120 | June• 2018
lightweight, gas-fuelled ‘Jetboil’
stove,dehydratedpacketsofsoup
andstew,bottlesofwater,snacks,a
irst-aidkitanda‘space’blanketthat
resemblesasheetofaluminiumfoil.
Check, check and check again.
heyallknowthecardinalruleof
cavingwithouthavingtosayitaloud:
always be prepared for the worst.
Down a steep, short hill they hike,
occasionally grabbing onto tree
branches for leverage, before coming
toastopatthedoorintheground.
You’dneverknowitwashereifyou
weren’t looking for it,Jasonthinks.IT’S A BIG PARTof what he loves
aboutcaving,theunexpected:you
neverknowwhatyou’regoingtoind.
Some of the most interesting caves
are the ones you have to squeeze into,
where there might not be an obvious
wayforward–featureslikeapileof
boulders blocking the way that you
havetoigureawaythrough.hat’s
what I love,Jason thinks.
Itis10am.hedoorispulledopen
andonebyonetheyclimbnineme-
tresdownaricketyladdermadeof
steelcableswithaluminiumrungs
intotheblack,eachanchoredwith
carabinerstoaropejustincasethey
slip. As their eyes adjust, the black
showsglintsofgold,greyandchar-
coal, limestone carved by water, for-
bidding and sharp. It is damp and
chilly, about 5°C.
Once they’re all at the bottom,
they make their way down a narrowhighwayandstopsatashopwhere
hepicksupandsignsforthekeyto
thecaveopening.Itisherethatthey
rendezvous with the last two cavers,
MattWatsonandArthurTaylor.hey
allpileintothetwovehiclesand
driveupanunmarkedtrailforabout
a kilometre, before coming to a stop
inaclearing.Here,theytakeinven-
tory to make sure they aren’t missing
anything.
Water proof gloves and liners?
Check. Ropes, harnesses and carabi-
ners? Check.
Two bags that contain a PHOTO: ANDREW MUNOZ
he cavers enter through a metal door
in the ground, then descend a ladder