Text Version
The sense of wonder and mystery, not knowing what's around the corner. Some fear it; some are
drawn to it. Are you a caver? Read below for an introduction, or go on the
Virtual Cave Tour (same text,
but with pictures).
Enter.
You enter the twilight zone, the zone where light and darkness merge. Immediately, the adaptation process begins.
Some feel claustrophobic, nauseous, or fearful; some anticipate new adventure in a strange land. The separation
of cavers from non-cavers already becomes apparent.
Change.
First, you prepare your light; we are, after all, visually dominant creatures. The most pressing perception is
that of darkness, perhaps aggravated by the frustration of glasses steamed-up from the high humidity. It passes;
and other senses gradually creep into consciousness... the smell of decaying vegetation, the sound of echoes as
people talk and pick their way over loose rocks. A cool stream beckons you to follow.
Adventure.
What the heck; you decide just let your boots get wet and you walk into the stream. The cold water quickly flows
in over your high-top boots, but soon the shock is over and you feel cool, wet, refreshed. You look around, still
adapting to the light; the overwhelming perception of darkness has changed to a realization of the surrounding
space bounded by faint dark walls. That surrounding space continues...where does it lead? You feel compelled to
find out.
A Tactile Experience.
You stoop. You crawl. You slither on your belly and wedge your body through crevices. Your movements negotiate
passage through the unforgiving rock, intensifying the feeling that you are very alive. Goals become extremely
short-term: on your stomach, you dangle your feet over a ledge, carefully feeling for that essential foot-hold.
You've made it through that second hole connecting the main passage with the stream passage.
Reality Check.
You emerge from a tight passage; the way on opens wider and taller. Feeling more confident, you walk on, quickly,
through winding passage, looking forward into the darkness. Slip-WHAM! You slip on a muddy rock, slamming your
shoulder into a rock projecting from the wall. Pain ensues, intense at first, then subsiding in diminishing waves.
After sputtering some expletives, you regain composure.
Concentrate.
You're tired from pulling your legs through the mud. Your senses disheveled, you must focus on the most simple
tasks, such as placing one foot in front of the other. The next step might be on a slippery, loose rock; one oversight
might send you plummeting face-first into a ruthless, hard projection. Although the outside world's noise has been
reduced, you have been forced to concentrate even harder on the basics.
You follow a sinuous canyon passage which narrows to a belly crawl, then suddenly opens into an 80-feet high dome. Stop. Take a rest and experience your surroundings. The absence of noisy sensual overload amplifies more basic, pure experiences. Allow yourself the feel of a cheek pressed against cool, wet scalloped limestone. A few grains of sand between the teeth result in a loud, resonant, grating sound through your entire skull as you gently grind your teeth.
Where the water drops into a pool, you see some rare cave pearls. You briefly entertain the idea of taking just one or two to display for your friends; but then realize that these are living, precious, timeless treasures, most beautiful when in their birthplace. You remember the creed, "take nothing but pictures..."
Awe.
The urge to continue grows; so you pull yourself up, crawl out and upward into another sinuous but dry passage,
finally emerging into a room labeled on your map as "the inner sanctum." The room is full of formations.
Always a pleasure, often an inspiration to the soul, formations suggest that the earth itself is alive. They grow
up, down, sideways, around; they're small, large, curved, flat, wet, smooth, rough...the descriptions are endless.
Cavers have taken countless photographs trying to capture the beauty of formations; but no photograph is as precious as a formation in its natural setting, millions of years in the making. You are gazing into the past in a way not easily done back on the surface. Suddenly, you appreciate how delicate the cave environment is...although made of seemingly indestructable rock and water, any damage, no matter how small, is permanent, at least in terms of human lifetimes. The caves are old, wise, and delicate; you show your respect with a moment of silence.
Silence.
You get situated in a comfortable reclining position and close your eyes. Water drips slowly from a suspended formation
into a small pool; the vibrant echo is swallowed by darkness and silence so deep that the imagination strains to
fill the void.
Water.
You descend through a hole in the floor to the water and head upstream, following the sound of a gentle waterfall
for what seems an extraordinarily long time. Finally you approach the falls, which cascade pleasantly over some
ledges.
Off to your left is a room with a serene pool, isolated from stream's flow. It's too inviting; you must go see it. This is like heaven IN earth; you lose track of time as you wander about the room. You take time for a refreshing in the pool before proceeding.
Squeeze.
The squeeze. Not found in commercial caves, but almost inevitable in wild caves. It usually requires re-configuring
of the arms and chest and an extra push. For those not prone to claustrophobia and very determined, an exhale to
reduce body size may help them to get to the passage beyond.
A tip: coveralls help reduce the problem of losing your pants when pulling throug a squeeze.
Swim.
You illuminate the water from underneath with your flashlight for added glowing effect. The room is large, and
the echoes make it seem even larger. Removing your clothes so as to minimize introduction of mud and debris, you
slip into the crystal clear water. It is breathtakingly cold, but invigorates you as a chill travels up your spine.
Passages.
Alas, it's time to go. Wet and refreshed, you backtrack, noting that the entire cave looks different when travelling
the opposite direction. Returning to a large room filled with large boulders (breakdown) you become confused. Where
did you come into that room? You can't remember, because you failed to look backwards when you burst into the room
hours ago. Lost! No, you tell yourself. You merely need to maintin control, think, remember where you are now,
and methodically try alternative passages in search of familiar landmarks.
The complexity of caves passages can be deceiving. When travelling down a passage, it seems simple: a beginning, an end, and perhaps an occasional intersection. However, memories are fallable; they are subject to loss and change due to time, stress, interference, rationalization, and so on. But eventually, after methodical exploration, you recognize the passage home and proceed.
Exit.
You approach the exit, excited, relieved, or perhaps reluctant if you're a "born caver." The quality
of the air changes...the scent of fertile earth returns, the air smells sweet and richer than you remember upon
entering. Your clothes are muddy, wet, and heavy; but you hardly notice. Your clothes and hair are covered with
mud--an unthinkable situation yesterday is now trivial.
Afterthoughts.
As you wash the mud off equipment, clothes, and perhaps the upholstry on your car, you may revel in the memory
of the mud, or may think that all of it was a miserable waste of time. In either case, your muscles are stiff and
sore in places you never knew you had muscles. Again, the separation of cavers from non-cavers is evident. Think
you want to try it again? Call your caving partner(s). You may be surprised they're eager to go again. This weekend.
Or Tonight.
Conserve. Organize. Enjoy.
Most cavers wish the caves and caving experiences could last forever. Many try to make it so by supporting cave
education, safety, and conservation. If you have any interest in caving, please contact organized cavers; they
exist on international, national, and local levels. Some are oriented toward recreation, some exploration and mapping,
some research; and all conscientious cavers and organizations are mindful of conservation. Start your search with
these caving links. And please, cave softly.