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Caving Trip II

by Nathaniel Bluedorn, Copyright January 17, 2004, all rights reserved. 463 views

Kelli Hedding’s Trip Report

What I like best about caving is everyone working together to help each other along: finding the easiest (or funniest path), giving each other a hand in difficult areas and giving my brother a hug to help warm him up.

I had my own little adventure when my group went as far as we could into the cave before we had to turn around. We had been climbing along the side for a ways because the water in the river was getting too deep to wade. I went on just a little bit further and got a little over anxious; I took a risk and almost fell. I probably would have been ok if I had fallen, but my imagination went wild and I imagined myself getting sucked down a waterfall or into the sump or being grabbed by some giant cave monster that I woke up with my splash and who grabbed me from the depths of the water with his long, sticky arm. That was my most memorable part of the trip. It is fun to me scared at times and it was good for me; I received my annual reminder to be cautious. Even though I was taking a risk God still protected me by answering my frantic prayer for a foothold as I was sliding down the muddy wall.

In addition to the caving, I very much enjoyed being with other young adults nearer to my own age. I would have preferred more conversation, but it sounds like the best conversation happened at an unreasonable hour of the night. The trip was the best time I have had in a long time; the group was a very good group and the cave was beautiful. I am really looking forward to the next time.

Emily Wiltberger’s Trip Report

It was very interesting caving especially since it was my first time. I didn’t quite know what to expect. I really enjoyed it even though it was cold and difficult at times. But I love a challenge. I was recently talking to one of the other cavers and I mentioned that I had a really good time and would definitely go again and he said that if that was his first time he wasn’t so sure if he would be so keen to do it again. I don’t remember his reasoning. (Sorry. I know that I’m too young for memory loss. Ahhh!)

One of the highlights for me was exploring all of the little side passageways. It was really cool to see where we could go and it was different from the big cavern area. Warmer. I wish we could have gone longer or farther on some of the side passageways.

I think it would have been better if we went into that cave when it was warmer outside. Then we wouldn’t have been so cold.

I really enjoyed the group that I was with.(clubs) We went at a slow enough pace that conversation was not difficult yet we didn’t go so slow that we only saw a little bit of the cave. I also really appreciated the fact that the guys listened to us girl’s opinion of what to do instead of just doing their thing. Also the fact that they helped us in tough spots if we needed it yet they didn’t treat us like we were absolute weaklings. If that makes any sense.

I really enjoyed caving and would certainly like to go again. I don’t know if I enjoyed the caving so much or just being with everyone. I was surprised at times with some of the people. A good surprise! I look forward to more outings together.

The conversations were very good and especially the one Saturday night. We talked about the ICHE Young Adult conference and our thoughts on that and the messages, plus other things which I am not remembering right now.

Before I continue on Saturday’s discussion you have to understand that I HATE debates. REALLY HATE THEM. I find them completely useless as most people just spout their opinions and try to convert you to their way of thinking without listening to your own thoughts and in the end it can be very hurting. But this conversation was not so. It was nice having a moderator to notice when someone wanted to say something or change the subject if it was getting uncomfortable and so on. I really liked the fact that near the end we asked what the main thing God was showing us from this conversation and discussed that. It was very thought provoking and I really felt the need to talk to God about it then and there. I left knowing that God was speaking to me and that I needed to talk with Him right now. So, for me this weekend was very good spiritually. The many conversations and Bible study caused me to do some soul searching and have some really good conversations with the Lord that I grew in my relationship with Him. Instead of focusing on fleshly things I was continually pointed to the Lord. Quite often when a bunch of single people get together for fun they leave God out of it (and not necessarily on purpose) but I am glad to say that it was not the case with this outing.

As for improving the next outing I can’t think of anything right now. I really liked the fact that the guys and girls were able to comfortably visit with each other.

Nathaniel Bluedorn’s Trip Report

Friday, January 16, 2004

8:00 – I receive a call at home warning about the chance of rain. My brother and sisters and I decide to call Illinois Caverns park rangers when the park opens.

12:00 – Have lunch at the Stanfords near Peoria. Discuss the possibility of rain – everyone does their share of worrying.

3:45 – Arrive at the hotel at Waterloo, Illinois. Begin preparations for English Country Dance that evening.

6:00 – Pouring rain outside. Have a pizza party with 21 guys and gals at the 4H building, and learn English Country Dances and Square Dances until 9:00.

From 2004-01-16 Dance at Waterloo

One dance

11:00 – Go to bed after talking to everybody in the hotel lobby.

Saturday, January 17, 2004

5:45 – Get up to see pouring rain outside. Rush around getting gear together and making sure everyone is ready, but with a sinking feeling in heart.

8:00 – Everybody leaves for the cave even though we suspect the rangers will close the cave. Illinois Caverns is very sensitive to rain and it often floods. We can’t call the rangers because they wouldn’t be there until 8:30.

8:30 – We line up our cars outside the park gate and organize the three caving groups with their leaders. Hans Bluedorn hands out playing cards to everyone. I am the King of Clubs, which means I am the leader of the Clubs Group. Hans is the King of Diamonds, and Jason Stanford is the King of Spades.

