Original subtitles

Josh: ON THIS EPISODE OF "EXPEDITION X,"

MY TEAM TREKS DEEP INSIDE THE LONGEST CAVE SYSTEM

IN THE WORLD.

Jessica: IT IS OVER 400 MILES LONG.

SO THIS IS THE EDGE OF THE MAP RIGHT HERE.

THAT IS A STEEP DROP.

...TO INVESTIGATE 5,000 YEARS OF STRANGE PHENOMENA...

THERE'S PLACES THAT WE REALLY SHOULDN'T GO.

Josh: ...A SHADOWY FIGURE...

THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS.

...AND A PARANORMAL FORCE THAT'S CLAIMING VICTIMS.

THEY COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED.

JUST SAW SOMETHING PASS RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE.

I WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

OUT OF THE SHADOWS COMES THIS PRESENCE.

- Jessica: WHAT IS THAT? - IT'S, LIKE, GOING CAVE CRAZY.

THIS ISN'T GOOD.

WE'VE GOT TO GET OUT HERE RIGHT NOW.

WATER'S COMING IN. LET'S GO.

HOLY [BLEEP]! OH!

MY NAME IS JOSH GATES.

IN MY TRAVELS, I'VE EXPERIENCED STRANGE THINGS THAT DEFY LOGIC

AND MADE ME QUESTION EVERYTHING.

OH, MY GOD.

NOW, I'VE PUT TOGETHER A TEAM

TO INVESTIGATE THE STRANGER SIDE OF THE UNKNOWN.

LET'S GO.

Josh: PHIL TORRES IS A SCIENTIST

WHO HUNTS FOR RATIONAL EXPLANATIONS.

Josh: JESSICA CHOBOT'S PARANORMAL RESEARCH

HAS MADE HER A TRUE BELIEVER.

THERE IS A MONSTER LIVING IN THIS FOREST.

PHIL, PHIL, PHIL, I JUST SAW SOMETHING RUN ACROSS.

Josh: TOGETHER, WE'RE SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS...

WHAT IS THAT?

...TO THE WORLD'S MOST EXTRAORDINARY MYSTERIES.

THIS IS "EXPEDITION X."

- -Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ASK ME ALL THE TIME

IS, HAVEN'T WE EXPLORED EVERYTHING?

YOU KNOW, HAVEN'T WE MAPPED EVERYTHING?

HAVEN'T WE BEEN EVERYWHERE AT THIS POINT?

AND OF COURSE, THE ANSWER IS NO.

TAKE THE AMAZON RAINFOREST, FOR EXAMPLE.

OVER A BILLION ACRES, AND HUGE AREAS OF IT

HAVE NOT BEEN EXPLORED IN MODERN TIMES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THIS AREA CALLED VALE DO JOVARI IN BRAZIL.

THERE ARE OVER A DOZEN UNCONTACTED TRIBES

LIVING THERE TODAY.

YEAH, AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE TENDENCY

TO JUST THINK OF LAND.

I MEAN, I ALWAYS THINK OF THE OCEAN.

I MEAN, IT'S HUGE.

WE'VE JUST STARTED EXPLORING THE DEPTHS OF IT.

WE'RE FINDING NEW SPECIES LIVING THERE ALL THE TIME.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHO'S TO SAY WHAT ELSE WE MIGHT FIND?

AND IN FACT, THE TOPIC OF UNEXPLORED PLACES

IS REALLY AT THE HEART OF TODAY'S CASE.

SO A FEW WEEKS AGO, I RECEIVED A MESSAGE

FROM A GUY NAMED MARK WENNER.

NOW, MARK IS A CAVING EXPERT.

HE HAS EXPLORED CAVES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

HE LECTURES AROUND THE WORLD ON CAVES AND CAVE SAFETY.

AND IN PARTICULAR, HE HAS SPENT THOUSANDS OF HOURS

IN A PLACE CALLED MAMMOTH CAVE.

SO YOU MAY KNOW MAMMOTH CAVE. THIS IS IN KENTUCKY.

IT IS ACTUALLY THE LONGEST CAVE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD.

NOW, MARK KNOWS HIS STUFF. THIS GUY IS A REAL-DEAL EXPERT,

WHICH IS WHY I WAS SO SURPRISED TO HEAR

ABOUT HIS TEAM'S RECENT EXPERIENCE DOWN IN A CAVE.

CHECK THIS OUT.

WE'VE BEEN MAPPING MAMMOTH CAVE FOR 14 YEARS.

INITIALLY, THE FIRST COUPLE TRIPS

WERE A PRETTY STANDARD OPERATION.

