The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-07-17
ice CAVES NORTH
SaOSHONE DRAWS
THRONCS VISITORS
Increasing Numbers Come Every
Week-enu From Distant
Points
(from shoshone Journal)

Probably not less than a hundred
people visited the Shoshone ice cave.
north of here, during the day last
Sunday This was not unusual, as
from two to dozen or more automo-
biles may be seen parked at the en-
trance TO the lava burns, in which
the cave is located on any Sunday.
There were many visitors last Friday
and Saturday as we'll as sunday some
of the sightseers coming from as
far as Twin Falls and American Falls
II see this great natural phenomen-
on.
The cave is located 20 miles north
of Shoshone, on the Zimmerman hill
road from here to Hailey--the high
way that gets most or the travel up
the valley at this time OF the year.
The cave is easily accessible. Tour
lists should turn out into the trail
leading out from the highway to the
point Of the lava burns, at the west
side of the highway. This point is
not easily missed. as tne lava burns
are almost at the roadside, and the
trail road leading out to them is
only about hundred yards length.
From the point of the lava burns
IL is necessary TO make the rest or
the journey by trip by foot, the dis
lance being about mile. A foot
path or trail which Is plainly visible
leads ont around the south side OF
the burns. From the point where the
path becomes indistinct one must foi-
low the line of monuments--smal
flat rocks placed one upon the other
like sheepherder's trail markers.
This line leads meanderingly west
Along this trail may be seen many
things of interest. There are dozen
or more crater holes" which are
probably anything but craters. They
apear to be huge holes left from the
bursting of huge bubbles of molten
lava. Some of them are as deep as
SO feet. Two of these are connected
by a passage which is almost cave
IN itself, and is in reality natural
bridge, perhaps so feet in width.
Most of the lava over which one pass
esis in layers OF a thickness not great
ar than six inches anG IS very porous
and light.
The entrance to the ice cave lies at
the west side of the bottom OF oneoI
these so-called craters. The broad
arched doorway is not hard TO see
and not difficult to reach, though OF
course stout shoes and rough eio-
thing are the proper equipment LOT
the job. s
The floor OF the entrance is covered
with ice, this entrance or hali"ay
extending back about 8 feet, 10 the
point where q drop of about IL rect
must be made to get into the main
room of the cave. This decent Is not
particularly difficult. with the ladder
that is provided.
The main passage-way stretches
perhaps 100 yards, though there
are various passages and rooms lead
ing from 1t, of varied and unknown
length The floors OF solid ice l
throughout. most of the walls are Oh
snowy white with frost ana Ice
Some of the rooms have ceilings 10
feet in height. 49,
Artificial light is needed to 90
the cave. Lanterns and gas hghts
are good. though strong flashlights
that will throw light ror distance
are the best. Last Sunday parties
who had presumably forgotten ilgnts
built a FIRE in the lower part OF the
cave and made it disagreeabie for
later visitors.
-
The road leading into the lava
burns could be extended a short
distance, a big sign placed at the
p,int where fhe trail Naves the
highway and little signs all along
che foot path, and q better ladder
provided in the cave-and the cost
would be very slight. II would be
OF great help to the constant throns
OF cave visitors. which includes not
only the frst-timers, but the many
people OF this community who con-
L. cd