Last Updated 4:43 pm PST Wednesday, November 1, 2006

http://www.sacbee.com/401/story/11553-p2.html

The cave's name, he explained, stems from days gone by, when a moaning
sound above ground could be heard from as far as a quarter-mile.
Rainwater falling through the main chamber would strike water-filled
holes -- their openings the size of dollar coins, perhaps -- scattered
over a bumpy but somewhat-level calcite formation also near the
observation ledge. The echoing plop, or plunk, noise would escape up
through the chamber and ground-level gap, emerging as a moan.

Now, however, the gift shop rests atop that hole, and a 100-foot
spiral staircase that was installed in 1922 further squelches those
once-moaning acoustics.

Informative, imaginative and -- when all sources of light were
extinguished -- scary, Roser's tour also benefited from his good
humor. Pointing to a wall that loomed out over the observation ledge,
he said its rather large cracks "were a bit bigger than they were this
morning."

Not to worry. "There's a new insurance policy here at the cavern," he
told the group. "It's through Prudential. So if that wall falls down,
we'll all be covered by a piece of the rock."

And for just a moment, Moaning Cavern became a groaning cavern.

Those who are interested in a more interactive exploration of Moaning
Cavern can pay $35 to rappel from the hole at the gift shop down
through the main chamber to the observation ledge, where they would
join the walking tour. All equipment and instruction are provided; no
experience is necessary. For $75, visitors can take the three-hour
Adventure Tour into deeper and unlighted parts of the cave structure.
Reservations are required for the Adventure Tour.

The main chamber walking tour, which I took, costs $7.75 for adults,
$4 for children ages 3 to 13 and is offered daily, upon demand, even
if the demand consists of just one visitor.

California Cavern, also in Calaveras County, about a 40-minute drive
from Moaning Cavern, contains miles of paths and several deep lakes.
That water, which Moaning Cavern does not contain in such significant
amount, causes passageways to flood during the rainy season, thereby
interrupting public access. Boyden Cavern, about two hours east of
Fresno, is closed from November through April because of cold-weather
road conditions.

For information about any of the three Caverns of California, call
(209) 736-2708 or visit the Web site (www.caverntours.com).

Travel wise: Northern California caverns

Moaning Cavern ways and means: Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day,
including holidays. From Sacramento, take Highway 99 south, then
Highway 4 east toward Angels Camp, turn right on Highway 4/49 at
Angels Camp, and turn left when Highway 4 veers east again. After a
few miles, a sign will direct you toward Moaning Cavern, which is 6
miles from Angels Camp near the hamlet of Vallecito.

For more information about Moaning Cavern, California Cavern in Cave
City or Boyden Cavern in Kings Canyon National Park, call (209)
736-2708 or visit the Web site (www.caverntours.com).

Other Northern California caverns: Mercer Caverns, just outside
Murphys near Moaning Cavern; daily tours year-round; (209) 728-2101 or
www.mercercaverns.com. Lake Shasta Caverns, O'Brien; tours by
reservation that include a 15-minute catamaran ride across the lake
and a 10-minute bus ride to the caverns; tours at 10 a.m., noon and 2
p.m. daily until March 31, more frequently during the spring, summer
and fall; (800) 795-2283 or caladventures.com/ShastaCaverns.htm.