Spelunking...a Life Long Dream

Spelunking has always been one of my aspirations...not just taking guided tours through lava tubes, or walking through the Ape Caves with lanterns, but to really go exploring.

Last Saturday we went to the ice caves and I have finally got the pictures...yay!! This was actually the funnest thing I have done in a long time...what an adventure. It starts by driving forever out into the middle of nowhere, (like anywhere else you go in Rexburg:) to an aboscure dirt road. The secret to actually finding these caves is to go with a local, because all the dirt roads off the "main" road look the same. (Surrounded by endless sagebrush and going nowhere). This particular dirt road is five times longer and five times bumpier than the dirt road to the civil defense caves (which I might add, is marked by a humble pile of rocks, right Tony?).

You then hike down a small precipice of jagged black rocks and climb into a small opening through which you would never expect anything spectacular. However, what is behind that small opening is actually the most spectacular thing you will ever behold.

Once you are inside, you are forced to get down on all fours, and slide along in a channel. At this point, the ceiling is only about three to four feet high. Or, you lie on your back and use your feet, and the ceiling, to scoot yourself along. Then, you reach a slight drop covered in slick ice. Luckily there is a rope provided for assistance on your decent. Otherwise it would be like a frozen water slide with a rock wall waiting for you at the bottom. (Not so fun??)

After this comes more scooting, and soon you encounter a large room with an extra smooth ice floor, perfect for sliding long distances, which we did. More scooting after this, and then you reach the end, a room with a giant ice ramp that extends upward until it hits the cave wall. On one side of the ramp are miniature craters, just large enough for your foot, so you can carefully make your way up them to the top, where, on the other side of the ramp, a small channel waits for your rear to coast right on down it and into a big puddle of mud at the bottom:)

We also had contests to see who could make it furthest up the ramp. This was actually ridiculous, because the reality of it it was that you were running up a hill of ice, and all that happens is that you slide back down-if you are lucky. If you go with someone who chooses not to balance, well, then, you fall all the way back down-all over each other. (Awkward). Fun though, for sure.

After you are sufficiently cold and wet, and your hands are scraped up and three quarters of the way numb, you begin the retreat out from below the earth's surface. When we finally emerged into the open again, you experience minor agaraphobia, (fear of open spaces) and have to wonder at how the sky can be so spacious.

All in all, this venture to the ice caves was a remarkable episode. I got my chance to do some real live spelunking...another thing to check off my Rexburg to-do list:)

oh and PS...Tony...remember when we went to the caves:)??