THE SECOND OR THIRD TRIP, THOUGH,

WE EXPERIENCED SOME THINGS THAT WERE VERY UNEXPLAINABLE.

Josh: MEASURING 420 MILES AND COUNTING,

THE MAMMOTH CAVE IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY

WAS INHABITED BY NATIVE AMERICANS

STARTING ABOUT 4,000 YEARS AGO.

THEY USED THE CAVES AS SHELTER AND FOR BURIAL RITUALS,

A SPIRITUAL REALM WHERE THEY COULD COMMUNE WITH THE DEAD.

THEN, ABOUT 2,000 YEARS AGO,

THEY SUDDENLY ABANDONED THE CAVES.

SOME DESCENDANTS SAY THEIR ANCESTORS WERE DRIVEN AWAY

BY ANCIENT SPIRITS DEEP WITHIN THE DARKNESS.

A MORE CONVENTIONAL EXPLANATION IS THAT CHANGES IN CLIMATE

DROVE GAME ANIMALS AWAY, AND THE PEOPLE FOLLOWED THE FOOD.

WHATEVER THE REASONS FOR THEIR ABRUPT DEPARTURE,

MAMMOTH CAVE REMAINS A PLACE OF MYSTERY.

IN THE PAST FEW CENTURIES,

THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS DEATHS AND DISAPPEARANCES

AND MANY CLAIMS OF PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.

IN THE DEEPEST UNCHARTED PARTS OF THE CAVE,

PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED FEELING LIKE THEY WERE STALKED

AND EVEN TOUCHED BY A MENACING, SHADOWY FIGURE.

WHILE MANY CHALK UP SUCH REPORTS TO COLORFUL LEGEND AND LORE,

OTHERS, INCLUDING CAVE EXPERTS LIKE MARK, DISAGREE,

HAVING EXPERIENCED THIS TERRIFYING PRESENCE FIRSTHAND.

Wenner: SO, THE FOUR OF US WERE WALKING DOWN THE PASSAGE,

AND OUT OF THE SHADOWS COMES THIS PRESENCE.

[ WHOOSH, RUMBLE ]

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN EXPLAIN IT.

IT WAS AS REAL AS THE GUYS STANDING NEXT TO ME.

IN FACT, SO MUCH SO THAT I HAD TO TURN TO SEE

IF ONE OF THOSE GUYS HAD WALKED BEHIND ME.

SO I SAID, "YOU GUYS FEEL THAT PERSON

THAT JUST ENTERED OUR PARTY?"

AND MATT, WHO WAS ON THE END, SAID "ABSOLUTELY."

REALLY STRANGE STUFF.

NOW, I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN CAVES OVER THE YEARS,

AND LOOK, THEY ARE EXTREMELY STRANGE, MYSTERIOUS WORLDS.

I MEAN, THIS IS QUITE LITERALLY THE UNDERWORLD.

WOW. IT IS SPECTACULAR IN HERE.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED.

NO, THIS IS NEXT LEVEL.

I MEAN, I DEFINITELY HAVE HEARD OF MAMMOTH CAVE BEFORE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED SHADOW FIGURES, STRANGE SOUNDS,

AND OBVIOUSLY EVEN MARK AND HIS TEAM

EXPERIENCED SOME SORT OF PRESENCE DOWN THERE.

SO ALL OF THAT STUFF COMBINED,

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DISMISS IT.

TO ME, THAT'S VERY MUCH WORTH INVESTIGATING.

PHIL, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

CAVES ARE THE EXACT TYPE OF PLACE

YOU WOULD EXPECT A STORY LIKE THIS TO KIND OF COME ALIVE.

RIGHT. THEY ARE INCREDIBLY DARK.

THEY ARE DISORIENTING. AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY,

PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED AT THEM

AS MYSTICAL OR A PORTAL TO THE OTHER SIDE.

SO TO ME, IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT PEOPLE WOULD THINK A DEEP,

DARK CAVE IS HAUNTED OR HAS SOMETHING LIVING IN IT.

BUT IT DOES GIVE ME PAUSE WHEN A CAVING EXPERT LIKE MARK

HAS A STORY LIKE THAT.

RIGHT. THIS IS A REALLY CREDIBLE GUY

AND PART OF A TEAM OF SCIENTISTS.

RIGHT? THIS ISN'T JUST ONE PERSON HAVING AN EXPERIENCE.

SO THE MISSION IS SIMPLE. WHAT'S GOING ON IN MAMMOTH CAVE

THAT HAS THESE SCIENTISTS SO SPOOKED?

OR IS NOTHING GOING ON?

