Echo Halt Cave

Length: 130m | Grade: 5D | Surveyed: 1983-01-08

Anthony Hitchcock and Peter Swart, 10 July 2002

Extension: TBD

Introduction

The first reference to Echo Halt was made by John Meyer in his diary entry dated 25th August 1936. He mentions visiting the place and painting the name. It was not until February 1937 that he records the discovery of the cave in these words,

'I went to Echo Halt this afternoon and crawled under the rock and discovered a new grotto, 30ft. long,
from six to 12ft. wide, and 6 to 15 ft. high. I also discovered another grotto connected to this.’

Meyer named the second grotto Echo Halt extension.

Description

These two caves are situated on the northern side of Cave Peak half way between Harry’s Halt and the Amphitheatre.

Echo Halt

A large buttress of rock protruding from the cliffline easily defines the location of Echo Halt. There is a large alcove at its entrance that has been blackened by fires. The entrance to the cave is low with a sandy floor. The main passage is a mere 10m in from the cliff and runs parallel to it. The passage extends for 10m to the right and closes down. It continues to the left for about 15m, but then becomes too small to continue. A short 5m extension opposite the entrance slopes down to a small water filled passage or sump, which is too small to explore. The main passage of Echo Halt varies in size, but is about 3m wide for most of its length and varies in height from 7m at its highest to between 1.5 - 2m high.

Echo Halt Extension

The entrance to this cave is about 30m to the southeast and at the same level. It is low and wide with a dry sandy floor. Like Echo Halt the entrance passage penetrates the rock for 10m and then has a main passage oriented parallel to the cliff. A short passage closes down to a narrow tunnel on the right while the left-hand passage ends in a low sand plug after 10m. The floor of this section is littered with rock and was named ‘Breakdown Passage’. This was the status of these caves until early 1983 when members of the South African Spelaeological Association went to explore and survey the systems.

Survey and Exploration

On the 18th January 1983, Anthony Hitchcock, Chris Larkin, Peter Swart and Kevin Richardson entered the caves armed with compass, clinometer and tape planning to survey the systems. This is a significant date as it heralded the beginning of Peter Swart’s illustrious career as cave surveyor and cartographer. They soon widened the connection between the two caves and then focussed on a 15cm high passage at the end of ‘Breakdown Passage’. The floor consisted of deep soft sand and was easily removed. Ninety minutes of digging and 5m later they broke through into new passage where they could stand up. A small passage to the left ended in a boulder choke, which was emitting a draft. The main passage continued straight ahead and soon split into three. The left passage also ended in a boulder choke also emitting a draft. The other two soon closed down ending in silted up small chambers.

A small aven was discovered near the end, which proved too small to enter. On the 16th April 1983, the explorers returned and managed to widen the constriction and enter the aven. Peter Swart climbed into the aven to find a small chamber 1.5m wide and 2m high. Short tight passages lead off, but soon close down. The combined passages were measured to be a little more than 100m long.

Fauna

Cave crickets and some spiders.

Safety

This is a horizontal cave and not regarded as dangerous. At worst someone might get stuck in one of the tight passages.

Mythology

John Meyer created a story around the echo that can be made outside the cave and wrote a short poem for his own amusement.

Echo Halt Poem

Some Echo

If you the rock-nymph’s ire inflame
By rudely bawling out her name
And shouting at her: “Echo!”
You’ll hear an answer from the stone
The last two syllables alone
Of: “Wil jy maar jou Bek Hou”. (Will you keep quiet?)

Extract from Fire Protection Booklet

A short climb leads to "Echo Halt". This is an open cave with a large chamber 65 feet in length behind it. This is reached by a 20 foot crawl starting under the right-hand corner. From the inner cave a difficult passage leads to a smaller chamber where water is usually found. From the S.E. corner of the big chamber a passage estimated to be 70 feet in length leads to a cave called "Echo Halt Extension". Only one person, a schoolboy of fourteen, has passed through this passage. The extension can, of course, be visited from outside.

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