Caving in the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico

Project caving trips to Sentinel and Hell Below Caves in Lincoln National Forest.
For more detailed information on caving techniques, caving gear, and cave projects, visit my website at: www.derekbristol.com
Caves are delicate and potentially dangerous places. For more information on wild caving, vertical caving techniques, and cave survey, visit the National Speleological Society website:
caves.org
To find a local grotto (caving club) visit:
caves.org/committee/i-o/grott...
White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a disease that is devastating to bats. To learn more about what you can do to help, along with information on how to properly decontaminate caving gear, visit:
caves.org/WNS/index.shtml
Cave Videography Gear I Use: (Note that these are affiliate links)
Full-frame Low-Light Camera - amzn.to/2TkIUxT
In-Cave Fast Prime Lens (a7iii) - amzn.to/2TnkB27
General Purpose Zoom Lens (a7iii) - amzn.to/2Trc2Uf
Wide Angle Zoom Lens (a7iii) - amzn.to/2Duwuhl
Gimbal - amzn.to/2TKccpT
ND Filter - amzn.to/2PAvBuJ
Soft-Case for Caving (a7iii) - amzn.to/2QanKDA
Tripod - amzn.to/2PVGrvv
Camera Bag - amzn.to/2RZekYT
Helmet-Mounted Action Camera: amzn.to/2qTa0yT
Drone - amzn.to/2PRs7nU
APS-C Run and Gun Camera - amzn.to/2DKTMQU
In-Cave Prime Lens (a6500) - amzn.to/2DuyLZK
General Purpose Zoom Lens (a6500) - amzn.to/2Q5Mgpw
Wide Angle Zoom Lens (a6500) - amzn.to/2Tnl98b
Soft-Case for Caving (a6500) - amzn.to/2OPF6Be
Hard-Case for Wet Caving (a6500) - amzn.to/2DxFOki

[@davidelliott7746]

Thank you for allowing me to enter a world I would never know otherwise!

[@chanieweiss4288]

Thank you for taking us to see some of G-d's beautiful creations that we would likely never see otherwise. You all must be in great physical and mental condition to be capable of those climbs. Amazing!

[@gmaneis]

Last time I went caving was 49 years ago in Indiana, so I am really grateful for your excellent work, Derek, helping bring back memories. Wish we had had your photo equipment and skill in using it back in '71! Thank you.

[@oldboater]

My last wild cave trip was in Indiana also, some 30+ years ago. The cave was called Buckner’s.

[@gmaneis]

@@oldboater Buckners is one I never saw, Bob. Went to Shiloh, Wayne's, Salamander, an 80 foot pit cave very near Salamander called Shaft, also a wild part of Blue Spring Caverns, Sullivan, and commercially Wyandotte. Maybe some others my old brain can't remember now. Great fun when you're young, fit, and agile. Not now!!!!

[@DerekBristol]

Salamander was my first ever wild cave in 1989. Buckners was my second. Still love caving in Indiana and the cavers there are the best.

[@gmaneis]

@@DerekBristol Agree! Hoosier cavers know how to have fun and our group tried hard to respect the underground environment, something not everyone did in those long ago carbide lamp days.

[@elijahdoubleday5185]

Wow this is some incredible content. Very grateful that you take the time to make this stuff

[@stevemollett6866]

Congratulations Derek for the 2021Spelean Arts and Letters Award from the NSS. It is very deserved. I didn't know how else to contact you so I'll just post it here.

[@maxduncan9985]

Derek, thank you so much. Not just for this beautiful video, but for all of them. Just a year ago I never new how pretty, extensive, and wild caves were. As a kid, I always thought caves were just simple tubes in rock. And while that is still true, after watching your videos I now know that there is so much more to them, like glistening stalagmites, tight crawls, massive river systems, sparkling gypsum, and much more. You’ve inspired me a lot. I’ve been wanting to get into this somehow, but as soon as I considered joining, coronavirus came, I switched schools, and life gave me a lot more to deal with. After watching this video, I finally gained the courage to RSVP to the DFW grotto’s monthly meeting. This years been wild, but at least I’ve got something to look forward to. Thanks Derek!

[@sailingneil]

Beautifully filmed and edited as usual. Coming from the UK I am always envious of your large dry caves. In Scotland most of our caves are small and wet.

[@DerekBristol]

I loved caving in the UK. Haven't been to Scotland, but very much enjoyed the large caves in South Wales and Swildons Hole in the Mendips was amazingly fun. Hoping to return soon to explore the Dales.

[@WrestlingErnestHemingway]

@@DerekBristol Expert Caver Kieran Mckay from New Zealand also has some of his great caving adventures from over in New Zealand on his KZbin channel. I just wished he filmed them in 4K like you do. He is one caver to maybe get in contact with and would be an outstanding invite to have come explore Lechuguilla and other caverns in NM. He's always dreamed of making that trip.

[@edsonmartins1101]

Very well done Derek. Nice caves.

[@bruceholroyd7063]

Magnificent and extremely magical! How thrilling it must be to step into a hidden underground world of fantasy that most of us will never get to see in person! Thank you for the visual journey and illuminating the perpetual darkness for all of us!

[@uintasunderground6245]

Love it! Another great video Derek! 👍

[@alanhinman2742]

Thanks for the video. It brings back memories from close to 30 years ago, but with better lighting!

[@michaelh8854]

Great video I enjoy seeing the inside of these caves so much. Thanks

[@liverleef]

Amazing videography

[@Leander_]

Absolutely stunning.