IS IT NOTHING MORE THAN CAMPFIRE STORIES AND FOLKLORE?

SO TO FIND OUT, I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU JOIN MARK

ON HIS NEXT MISSION

TO AN UNCHARTED SECTION OF THE CAVE.

- YOU UP FOR IT? - ABSOLUTELY.

LET'S GO CAVING.

Josh: JESSICA AND PHIL MAKE THE 800-MILE DRIVE

FROM THE BIG CITY TO CAVE CITY, KENTUCKY.

HERE, BENEATH THE TREE-LINED STREETS AND COUNTRY STORES,

THIS SMALL CITY HIDES A SECRET --

THE LONGEST CAVE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HE WOULD DO IF YOU ACTUALLY

HAD SOMETHING YOU COULDN'T EXPLAIN HAPPEN TO YOU?

I WOULD HAVE SOMEBODY CHECK THE OXYGEN READING.

I WOULD ASSUME THAT WE'RE IN AN AREA OF THE CAVE

WHERE, LIKE, THERE'S SOME OTHER GAS

AND SO YOU'RE STARTING TO TRIP.

WHAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, IT'S WHAT JOSH IS SAYING,

WHERE THEY'RE STILL EXPLORING LEFT TO BE DONE,

AND I DON'T LIKE EXPLORING

JUST FOR THE SAKE OF SAYING I'VE BEEN THERE.

THIS IS EXPLORING FOR SCIENCE AND TO DOCUMENT SOMETHING

AND TO MAP SOMETHING NO ONE'S EVER DONE BEFORE.

SO I LOVE THAT BIGGER CONTRIBUTION

TO WHAT WE'RE ADDING TO SOLVING THE MYSTERY HERE.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY, REALLY COOL

THAT WE'RE GOING INTO A SECTION OF THE CAVES

THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN GONE INTO. OH, YEAH.

Josh: TO DATE, THE MAMMOTH CAVE SYSTEM

HAS 25 KNOWN ENTRANCES

THAT ARE SPREAD OUT OVER 82 SQUARE MILES OF KENTUCKY.

PHIL AND JESS ARE HEADED TO THIS ONE,

9 MILES TO THE WEST OF CAVE CITY.

THEY'RE HERE TO MEET WITH MARK WENNERS' COLLEAGUE,

DR. PAT KAMBESIS.

HI. IT'S GOOD TO MEET YOU.

GOOD TO MEET YOU.

Josh: PAT TEACHES GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM MAPPING,

OR G.I.S., AT WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

SHE ALSO RUNS KENTUCKY'S CAVE RESEARCH FOUNDATION

AND HAS PERSONALLY EXPLORED AND MAPPED CAVES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WELCOME TO MAMMOTH CAVE, LONGEST CAVE IN THE WORLD.

IT IS OVER 400 MILES LONG,

BUT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT'S NOT LIKE 400 MILES

IN A STRAIGHT LINE, RIGHT? YEAH.

IT'S LIKE 400 MILES STACKED ON LIKE FIVE LEVELS.

Josh: GEOLOGISTS ESTIMATE THAT THE ORIGINS OF THE CAVE SYSTEM

DATE BACK 15 MILLION YEARS TO WHEN

THE GREEN RIVER CARVED ITS WAY THROUGH A THICK CAP

OF SANDSTONE BELOW,

EXPOSING A 600-FOOT LAYER OF SOFT LIMESTONE.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 10 MILLION YEARS,

FLOWING WATER HOLLOWED OUT THE STONE,

CREATING A LABYRINTH OF STACKED SUBTERRANEAN PASSAGES

THAT ARE STILL BEING MAPPED TO THIS DAY.

LET'S GO SEE SOME CAVE.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS. LET'S DO IT.

♪♪

WHOA.

WOW.

[ WATER DRIPPING ]

♪♪

SO WHAT WAS THE CAVE LIKE BEFORE ALL THE MODERN CONSTRUCTION?

Kambesis: WELL, IT WAS A LOT MORE RUGGED THAN WHAT YOU SEE NOW.

THE ORIGINAL NATIVE AMERICANS WERE THE EXPLORERS.

YOU HAD TO BE REALLY BALLSY TO COME HERE

WITH CANE TORCHES AND BAREFOOT.

THERE'S NO LIGHT.

SO YOU HAVE TO FIGURE THAT THEY HAD TO OVERCOME A LOT

JUST TO COME IN HERE.

Josh: THE CAVES WERE OCCUPIED BY ANCESTORS OF THE CHEROKEE TRIBE.

