something?

I feel like a complete noob to post this, but my curiousity is driving me frickin' nuts. I know that I can expect all the "pull your head out of your arse" and pay attention remarks, so let it fly!

IIRC, about 500' or so.

[Dsix36]

IIRC, about 500' or so.

Thanks Forrest, I will make a point of looking for these the next time that I am in there.

[Xenia]

Ever see a clay bank in a dry cave?

Attachment 5510

Attachment 5509

They are just as pretty, but even more fragile.

Wow! These are amazing! Makes me want to start dry caving... but I am afraid of climbing and heights in general.

On the video: love these clay banks. I tried to take a picture but no luck. And yes I was really sad when I saw fingertips on them but they seem to be healing well. sigh..

[sskasser]

Wow! These are amazing! Makes me want to start dry caving... but I am afraid of climbing and heights in general.

On the video: love these clay banks. I tried to take a picture but no luck. And yes I was really sad when I saw fingertips on them but they seem to be healing well. sigh..

I suck behind a camera, but I took these right around New Year's:

PICT0060.JPGPICT0058.JPGPICT0062.JPG

And this one nearby, with more damage:

PICT0070.JPG

[Xenia]

I suck behind a camera, but I took these right around New Year's:

Attachment 5515Attachment 5516Attachment 5517

And this one nearby, with more damage:

Attachment 5518

These aren't bad at all. Thanks for sharing! I love taking pics in caves even though I suck.