Black Hole Drop and the Jungle

One of the jungle activities some folks partake is the Black Hole Drop.  You're dropped in the jungle with a pack and two guides.  A 45 minute hike weaving in and out of the jungle canopy lands you at the top of the ridge and above the caving system you're about to see first hand.  The guides explain the belay system and show you how the harnesses and helmets work.  There are three people on the belays, two at the top and one on the bottom.  Your guides put on your harness and shows you how to belay yourself down.  This was the first time I'd ever done something and to be honest, I was nervous.  Luckily, we were in a small group so my partner and I were able to head down together.  For the first fifteen feet we had our feet against the wall and lowered ourselves down, then came the dangling feet and 360 views of the surrounding jungle and ground, about 300 feet below.  The beauty of belaying is the ability to go at your own pace, if you feel like free falling quickly then have at it, but if you're more the slow and steady type then you can do just that. I chose the dangling route and took my time repelling down.  At the bottom, guides prepared a tortilla lunch and after that, we made our way back up to the jungle and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening exploring Ian Anderson's Cave Branch, sipping Belikin beer and talking with the other adventurers about their days' journey.