THEY MINED THE UPPER THREE LEVELS OF THE CAVE SYSTEM,

SEEKING MINERALS SUCH AS GYPSUM AND SELENITE,

WHICH WERE USED FOR TRADE, RITUALS, AND EVEN MEDICINE.

AND THEN AFTER ABOUT 2,000 YEARS AGO,

THERE ISN'T A LOT OF EVIDENCE OF THEIR ACTIVITY.

SO IT'S LIKE THEY COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED FROM HERE.

WE DON'T KNOW. SO THERE'S A LOT OF MYSTERY.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE KNOW,

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DON'T KNOW.

DID THEY EVER USE THE CAMP FOR BURIALS AT ALL?

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MUMMIES FOUND IN HERE,

BUT THEY DIDN'T MUMMIFY THEM. REALLY?

IT'S BECAUSE OF THE... THE ATMOSPHERE?

THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE CAVE.

Josh: THE CONSISTENT TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY

AS WELL AS THE SALT FOUND IN THE SOIL

MEANS THAT MAMMOTH CAVE IS THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT

FOR MUMMIFYING A BODY.

ALTHOUGH THE EXACT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED

IN MAMMOTH CAVE IS UNKNOWN,

CAVING EXPERTS ARE CERTAIN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS

IS VASTLY UNDERREPORTED.

THE BODIES OF MOST PEOPLE WHO DISAPPEAR IN

AND AROUND THE CAVES ARE NEVER FOUND.

Jessica: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PARANORMAL ACTIVITY IN THE CAVE?

Kambesis: WELL, FIRST, YOU KNOW, I'M A SCIENTIST.

MM-HMM. HOWEVER,

I LIKE TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND.

AND SO I WOULDN'T TOTALLY DISCOUNT IT.

HMM. I MEAN, YOU KNOW...

YOU'RE MY FAVORITE KIND OF SCIENTIST.

[ LAUGHTER ] I'M RIGHT HERE.

DO YOU NEED A JOB?

I'M JUST KIDDING.

WE'VE HEARD REPORTS OF PEOPLE SEEING THINGS IN HERE,

HEARING THINGS IN HERE, CHANTING, OR EVEN BEING PUSHED.

YEAH. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY GO INTO

UNMAPPED SECTIONS OF THE CAVE.

SO WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF IT, IT COULD BE PSYCHOLOGICAL.

IF YOU STAY IN THE CAVE LONG ENOUGH,

YOU START TO HEAR THINGS AND YOU START TO SEE THINGS.

IT'S LIKE GOING CAVE CRAZY.

YEAH, BECAUSE YOU'RE SENSORY DEPRIVED.

YOUR MIND STARTS TO PLAY TRICKS ON YOU.

AND SO MAYBE YOU COULD GO A LITTLE CAVE CRAZY.

OH. THAT'S PRETTY TERRIFYING, ACTUALLY.

Josh: SENSORY DEPRIVATION CAN CAUSE ANXIETY

AND EVEN HALLUCINATIONS IN AS LITTLE AS 15 MINUTES.

THE BRAIN SEEKS OUT SENSORY PATTERNS

AND WHEN NONE EXIST, IT CREATES ITS OWN.

Phil: WHOA.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY EXPERIENCES WHILE DOWN HERE

THAT YOU CAN'T REALLY EXPLAIN?

I ACTUALLY HAVE.

I WAS ON A TRIP WHERE WE WERE DOWN THERE,

AND WE WERE JUST KIND OF SITTING AROUND ON THIS FLAT ROCK.

AND IT JUST KIND OF GOT REALLY WEIRD,

LIKE THERE WAS SOME SORT OF, LIKE,

"IS THERE SOMEBODY HERE?" YOU KNOW?

EVERYBODY GOT THAT FEELING. YEAH.

WE GOT A LITTLE BIT SPOOKED.

AND THEN WE STARTED HEARING, LIKE, ROCK FALL,

AND WE WERE LIKE, "OOH."

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE ALL OF US ARE HERE.

YEAH. THE FEELING WAS TOO STRONG,

AND WE'RE LIKE, "OKAY, WE'RE OUT OF HERE."

WOW. SO BAD ENOUGH TO SCARE YOU OUT?

OKAY. OH, YEAH, WE LEFT.

Phil: IN AN ENCOUNTER SIMILAR TO MARK'S,

PAT SAID SHE, TOO, SENSED A DARK SHADOW

AND FELT THE PRESENCE OF SOME TYPE OF ENTITY.

WHATEVER IS DOWN HERE SEEMS TO HAVE SCARED

THIS EXTREMELY EXPERIENCED CAVER ENOUGH

THAT SHE AND HER TEAM WANTED TO GET OUT IMMEDIATELY.

