Little did we know, as our journey to the Ape Caves peacefully began, the depth of the battle amongst mind, body and nature we would face. Did the wilderness-wise elk we passed on our drive towards the living volcano snicker under their breath with insight into our pending fate?
Slipping out to stretch our stiff legs in preparation for our hike to the cave entrance, the silence of the lonely mountain forest roared in our ears. Rain was our ceiling and snow our floor as the slippery walk warmed our muscles.
Scouts pose with lights out in the Ape Caves. After a brief refueling we reached the ice-cold metal stairs which seemed to pull us into the depths of the hollow lava tube. Even the ice stalagmites that littered the ground of the entrance seemed to cower from the darkness. Guided by small beams of light through the tube, echoes of voices broke through the steady surround sound of water’s constant drip from above filling puddles below. How could water penetrate the seemingly solid, lava-sealed rock wrapped around us?
Looking down from a sturdy ledge in the Ape Caves The true challenge began as towering piles of rock invaded our path--stretching the limits of our mental focus as we navigated over large boulders and dark pits. One must look ahead and not be foolish or hasty lest he finds himself trapped by his chosen path and he must backtrack in order to progress again. A prepared Scout’s rope lifted us over a stone-cold lava fall. Obstacle after obstacle—would we ever escape this cave that swallowed us whole?!....
This skylight gave us hope!
….Shortly after a being teased by a skylight in the ceiling we eventually reached hope: the welcoming site of stairs crawling up into welcoming light—to which we willingly climbed. A self-inflicted bombardment of flying snow helped us endure to the end of this peaceful, but self-lengthening, snowy trail back to the vehicles. Peaked in anticipation of the finish, our hearts sunk to see a flooded creek disabling the trail. Although already soaked by rain and frozen by snow, there was only one option. With varying degrees of dryness, we all made it over (or through) the swift water only to find another flooded stream to overcome. Pushing through our discomfort, we finally made it to the finish line!
Soaked to the bone, cold and tired we enjoyed the toasty ride home….filled with new knowledge, confidence and experiences revealed only through our adventure to the Ape Caves.
