Damn, very cool, thanks so much for elaborating!
I went to The Caves of Han and had a blast, and also went to some smaller natural caves. We have some divers in the family and I was well aware about the dangers and difficulties of exploring caves(systems) like this. Walking around on pathways with railings, lights and every comfort you need for walking through a cave, it sometimes felt surreal or weirdly conflicting.
I did some guided underwater caving myself in coastal reefs in Egypt. There was a point where you had turn up from horizontal, slightly left, and about 45degrees back upward where you came from, with only the light you make with the divers light. This tunnel was just large enough to fit you with divers equipment, so basically a human sized hamstertube. and even though our guide was fantastic and dive prep was 10/10, that was intense.
Cave exploring is super cool and very very dangerous and risky and unpractical, so it’s not hard to feel great awe when you see some caves like this ‘conquered’, knowing the effort it must have taken :-) .
I did some guided underwater caving myself in coastal reefs in Egypt.
I’ve been in tight caves, skydived and may soon buy an ultralight, climb without a rope (class 3ish) with fatal fall exposure, etc. I’ve managed to stay alive because of heavy risk assessment and mitigation efforts.
Cave diving is a whole different category of risk. I’d never attempt it. As a hobby it’s certain death. Please say something about this in your post above.
so it’s not hard to feel great awe when you see some caves like this ‘conquered’, knowing the effort it must have taken :-)
Mammoth Cave isn’t “conquered” – not by a long shot! They explored eight more miles of it for the first time just three years ago (and have apparently added six more without making the news since then, since the total is now 426), and estimate there may be another 600 miles yet unexplored.
Yeah, but most of those 600 miles are just a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
Oh, ok grue, but I said “caves like this” and there are tours through the Mammoth caves. So what would you suggest I call it? Partly tamed?
