"The ultima Thule of Anglo-Saxon civilization" – Porte Crayon

"We entered a glade of singular beauty, hemmed in between a steep and rugged hillside and a savage forest of dark-browed hemlocks. It lies soft and smiling as the ornamental grounds around some sweet cottage home; the turf, green and smooth as a velvet carpet, dotted over with blossoming thorns; while through the midst winds the sparkling amber-tinted stream of Gandy. Looking up the glen, the vista is bright as fairyland, ending with a distant glimpse of the blue hills. Turning downstream, a grim menacing cliff rises athwart the glen, closing it suddenly and shocking you with its unexpected propinquity. At its base is an arched opening fifty feet wide by about twenty feet in height – a gaping mouth which swallows the little river at a gulp. There is no gurgling nor choking, but the stream glides in gently and lovingly, like a young snake running down its mother’s throat to sleep. Since Gandy left her mother fountains her course has been exceptionally bright and beautiful. Unshadowed by gloomy forests, unvexed by ugly driftwood, the gay brunette has leaped and danced through sun-lit glades, just teased enough by moss-clad rocks and picturesque roots to make her laugh and show her dimples to advantage.

In the midst of her joyous life suddenly the dark cavern yawns before her like the jaws of death. Without a doubt or shudder, like an unconscious child she enters the untried mysteries of the hidden world."

These were the words of David Hunter Strother, who wrote fascinating tales of the West Virginia mountains under the pen name Porte Crayon. He was the first writer on record to visit the Sinks of Gandy.

The Sinks of Gandy is formed in the Union Member of the Greenbrier Formation. The soluble limestone, dissolved over millions of years, formed the cavern, which acts as a conduit to carry the waters of Gandy Creek, 1.54 miles under Yokum Knob. The Greenbrier Limestone found in the area also makes for prime agricultural land. During the earliest days of settlement it was discovered that a natural bluegrass grew wherever the forest was cleared. This led to a widespread practice of girdle and burn. The pioneer settlers would girdle the trees to kill them and a year later set fire to the dead forest allowing the nutritious grass to seed in naturally. The sheep and cattle pastures remain to this day. The wide-open country it creates is almost out of character in the mostly forested mountains of West Virginia.

The property on the upstream end is owned by the Teter Family, and that at the exit is owned by the Tinglers. Both these families are extremely generous in allowing virtually unlimited access to the cave, which is extremely popular with spelunkers. The temperature inside the cave is between 55-60 degrees F.

Universally accepted caving rules call for each person to wear a hard hat and have at least three light sources. This usually consists of a headlamp, a hand held flashlight and a candle with matches or lighter.

We met in the parking lot at Spruce Knob Lake at Noon Saturday 24th. By 12:30 we were ready to head over to Osceola and begin our trek through this amazing geological feature. Our trip leader was Barnes Nugent, a geologist at the West Virginia Geological Survey at Mt. Chateau on Cheat Lake. Many folks brought their own helmets and such, but with 23 participants, it was a good thing Barnes brought sacks full of helmets and enough headlamps and glow sticks for everyone, courtesy of the Survey.

With temperatures in the upper 80's the cool air and water of the cave was refreshing. Exploring the "Sinks" requires one to get wet and muddy, and that we did. Although the water was less than waste deep if you negotiated it properly many got in much deeper.. We walked along sandy shores, scrambled over rocks and logs, and experienced the complete darkness of "lights out." The wet clay was so slimy in places traction was hard to find. At the resurgence, we had the choice of a "dry" or "wet" exit. We split up, and half of us opted for the 50 yard swim out of the cave. Back in the sunshine, the heat is really noticeable. We all cleaned up in the creek, before skirting the slopes of Yokum Knob on our way back to the cars where Kathy Furbee provided a toast of Blueberry wine. _