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.

Some have asked how to find it: X Marks the spot:

http://grab.by/7dOo

Enjoy the pics!

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Comments:

by igor - 4 years ago
United States

Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 61

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 - 4 years ago
Bedford, TX United States

Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 120

Cool pictures, man.

by lmadiedo - 3 years ago
Miami United States

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 237

That's great Jay. I will invite you soon to a King's gambit Tournament. Just wait. Great work at chess.com.

by balta - 3 years 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 - 3 years ago
San Jose, CA United States

Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 1431

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 chesschreber - 2 years ago
Pamplona Spain

Member Since: Mar 2009
Member Points: 198

I feel curiosity...are there any face forms maden naturaly or they are all carvings in the clays?

by jay - 2 years ago
San Jose, CA United States

Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 1431

all carvings by people

by chesschreber - 2 years ago
Pamplona Spain

Member Since: Mar 2009
Member Points: 198

Even they are maden by peolple they are cool. Nice photos and nice place. Thank you for posting

by thewoodsman - 2 years ago
Seneca, SC United States

Member Since: Jul 2009
Member Points: 395

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.

by qixel - 23 months ago
California United States

Member Since: May 2009
Member Points: 2197

I have to admit an attraction to caves (being in Carlsbad Caverns has to rank as one of the most epic experiences of my life), but I'm claustrophobic, which is sometimes a problem for me in archaeology too. The best I've ever been able to manage were the lava tubes in Lava Beds NM, and those talus caves in Pinnacles NM, which I'm sure real spelunkers laugh at.

by jay - 15 months ago
San Jose, CA United States

Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 1431

I've added a picture to help people find it who can't:

http://grab.by/7dOo

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