As I looked skyward, I couldn’t suppress the gasp that escaped me. It looked like the entire ceiling was flecked with glittering diamonds.
I’d stumbled my way into Sitton’s Cave, nestled at-and in-the base of Lookout Mountain, like a trepid child who’s still unsure of their steps. And feeling the part. The caves in this region are known for being wet and muddy, which makes for unsure footing even for those of us who have had plenty of time to master walking. Despite the tennis shoes I had on, I slipped and slid. If I couldn’t waddle along upright-well, as upright as you can be when you’ve got one hand clutching at the earth for balance-I crawled or crabwalked, sometimes just opting to sit down and scoot.
Now, with pure childlike wonder, I craned my head so far back that I almost toppled over as I stood gaping up at the ceiling in the low-set room we’d entered.
And it was just the beginning.
Caves have always held fascination for me. So much so that even after my first wild caving experience which mentally and physically drained me, I signed up to give it another go, this time with Georgia Girl Guides. I’ll be honest, as I made the hour-long trek to their outpost atop Lookout in Cloudland Canyon State Park, I was already thinking about my couch and the moment when I could reunite with it. After all, this was supposed to be my day off. But by the end of our two-hour tour, I’d forgotten all about my couch. And my tender knees (even the provided knee pads couldn’t suppress their age). And my squishy wet shoes from the underground “river” we’d continuously splashed through as we followed it deeper into the cave.