Comments on: Are Sinkholes Vacation-Worthy? http://www.roadsideamerica.com/blog/are-sinkholes-vacation-worthy/ Road trip news, rants, and ruminations by the Editors of RoadsideAmerica.com Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:05:45 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Charles http://www.roadsideamerica.com/blog/are-sinkholes-vacation-worthy/comment-page-1/#comment-55 Charles Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:43:42 +0000 http://www.roadsideamerica.com/blog/?p=71#comment-55 If you're a private pilot (with the money for the avgas); take a leisurely flight along the eastern edge of the Caprock. It's a geological formation that marks the eastern edge of the Llano Estacado in the Texas Panhandle. On commercial flights from Lubbock to Abilene I spied several large sinkholes along or near the eastern edge of the Caprock. Wished I had the time to rent a plane and cruise at medium altitude from Lubbock down to Lamesa, Texas. (With a camera and GPS of course!) If you’re a private pilot (with the money for the avgas); take a leisurely flight along the eastern edge of the Caprock. It’s a geological formation that marks the eastern edge of the Llano Estacado in the Texas Panhandle. On commercial flights from Lubbock to Abilene I spied several large sinkholes along or near the eastern edge of the Caprock. Wished I had the time to rent a plane and cruise at medium altitude from Lubbock down to Lamesa, Texas. (With a camera and GPS of course!)

]]> By: Pat http://www.roadsideamerica.com/blog/are-sinkholes-vacation-worthy/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Pat Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:45:56 +0000 http://www.roadsideamerica.com/blog/?p=71#comment-51 You have to be careful around newly collapsed sinkholes--this from a long time cave explorer. The ground around new or expanded sinks in limestone or gypsum rock is usually unstable and the sinkhole can sometimes expand very quickly (see pics of some of the Florida sinkholes or the Wink Sinks on the Web). The Wink Sinks that Russell refers to are expanding rapidly. Stay away! Sinkholes in other areas are likely to be caused by collapsed sewers or other collapsed manmade objects like utility tunnels, pipelines and so forth. The sinkhole on I-70 in Colorado a year or so ago is an example. You have to be careful around newly collapsed sinkholes–this from a long time cave explorer. The ground around new or expanded sinks in limestone or gypsum rock is usually unstable and the sinkhole can sometimes expand very quickly (see pics of some of the Florida sinkholes or the Wink Sinks on the Web). The Wink Sinks that Russell refers to are expanding rapidly. Stay away!

Sinkholes in other areas are likely to be caused by collapsed sewers or other collapsed manmade objects like utility tunnels, pipelines and so forth. The sinkhole on I-70 in Colorado a year or so ago is an example.

]]> By: Vern http://www.roadsideamerica.com/blog/are-sinkholes-vacation-worthy/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Vern Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:24:54 +0000 http://www.roadsideamerica.com/blog/?p=71#comment-36 A good sinkhole would be an attraction. Seen a sinkhole swallow a semi truck in New Brunswick, Canada. Also was doing sharp curves and switchbacks by motorcycle in Colorado when 1/2 my lane was "missing" and almost took the plunge down the mountain side. Missing roads also an attraction! (however unsafe it might be to be near it as it was caused by a slide.) A good sinkhole would be an attraction. Seen a sinkhole swallow a semi truck in New Brunswick, Canada. Also was doing sharp curves and switchbacks by motorcycle in Colorado when 1/2 my lane was “missing” and almost took the plunge down the mountain side. Missing roads also an attraction! (however unsafe it might be to be near it as it was caused by a slide.)

]]> By: Russell http://www.roadsideamerica.com/blog/are-sinkholes-vacation-worthy/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Russell Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:07:55 +0000 http://www.roadsideamerica.com/blog/?p=71#comment-35 I once found myself in West Texas looking for the "Wink Sink", a huge sinkhole outside of Wink, Texas. It took a great deal of meandering down dusty dirt roads and climbing under two chain link fences, but we found it. It was astounding... probably a hundred feet across and deep, in the middle of nowhere. It was a good find. I once found myself in West Texas looking for the “Wink Sink”, a huge sinkhole outside of Wink, Texas. It took a great deal of meandering down dusty dirt roads and climbing under two chain link fences, but we found it. It was astounding… probably a hundred feet across and deep, in the middle of nowhere. It was a good find.

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