Peanut Butter and Jellylegs in Hidden River Cave

“Ya’ll ain’t gonna look that pretty comin’ out!” I hollered to a group of 20 or so students just entering the cave with not a spec of dirt on them as I was finally coming out covered in mud. They were in for it. I had just spent the last three hours hidden with the river under Horse Cave proper. On my belly at times, knee deep in icy cold water at other moments, still crawling under a low, low, low ceiling for 100 yards or more at different junctions. And all at the mercy of the little light flickering atop my hard hat. Typical life in the day of a caver. And saw a bat to boot!

There’s the cave tour, and then there’s the cave tour. I had been to all the caves surrounding the Mammoth Cave a few years ago with a self-titled “cave week.” This included all the fancy walkways, LED lighted paths, and signage that remind one of being in an underground museum. Today wouldn’t be the case. Team leader Peggy Nims addressed us before leading us in the cave, showing up in a blue jumpsuit. Well, I think it was blue. It was hard to tell with all the dried mud covering it up. I knew I was in for a dirty time. I was tagging along with a junior high science class from Benton County, Tennessee. A couple even had on their orange, a color that stood out on Final Four Day in Kentucky.

Hidden River Cave is history rich and has played a large role in the life of Horse Cave. Several remnants of that history still remain intact, and can be viewed upon entering one of the largest cave openings I’ve ever seen. After walking down one billion steps to the entrance, we made it to the walkway where the official cave tour starts. That’s where the day changes. We veered left and headed to the dark.

Peanut butter is the term used to describe the mud we would navigate for the next three hours. Its slick, thick, and quick to make you fall if you’re not tactical in your step. I was not in the cave for more than a few moments before realizing my light was about as dim as my wits. A pause and a change to a brighter outlook. Luckily, Peggy had extras on hand, as well as batteries and other aid just in case we needed it.

Now, we were off. Slowly. Crawling for several yards in a space no taller than three and half feet, I longed for a cave room up ahead where I could stretch my legs again. It came, but led to more adventure obstacles. Up ledges, down slopes, sliding in peanut butter on my butt. Climbing through the center of canyons. Shimmying on my back through one opening no bigger than my waist. Really! I had to turn my head to fit. Luckily, that was just for a few seconds. Not for the claustrophobic at all. And if your light went out (or you turned it off…) a darkness so thick you could feel it. I was extremely impressed with how much there is to see in this cave that is not included in the “clean tour.” Well worth the time and ticket to see what lies off the wooden walkway.

We hit the cave on a day when the water was relatively low, and only encountered shin deep water to wade on occasion. But if you go, be prepared for anything (and be in good physical shape). And carry a complete change of clean clothes to get into when you come out. I’ll be back for a five hour tour that takes one further in later on this year. For more on Hidden River Cave and the American Cave Museum on site, visit www.cavern.org.

Till next trip…

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