Subteranian Adventure

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On our way toward Belize's western boarder with Guatemala, we stopped at the Blue Hole National Park to check out a swimming hole cenote and a system of caves. The cenote was refreshing but not as impressive as the ones we saw in Mexico. After cooling off, we took a 2.5 mile trail towards the caves. The trail was lined with information signs describing local birds. The mosquitoes were out in force, so we didn't fully stop, but just slowed down enough to read some of the information on each sign before resuming our brisk pace. As we approached the opening of Herman's cave, we were hit with cool, subterranean air that was a welcomed contrast to the hot, humid air we've become accustomed to.

We followed a well maintained path into the earth following the a substantial follow of water. The further we went back, the less defined the path became and the more numerous and beautiful the stalactites and stalagmites. After several hundred meters we came to a sign that said ''CAUTION, GUIDE RECOMMENDED'' We decided to be cautious and continue further. An old Mayan pot was placed near the side of the trail, a relic from ancient days when Mayans used these caves for ceremonial purposes, exploring them by torchlight. For the Mayans, caves represent the entrance to the underworld and have significant, religious importance. The path wound back near the waters edge and we decided to leave the trail and head upstream. The water quickly rose to above our waists, so we deposited our backpacks, shirts and cameras on the dry bank and began to swim against the current. On stable ground we turned off our lights to indulge in the pitch blackness of being deep within the earth. Its an interesting experience to be able to open and close your eyes with the only change being the sensation of air against your eyeballs. Being a primarily visual creature, its a weird feeling having your only sensory inputs be the earthy smell of the cave air in your nostrils intermixed with the sound of the rambling water and its cool follow against your legs and the occasional sound and feeling of bats swooping by your head. We soon came to a bottleneck in the cave that was clogged with boulders and at first glance looked impassable. Upon closer inspection we noticed a human sized opening between some of the rocks and squeezed through. We began to climb over piles of boulders, lower down through small gaps, crawl through narrow openings carved out by the water and squeeze through tight parallel passages just thicker than my chest, all while carefully avoiding delicate geological formations. The cavern eventually opened up into a wide chamber and we resumed swimming and wading upstream. Amazing formations appeared before our eyes. Some looking like spiny deep sea creatures and other like snowy chandeliers that sparkled as they reflected the light from our headlamps. The variety and beauty of the formations was amazing. I was a little disappointed I left my camera behind, but mental photographs will suffice. We found an interesting spot where sprouting seeds lay interspersed with bat guano. The richness of nutrients attracted a abundance of insect life including millipedes, crickets and a large cave spider. We wandered up further and were again amazed by the beauty hanging from the ceiling and protruding from the floor. Again we turned off our lights to take in the darkness. After a while I began feeling the gentle tickle of a fish cleaning the dead skin off my feet and legs. Soon another creature began to tickle my toes, dining on the array of goodies that lay in their crevices. The tickling turned into a pinching, so I turned on my headlamp and saw a large crawdad backing away from my feet. Eventually our stomachs began to growl and gurgle and we could ignore their pleas no longer, so we retraced our path and ventured out of that wonderful subterranean lair.

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Comments

[gurjeet]

Interested
it's just shocking and very interested to see it