Step a side Cave

Surveyed: 1984-04-16

Anthony Hitchcock and Peter Swart, TBD

Extension: TBD

Introduction

John Meyer’s first reference to this cave is in 1924 at which time he called it ‘The Twin Grottoes’ and painted its name at the entrance. In 1936 he mentions painting the name Step Aside.

Description

The entrance to Step Aside is located at the base of a low cliff high up on the north side of Cave Peak and almost above Echo Halt. It is assumed that the name refers its location, which is a step aside from Echo Halt. It is a very small horizontal grotto consisting of two short passages set at right angles to each other. A 10m passage leads straight into the cliff and closes down. The second passage runs left of the first and is parallel to the cliff. It starts as a 1m wide by 1.5m high sandy passage opening up after about 15m into a small chamber with its floor sloping gently upwards. The chamber is about 3m wide and 10m long ending suddenly. In winter a little streamlet flows into this passage and soaks away into the sand in the chamber.

Survey

Anthony Hitchcock and Peter Swart surveyed the cave on the 16th April 1984. It is about 35m long and does not show any potential. On arriving at the cave to survey it, the survey team snapped into action and made tea. While the kettle was boiling, Honey the labrador, and Lobka the beagle, could not wait for the surveyors, and disappeared into the cave, their panting growing fainter and fainter until it could be heard no more. After a while, the dogs returned to laze in the sun while the surveyors set about their task.