I first visited Fry Lake Cave 59 years ago. It was a beautiful cave then. Unfortunately, this cave is located close to a place where bush parties occur, and it has suffered. As you go into this hole now, the first thing you notice is the broken beer bottles and trash. Then you see that all cave formations that could be removed have been.
I was 8 years old when I first saw this hole, l was going to spend the weekend at a cabin up on Paterson Lake, the cabin was the home of an elderly couple my dad was friends with, and they had asked me to join them for the weekend. Paddy and his wife had an old international truck that was pretty awesome, on the way up, we stopped on the side of the road, Paddy pulled out a flashlight for me, and he strapped on an old carbide miner’s light and told me to follow him. Just off the road was a hole in the ground, l followed Paddy in and was amazed at just how awesome caves are. I do believe the caving bug bit me that day.
Over the next few years, Paddy showed a number of caves located in the Paterson Lake area. He found another carbide light for my use and took me on various underground adventures. Never knew my grandparents, but Paddy and his wife filled that role for me.