Journey to the center of the... mountain?

@ElicBxn (64177)
United States
August 1, 2023 3:00pm CST
This morning my sister and I planned to go to this cavern. We were warned it was 1.25 miles in and out and 205 stairs. Could I do it, well, I thought so. At least I thought so until I took a tumble. Didn't see that last step. I went down, not hard, but scrapped up one knee. Not bleeding... but definitely skinned. A couple of the other people helped me get up. My sister asked if I wanted to go back. No, but mostly because I was pretty sure I couldn't go up those stairs right then. We walked on and my knees felt like rubber. My sister asked if I wanted to go back again, but when the guide stopped to talk, I found a nice rock to sit on. When we went on, my knees weren't rubber any more. I knew I hadn't hurt anything badly, I know bad, this felt like a scrap. A kind of burning sort of pain and I wasn't running blood. We went on and got to an intersection. One way went down to the 'drapery room' that some people went down to. The other section was going to be lead. But there was a bench. I didn't do either option, I sat on the bench and tried to get a better look at my leg. And rest, mostly to rest. Finally we headed back to the entrance, but just beyond it was another part of the tour. And wheelchair. I don't know why the wheelchair was there, but I was going to sit on it. I saw the 3rd tour group come down the stairs to the outside and I rested. Finally two families with babies from our tour group came out and headed up the stairs. I let them go and decided to get a head start on those 85 steps out of the cave. I got up the first lot, then there was a flattish area, I found another 'nice' rock to sit on. Not as nice as that first rock, but... not bad. Or, as I told my sister, it wasn't as uncomfortable as Dungaree's saddle, but not by much. I let the rest of the tour group go past so I wouldn't slow them down, and I had more time to rest. Once it was just my sister and myself, and still in sight of the last of the group, we headed up again. I'm going to say that I had my head over the top of the stairs when I could tell I was running out of steam, those last 6 steps were about the hardest, but I could see a bench at the top. My sister and I rested there for about 10 minutes before we went up the ramps to the last 4 steps into the gift shop. I had seen some stuff I might've liked, but not enough to walk around when I had found another nice bench to sit on and drink the sugared soda I had bought. I've got to say, I could tell my blood sugar was a bit low after the fall. However, I will say that when my mom was 67 she took a fall and ended up with a really bad sprained ankle. The New Orleans EMS took her to the nearest hospital, the one the bar had a deal with, I guess. At least EMS didn't have to come and pick me up and I'm 2 years older! Have you ever been in a cave? This wasn't my first caverns, but it might be my last... Did you like it/them? Ever have an accident in one?
6 people like this
6 responses
@AmbiePam (121147)
• United States
1 Aug 23
I’ve been in a couple, and I loved it. I appreciate how cool it is down there.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64177)
• United States
1 Aug 23
It was 52º down in the cave, but no breeze, so it wasn't too uncomfortable. I've been to lots of caves, but I really over estimated myself... falling certainly didn't help.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (121147)
• United States
1 Aug 23
@ElicBxn I imagine! I’m glad you are okay.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64177)
• United States
1 Aug 23
@AmbiePam I took a picture to send to a friend. It doesn't hurt too bad, but I'm kind of shaky still, over 6 hours later... think I had a blood sugar drop.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51838)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 Aug 23
I've been in the shallow caves along the Elora Gorge when I was a teen. And, also as a teen, I fell down the choir loft stairs (missed the step) so I have some idea of what you went through.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64177)
• United States
2 Aug 23
We lived in a 2 story house for 10 years while I was growing up. I fell down the stairs once, and caught myself before it was a bad fall on the hand rail. I fell up the stairs 3 times at the house. However, in the early 1980s I fell up a flight and crushed the cartilage in my knee. That was one of the many times I hurt my knees.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51838)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 Aug 23
@ElicBxn Funny how we can fall up stairs... I've done it a few times, have a little scar on my right shin to remind me.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (141905)
• Philippines
1 Aug 23
I do like hiking in the mountain every day since I am living in it for decades.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64177)
• United States
1 Aug 23
We were hiking inside the mountain. Going in I fell, so I had a tough time getting out again.
@LeaPea2417 (40061)
• Toccoa, Georgia
1 Aug 23
Yes I have been to three caves in the past. They were amazing.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64177)
• United States
1 Aug 23
This cave is up in eastern Tennessee. I went to 2 caves with my mother and sister back in '93, so this was my 3rd one in Tennessee. I've been to Carlsbad twice, once with a couple of friends and the other with my long-time roommate, Connie. I also had been to Inner Space many times and Longhorn Caverns a few times both of them in Central Texas.
@DaddyEvil (174707)
• United States
1 Aug 23
Yes, I've been in commercial caverns on tours... I'm a little claustrophobic so am not comfortable in them for long periods of time. (My family has a cave fitted out as a "bolt hole", just in case.... I've been in it several times but try to stay close to the entrance when I'm there.) Nope, no accidents or I probably wouldn't go in the caves at all.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64177)
• United States
2 Aug 23
This was a commercial cave, fitted out with lights and everything. It is still owned by the family of the original owner so it isn't like some of the more high tech stuff, but there were only a few tight places and any drop offs to get in or out were fitted with nice bridges and handrails.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174707)
• United States
2 Aug 23
@ElicBxn I don't do tight spaces. I wouldn't enter that cave.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98129)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Aug 23
I have been to caverns they are always so nice and cool down there, I am glad you were OK and could enjoy yourself. I never had an accident in a cavern,
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64177)
• United States
2 Aug 23
This was a first for me. But I'm not the healthiest nearly 70 year old, so I guess I'll just pass on them from now on.
1 person likes this