Blind Descent book by James Tabor

 

An advance copy of James Tabor's new book Blind Descent arrived in the mail yesterday. It chronicles 2 great achievements of exploration the exploration of the Cheve cave system in Mexico and the 2+ kilometer deep Krubera cave in Abkhazia.

Tabor explains the exploration by looking at the two men who pioneered the work. Bill Stone (above) and Alexander Klimchouk couldn't be any more different and as the book explains, their expeditions were polar opposites. Stone's were fraught with personal infighting, death and intrigue. Klimchouck's hummed along like a machine.

 Tabor frames the book as a race to the bottom of the world. I know Alexander Klimchouk and he certainly  did not think of it that way. To Klim (below), yes it was about getting to the bottom but doing it safely and consistently over the course of years if need be.

 

I've never seen an expedition so well run as Klimchouk's. No drama, just hard work gladly done by everyone everyday. 

No matter how Tabor frames the book, or what you think about the different expedition styles it is a good read and an important documentation of a the first cave more than 2 kilometers deep. That was a huge milestone in physical exploration. Stone (and others) have worked very hard in Cheve and although their deepest cave dreams have evaporated Cheve still stands as and incredible piece of exploration.

I'll let you know when the book is available. Pre order it below. Buy it for the cover alone (yes it is my picture).

-Stephen Alvarez