Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25040
into the spewing falls. No one commented, we simply walked to the far end of the cavern and began to crawl through the room's only other exit. We would have to use mechanical aiders to climb back up the rope. We moved quickly down the small corridor and set up cairns to mark different passageways so we wouldn't get lost. The tunnel's low ceiling was covered with foot-long stalactites of mud which broke off and rolled down our backs each time we raised our helmets to see where we where going. We dropped for another water-choked belly crawl before finding a room large enough for us to sit upright. We rested, ate and regrouped. We had been moving for about four hours, always in water and with contorted movements demanded by the awkward subterranean passageways. The routes that could lead us back to the cave's surface seemed to be miles away. The claustrophobic conditions created a mental challenge different from that of any other extreme sport. We were committed to experiencing this new environment but at the same time, it was clear we didn't belong. We wanted to trust the cave but knew we needed to keep the path to an exit vivid in our minds. We descended our second waterfall and found more water entering from another passage. The underwater streams merged and led us through a cavern we could walk through easily. We headed downstream with the hope that we might find another exit. At this point we had covered well over a 1,000 yards. We were deep. Suddenly Will couldn't seem to catch his breath. Soon we were all having trouble. Jim pulled out his lighter to check the air. It barely lighted. Cavers, like mountaineers, deal with reduced oxygen. But cavers must simultaneously watch for increased levels of carbon dioxide, a common and deadly spoiler when pushing deep caves. 53