A Spelunking Adventure Inside Bat Cave

Ascension Island landscaping. A few times a year the old cinder is removed, ground cleaned with water, and new cinder applied.

Last weekend I hiked to Bat Cave but due to being by myself and my fear of heights and claustrophobia, I did not enter the cave.

With the help of my hiking partner Mark who recently returned to the island

                I had my first ever spelunking adventure! It was a long way down.
 

Mark entering another part of the cave.

The rock inside the cave is very sharp since it has not been exposed to the erosion elements for millions of years. It was thrilling to be inside this cave and see it as it originally formed.

A hard earned stamp!

What would Bat Cave be without a few bats?

Eerie.

Fun times!

Mark signing the logbook.

Exiting the cave.

A grand adventure!

After exploring Bat Cave we decided to hike up the backside of Sister Peak. It was difficult with the cinder and loose rock.

Our descent turned into surfing down the cinder on our feet. When my daughter and I bicycled through Nicaragua we volcano surfed on Volcan Negro outside of the city of Leon. We also hiked a volcano on Ometepe Island on Lake Nicaragua. 

Almost like an obelisk.

A few random Australian Pines on Sister Peak.

An interesting fine line of separation of black ash and red cinder.

Mark surfing down steep black ash.

Surfing this drop was fun!

The next day I biked to Comfortless Cove for a Sunday morning swim.

The Air Force resupply ship from Port Canaveral, Florida travels here four times a year.

                                Volcano surfing Ascension Island style.

A Martian Hike

A bike and hike to Bat Cave turned into a "Martian hike."

My bike has sure opened up many more hikes for me.

 

If there is a Mars on earth this is it.

A fine line between red cinder and black ash. A bit difficult to walk through.

A few plants here and there.

The backside of Sister Peak that I hiked several weeks ago.

So far this has been my favorite Ascension Island hike.

What an awesome hiking day!

White lava.

The fumarole (a volcanic gas/steam vent) opening for Bat Cave. 

Bat Cave is a letterbox hike so there is a stamp inside. It looks a bit tricky to get to the bottom of the cave. It is about 20 feet with a 14-foot ladder. One must climb down the purple rope to reach the first rung of the ladder. Since I was alone I declined to enter. If I fell or injured myself and not been able to climb out who knows when someone would find me.

I had removed my rucksack with my water since it is so heavy. I attached my headtorch but if I fell without water I would have been dead in three days. No thanks.

A good view of the fumarole.

The surface of Mars!

The white is white lava sand.

Such fascinating geology.

Contemplating the enormity of it all. I love exploring such unique areas of this world.

Huge cliff rock formations!

The end of one of my favorite hikes of all time. I hope to return with a friend so that I can safely enter Bat Cave.

I have yet to see a camel on Ascension Island.

                                        

                                                    A 360 view of this Mars hike.