Hello everyone, my name is Tenzin Beck, and I've recently gotten into caving. Since as long as I can remember, my family has been involved in the outdoors- there are pictures of me camping when I was maybe 3, and of a little 6 year old on a rock climbing trip. My first experiences with caves came from tourist trips around our national parks- first at Carlsbad Caverns in my home state, and later to Jewel cave, Wind Cave, and others. I also did some minor spelunking where possible. The US National Parks system really is an incredible thing-- allow me to say that, as a mostly average citizen, I would never have been able to see the wonders of caves at all. Needless to say, I decided that caves really were one of my favorite environs. However, I had no idea how to turn my casual interest into something more meaningful.
Now I'm 17. Several months ago, I was having a conversation with my friend David, from Atlanta. Offhand, he mentioned that he caved. I was instantly intrigued, and it wasn't long before he pointed me towards the NSS. Soon after, I was nervously sitting in my very first grotto meeting. As it turns out, they were one of the nicest groups of people I've had the pleasure to meet.
My first real caving trip with some NSS members was to Targoc Cave, here in New Mexico. I went equipped with my dad's climbing helmet, a beat up old day pack, and a 15 year old Petzl headlamp I'd found in a bin in the garage. After about 5 hours underground I went through some tight squeezes, battery swaps, clothing damage, and had partially refilled a Gatorade bottle. I'd also seen formations more beautiful than I thought possible, and experienced an inner and outer peace that was nothing short of profound.
Now I'm rapidly making a gear list, and planning to get underground again as soon as I can. In short,
Darkness is impossible to remember. Consequently, cavers desire to return to the unseen depths where they have just been.
Darkness never satisfies. Darkness cannot satisfy. Especially if it takes something away, which it almost invariably does.
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