Down Into The Deepest Pit In The USA 

It's crazy how some small entrance in the woods has such an elaborate cave system underneath, props to the guys that mapped that place so others could explore it

I have to also add; this accomplishment is to be celebrated. For those of us that know, this is the longest depth pit in the USA. People have died doing this drop; even the warm up pit. Rescues in this cave happen more often than not. I’ve waited 20 + years to see this “fantastic” footage. Kudos, boys. Be safe.

Holy crap that bag falling scared the crap out of me so glad it wasn’t a body and that it didn’t take Edward out. I keep my anxiety in check by knowing the video is posted so it means y’all got it safe. 😂

As somebody who is deathly afraid of heights, I give u guys so much credit!!! Thank u for allowing me to EXPERIENCE it in the safety of my home!! U guys are soldiers for real!!!

These guys are going to end up discovering Agartha, just let us know when you do, you both embody the spirit of exploration, stay safe brethren

The shadow of the hug on the cave wall was the most wholesome thing you'll see all year lol

Oh man, that brought back memories. I did FP during a TAG caving convention a bunch of years ago. My [experienced] partner dropped almost in free-fall, and when I got down he poured water on my break bars to cool them as I was unhitching so we didn't melt the rope. There was an aluminum lawn chair at the bottom. Rope walking on the way back up there were cloud layers and I projected his grotesque shadows up onto the clouds as we simul-climbed. Carbide lamps were what we had at that time - good old Premiers - and they were dim enough that we couldn't see the pit walls, so we felt like spiders hanging in some infinite black void. I can honestly say I was danged tired after that trip. Awesome video. Thanks for helping me re-live the gut churn clipping in at the top. Good times. Back at the campground someone started a bonfire of huge logs using a 6 foot long pipe full of black powder. I'm not making that up. Sounded like a rocket launching, me thinking in terror "These southern boys know how to party."

That thick layer of limestone represents so many million years of calcarious ooze that slowly built up to an incredible depth, then was buried enough and exposed to pressure enough and a bit of heat, and most importantly was given enough time so that the calcium skeletons of diatom plankton, which died and sank to the bottom, which is what the ooze was almost entirely made of, slowly partially dissolved and crystallized together into this thick layer of stone. Other limestone beds are made of layers of dead shellfish that accumulated, or dead coral reefs, or calcarious algae, or in some cases just the fecal pellets of a certain type of extinct worm that had a diet rich in calcium - but those beds are not as thick as this one, which was far enough offshore and deep enough that the bed is probably free of sand and mudstone, and is just a monstrous accumulation of millions of years of dead calcified plankton. Geology is interesting stuff, my mother was a geologist and used to take me on field trips with other geologists when I was young. I forgot another way limestone is created, it is when hot and deep water that has a lot of dissolved calcium in it comes to the surface and creates travertine when the water cools and can't hold the dissolved calcium any more, these deposits don't get huge but the stone can be beautiful when it is cut so it is often used in buildings, but it is expensive. There are certain kinds of limestone that are soft enough to easily cut with a simple saw, but after the stones set in the open they become hard and durable, this has been used a lot in some buildings in the past.

The echos when descending into the pit were fascinating. Thank you for the content, it's always amazing.

3:26 scared the shit out of me, can't imagine how it felt for you.

This adventure was absolutely crazy epic. The decent was like never ending but my whole thought process was about the climb back out. I cant imagine how long it must have felt going back up rope and how much effort and work it must have taken. You guys must have literally been totally exhausted by the time you made it back up and out. Gym membership? Who would ever need one after that! Talk about sore muscles...how long was the recovery time after that one? Absolutely incredible guys...great job doesn't even come close to covering it. Hard to imagine how much more time you would have needed to explore the whole thing. Im blown away.

Best caving channel on RU-vid. Can’t believe the GoPro survived that drop. That first drop, that bag was super close. That was one close call!

