31 Days of Halloween

Day Seventeen: Cave Expedition, Part One

I had always wanted to see the beauty of Earth. I've been to see Maccha Picchu and took pictures on the steps. I've ridden camels in the Sahara Desert and slept under the naked sky in only the clothes on my back. I've explored jungles and the Serengeti, I've been to the coldest reaches Mother Nature offers. But there's one thing I've never done.

A friend told me about a spelunking trip he had taken a few years ago, down into a hidden cave where you could swim if so tempted. It sounded like an amazing adventure and I booked the trip that day. I got the trip cheaper than my friend did and I considered that a great thing; it meant I could take two vacations this year.

I hopped on a plane to South Dakota, only lugging what I needed to explore the cave. There was a change of clothes stashed in there for the day of the trip, but I didn't plan to stay long. If I needed to, I could buy clothes there if I stayed longer than a couple days. I made sure to get a ridiculously early flight for that very reason. After all, it was only spelunking. You follow the trails and it's maybe a full day of gawking at rock walls.

As soon as the plane landed, I rushed off, not willing to brave the mob forming as they tried to get all their bags down at once and get out before the person behind them. I grabbed a coffee from one of the stands in the shopping area and made my way to the rental cars. I had picked a simple standard car for this adventure, not needing anything fancy or super sturdy. It just had to get me to my hotel and the caving site. I snickered at a man down the aisle from me, looking so proud as he opened his rental mustang. Clearly, he was here to show off instead of have fun.

The hotel room had been modest and quaint; a TV and desk outfitted with the latest model of computer, a single dresser and queen bed greeted me as I opened the door. It would do for a night, and maybe I could work on my dissertation while I was camped out here. But for now, I wanted to explore. I dropped my bag on the bed, grabbed my sunglasses and left the hotel. I found a cute diner for breakfast and wandered around the little town. Having enough of the tourist life, I made my way to the park where I'd be caving. Most tours there consist of groups, but I had managed to score a private tour. It worked out better that way, I could get through it at my own pace and not have to elbow through people to see things.

The park was breathtaking. I could see pine trees in the distant and I knew elk and bison would be munching on food farther back into those trees. I couldn't have picked a more beautiful place to go. I confirmed my tour with the lady at the front desk and then I was all set to go for the next morning, bright and early. It was lunch time by the time I finished so I grabbed lunch at a fast food place and then spent the rest of the afternoon writing. Around eight, I decided to get some food supplies at the local grocery store. I wouldn't be eating while I was down there, so I grabbed a box of granola bars, the biggest water bottle I could find, and Gatorade. At least I wouldn't be dehydrated while I was down there.

I tried to sleep that night, but all I could do was toss and turn and tangle myself in the sheets. I wrote it off as anticipation, maybe a little nervous for the new experience, but deep down that wasn't what it was. Suddenly, I wanted to cancel the trip and fly back home, go somewhere that isn't underground and closed in. But I snapped myself out of it. How could I be afraid of the underground when I had been to Antarctica? That was surely more dangerous than this, and I had conquered the frozen wasteland like Superwoman. This was going to be one of the best things I've ever done, and I would have picture evidence.

I felt better in the morning, eating my oatmeal and plain toast. This was going to be the experience of a lifetime. I made sure my pack was secured and nothing would fall out and then I grabbed my wind breaker. It was about fifty degrees outside but there was no telling how cool it would be down in the cave. My heart began to pound faster with excitement as I left the hotel, the radio blaring popular Pop hits. I sang along, enjoying the breeze from the open window and feeling good about this trip.

I met my guide beside the big welcome sign, shaking his hand when offered. "I'm Lindsey, I'm here for my tour."

The man grinned, showing a gap in his front teeth. "I'm Graham. I'll be your guide for the day. Have you been caving before?"

I shook my head, shifting my pack at the same time. "No, this is my first time. But I've done just about everything else."

Graham laughed, a rolling laugh that reminded me of Santa Claus though this man was clearly not jiggling like a bowl full of jelly. "An experienced explorer, I like it. Well, welcome aboard, let's get started."

I nodded and followed Graham to an opening in the hillside, my mouth dropping open at the sheer drop. Graham looped a thick rope around a boulder and tugged. Deeming it secure, he handed me the line and gestured for me to go. I looked uncertainly into the hole, not expecting this sort of a climb.

"Don't worry, it isn't as steep as it looks. The rocks can be slippery, so this is just to be sure you don't fall down in." Graham smiled encouragingly and I stifled my unease and lowered myself into the hole.

He was right. My heel slipped on the first rock I touched but I had a good grip on the rope, so I didn't fall far. I climbed into the hole slowly, listening as water droplets plinked onto the rock. If I wasn't so far underground, it might actually be relaxing. But I'd rather not be relaxed traipsing down the side of a cave.

Graham descended behind me, far more graceful than I could've accomplished, and then we were wandering further into the caves. This section didn't have any defined trails but that didn't bother Graham; he continued forward with a speed and confidence I did not possess. It was cooler down here and I gratefully pull on my jacket, pausing a moment. The pack dropped audibly to the floor of the cave, the echo making me smile.

I look back up, my pack buckled, and Graham wasn't there. Unperturbed, I continued forward figuring he had just gotten a little way ahead. But after about ten minutes of walking, Graham still hadn't returned and the ground was rockier, narrowing farther ahead. I turn back around and walk back to where I stopped, but there weren't any other passageways. It was only a straight shot through.

Now, I began to panic. Where could Graham have gone? If it was a straight tunnel, how did he get far enough ahead that I couldn't see him? More importantly, how am I getting out of here without him? I took my pack off and sat down on it, scrubbing my face with my hands to wash away my fear. Graham put the rope we had descended with into his pack, an instinct must have been. Without the rope I couldn't climb back up, but there had to be a way out of here. It can't be just a single opening into the cave.

I take a drink of the water, swishing it around in my mouth while I try to calm down. If I keep going straight, it must lead out. I take a calming breath and go back down the tunnel, keeping an even pace. I get back to where it narrowed and shove my pack in first. I keep my hands on it to shuffle it forward and then crawl through on my stomach. Tight fit, but I managed and then stopped in horror. The tunnel split off into four, each one darker and scarier than the last. When I read about this cave, the article said you could feel wind blowing through the tunnels, but none of them have any drafts.

This will have been the stupidest decision I made that day, but I chose the tunnel on the far right. Not knowing, if I had gone one over, I would've been home that night. But foresight never comes when you want it to.