Lechuguilla Cave - Far West Expedition 2017

8 day expedition in Lechuguilla Cave - the world's 7th longest cave, located in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico.
Some of this video was captured while volunteering for the National Park Service at Carlsbad Caverns. The opinions expressed are those of the video editor, and not of the National Park Service.
For more information on caves and cave tours in Carlsbad Caverns:
www.nps.gov/ca...
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/comm...
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/...
Cave Videography Gear I Use:
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
Music by: Modest Mouse

[@dancingwithczars]

Thanks for this upload. I've been looking forever for some decent video of Lechuguilla Cave. I worked with Ronal Kerbo in the winter of 1983-84 doing various cave projects in the park. I was there when Kerbo floated the first balloons up at Top of The Cross in the Big Room ceiling looking for a passageway. That attempt was unsuccessful in getting a line up, though they finally did in 1985. Lechuguilla Cave's extensive passages hadn't been discovered yet, but I remember a caver telling me at the time that there was likely a cave bigger than the Caverns within the park that just hadn't been discovered because the entrance is hidden. He was right.

[@botnetsPolarBears]

Beautiful video, Derek. Count me among many who dream at the opportunity to enter Lechuguilla, but can only do so through video such as this. Thanks for this treasure, and please continue for the rest of us!

[@richardleetbluesharmonicac7192]

The cave used to breathe through the breakdown in the entrance before it was dug out. Knowing that why is there an airlock. Is there any bad air in lech ?

[@DerekBristol]

The airlock restricts air exchange to maintain humidity and prevent formations and pools from drying-out, especially in the entrance zone. There is no "bad air".

[@z50king29]

My 4 month old son and I love watching your videos

[@meldale6267]

I just recently started watching caving videos, this cave was featured in a murder mystery book I once read so I am especially interested in it. I am finding it hard to get a sense of the caves in space and the videos vary so much in quality. I just wanted to tell you this is the best video so far and there were times (ex. Oz) where I felt like I was walking along with you guys and the cave was around me. Thanks!

[@DerekBristol]

Thanks! If you look up some of my more recent Lechuguilla Cave videos I think you'll find them to be significantly better than even this one.

[@DokkenFan]

I was invited on a 7 day trip to Lech in 1998. It fell through at the last minute. Its easily my biggest regret in life. It would have been a dream come true.

[@richardleetbluesharmonicac7192]

I had a chance in the early days but it was three days underground which I was wary due to anxiety sleeping underground I probably would have been ok but if I had any problems or an anxiety attack I would end up tying up team members to exit the cave in worse case scenario. Now I take clonezepam before caving and I have no problem

[@rr7firefly]

Visuals are great and help to satisfy the curiosity of naturalists who know about Lechuguilla. I keep reading comments about your choice of music and your explanation for playing it. Humans have a distinctly unique position among all creatures because they impose their subjective mindsets on the natural world.

[@adventuresamNfam]

I am literally crying over the beauty I will never get to see for myself.

[@aidajafarova7161]

Fascinating video, thank you. it would be perfect if you gave comments about the cave instead of music.

[@thehammondcaver3452]

This cave is a bucket list cave of mine. I’ve always wanted to go, since 1989 when I learned of it!

[@berkanbaycnar223]

Excellent cave, thanks

[@richardleetbluesharmonicac7192]

I had a chance to see lech in the early days but could not camp underground. It was gonna be a three day trip

[@paulmartin7254]

Thanks for posting, but I wish you had narrated the video instead of just playing music.

[@sskelly33]

Great video and channel!!! It looks a whole lot warmer in there than the caves up here in the northeast where I do all my caving. And that Angel Falls rappel and ascent looks sketchy!! I would be so scared to break something!!

[@Titan52berg]

I can only dream of what an experience this is; exploring a place that few humans have seen! I must say, however, that the tight crawlspaces and crevasses would probably give me an experience in claustrophobia !

[@JB-fl2gm]

Derek hope you don’t have the rona. I’d like to see more of what you are up to this year!!!! I don’t have the chance to get to mammoth cave so I have to live thru you this year.