From Misc Images

8:50 – Rangers arrive, and what do we know, they think it’s safe for us to go in! We rush around getting our gear on and checking headlamps.

From 2004-01-17 Illinois Caverns

We all wait for the ranger to bring the key to open the cave gate.

9:00 – Twenty-four adventurers descend a narrow, long and very steep staircase into a hole in the ground. Darkness. Headlamps start appearing. People start talking about how warm it is compared to the rain outside. People soon discover that they can’t point their headlamp at someone’s face while they’re talking or else the other person will have to squint. We talk to each other with averted heads – one of the secrets of caving. The three groups start down dark passageways.

9:05 – The Clubs Group haven’t gone far before they come to a small passageway to the left, high in the cave wall. We climbing up, and spend the next several minutes crawling further and further down a shrinking passageway. I didn’t expect Jeremy Bond to be a squeezer, but he is up front urging us to go further. Finally, he can’t squeeze any further, and we begin to think about turning around. It’s difficult to turn around when you’re lying in a puddle of water looking at the boots of the person in front of you while the person behind you is looking at your boots – and your back is touching the ceiling and both your shoulders are touching the walls. There really isn’t any room to turn around. And you come to grips with this fact very quickly. Suddenly, you want out! And you begin to hear distant voices saying things like, “Breath deeply, just take a deep breath and calm down . . . the only thing to fear is fear itself . . .” Well – you can breath again – we did get out. It took some squirming and wriggling, but we did it.

From 2004-01-17 Illinois Caverns

Formations in Illinois Caverns

9:30 – We proceed further down the cave passageway and try hard not to step in the water, but this is getting harder to do. At one point, we decide to climb up onto a second level and walk above the stream. We pass many formations, including large stalagmites and stalactites, and columns that go from floor to ceiling. Some formations look like curtains hanging from the ceiling, and others are called rimstone dams.

From 2004-01-17 Illinois Caverns

We climb up to the level above stream to keep from getting wet.

11:30 – The three groups meet at the pre-arranged lunch spot, Breakdown Room. This is a large room, about the size of a large house, where great slabs of limestone have fallen from the roof and made a pile. This makes an excellent place to eat lunch.

From 2004-01-17 Illinois Caverns

Group photo after lunch in the Breakdown Room.

12:00 – The Clubs regroup and head deeper into the cave. Soon we hear a deep rumbling noise ahead of us, and figure it must be a waterfall. It turns out to be several waterfalls. We are now walking though water in places up to our thighs. As we go deeper into the cave, passageways have appeared from our right and left and converged with our main passageway. Each contributes its own stream of water and so the meandering stream we began splashing though at the start has grown. The roaring water makes it hard to hear each other.

From 2004-01-17 Illinois Caverns

One of us is climbing out from behind a waterfall in Illinois Caverns.

12:30 – We come upon a mudslide and some of us try to set the land-speed record while in a cave.

1:00 – We catch up with the Spades and the Diamonds and some of us decide we’ve had enough. We notice that the water is rising, and some of us are getting cold, so we head back. The Diamonds decide to go further and see the last waterfall.

From 2004-01-17 Illinois Caverns

The long steep climb out of Illinois Caverns.

2:30 – Everyone exits the cave and begins the process of cleaning up to ride in our cars.

From 2004-01-17 Illinois Caverns

All of us after caving. Some are more dirty than others.

6:00 – After showering at the hotel, we leave for supper at a country buffet near St. Louis. All 24 of us invade a corner of the restaurant and start talking and eating.

8:30 – Back at the hotel, we discover that several of us have never played “Psychiatrist.” So we get a group together in the lobby and thoroughly befuddle three of our number with that game. Then we get out a deck of cards and play “Mafia” – otherwise titled “Bandits,” or “Robbers,” etc. Hans Bluedorn and Adam Stanford trick the townspeople into eliminating all the good guys and saving the bandits.

10:30 – I go upstairs expecting everyone must be ready for bed. When no one materializes, I go downstairs to see when my roommates plan to retire. In the lobby, I discover everyone discussing how to respect our parents and the theological implications of Norm Wakefield’s teachings on sons and fathers.

1:00 – Finally, my roommates head for bed, only to have Joe Reynolds bring up the topic of Calvinism and logic with Matthew McNatt.

2:00 – Finally get to sleep.

Sunday, January 18, 2004

9:00 – We decide to have Bible study in room 211, and Matthew McNatt is in charge. Jill Roebuck and Emily Wiltberger lead us in songs, and Matthew reads a passage out of Romans 7–8. Afterwards, everyone remembers best his illustration of the purple rhinoceros with the number four painted on its side. This was to help us remember “For I know . . ” at the beginning of Romans 7:18. We have a good discussion of how to conquer sin in our lives.

From 2004-01-17 Illinois Caverns

Bible Study on Sunday at the hotel.

11:30 – Caving Trip II comes to an end with farewells as everyone winds their way back to their respective abodes.

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