Alabaster daydreams: caving with Mrs. Chatwin
By Ronnie Walker
On April 1 and 2, Mrs. Chatwin took the AP Environmental Science class on the long-awaited field trip to Alabaster Caves in Freedom, Oklahoma. The class enjoyed camping overnight in a cave, exploring three other caves, hiking, gorgeous photo-ops and much more as they ventured across the Northwestern sector of the state.
Friday Features
The Tallgrass Prairie Reserve north of Pawhuska was the first stop. Ninety six percent of America’s idyllic prairies have been repurposed or destroyed entirely; this reserve accounts for a large portion of the remaining 4%. The windswept plains and free-roaming bison gave students a glimpse into the Great Plains as it existed in a past life.
The next two stops included the Osage Wind Farm and the Byron Fish Hatchery. Students learned more about renewable energy and the fishing industry, respectively.
An especially memorable moment came from visiting the Great Salt Plains State Park just outside of the town of Cherokee, Oklahoma. This park is known for its dried lakebed which became salt flats. In this area, selenite crystals form just beneath the surface layer of salt; these hourglass-shaped crystals cannot be found anywhere else on Earth.
Students did not allow the rain to stop them as they had a cookout at Little Sahara, an area of sand dunes southwest of Waynoka. Afterward, they rode to Alabaster Caves, where they were able to sleep in a cave for the night.
Picture of the group posing outside of Bear Cave taken by Shannon Chatwin.
Saturday Shenanigans
Picture of bison in the Tallgrass Prairie Reserve, taken by Ronnie Walker.
Armed with varying levels of sleep, students set out to tackle the main challenge of the trip, the three caves ahead. Seven gung-ho students tackled Ice Cave, the last and most challenging of the three. All students attempted the first cave, and all but one ventured through the second, which included a claustrophobic water crossing. The muddied clothes of students proudly displayed their climbing, crawling and wading efforts. For most, it was their first caving experience.
Through the mud and chaos, students had an undoubtedly great experience. The last stop was a small hike at Gloss Mountain, providing great views of the surrounding landscape. The trip lived up to the year-long hype, and students especially enjoyed watching the videos of them attempting the water crossing.
Photo of the sunrise at Alabaster Caves on a campsite cliff taken by Ronnie Walker.
Mak Sordo holds selenite crystals she found at the Great Salt Plains State Park in Cherokee, Oklahoma. Taken by Ronnie Walker.