Lucky for me, my friend Colin, who lives part time in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, knows the caves in the area. So we decided to go take a peek, this being my very first time caving.
Cave Exploration
Cave Photos: Me Caving in Corner Brook, Newfoundland (Canada) wearing many layers of winter clothing, just in case!
About a five minute drive east of downtown Corner Brook is a cave ripe for exploring. I had heard of the many caving sites in western Newfoundland and it was on the top of my list of things to do once I got here.
I had my caving gear intact: wet pants, hiking boots, sweater, down jacket, toque, scarf and headlamp. A helmet would have been a good idea, too.
A 10-minute walk following “the pipe” and an inconspicuous path later, we were climbing down deeper into the forest and arrived at an opening that looked interesting enough.
It began fairly wide but the light soon faded and our headlamps had to be turned on. We made our way through the largest part of the cave, peeking into the tiny crevices that can also be explored (by climbing, sliding and wading through water). We kept going through the larger parts 
Looking ahead of myself at every step I took, it never seemed like there was anywhere left to go: the rocks were too steep and the crevices too small; the cave closed up or the water was too deep. Yet, all we had to do was look around and there would be another area to discover not far away, sometimes helped by a hanging rope, hinting that you can climb up it and get into another cavern.
Cave Picture: Caving in Corner Brook, Newfoundland (Canada), near the opening.
At the end of the largest part, we turned off our headlamps and just sat in the cool stillness that only being in a cave can reach; the water below us shot through, seeking the light again.
Someone had left a candle and we lit it, smiling at the peacefulness and dreaming up images of white linen tables and a picnic meal here.
What I Liked:
- Being inside the cave got my adrenaline going a bit when I thought about where I was and the potential of getting flooded, stuck or breaking a bone while climbing. Luckily, I only bonked my head once at the beginning, which smartened me up pretty quickly…
- Although I could see my breath, it wasn’t cold in there at all.
- I loved the thrill of climbing up steep inclines, descending drop offs and coming back out to the light grinning from ear to ear.
Lori Henry is a freelance Travel & Lifestyle writer based in Vancouver, Canada. She covers Solo Travel, Outdoor Adventures, Wellness & Spas, and Cultural Dance, and is often called "That Cultural Dance Gal."
