Another day in Rotorua was set aside for traveling to the Waitomo caves for spelunking. This experience was one of the most ridiculous and possibly most exciting things any of us has ever done. We chose the "most physically stressing" option, of course, and it paid huge dividends. As you can see, we were equipped in wetsuits, helmets and climbing harnesses. We began this amazing subterranean journey by absailing (repelling) down a small hole 65 feet into darkness. Throughout the cave, we did this numerous times down waterfalls and through tight holes and open spaces. Many times we had to crawl on hands and knees through water and under rock to move on. We free-climbed 20 foot surfaces, went up ladders and traversed endless tunnels in the pitch dark where time could not be guessed. We were able to observe many glow worms, as pictured above, which looked like tiny stars on the ceilings and walls with head lamps off. With head lamps on, you can see their mucous-like threads that they use to catch prey in this remote environment. All in all, this experience was probably the coolest thing we young men could possibly do on the first week of our journey, and a fitting way to kick off the next five months.
No comments:
Post a Comment