[tricky]

There is an extensive network of caves under my city that were used by beer breweries in the 1800's to store beer. They are all but inaccessible, and, at the time, kind of a myth. Most people didn't believe they still existed. I was fascinated by this and I compiled as much information as I could find on my personal website in the early 2000's. One day I received an email, "do you want to go into the caves? I know someone who can get us in. Meet us at 1am at XXXXXX - bring flashlights, old boots, and $50 to pay the tour guide."

Me, being young and always up for an adventure, showed up and it was awesome. These were legit spelunker urban explorers who knew how to pick locks. We got into the caves and it was crazy. Best part is I didn't get murdered.

[tomwheeler]

As soon as I read this, I knew it was St. Louis.

A former co-worker used to have a shop on Cherokee Street about 15 years ago. He told me that a neighboring building had access to the caves through the basement, though its owner was too afraid to explore it.

[tricky]

Could that have been across from what is now Earthbound Beer? If so, they hand-dug all the debris out of the cave and you can pretty easily get a tour. The owner said the cave under the cave is off limits b/c they almost ran out of air while exploring it.

[Aperocky]

> Best part is I didn't get murdered.

I was almost going to say this sounds crazy dangerous and more like a trap, but 15 years ago I would have done the same and probably came out safe.

I don't know what changed, it feels like things are getting more dangerous, but unsure if it's perception, or the truth.

[rconti]

Perception (maybe you just have more information!), and having more to lose, personally, as you get older.

[newaccount74]

I think it's perception mostly.

In 2000 when some random guy asked a 13yo "hey wanna cyber" the answer was "lol ur a creep", today they'd call the police and there would be newspaper articles how Whatsapp is failing to protect our youth from online predators.

People just seemed to worry a lot less about the internet 20 years ago.

[pc86]

"Things" are objectively not more dangerous, in fact quite the opposite.

[abhaynayar]

It's amazing how I'd never heard the word "spelunk" before today, and now in the span of the last few hours, I've heard it multiple times in three different contexts.

[davideg]

Have you heard of the Baader–Meinhof phenomenon?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_illusion

[airstrike]

First time I heard it in English! Your comment made me want to dig deeper... It looks like it comes from the Latin "spelunca", meaning "cave"

Curiously, in Portuguese we have "espelunca" which is more commonly used as a synonym for a seedy, shady place -- and now I know why!

[wnolens]

It's the word I use for exploring unfamiliar (and potentially scary) parts of a codebase

[throwwwaway69]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_illusion#Working_Mem...

[reactordev]

I take it you don’t play video games either. Spelunky was a pretty popular Indy game back in the day. Named after, you guessed it, spelunking. I first learned the word from “Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego” back in the 90s. I had to ask my parents what it meant.

[koolba]

Ha! Only thing missing from this is: “Bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed.”

[kridsdale1]

I have only done this once before.

[ambicapter]

Did you document any part of it on your blog? Or was it just a personal memory for you alone? Either way, fucking dope.

[tricky]

i did. It is really old so the writing is very cringe... search cherokee cave tour and my username to find it.

[ilyt]

>Me, being young and always up for an adventure, showed up and it was awesome. These were legit spelunker urban explorers who knew how to pick locks. We got into the caves and it was crazy. Best part is I didn't get murdered.

Sure Cave Murder Tour Guide, sure

[DeathArrow]

There is a system of subterranean galleries under my city also. It's closed to the public and I planned some time ago with some guys to explore a part of it. We were too lazy to do it and now I regret it a bit.

[simonmales]

From my local cave clan:

When it rains, no drains.

[calme_toi]

This reminds me the movie Barbarian.

[washywashy]

Cincinnati?

[tricky]

are there caves there? seems like a road trip is in order

[EvanAnderson]

Over-the-Rhine?

[turrican]

Is this also a thing in Cinci?

[mrleinad]

> Best part is I didn't get murdered.

Pretty important if you ask me

[pvaldes]

Great opportunity of a viral video and digital glory and fame missed by not becoming murdered just a little, you, lazy alive being. Fake it at least with some homemade ketchup. The algorithm says: booring, you need to commit more with the channel.

;-)

My old blog was all for laughs, vanity and stupid terminal tricks. Not much lost.