It’s 9:30 A.M., and you’re prepped and ready for the big adventure. The sun is shining, and there’s a slight breeze making its way from the peak of Cardwell Mountain. With this fresh mountain air in your lungs, you fasten the strap on your helmet and descend into Cardwell’s sunken peak; the peak that’s 333 feet below.

You’re only a beginner, but nothing can ward you off; nothing can keep you from the twists and turns that live in this dark and magnificent place. Illuminated by the glow of your headlamp, you come face-to-face with glowing gypsum crystals and sights and formations that have been centuries in the making.

The Hall Crawl will, oftentimes, leave you a little muddy — but it will always leave you with an itch to come back for more.

On Higgenbotham’s Hollow, you’ll walk in the footsteps of Aaron Higgenbotham, the first human to encounter the 25-foot drop into the original skylight entrance of the cave.

You’ll squeeze through tight passageways, feel the pop of the mud against your rubber sole on Bubblegum Alley, and traverse high-ladder climbs to places you’ve never seen before.

Just be sure your headlight battery is fully charged so as not to recreate Higgenbotham’s three-day survival in total darkness.

Remember that backyard tarp slip-n-slide your dad set up for you circa 2000?

You’ll find something similar on this underground route. Just hold the soapy water — and add a whole bunch of mud.

It’s survival of the squeeziest down here on Muddy Mayhem. The twists, turns, and tight passageways will work in your favor, as you plant your heels into the soft earth and feel the cool, rock walls underneath your fingertips.

Be sure to pack your sleeping gear. This muddy adventure will keep you underground ‘til morning.

You can walk a mile in someone else’s shoes or spend an entire evening in Aaron Higgenbotham’s — the cave’s first known explorer.

You’ll squeeze through tight passageways, feel the pop of the mud against your rubber sole on Bubblegum Alley, and traverse high-ladder climbs to places you’ve never seen before. But this nighttime adventure doesn’t stop there.

Much like Higgenbotham, you feel the cool earth beneath your back as you drift off and dream of the day’s high climbs and grand formations.

Pack a sleeping bag and some extra money for dinner — the cave will take care of the rest.