![\"DSCN4982\"](\"http:\/\/web.colby.edu\/es358j\/files\/2014\/01\/DSCN4982.jpg\")
<\/a>Geraldo demonstrates making whirligigs from the young fronds of a cohune.<\/p><\/div>\n
After lunch Geraldo and Eusebio took us on a hike to a cave about ten minutes hike upstream from the Blue Creek field station.\u00a0 Clad in brightly colored hard hats, tattered lifejackets, and patterned swimwear, we marched along a mossy, rocky trail to reach the Blue Creek rapids, passing by a large group of ill-prepared spelunking strangers en route.\u00a0 Once at the rapids, we clambered gingerly along the waterfall\u2019s periphery to reach the cave opening.\u00a0 Long stalactites hung precipitously from the cavern ceiling like anglerfish teeth.\u00a0 At Geraldo\u2019s signal, we all plunged eagerly into the cold, rushing water, turned on our waterproof flashlights, and swam into the cave.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Students hike along the edge of Blue Creek toward the mouth of the wet cave.<\/p><\/div>\n
After swimming along the twisting cave walls for about five minutes, we reached a rocky outcrop and pulled ourselves out of the water.\u00a0 Peter, our guide, instructed us to shut off our lamps and listen to the cave.\u00a0 One by one, the light beams vanished until all was pitch-black.\u00a0 For about five minutes, we listened to the water percolating drip-by-drip through the limestone into the creek.\u00a0 Our guides then instructed us to turn our flashlights back on and we dove into the water again, swimming even deeper into the cave.\u00a0 After reaching a small, subterranean waterfall, we turned back and floated with the current back to the cave entrance.\u00a0 For many of us, this was the highlight of our Belize trip so far.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Spelunkers use their waterproof lights to observe cave formations such as flowstone and stalactites.<\/p><\/div>\n
We spent the afternoon playing in the river. We swam up the cool, refreshing water to a small waterfall where we got to play in the bubbling pools. Students who were less excited about swimming in the cool water got to kayak around the swimming hole and to the waterfalls on either side of it. Thrill seekers cannon-balled off the dock and swung high above the water from the rope swing. The most motivated students used the swimming hole as a workout opportunity by water-jogging and swimming laps. The lack of modern amenities even had students using their biodegradable soap to bathe in the stream.<\/p>\n
After dinner, Florencio, the Blue Creek manager, took us on a brief night hike on forest trails around the field station.\u00a0 Along the trail we saw a few nocturnal arthropods, including two stick insects mating upside down on leaves and a tailless whipscorpion perched on a tree trunk.\u00a0 We also spotted bioluminescent fungi in leaf litter.\u00a0 After about a half hour in the forest, we returned to Blue Creek to conclude an awesome day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Saturday January 18 was our first full day at Blue Creek, our third site on this trip. This was our most incredible day so far! Blue Creek has surpassed all of our expectations; we came anticipating dampness, bugs and rustic … Continue reading