1976-1980 Smithson Valley Spelunking - Brehmer Cave

Brehmer Cave was the largest of two caves on property belonging to Malita Stahl. Brehmer cave had been mined for bat guano back in the 1800s. The Guano was used to make gunpowder.  Guano still covers the floor of most of the cave. I made several trips to this cave from 1976 to 1980 leading students from Smithson Valley High School.  Go Rangers!

Brother Wayne and Jim Bob Barker

The black on the floor is guano

This is the biggest room in the cave

 

Cave man

 

Scorpin on guano

Cave Cricket - most common cave creature in Brehmer Cave

Deeper in the cave(total darkness), creatures have evolved with no eyes and very little or no pigmentation. The term for creatures that have these cave adapted characteristics is Troglobite. This was a rare sighting of a trogobite insect. 

Troglobite Isopod