Q: What were your initial feelings when you booked the tour?

I was extremely excited when Whit told me she’d booked the tour for us! I found out about the cave in March on Facebook and immediately texted her, telling her I wanted to do it.

I was really excited, and I was even more excited to tell Tim. Tim works away for long periods of time, so having him back home and being able to spend the day adventuring was the perfect surprise. Plus, I knew he’d calm me down if I was being irrational at any point, or if the cave got the better of me.

Q: What were your expectations before starting the tour?

I expected to be cool and chill about the entire experience. I was even on record saying that I thought climbing a mountain was more intimidating than caving, and I was wrong. I was forewarned that the cave is wild, which means, no guardrails, no large walkways etc. But I wasn’t expecting my fear of heights to meet my fear of small spaces - all in the dark. If I’m making this sound extreme, it was surely more so for me than it was for other people in our group.

I expected to get dirty, but I had this image in my head that the cave would be really open and that I would be able to stand for most of it. I also didn’t expect to get a lesson in archeology and geology. I’m a geologist, so it was awesome nerding out on the hike and inside the cave!

Q: Had you been caving before?

I’ve been caving in Guatemala and Belize. But there is so much more rainfall in there, so the caves are really open. One essentially had a river running through it. Safety wasn’t as much of a factor, we literally swam through rivers holding our only light, a candle, above our heads. No harnesses, no coveralls, no helmets. Just a candle and some water shoes.

I’d explored some “caves” when I was a kid, but in comparison they were more just like holes in the ground. This was totally new to me, but as someone who has been working hard to continually push their comfort zone I was keen to test my limits.

Q: What was the most challenging part of the day?

The squeezes were the most challenging part of the day. I didn’t know I could contort my body like that! It was the only time I was actually uncomfortable. I wasn’t aware that I, too, could get a little claustrophobic, but I still had a huge smile on my face the whole time.

The most challenging part of the day for me was the rappel. I’ve done some outdoor climbing before (and when I say some, I mean once or twice) and had to rappel. I thought that would prepare me for doing it in a cave. Tim being the more experienced caver than I (again once or twice), he went first. When Sarah, our guide, turned to me and asked if I was ready, I must have been as white as a ghost and replied: “not at all.” But I wasn’t about to be the one holding up the entire group, so I mustered my courage and went on my way.

I’ve recently learned that if you give me something to focus on while I’m internally (and probably externally) freaking out, I get distracted. And that’s what happened, I was so focused on keeping my rope lined up that I was at the bottom before I knew it and Tim was there to unclip me. Much less scary than I thought. Sarah also reassured me that I was on a backup line, so if I happened so slip or lose my footing, she’d catch me.

By this time, another caver, Michelle and I had bonded over our fear. From that point on, we ended up leading the group right behind our guide Sarah. Cheering each other on through the laundry chute and our group-voted, all-lights-out crawl, we made it through and were laughing at ourselves by the end.

Q: What was your favourite part of the tour and why?

The rappel was my favourite part! I went first, so I had no lights below me to help guide the way. It was just a really cool feeling falling into the dark abyss.

My favourite part of the tour was when we all decided to turn our headlamps out. The lamps are bright enough to light up that area of the cave you’re in, but when the entire group turns them out, you’re in complete darkness.

Following Sarah’s instruction, we followed one-by-one, calling out protruding rocks, slight turns, and even when to flip from your knees to your bum to descend. When we turned our lamps back on, I couldn’t believe the distance we had travelled and where we ended up - I won’t tell you where and ruin the surprise though.

It was also neat to see my partner in his element. As a geologist, he and Sarah, who also just happens to be a geo, were geeking out over rock formations and fossil finds. I signed up for an adventure and didn’t realize that I’d be learning so much about how the Rocky Mountains, and the cave specifically, were formed. It was pretty neat!

Q: Would you describe each other as adventurous?

I’d say we are both quite adventurous. Whit might be a little hesitant to start, but it doesn’t take much to have her jump right in and laugh her way through each challenge. I, on the other hand, might be a little overconfident in my abilities. We balance each other out.

For sure! Tim and I spent our first date hiking Grotto, which actually happens to be the mountain that the cave is in. It was serendipitous that we got to share this experience together as well.

Tim spends his summers prospecting uncharted territory in the north, so hiking mountains with me doesn’t seem too far-fetched. Me on the other hand, I’m pushing myself more and more every day. From a woman who had never hiked a day in her life to completing backcountry trips and now the cave, I’m proud of myself for continually looking for new ways to grow and challenge myself.

Q: Any other thoughts?

Of course, I need to have the last word.

As someone who was so confident going in, it was refreshing to be checked by my emotions. I was so sure that I would whip through the cave without pause but learning that not everything goes to plan and sometimes we are surprised by our fears was all a part of the process. Coming out the exit, which just also happens to be the entrance, felt full circle. Literally and metaphorically. I forgot all of my moments of doubt and felt so accomplished. I can’t wait for our next adventure together!