Due to the excessive rain throughout the day we were unable to go to our planned cave. This cave is easily flooded and we would be standing in waist deep water for hours at a time. Instead our instructors chose another cave for us to explore, Ellisons Cave. This cave is home to Fantastic Pit, the deepest pit in the continental US, at 586 feet. However that drop requires much more experience than we currently have. Instead our plan was to drop a smaller pit in the cave, at 125 feet.
So we packed our gear and headed out. After parking we began a steep 3/4 mile hike to the cave entrance. We entered the cave around 5 pm, Friday April 4th. No one knew the adventure we were about to have. After caving to the pit, we rigged a rope for descent. This particular pit has a waterfall that comes down opposite the side of the pit we rappel down, however the mist still greatly chills any person in the vicinity. For anyone who has vertical caved before, you can imagine how long it takes to rappel 16 people into a pit. Our 4 horizontal cavers did not have the same experience we did, or the same gear. They rappelled on rock climbing rappel devices.
Within this cave we explored back to a 20 foot wall where we climbed in groups. At the top of this climb we were led back to Fantastic Pit. I can truly say that I have never been so in awe of a cave as when I leaned over the edge, safely clipped in of course, and listened to the sound of dropping a rock nearly 600 feet. The silence seemed to last forever before the rock finally hit bottom and echoed the noise back to us. Someday I plan to drop that pit, but for now I need to keep training.
We walked back to the 20 foot wall and I was the last one to rappel down. By now hours had passed since we entered the cave, but having no watch I had no idea just how many hours. We made our way back to the original pit, where some students had already ascended and prepared rigging for our ascent. Most simply explained, our horizontal students did not have the knowledge or gear to ascend themselves up the pit. Therefore one climber would be tethered to a "patient" and using counter balance system the climber would lift the "patient" as they climbed. By using this system, if the climber went up one foot, they would then drop 6 inches while the "patient" went up 6 inches. This means that by the end of the 125 foot climb, the climber actually went 250 feet.
So our 4 "patients" paired with the 4 chosen climbers, me being one of them. I can without a doubt say that this was the most strenuous workout I've ever had. Already being hungry, tired, cold, and wet; I was ready to give my last bit of strength to make it to the top. I climbed and climbed, probably close to 30 minutes from getting on rope to off rope at the top. When I was nearly at the top of the pit I had the most intense life-flashing-before-my-eyes moment I've ever experienced. I had just reached the point of the pit where I was no longer hanging in midair. I was able to touch the wall, but just barely and only with my hands as my feet were still dangling. Suddenly my hands began to slide down the wall and I grasped to hold on. For a few terrifying seconds I was free falling and my first thought was that the rope had broke and I would now be falling over 100 feet. Then the movement stopped and I tried to make sense of the situation. Turns out my "patient" had gotten a foot hold and stood up, causing the rope to slack and me to go down. After taking a minute to calm my nerves I finished the last bit of the ascent. I then proceeded to lay down to rest and catch my breath.
At this point I was given the first realization of how long we had been caving. It was well past midnight before I began my climb. It was finally April 5, my 23rd birthday; and it began in a cave. The last 2 groups ascended and we took down the rigging and hiked out. We exited the cave just before 4 am. After 1 1/2 hour drive back to camp we were thoroughly exhausted. Our original plan for the day had been to wake up at 5 am for the next cave, but this plan was quickly changed. Once we parked outside our camp, most people had no energy to even walk the short path to camp. We tried to sleep in the vehicles, but one by one we found our way to our sleeping bags. By the time I made it back to my hammock it was about 6:30 am.
I slept soundly that morning, until 10:30 am when we were all awoken to start our day. This was done with loud singing and swinging of hammocks, until we reluctantly crawled out and gathered to start our day. While all tired we were able to have an amazing rest of the day. We left for our 2nd cave around 1:30 pm and caved until 8 pm. This cave had some of the most amazing formations I've ever seen, all preserved in a perfect state. I saw things I had never seen before, such as cave pearls. This cave was easier to access, with no pits to drop and most areas able to walk through without bending down.
While an incredible cave, over 30 miles mapped and more unexplored, we were all ready to eat and rest. We ended our caving at sunset and drove to a nearby Mexican restaurant. There was no shortage of people letting the waiter know that it was my birthday, and after supper I was sung to by the waiters and then my group, given an ice cream sundae and whipped cream in my face. The day ended around midnight and we spent our last night at camp. We awoke at 7 am to break camp and clean gear before disembarking.
All in all I would not change one bit of the day or the weekend. The group have become close friends and I look forward to our next trip together, although it will only be a portion of the same students. I can truly say that this is a birthday I will not soon forget; filled with adventure, friends, many laughs, many songs, and a little danger thrown in for excitement. Wishing for another year of thrills and fun, meeting new friends and making memories every step of the way.
