Helms Deep Cave, Perry County, Tennessee

March 2024

Gate Type: BASIC

Three years ago, this was a small. little-visited cave. Then exploration of a previously-overlooked crawlway led to a big breakout. Now (January 2025) there are more than 70 miles of mapped passages, making it the 22nd longest cave in the world. The length alone is remarkable, the result of much hard work by the dedicated mappers, some with more than 80 visits to the cave. But the discovery of artifacts and remains of paleoindians means that the cave needed immediate protection so that these things can be preserved for expert study. The gate we built was an interior gate, in the discovery crawlway, so that the outer part of the cave can still be enjoyed by anyone. Lydia and I agreed unanimously that this was the muddiest project we have ever worked on. All photos © Jim Kennedy, except as noted.

The large, amphitheater-like entrance to the cave. Photo courtesy of Hal Love.
Looking down the steep, wet breakdown slope just inside the entrance. Photo courtesy of Hal Love.
Rachel Saker at the entrance, guiding a steel bar down our complicated rigging. Photo courtesy of Jim Smith.
Another view of the steep entrance breakdown, looking out. This was SO much fun to bring down gear and materials!
I’m helping to move the expanded metal grating into place for the skirting. Note how clean we still are. Photo courtesy of Jim Smith.
Now we have to make that grating fit to the wall. Rare photo of me in action. Photo courtesy of Jim Smith.
It’s super awkward working in a spot where we can’t even sit fully upright. Lydia is a trooper.
The steel gets muddier as the day goes by, the tools get muddier, and we get muddier. So goes the glamorous life of a cave gater.
It was hard to even stay out of the way while Lydia was welding. Note the increased mud levels at this point. And my happy expression. Photo courtesy of Rachel Saker.
As the day went by, the gate slowly took shape. And we learned that Lydia can weld through mud. Photo courtesy of Rachel Saker.
The finished, muddy product. Now off to the next job. Photo courtesy of Rachel Saker.