[@timcantrell9673]

Total awe

[@stevenholland2369]

Great video, thanks for posting! I went to Sentinel in 1980, and remember that the Birthday Pit was impressive, but I was a bit underwhelmed by Shield City (coming from Southern AZ). It was cool to bottom out the cave though. I remember a very hairy lead climb just below the entrance pit and slope that had to be done to get to rigging point for the first rope drop. It was a spread wide chimney that got wider as you got to the drop. The right side of the chimney was actually a fin of eroded formation and you had to transfer your weight out of the chimney to your right foot, while blindly reaching around the fin for a handhold. We called it the mustache traverse because it was so hairy, especially for the lead climber. Everyone else had a belay from both sides! Video of that climb would be pretty exciting to see.

[@DerekBristol]

That's an accurate memory. Very challenging move on lead to cross that wide chimney. Unfortunately sometimes I'm not able to climb or rig and film at the same time. Planning to go back for a resurvey effort, so maybe I'll get a chance to have someone else film some of the more challenging climbing.

[@richardleetbluesharmonicac7192]

Excellent

[@ethanperrine1294]

Excellent, as always!

[@DerekBristol]

Thanks Ethan!

[@LukasEddy]

Great vid. We went caving in the guads for the first time 2/12-2/19/2021. Did a bunch of low guad caves, and then some of the more common ones in the high guads. Ice fog, blizzards, and high temps in the teens. We realllllly wanted Hell Below, but were told a trip leader is required and none are available. Will definitely be going back to do these caves - the guads are truly a caving paradise. Thanks for the vid.

[@DerekBristol]

My first trip to the area was made in 1992. Coming from Ohio it was an amazing contrast to the caves out east. Sounds like we just missed you.

[@chrisbaron4612]

Hey Derek, loving watching these videos and seeing your adventures. Fantastic work on the filming and editing!

[@robertwright5463]

Hey, great video. Have been to both caves many years ago. I remember the technical aspect of Sentinal, having been asked to do the first traverse. I opted to pass, and went back a year latter with someone more qualified. A fun 12 hr trip. Your video reminded me of that great trip 25 years ago.

[@cornbreadandbeer]

Love your videos! Ive been a subscriber for quite some time now. You should do some video tips on cave videography and your setup! i try to do my own videos but they never seem to turn out the way i wish them to.

[@Titan52berg]

Fantastic video journey through this subterranean wonder! How I wish that I was younger and could experience an adventure like this! Sentinel Caverns is a secret world that, unfortunately, I shall never be able to see in my lifetime!

[@WrestlingErnestHemingway]

Just wanted to say thank you for sharing these spectacular videos. I seen the Nat Geo film "Mysteries Underground" and thought I'd never see any caves videos that could ever beat that until I found your channel here. Just amazing IMAX like filming when viewing on my 65in 4K TV. Your 4K filming just makes the viewing all that more spectacular. I would love to see you do a full movie on Lechuguilla. A modern day like version of what Nat Geo did with "Mysteries Underground". I don't know about the possibilities or probability, but there has to be a "connection" from to Lechuguilla to Carlsbad Caverns. I hope to see you and your team discover that connection one day. Anyways, thank you very much for your videos. BEST 4K CONTENT ON ALL OF KZbin.

[@wtxrailfan]

Clean looking caves. Must not be much sediment or mud. Flagged trails look more pristine than some in Lech. I liked your comment about having less than hurricane-force winds to deal with. Anybody who's spent some time in the Guads knows what you're talking about. I miss the Guadalupe Escarpment. Beautiful country above ground and below. So much solitude it's deafening. I doubt I'll ever get back that way again due to health. Thanks for the video.

[@DerekBristol]

Yeah... if you can still stand up then it's a calm wind day in the Guads.

[@stevenholland2369]

The Guadalupe wind is legendary. Hiking back from Virgin once, got up on the ridge in howling wind blowing horizontal snow, a particularly strong gust picked me up and slammed me to the ground! Bob Seger's Against the Wind has not been to the Guads in November!

[@chanieweiss4288]

For future videos, please adjust the volume ratio of music to voices. I can barely hear the climbers' voices over the music. Otherwise, beautiful video. Thank you!

[@TheJadeeast]

My favorite playground, hangout is Carlsbad Caverna! Loved the lower cave and slaughter canyon cave and sittingbulls falls! Met Robert Nymeyer before he died. Have hie autographed book.”CARLSBAD, CAVES, AND A CAMERA.😀

[@manuelsaavedra6852]

Muy buena travesia !

[@caverken]

Well now I am missing the high Quads. Great work.

[@ODST984]

Awesome video! Can't wait for the next possible Lechuguilla cave exploration. Will there ever be a revisit?

[@Jerkabobber]

Yes, I'd like to know too

[@DerekBristol]

No permits being issued at the moment due to the pandemic. You'll have to re-watch some of the old vids for the time being.

[@waynecake5867]

My cave rescue video said earlier is finally uploaded, welcome to my channel to take a look.

[@andreasheij]

Humzzz.... Was dreaming about going into caves again (woke up bathing in sweat)... and wondering if Mr Derek Bristol did any more caving the last 5 months?

[@DerekBristol]

Good question. I will be back to producing weekly caving videos in about a month. Been tied up backpacking for the moment. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKLYoIZrbpKerM0

[@jamessolimine7102]

Derek, I would like to ask your opinion. Do you think that stalactites are Attached to the ceiling of the cave, or do you think they Are now the ceiling? (kind of like holding a match under a block of wax and having "stalactes" of wax melt downward). Thank you for your time.

[@meldale6267]

Have all 3oo + caves been named and explored?

[@RitcheyRips]

Thought that car was in the cavern

[@richardleetbluesharmonicac7192]

Which grotto is nearby. I’m dying to go to Carlsbad and check it out.

[@DerekBristol]

The Pecos Valley Grotto is based in Carlsbad. David Brumbaugh is the Chair and they are very welcoming to new cavers. Check out the NSS website at caves.org for contact information.