By Lambe Lamis 
It was conference time in Indiana and this would be my initial NSS (Nationwide Speleological Culture), conference. John Wallace, Jack Rate and I flew to Indiana in John’s tiny plane. Landing a small aircraft at a commercial airport was fairly interesting, they directed us to the runway from the aspect as big jets have been landing and at the previous second experienced us make a sharp 90 diploma transform and land as immediately as doable. Then taxi at leading speed to the closest taxi way to get off the runway before another jet landed.
The 1973 convention was being held at Indiana College in Bloomington and was a massive results, capped off by our banquet speaker Roger Brucker relating the remarkable tale of the discovery of the Flint-Mammoth cave relationship, generating it the world’s major cave procedure. I was also thrilled around successful 3rd area in the prusik contest. I climbed 100 feet of nylon rope, in one particular minute and forty-two seconds in the 30-39 age group. I imagine that there might have been only a few contestants in this age group!
Just one of the caves open to the convention attendees was Sullivan Cave. The 3 of us determined to have a seem at the cave. We entered the cave via the tiny narrow passage for a short distance in advance of connecting with the Backbreaker passage. This was a extended passage with a ceiling height of about 3 to 4 foot. This finely intersected the primary trunk passage at the “T.” Pursuing the trunk passage to the left to the Mountain Room passage, then a limited length to the Mountain Home. We invested some time checking out the Mountain Space and as we about to depart some incredibly moist cavers appeared. After speaking with them they shared that they had entered the cave by the Pace Hollow Entrance.
This was a really tempting preference, to go away by a different entrance and prevent that extensive vacation again by means of the Backbreaker passage. They still left a great uncomplicated to comply with trail as it was wet from their passing by way of. We traveled about fifty percent the length that we experienced come as a result considerably and reached a home referred to as the Spiral Place. Crossing over a flowstone ground via a small crawl, we located the Manhole.
Searching down the Manhole, all we could see was water. We turned off our lights and enable our eyes modify to the darkness and then leaned down into the Manhole as far as doable. There was a quite slight glow of gentle shining from the far aspect of the underground lake. John dropped in initially and could not touch the bottom. Right after struggling for a even though he finely discovered a spot where by he could touch the base. We all adopted behind dropping into the chilly water and headed for the mild as speedy as achievable.
As we sloshed by way of the drinking water the waves achieved the ceiling getting us entirely soaked, ears, eyes and all. There was no turning back now, we just gulped air amongst waves and ongoing. Close to the exit the passage became decreased right up until we had been crawling in the h2o with only a several inches of air house. When we climbed out of the drinking water and into the daylight it sure felt very good.
Now we had a further difficulty. We did not know the place we have been. There was no road in sight only an open up industry and the wooded hills. We did not even know wich direction we experienced gone in the cave. Right after exploring the discipline we observed the most important highway and took a guess at the course to stroll. It was rather an journey but I believe we try out and do a little better planning subsequent time.