[@paulricci7696]

Looks Fantastic!

[@exigy.]

would love to see a version of this without music, just the sounds of the cave

[@GentryRobin]

What a amazing world we live in.......

Why is there an airlock at the entrance, may I ask?

[@DerekBristol]

Václav Hora It’s used to maintain the humidity in the entrance zone of the cave to prevent formations from drying out. The intent is to restore conditions to what they were like before it was dug open.

[@javierherrera9450]

forgive my ignorance but what is "The Airlock" ?

[@DerekBristol]

The airlock is a double-door entrance that minimizes airflow in order to keep humidity from escaping, which could otherwise affect formations a pools.

[@kingdiamond5840]

Such an amazing place, such beautiful video. Stunning visuals... yet the experience was rendered intolerable with that droning cacophonous "music". 😒

[@DerekBristol]

I guess it's fair to say that not everyone is a fan of Modest Mouse. For me it enhances the experience, and this is the soundtrack that plays in my mind while I'm caving. I friend recently asked me to "please turn off that rap music" when we were camping in Lech... it was Radiohead. I've stopped using Modest Mouse as background music due to copyright and running out of suitable tracks. I'm using mostly instrumental music now, and making an effort to edit cuts to the beat of the music. I try not to narrate over the entire video, because nobody would want to listen to my boring voice for that long. I expect to have a couple more videos from Lechuguilla Cave over the next 6 months and hopefully the music is better received.

[@gmaneis]

I was thinking the same thing, but was afraid to turn the volume down because I thought the producer might come to his or her senses part way through and sure enough, a brief break in the racket miraculously took place about 7 minutes in, but lasted only about 90 seconds and still had music in it at a somewhat more "palatable" level. At least the pictures were beautiful, but the music destroyed any sense of sharing the experience, however weakly video allows us to do that. I feel sorry for people who have to have music with them every second throughout their lives. Silence is golden, especially in a place as stunning as Lech. Thanks for posting the pics, anyway. I feel horrible now, because I almost never blast anybody on KZbin, but that music.....yikes! If you're going to take us with you on such an amazing expedition, please spare us the agony of sharing what's going on constantly between your ears. It made mine hurt!

[@DerekBristol]

gmaneis Spare you the agony? We all have different tastes in music, and the mute button is always available to you. This isn’t a “Clockwork Orange” scenario. You don’t share my taste in music... I get it, but I put a lot of time and energy into making these videos so please express your opinions in a respectful way.

[@tamararonchii6023]

Ufff! Que impresión 😮

[@magnustveit4955]

Is that all limestone??

[@DerekBristol]

Yes. Different geologic members at different depths, but all limestone.

[@michaelh8854]

So it’s unethical to even touch a formation unless it’s a direct necessity to climb on it to get somewhere in the cave, then it’s completely allowed?

[@WrestlingErnestHemingway]

I've watched this great video so many times I love the music by Modest Mouse?

[@gsp49]

Having to turn sound off.

[@Io1564]

Amazing cave video, really terrible, unfitting music though! I'd much rather have narration and some cave ambiance noise!

[@DerekBristol]

Sorry that we don't share the same taste in music. I suspect the only thing worse than my music preference would be for you to have to listen to my voice for 12 minutes. Ambient cave noise in this cave would be total silence, which can be simulated with the mute button.

[@markheld5788]

The music is bad.

[@DerekBristol]

Noted

[@michaelh8854]

The music is good

[@jaybee9269]

Stunning cave! It’s as if it was put there to delight the eye; almost enough to make one believe in God…

[@IDontKnowCorp]

Good lord limestone is weird

[@michaelh8854]

Modest mouse era was the best!

[@Jerkabobber]

Awesome vid man. I love Lech. I wish I didn't have to shut the volume off because of the music. It would be better off without it... Natural

[@mileshuffman3241]

Incredible video with great music. Bummer seeing all the modest mouse hate.

[@DerekBristol]

Thank you Miles! Finally... someone who understands me.

[@simaz5104]

I'm jelous

[@Jacksirrom]

toe shoes 4 ever 💗