Took the scouts camping this weekend. We went to Government Cave, which is almost exactly 50 miles West of Blackfoot. I'd been there once before, on my bike, but I had some directions and gps coordinates and was meeting another group there but that was 5 years ago. In the daylight. We left Friday in the dark, and it took us a while to get there. Lots of rough desert road and we could only go about 10 mph for the last several miles. With a little luck, a map, a gps that kept telling us to turn around, and spotty cell / data service, we eventually found it.
![20151120_194242](https://dorkpunch.smugmug.com/Other/Scouting/i-p6PMw54/0/XL/20151120_194242-XL.jpg)
Just a hole in the otherwise pretty flat ground. It's a really cool cave though- It drops about a hundred feet over bouldery rock falls and levels out. There are two wings- the right fork only goes in a couple hundred feet and tapers off to nothing. It's got a great floor though, so thats where we set up camp.
![20151120_201511](https://dorkpunch.smugmug.com/Other/Scouting/i-KMK24QG/0/XL/20151120_201511-XL.jpg)
We were intruding on lots of these guys, but they were OUT. Don't think they'll be moving until spring.
![20151120_201601](https://dorkpunch.smugmug.com/Other/Scouting/i-cTGCg6s/0/XL/20151120_201601-XL.jpg)
Looking back up the cave towards the rock fall / entrance. Its a lava tube cave- formed thousands of years ago from molten lava flowing through the ground like an underground river.
![20151121_071450](https://dorkpunch.smugmug.com/Other/Scouting/i-z2W9zH7/0/XL/20151121_071450-XL.jpg)
About 4 in the morning, we had a visitor. This little (big) guy decided to go on a chip run and woke us up crunching away on the potato chips. Wasn't scared of anything, either!
![20151121_045801](https://dorkpunch.smugmug.com/Other/Scouting/i-HxBgcjm/0/XL/20151121_045801-XL.jpg)
Tried to take a bite out of the boot, then mustve smelled my granola bars 'cause he headed over to me-
Stuck his head in that yellow bag about 6 inches from my face and wouldn't leave for anything until I popped him one on the backside.
Morning finally came, although you wouldn't know it!
Sunrise on the desert.
It was CHILLY...
![20151121_073819](https://dorkpunch.smugmug.com/Other/Scouting/i-WxbttmS/0/XL/20151121_073819-XL.jpg)
Fried up some of Kenny's Ca-ca for breakfast and wrapped em up for breakfast burritos.
![20151121_075156](https://dorkpunch.smugmug.com/Other/Scouting/i-4w8L52J/0/XL/20151121_075156-XL.jpg)
After breakfast, it was time to head back in and explore the LONG fork of the cave.
![20151121_073230](https://dorkpunch.smugmug.com/Other/Scouting/i-6ZvrC96/0/XL/20151121_073230-XL.jpg)
So you head back in there a ways down the left fork, and you come to this:
![20151121_084626](https://dorkpunch.smugmug.com/Other/Scouting/i-sbqGtfg/0/XL/20151121_084626-XL.jpg)
Once you get through this little bottle neck (only about 10 feet long) it opens WAY up. Hard to see but I'm guessing its 30 feet tall through a long portion of it.
You get to go up to lava spills which are kind of cool.
At the very back is a guest book, and the cave just kinda ends. Lots of dirt back there.
![20151121_085901](https://dorkpunch.smugmug.com/Other/Scouting/i-GhCghMG/0/XL/20151121_085901-XL.jpg)
Headed back out. This is at the top of the back lava spill, with a big cavern at the bottom.
Planking, of all places...
![20151121_090732](https://dorkpunch.smugmug.com/Other/Scouting/i-B8JDrvd/0/XL/20151121_090732-XL.jpg)
Other lava spill. Looks like concrete!
![20151121_090759](https://dorkpunch.smugmug.com/Other/Scouting/i-XnLPL65/0/XL/20151121_090759-XL.jpg)
Back to the front, on the way up. Can finally see daylight at the top of the rock falls!
![20151121_092032](https://dorkpunch.smugmug.com/Other/Scouting/i-Z59msvc/0/XL/20151121_092032-XL.jpg)
All present and accounted for, time to head home!
![20151121_092445](https://dorkpunch.smugmug.com/Other/Scouting/i-gC4KDQB/0/XL/20151121_092445-XL.jpg)
Great trip. Perfect for "winter" camping- it was CHILLY in the morning, but in the cave we stayed nice and warm. Guessing it was around 50 degrees. Can't wait to go back next year!