Sunday, October 11, 2020

Exploring Barton Creek Cave No. 3 with Michael Mixerr.

Barton Creek Cave No. 3 is one of the lesser known caves of Austin/Travis County. This cave is one of the more hidden caves of Barton Creek Preserve. This news article will explain Michael Mixerr’s experience of finding this cave. This news article will also explain the biology and geology behind Barton Creek Cave No. 3.

On the date of October 3, 2020, Michael Mixerr of Mixerr Reviews explored around Barton Creek Cave No. 3 in Barton Creek Preserve while during a caving outing. Barton Creek Cave No. 3 is difficult to enter to due to the location being on the wall of a cliff.

Barton Creek Cave No. 3 is located just upstream from Barton Creek Cave No. 2 on the Urban Assault Wall above Barton Creek in Gus Fruh Park and Barton Creek Preserve. There is an entry located 30 feet above creek level that connects to a crawlway that is 109 feet long in length and diameter. (Ref: https://www.tcmacaves.org/download/87/capital-caver/2056/the-capital-caver-4.pdf)

Now the rock formation of this cave is native limestone. Many caves in Central Texas have a rock formation of native limestone. The primary type of rock formation you will expect to see inside and outside of this cave is native limestone. Stalagmites have formed inside of this cave.

Barton Creek Cave No. 3 is located just upstream from Barton Creek Cave No. 2 on the Urban Assault Wall above Barton Creek in Gus Fruh Park and Barton Creek Preserve. There is an entry located 30 feet above creek level that connects to a crawlway that is 109 feet long in length and diameter. The crawlway is located under an overhang in a shaded area. (Ref: https://www.tcmacaves.org/download/87/capital-caver/2056/the-capital-caver-4.pdf)



This cliffside cave is not visible to the naked eyes from a far distance from Barton Creek as the high distance above the ground makes accessibility difficult for many people. The distance above the ground is what makes accessibility difficult for many people. Even cavers have a hard time climbing to get into Barton Creek Cave No. 3. The view from looking outside this cave is similar to an aerial view. The crawlway located under an overhang in a shaded area makes public viewing difficult. The entrance to this cave can be seen about 30 feet above ground.  (Ref: https://www.texasspeleologicalsurvey.org/PDF/TSS_Volume1/TSS%201(1)%20compressed.pdf)

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