TR203

[DavidR]

I'm just getting a chance to post my TR203 hike. This is a really cool trail! Easy to follow and full of very interesting pois. I started from the North end and hiked to the Borden Creek TH. Like Eric & I had discussed in an older thread, many of the caves I thought I knew of are either vents from Borden Cave or entrances to it. I did find a few more caves, but they may well link to Borden. I will have to say that this trail has more switchbacks than any I know of in Bankhead.

Map here: http://www.alabamatentandtrail.com/

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[vapor]

i've spent a couple of hours in the opening shown in your bottom left pic as once inside it opens to a couple of decent size rooms, both of which have multiple choice passageways. i have heard this may be the backside entrance to the borden cave but i haven't been on the other side to confirm. sadly with the cave ban it is likely noone will ever get to explore these again. there has been no proof that people are spreading white nose syndrome & that it is more likely being spread by the bats themselves during migration. caves will be closed forever:(

[DavidR]

Cool info. I have reports to many openings to Borden along this trail, including the one you mention. I'm with you on the cave ban.

[rhc124]

Been in that cave many many times back in the 70's and early 80,s and was fortunate to take some of my neighbors to it back in 2008 before the ban. It is a great cave to take kids to. I do know of three other entrances besides the main mine entrance. I'm pretty sure I could still find two of them but not the third.

I know a lot of people on here refer to this cave as "Borden cave" but we always called it the Saltpeter Mine Cave. 

[mikej1723]

Cool pics! I agree with you guys on the cave ban. This whole thing has been taken too far. The people they are banning are the ones who respect the caves and would try to enjoy and protect them. The vandals who graffiti the caves and destroy the cave environment are the ones still going in regardless of the ban. They need to find some common ground so the caves and can be enjoyed and protected.

[canyonman]

White nose syndrome is a potential ecological disaster. It is still not clear how it is spread. Under the circumstances, the cave ban is perfectly reasonable. See: http://wcnrc.blogspot.com...ticle-local-wildlife.html

[vapor]

While I like to cave I also understand the concern of WNS & have personally donated money White Nose Syndrome Rapid Response Fund. I would recommend anyone wishing to help fund research to do so as well.

http://www.caves.org/WNS/Rapid_Response.shtml