^ Click here to remove ads! ^

Spelunking in Hell Hole - Santa Cruz

Submitted by jay on Sat, 08/04/2007 at 5:30pm.

Just going through some of my favorite photo albums from last year that I want to archive on this site and share with people who haven't seen em. This one here is my spelunking trip to Hell Hole in Santa Cruz with my coworker Igor and his buddy.

 

This is about my 7th trip to these caves, and my 3rd time making it to the very bottom. They call it Hell Hole for a reason...there is a massive hairy descent at the very end where you have to lower yourself down at times nearly freehanging from a rope, covered in mud, and your hands and feet are also covered in mud. One slip and you would literally be in serious trouble, broken legs, if not worse, and I don't know how you'd get back up. Coming up requires every ounce of upper body strength to pull yourself up the ropes, and all the while you just have some gaping caverns below you.

 

The reward at the bottom is worth it though, some very cool clay carvings of hellish faces and ghouls and other random stuff. Total time to the bottom and back out is about 2.5 hours. If anyone is ever in the bay area and wants the ultimate adventure with no guides other than myself, let me know. I've taken Igor twice now cause he loves it so much, and he wants to go again in March. Just the thought of going back there and making that descent again gives me butterflies.

 

Enjoy the pics!

« Previous | 1 2 3 | Next »
542 views | 1 comment
464 views | 2 comments
471 views | 0 comments
340 views | 0 comments
548 views | 0 comments
491 views | 0 comments
469 views | 0 comments
493 views | 0 comments
568 views | 2 comments
379 views | 0 comments
318 views | 0 comments
368 views | 0 comments
« Previous | 1 2 3 | Next »

Comments:

by igor - 2 years ago
United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 58

It was not as wet that time. The first time we went a few years ago was nothing but crawling through puddles of mud.

Last time we went to this cave was a couple of months back. We took a few photos too.

by Howlingbanshee - 2 years ago
Bedford, TX United States
Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 120
Cool pictures, man.
by lmadiedo - 21 months ago
Miami Cuba
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 132
 That's great Jay. I will invite you soon to a King's gambit Tournament. Just wait. Great work at chess.com.
by balta - 11 months ago
California United States
Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 1

cool shit man, I'm a student at ucsc I've been to a few other caves but not the Hell Hole, where can I find it? Do I have to bring rope or is it already in there?

by jay - 11 months ago
San Jose, CA United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 1302

Rope is already there. I have no idea how to describe how to find it, but I'm sure if you asked around you could find someone who could give you directions in. You don't need rope, its already there.

by jay - 6 months ago
San Jose, CA United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 1302

all carvings by people

by thewoodsman - 5 months ago
Seneca, SC United States
Member Since: Jul 2009
Member Points: 113

Hey, looks nice, but looks like your are going down an throat. I walked around a place in Northern AR called the Devils Den and there are alot of caves, one place is called the ice box feels like there is 40 degrees coming out of the ground all the time.

^ Back to top

Add your comment:

Join Chess.com for free to add your comment! Already a member? Then login now to comment.