Spelunking adventures offer inexpensive thrills
Jonathon Smith
For adrenaline junkies, there is no feeling quite like squeezing through crevices hundreds of feet underground.
The rush of being subjected to the mercy of the earth above is intoxicating.
There are a number of locations in Arizona to go spelunking, or caving for those not familiar with the term, but most are not very well known.
Just 20 miles outside of Tucson, Ariz., Peppersauce Cave is a popular spot for beginners and is accessible to the public all year long.
Unlike most privately funded caves, there is no regulation on how visitors may explore the cavern and the cave is free to enter.
Due to the unrestricted access and amateur friendly layout, there has been an unfortunate amount of graffiti and destruction.
While the cave is far from pristine, there are a number of interesting features intact, especially in the areas of the cave that are difficult to reach.
There are no tour guides on site and it can be very confusing inside, so it is best to hire a trained guide or go with someone who has considerable experience inside the cave.
Despite some difficult areas, the cave is perfect for amateur spelunkers. Though a few of the small crevices lead to technically demanding areas, much of the cave can be explored quite easily.
Be prepared to get dirty. The cave is often very humid and muddy and the clay inside of the cave will stain clothes permanently so old clothing is recommended.
Long pants and a long sleeve shirt are good for protecting knees and elbows while crawling, but the cave is warm so the clothing should be light.
The entrance is fairly remote, but easy to find with proper instructions. For directions and more information, visit http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=738.