I’m so glad I found this channel. The stuff you show is amazing. I can live vicariously through your adventures.

Thanks demolition ranch for the introduction to these guys absolutely class channel and although I don't like heights I'd take this over a tight squeeze any day of the week lol

For reference jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is about 220 ft and most people die from the impact when they hit the water. This pit is nearly 3 times that distance.

Super impressive achievement! And as a sound engineer, I really enjoyed the wild reverberation whenever you yelled something.

Watched a couple of you fellers vids after Matt posted you fellers helping explore his property. Much respect to ya'll for not haphazardly breaking formations off while you explore and bring these beautiful pics and vids to us.

That’s insane! It makes me wonder if the Grand Canyon was once covered over millions of years ago and it collapsed in…

75 yr grandma here. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this. I can't even imagine all the mixed emotions you felt doing this. Scary, frightening,awe,& a few others. But if you're physically & mentally up to it I'd think you can't help but to continue on with these adventures. I pray you all stay safe. Use wise judgements. Be sure & maybe carry some water on your body. God bless & keep you all safe.

Im a music student and the reverb in this pit has reaffirmed my love for reverb, and how nature will always be better than computerized effects

All I can say is that you guys are freaking crazy. Y'all had the longest echoes in history. Y'all should be in Guinness Book of World Records.

I'm so glad you guys are all safe. That part at the beginning was so scary.

Been a wild ride. Glad we finally did it!

It is impossible for me to watch y’all without having an anxiety attack. Yet I come back every episode excited for more.😎👍

Congratulations guys! This was a great video. Y’all made it way farther back than I did. It was cool seeing so much of the rooms lit up. Your lights are amazing.

Just insane to think about the seismic forces and what it took to form that kind of vastness underground. You guys got some serious balls to drop in like that !! Thanks for taking us along on this epic adventure, and I got to enjoy it all from my living room couch 😎😜👍

Been waiting for this one ever since you guys did the video from the top of Fantastic Pit. Thanks so much for taking us along with you! Congrats on finally getting the opportunity to do this insane pit.

These videos are absolutely amazing to behold. Nature is where its at. Its where its always been. Ty for taking us on your adventures! Lets get it!🤟

It’s actually called Ellison cave in Walker County Georgia it’s around 13 miles in length and almost 1,100 feet deep. Fantastic guys. Be safe

The echoes of your voice on your way down are FANTASTIC. Wowza

The rope ride down in to The Pit was incredible!! The film was also very clear & great that you can keep the movement down so we can see what you can see.......thank you all for this vid!!!

Great video!! This brought back wonderful memories of about 35 years ago in the mid-80's when we did the Fantastic Pit - if it were just yesterday. Premier carbide lamps and some first generation ropewalkers were commonplace. I wish we had the lights of today to have really shown how large this pit is. (On a safety note, avoid dropping large packs of anything down any drop. They can dislodge rock and the impact can damage rope). Continue to cave safe and looking forward to your next video!

Fantastic Pit!! I’ve been eagerly waiting for you guys to drop this one, this is awesome

This was an epic journey into the deepest pit in the USA. Amazing video. Thank you.

Thank you for taking us on your abiss something we would love to do but fear holds us back .This is a great way for us to sit back and enjoy the climb without the risk . Thank you

Now this was a deep deep repel!! And you guys made the adventure in video so fun and great! And it all went very well for waiting so long to do this cave. Thank you thank you for taking us along on this epic achievement. God bless you guys, and can’t wait for the next. 😁🇺🇸😁

You guys are nuts and the echo in that place was WILD! Pretty recently found this channel, thanks for the awesome content!

You guys are just built different. I've gone into some caves in Hawaii and it was nowhere near as intense as this. Respect and stay safe

You're all my heros!! That was so death defying down and up those ropes!! Being in tremendous health helps im sure! And you crawl through the tiniest spaces! Incredible!!

That was incredible! Y’all have serious trust in each other and an amazing drive to push yourselves! Bravo.

