Into the Abyss
I stared down from the platform into the 35 metre chasm. The cave walls narrowed quickly like a funnel, beyond which I could see only darkness. I was surprised by the boldness in Katrina’s voice volunteering to be first. In full wetsuit and hooked up in her harness, she silently disappeared down the hole. I was next.
Putting my trust in my rope I convinced my feet to leave the platform. I hung for a moment before feeding the rope through, beginning my descent. The cave entrance converged faster than I had anticipated and was smaller too. Brushing the cavity walls I descended and saw the cave opening out again like an hourglass. With growing confidence the guide encouraged me to bound out from the rock. In four more decent leaps I joined Trean and the guide on the floor of the Ruakuri Cave. The other cavers all descended. Phase 1 complete.
Still needing to go further down to river level we were again given only the direct option. Hooked up by our carabinas we were slung blind down a flying fox. The guide at the bottom had turned out his light so as you picked up speed you had no idea when this thing would stop. A good rush, and a pinch of relief when the safetly snapped me to a halt.
Sitting now with our feet dangling over a ledge we took stock of our position. Clusters of glowworms dotted the cave roof – not the only life in the cave. Off the ledge in the river lurked a big fat eel- pretty shy apparently.
“Grab your tubes” we were instructed. ‘You’re kidding’ I thought. “Right, you’re up Roger. Hold the tube to your bum and jump”. Taking obvious in delight in my uncertainty I was chosen first to make the 4 metre leap into the water below – Wet and freezing cold. We made our way paddling upstream. No sign of that eel. On reaching a shower of water we were instructed to link feet in armpits to make a chain. With lights out, we drifted back downstream and lay back on our donut tubes viewing an incredible myriad of new constellations – Titiwai bioluminescence.
The cold was biting through our wetsuits so the best way to stay warm was to keep moving and keep a sense of humour. The guides, James and Doug, spouted some big numbers such as how old the caves are, how fast staligtites grow etc – facts Im not convinced they were sure of. They carried on “…But we do know to within 3 days when the caves were created..” “Monday?” I guessed. “Wednesday” Doug suggested.
Through caverns graced with Staligtites and Staligmites we continued, always up to our thighs or deeper in blackwater. Hot orange juice and chocolate warmed us up before making our ascent back out of the cave.
Water that fed the caves slammed down the same gaps in the rock that we were about to climb up and out of. Trean, never far from the front, was the first to bust up two waterfalls each about 3 metres high. The best foot holds were pointed out by the guides. Without incident we 2 kiwis, 2 Aussies, 2 Americans and a Japanese couple emerged exhilerated after 3 hours underground.
www.blackwaterrafting.co.nz operate out of Waitomo NZ. Nice touch with the hot showers and bagels at the end guys.
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