Day 3-Cave of Misery!!!!

Cave of Misery!!!! So says Geoffrey. Truly an experience the scouts will not forget. We arrived at Mammoth Cave Rangers station after a rough night in the torrential rains. Had reservations for 12 scouts and adults for the Introduction to caving. Wanted to have 14 of us go on the tour but because it is such and exclusive tour they are limited and would only take 13 or us along. Mr. Miles and Mr. Seibt were self elected to stay behind. Met with Emily and Sue our Ranger guides (they can be seen in our group photo). Unlike the adult leaders, our guides were fit and able to squeeze through the damp tortuous passages with ease. As this is rugged inner cave terrain we had to dress in appropriate gear. High light for Hank as he was able to wear knee pads, coverall clothes, Bandana “do Rag”, Helmet, head light, and gloves.
We took a bus over to the “new” entrance to the cave. This new entrance was dynamited in the 1920s to open a passage by a private land owner so he could capitalize on the tourism industry of the era. At the new entrance we walked down 15 flights of stairs and cat walks to get into the cave. Our first obstacle was called simply “the test” Only about 15 minutes into the cave. If one could not make this there was no reason to keep going. The test was a knee passage that opened into a manhole size cavern. Scouts had to crawl here, stand at arrival and contort your body up into unseen space. Needing three point touching through the test hole. This was Ethan’s Challenge. After several minutes of coaxing him into the dark unknown abyss, he never looked back and was up for anything to come. As you came into this space, the cavern opened on the other side into a gothic church style chamber. Cold, dark, damp and a relief. Multiple mice like maze passages were traversed. Climbing, crawling, and hitting your helmet on the roof of the passage. Should not feed scouts beef jerky the night prior for now known obvious reasons. We had to butt slide down chute like passages only to have to “boulder” to other side. Saw cave crickets and cave beetles as well as multiple rock formations through out the trip. We could not touch the stalactite and stalagmite formations that have formed over the previous centuries. Several small injuries occurred in the the cave. More to pride, ego, and pushing the limits of the scouts than any physical problems. Sick to the stomach, hit knee, twisted ankle, several tears were seen throughout, leading up to the “key hole” passage. 100 yard belly crawl leading to horse trough size cave puddle. Through the full trough of water and into the key hole. The only exit available. The Key hole sits three feet in the air over top a slick lime stone outcropping of rocks. Having to turn your head sideways through the hole first, followed by your slithering body through the trough of mud, over the out cropping and to the other side. High fives, hugs, and pats on the back to each as they exited the key hole. Emotionally draining high, and bonding experience by the scouts as they realized what they just experienced and accomplished!!

(as told by Mr. H)