Glad you guys was able to go down there and are safe. Pretty impressive down there, and it's huge down there.

I would've tried to stay as quiet as possible. You went so deep down, I was worried you might encounter a Balrog. Thank you for this great video, guys! Such a beautiful and spacious pit! Keep making more awesome content like this, and always stay safe! (In the future, if you can, please try avoiding situations like the one when that backpack accidentally flew down without a warning, and than landed just a few feet away from you!)

You guys have the best enthusiasm! I can watch these over and over and always see something new. Thank you for sharing.

OMG OMG OMG...my heart is still pounding guys!! I thought it was him too...holy crap! For Gods sake....thanks loads for leaving that moment in the video! the echo in there was epic...wow

You guys finally did it. Fantastic! 😊

my health problems prevent me from being able to even attempt things like this, thanks for making these awesome video and being brave, stay safe out there.

Incredible, Fantastic! Brings back some awesome memories.

Congrats! Thanks for taking us along! Wow!

the echo is insane a full 6 seconds. amazing!

You guys should start bringing a laser range finder with you. Easiest fastest way to measure the depth/height or width of any pit

Goals! Congrats y’all! What an accomplishment! Now I’ve got to go look off the balcony into the pit

This is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever watched! What an incredible adventure!

That's a super drop brothers, keep up the excellent work and we appreciate the videos of inner earth!

What an amazing drop! You guys are insane!!

Absolutely awesome! Congratulations, Guys! Love your videos! My new favorite exploration channel. Stay safe and, take care.

Epic adventure with friends, glad to see y'all made the bounce look so good!!!

You boys got nerves of steel an mental strength off the charts cause I like adventure but I would freak myself out down there an have a super panic attack so y'all stay safe an try to be best prepared thanks for the video's

Great video, wow. The one who tried to rappel with the heavy packs and flipped upside down seems like a good case for tethering it below off the belay loop instead of trying to wear it on the back. Glad everything else went smoothly.

In my mind you guys are nuts! Thanks for doing this and sharing it with us all!

The image of your shadows hugging when the second guy joined you on bottom was awesome! 🤗

Your reactions down at the bottom are priceless 😂 congrats guys, awesome video

Stunning drop and climb guys, big congratulations. Hope Edward's near death experiences are over!!

WOW! That is soooo INSANE! Thanks for the epic journey!

BIG CONGRATS to you dudes ! That was amazing!

O.M.F.G . Made my nuts ache just watching this! I get vertigo standing on a curb. Kudos to all you guys for an insane journey and for sharing with us.

yesssss so pumped for this one been saying to drop this one for a while and yall did not disappoint AAT is #1 in caving content FULL SEND bro , Mad Love keep doing what your doing we love it, I'll be coming with yall sometime can't wait, this was awesome yall a must return soon for sure bro's next time yall will have to explore more of the bottom and the ledge's and stuff looks so cool down there its official yall have cemented you spots in caving history , totally insane this one is going to do well not many videos on youtube for this place stay safe and keep up the great content so glad I found yall , I remember when yall just started this channel you've grown so much and it is well deserved AAT FOR LIFE BROS

I LOVE that it’s so deep that you see the light on the ground clearly before the sound gets to you. It’s actually deep enough for the difference between the speed of light and sound be observable by the bare eye. That’s cool.

OMG theres finally good quality footage of descending Fantastic. Ever since I've learned about the existence of Fantastic pit I've been both terrified and amazed by it, and I've been waiting for someone to finally record a more "in depth" descent (pun intended).Thank you for your amazing efforts, and good luck in future caves!

Dude that’s sick! Hearing the echoes in that massive chamber is kind of daunting.

Naaaa bro almost got killed by a meteor made of rope

All the echoes were probably my favorite part of this video! So awesome!

