«...we climbed up the ropes, then down, then up again ... then we swam across underground
lakes and at those moments I recalled scenes from modern science fiction films I so well knew -
«This film seems to be shot on this location, and that film seems to be shot here…» It was so
breathtaking!»
Extracts from the diary:
8 september 2014
...Today we went into a cave, for the first time in my life. It was a cave with the beautiful
name of saOche, which can be translated as «Voice». They say it warns cavers about an upcoming
danger ... (let’s not talk about this today).
I had never experienced such positive emotions before. Well, perhaps only when I flew low-
altitude aerobatics with Viktorovich, then I was so filled with the same feeling of delight that I
couldn’t hold my emotions to myself and shouted with delight.
SaOche is a beautiful cave with a system of underground lakes, we swam there in
rubber diving suits, enjoyed the beauty of this new world which I was just opening to myself and
about which I had had no idea the day before...
Tomorrow we will talk about stressful situations in which Loredana would like to put us.
It suddenly came into my mind that there are two types of stress. One is sudden and strong,
the other is not so strong but of a longer effect! These are two different kinds of load. The resistance
to the first type of stress we successfully train when we jump with parachutes and perform flights.
The second type of stress manifests itself in such situations as finding oneself in caves, when you
are forced to be there not for several seconds or minutes but for days and weeks.
9 september 2014
... So in the course of survival-in-the-cave trainings man’s resistance to the second type of
stress is perfectly trained. I mean that this is the way to create such life conditions which seem not
to stress you out within short periods, say, an hour or two or even a day, but within a week the total
impact of all external factors on you is much greater than the stress that you can experience jumping
with a parachute, even with 40-second delayed openings.
So, today our luggage was brought, by evening time my leg seemed to be in perfect shape
again, the first symptoms of the flue (caused by drinking cold water) were got rid of with the
remainder of the mouthwash (with which I rinsed my throat), I got to know the people better and
our communication became more comfortable. Life is getting better. :)
We trained our main actions in the cave, edged our way through narrow tunnels ... and saw
another beauty of the caves which captivated me the same much as yesterday's swimming in the
underground lake! After that I made for myself two major safety rules:
1 Before making any sharp movement in a narrow place you should look carefully where
your head or your back will happen to be, so as not to hurt them against, say, hanging stones;
2 No matter how captivating and breathtaking the entrance into a new gallery is you should
not rush forward but look back and REMEMBER the way back!!! ...
10 september 2014
The Sos Jocos cave day ... …let’s continue our talk! The day was perfect today!
What I really like is the fact that even though we work every day from 7.3 am till 10pm and
so there is only one hour left to have access to the Internet and to wash ourselves ... and there is no
time for sleep at all, but for all that every day I have new and only positive impressions and
emotions!!!! And I am grateful to the Lord for letting me meet such wonderful people like Scott and
Loredana.
So, today was a great day which we spent in the cave called Sos Jocos, this name means
«Games». Can you guess why?
Our task was the following. In groups (our group included Scott, Antonio and me) we should
go ahead following the instructor and make our way through all the cave cracks after him. At the
end by your wish you could try to move through the narrowest of them on your own, it was so
narrow that you could easily get stuck in it ... I was twice as happy. First, because both Antonio and
Scott unanimously agreed to overcome this obstacle together with me (it seemed that in the other
group not all the members were unanimous about it), and secondly, I ticked myself off a little
leading the way through this narrow tunnel (it wouldn’t have been so interesting if I had followed
anybody).
So, this cave is called «Games» because there are many tunnels there which go in different
directions. Our instructor Francesco (it is a male name, don’t mix it with the female name
Francesca) deliberately moved a bit faster for us not to be able to remember the way back, so on the
way back we really lost our way twice. One time we were not ashamed of it because the instructors
themselves stopped us as they did not want us to go along rather a slippery balcony, so it was for
our safety reasons. Though when we were walking along it, it was obvious that we were taking the
right direction. But the second time the situation was so ridiculous that we were ashamed of it - we
got out of a relatively narrow tunnel into a fairly large gallery, several narrow tunnels led from it in
different directions. Nobody remembered where we should go next. We began to try to move
through one, then another, and we did not notice a huge opening of a tunnel just on our right (do not
forget that in caves all the light comes only from helmet lanterns)... Besides, at the end of the path
Loredana helped me with a hint one more time ... I felt thankful to her but at the same time a little
upset because she had to do it.
As a result, we with Scott decided that if we went to study new caves again then every time
we would draw «a map» with the number of tunnels and the information which one we picked up
and which one we would take on our way back.
After reaching the surface we had about 20-minute rest in a little open-air cafe indulging in a
small glass of beer and pleasant relaxing music. I was sitting enjoying the atmosphere around but
even more pleasant for me was the understanding that even though this trial of the day was not easy
but in our group there had been no tension.
It is nice to understand that you can do it.
And it is even nicer to understand that we can do it together!
Speaking about psychology. I understood today that with Scott, Mathias and Sergei I would
get on well. Scott and Mathias feel the same about me, for Sergei it is not difficult at least... Luka is
a good guy, he can easily be the heart and soul of the company, he instantly grasps your ideas,
before you can say a word (he is obviously an excellent pilot) ...
...Well, well, my mind seems to be so tricky … I have never treated this seriously. Thank you,
Loredana.
Good night to everybody.
11 september 2014
So, good evening, everyone!
Tomorrow in the evening we are going into a cave for six days. Today has been a hectic day
with everyone’s learning the basics of mountaineering. I think everyone has learned it well enough,
though this volume of vital information and skills should not be learnt and practised on one day
only. As Francesco said it takes novice cavers a week to get trained!
Mathias surprises me in a positive way. He is a scientist, an engineer by education, he has a
broad outlook and certain leadership qualities. By his good and not abrupt manners you could easily
think that he wouldn’t survive any strenuous physical activity in non-standard conditions. But it
turned out otherwise! At the same time we easily understand each other. I am sure that we are going
to feel easy and comfortable together.
Well…I feel strange taking notes of my thoughts and thinking about it at all. Perhaps it is
another proof that it takes me longer to grow up.
So, in general, now everything is in its place, everything is ready and all is quite clear to me.
To tell the truth, I wouldn’t have been able to do it any better. We are all ready and this shouldn’t be
a trial for me (I am not going to count the days there, in fact) but a terrific journey in the company
of great people!
In two minutes the lights and hot water will be turned off – I have to rush to take a shower!
In the caves, as well as during the parachute operations training there were such people around
us who did not just do their work but for whom the sky or caves were their universe. These people are
great professionals, they ceased to think about getting any profits for their work or maybe they
have never thought about it at all, they just do the job of their life, it is their world. And it is obvious
that because their job in the both cases has to do with a very serious risk, they all are men of
generosity and honesty, and you feel it when you find yourself near them, looking into their eyes,
talking to them. Kindness, openness, warmth, calmness, self-confidence, inner power, an excellent
sense of humor – they all have these features which make you feel respect for them and arouse in
you a desire to be like them. For me, being beyond the borders of our everyday reality, in an
enchanting and extraordinary New World, surrounded by these amazing people who are so unlike
others, was a real gift of fate! I will be forever grateful to these people for opening new worlds to
me, introducing me to them, opening their hearts and souls to me and for helping me to become
better.