^ 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 »
136 views | 0 comments
124 views | 2 comments
124 views | 0 comments
97 views | 0 comments
121 views | 0 comments
113 views | 0 comments
116 views | 0 comments
135 views | 0 comments
133 views | 2 comments
106 views | 0 comments
79 views | 0 comments
102 views | 0 comments
« Previous | 1 2 3 | Next »

Comments:

by igor - 11 months ago
United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 40

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 - 11 months ago
Bedford, TX United States
Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 120
Cool pictures, man.
by lmadiedo - 3 months ago
Miami Cuba
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 57
 That's great Jay. I will invite you soon to a King's gambit Tournament. Just wait. Great work at chess.com.

Add your comment:

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