You guys are so brave, thats cave was so huge, thank you for posting so we can experience it with you guys❤

You could have GoPro paying a lot for this plug! Edward...you are for SURE the KING! everyone should be on thier knees at your brave feet! Thank you so so so much for bringing this to the world!! Alex you were the last man standing down below...how did that feel? You all deserve recognition for this one! Awesome and well worth waiting for!!🙂❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

It absolutely blows my mind that places like this exist from a small hole in the ground in the middle of the woods! I wonder how many there are! Crazy!

Congrats boys!! Thats such a massive accomplishment!

Been waiting for you guys to go there. Great video. I cud feel your excitement thro my tv. I too say redonkulous, Lolol. Edward your enthusiasm is contagious. Love it.

Congrats on you guys blowin up man..stay cool stay safe!

This one's getting projected on the big living room wall. These videos are amazing I'm so excited to watch you all explore🐶🤟🏽🐶🤟🏽💙💙happy thanksgiving!

😮 My vertigo went and broke! That's how amazing that drop is! 😂

You might glaze the sheath of the rope with hot bars, but you will never melt through the rope. You guys should go to Mexico and do Golan Drinus 1,099 feet deep and El Sotano 1,340 feet deep. Those are big drops. You have to climb about 50 feet of rope to get past the streach. You need a rope walker system , that sit stand frog will not work on a Thousand foot drop.

I used to climb towers for a living and we used a rope that I thought was of similar size but it was 1000’ long so it would allow us to get 500’ up and run it through a pulley and back to the ground and attach to a friction winch. That thing filled a large trash can with wheels and was heavy as heck. If you had to get a rope like that deep into a cave system to make a long drop it would be an enormous task! When I heard you talking about a 600 foot pit I was thinking how are they going to manage that!?! Apparently you use a thinner rope than we did.😂 Love your videos! ❤

Congratulations! Been waiting on this video since your first rock drop in the pit!

This was the coolest RU-vid video I’ve ever watched in my life! So awesome!

His friend sounded freaked out repelling down that first 100ft hole. Was he just hanging there not hooked in? Did the weight of the bag flip him upside down? You never hear them sound freaked out, so it must’ve been something bad. Insane

Thank you for hauling the gear to get us down man! You guys rock!

Absolutely amazing...& the echoes...just wow wow wow

I was wondering when you guys would head down this pit I’ve been waiting so good I’ve watched it twice thanks so much for a great video stay safe you all

My biggest dismay is that my monitor cannot reproduce the incredible black darkness or colors of what you all must see in real life in there. Thank you for sharing your adventures as always and please always be safe! edit: Also just curious, I must have missed it, but do you all bring like a hammer drill or something into these caves to put those bolts and anchors in to the rocks?

Tip for a heated rig.. have a small squirtbottle with water to cool it down.

I'm BLOWN AWAY,,Great video Guys this Channel is GREAT

Goin down is the easy part …. It takes forever to get my oldass back up …. Really glad to see the next generation carrying the torch Caveon !

That falling backpack could have killed someone.

Thats the most insane echo I've ever heard

Finally waiting is over,you guys did it.just wow. 😱

28:50 You explained things, gave us some facts. Keep up the awesome content!

yall should start using chemsticks to drop down pits, would look pretty cool

We could say you're “done” caving in North America now. Can I invite you to come to the European-Asian border? We have Veryovkina cave there, the deepest cave in the world. The first camp is at 1969 feet. Maybe reaching that is a nice new goal for you guys?

Favorite channel on RU-vid right now. Killer explorations and good times with the boys. Keep it up my duuuuuuuudes.

You guys are absolutely crazy. Wow.... what a fantastic video. 👏👏👏🙏❣️

How did you guys get to go to the Mines of Moria? Deepest pit ever! Got to hand it to you, its thrilling just watching your videos. I can't imagine actually being there to experience such a thing! I wouldn't drop that deep I don't think but i'd love to visit any of your other caves. But right now, I'm living vicariously through you! 😂