Penn Bay Toad Haul Cave
Region: Penn Bay
Penn Bay Crack 3 (Toad Haul) –30m long, 52m deep
Most of the coastal caves in the Tsitsikama National Park that we have explored to date have either been active sea caves, or sea caves just above the current sea level. While trying to get access to one of the less public parts of the coast, we happened to walk along the tops of the coastal cliffs, and ended up bundu-bashing through some very tall, dense fynbos. While fighting our way back to the road, I noticed a dark patch just to my left. This turned out to be the entrance to Toad haul. (Also referred to as April Fool in a previous report) With the aid of a towing strap, Stephan Moser was able to explore the first pitch, but did not have enough equipment to descend the second pitch.
The cliffs along this part of the coast are about 160m high, are probably the top of one of the many geological folds in the park. This means that top of the cliff is being stretched, and the tension is being released by cracks forming in the top layer of rock.
We have not yet been able to explore the eastern most pit, but during April 2001, Stephan Moser and I explored and surveyed Toad Haul. The top part of the cave is shallow sloping pit, about 2m wide, that terminates in a steep drop. We rigged two 7m ladders to a tree in the pit, and descended as far as the ladders would allow. In order to continue the descent, we had to attach the rope to the bottom of the ladder, and abseil down the next pitch. The walls of the cave are loose and flaky, and floor is covered in rubble and debris.
The final part of the cave is a very narrow, jagged drop, which ends in small chamber. The floor of the chamber is filled with fine, soft loamy slit. This part of the cave appears to be split into two passages, one above the other, but these are really different parts of the same crack, that has not yet widened in the middle.
This cave is extremely dangerous as the entrance is a deep pit, hidden in thick vegetation. The walls of the cave are very unstable, and the floor is covered with fallen debris.
From the fallen pine trees in the area surrounding the entrance, it appears that a team has attempted to clear the alien vegetation from the Fynbos. As new pine trees are springing up, teams sent into the area should be warned of the presence of the cave, and the danger of falling into the entrance pit.
