ADAM HAYDOCK

To get around to the rig point for fantastic, we had to traverse around a very exposed clay/mud bank by clipping into rope and crawling around a ledge to a place where we can all get set up.  We rig the gear to the rope and traverse it around the ledge so people did not have to carry so much stuff with them and weight themselves towards the drop. one slip and the steep slope would cast you into the depths of Ellisons Fantastic Pit. Phil and I Rig into the ceiling and back it up to other local bolts, we feed the rope down and clip in to start our descents. Predrag is the first to go down while I gather what kind of camera gear I am going to use on this trip.  The night before, we had some adjustments to the gear selection and placement which changed a few things around for me. But I rigged a powerful flashlight into the bolts at the top to light the fog cloud and the shadows from the top down.  I clip into the safety and clip into the main line as I lift the 50lb rope and thread it through my rack.   I didn't feel as anxious as I did the first time I did this but I did take a few deep breaths as I stepped over the edge and swung out into the 586 freefell.

 I pop two bars off and start my descent down slowly as I passed the balcony.  Once I got past 100ft I noticed the vertical passage bell out and a enormous fissure crack with consecutive dome rooms in the distance that I never noticed before.  I also noticed a house sized boulder leaning into the wall which was quite a sobering sight to see.  I could see tiny light that looked like distant stars as a continued to descend through the fog cloud and as my ears started to pop from the elevation loss. Eventually the lights became more identifiable as well as the silhouette of Predrag as I made my final descent and contact with the rocky bottom.  phew!! what a crazy place this is.