Jessica: TOMORROW WE'LL JOIN MARK AND PAT ON A TWO-DAY EXPEDITION

TO EXPLORE UNMAPPED SECTIONS OF THE CAVE.

IN THE MEANTIME, THEY'VE ARRANGED FOR US TO MEET

WITH A NATIVE AMERICAN EXPERT NAMED BRAVEHEART

TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE LOCALS' VIEW

OF WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING IN MAMMOTH CAVE.

HYAH! [ HORSE WHINNIES ]

Jessica: SHE LIVES IN THE HILLS DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CAVERNS

WHERE HER ANCESTORS ONCE LIVED.

SUPPOSEDLY, IF WE KEEP HEADING WEST FROM THE STABLES,

WE'LL FIND HER CABIN JUST PAST A FRESH SPRING.

♪♪

Jessica: ALL RIGHT, SO THERE'S THERE'S SPRING.

WE JUST GOT TO GO WEST, I GUESS, FROM HERE.

KEEP GOING WEST. RUN INTO IT EVENTUALLY.

♪♪

- SEE THAT? - YEAH.

Phil: WE SEE SMOKE RISING FROM A CABIN

OFF IN THE DISTANCE.

BUT AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE HILLS AND THE CAVERNS,

ARE HORSES SUDDENLY SEEM HESITANT TO GO ON.

COME ON. COME ON!

LET'S GO.

[ HORSE BLUSTERS ] SHE'S FREAKED OUT.

- [ WHINNYING ] - STOP!

NOPE. NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, NOPE.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!

WHOA! WE'RE GOOD.

Phil: SO WE TIE UP OUR NERVOUS HORSES

AND HIKE THE LAST 50 YARDS THROUGH THE WOODS.

♪♪

I THINK WE HAVE FOUND HER.

YEAH. LOOK AT THIS PLACE.

HI, BRAVEHEART? YES.

NICE MEETING YOU. THANKS.

I'M PHIL. HOW NICE TO MEET YOU.

IT'S NOT AN EASY PLACE TO FIND.

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE FOUND ME IF A SPIRIT HADN'T SENT YOU.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED OUT HERE?

I'VE LIVED HERE 20 PLUS YEARS.

SO FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THESE CAVES?

A LOT OF THESE CAVES WERE USED AS BURIALS.

THERE'S SHAMANS.

THERE'S MEDICINE PEOPLE THAT HAS BEEN BURIED HERE

LONG BEFORE EUROPEANS EVER CAME TO THIS COUNTRY.

I BELIEVE THAT IN THESE CAVES,

THERE IS ACTUALLY A PORTAL TO THE AFTERLIFE.

♪♪

Josh: MY TEAM IS IN KENTUCKY, INVESTIGATING REPORTS

OF MYSTERIOUS PHENOMENA

IN THE LONGEST CAVE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD.

THEY'VE JUST MET UP WITH A LOCAL NATIVE AMERICAN EXPERT

WHO BELIEVES THAT MAMMOTH CAVE CONNECTS TO THE UNDERWORLD

IN A VERY LITERAL WAY.

I BELIEVE THAT IN THESE CAVES,

THERE IS ACTUALLY A PORTAL TO THE AFTERLIFE.

Josh: THE CAVES BENEATH THIS REGION

HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN A SACRED SPACE

FOR TRIBES LIKE THE CHEROKEE,

A PLACE OF REFUGE FROM THE ELEMENTS,

BUT ALSO A PLACE WHERE GROUPS CONDUCTED MYSTICAL,

FUNERARY RITUALS, RITUALS THAT

SOME BELIEVE UNLEASHED POWERFUL, UNSEEN FORCES.

THERE WAS A CONFLICT BETWEEN BOTH SIDES OF THE GRASS,

AS WE CALL IT, THE DEAD AND THE LIVING.

AND IT BECAME ALMOST A SPIRITUAL WARFARE.

THE DEAD -- THEY WANT TO BE ALIVE.

AND SOME OF THEM HASN'T OFFICIALLY CROSSED OVER,

SO THEY'RE JEALOUS AND THEY'RE ANGRY.

♪♪

Jessica: SHE TELLS US THAT THE DEEPER INTO THE CAVE WE GO,

THE CLOSER WE GET TO THIS SPIRITUAL UNDERWORLD.

FOR GENERATIONS, HER FAMILY HAS TOLD STORIES

ABOUT HEARING DEAD ANCESTORS CHANTING...

[ FAINT CHANTING ]

...WARNING OF DANGER IN THE DEEPEST PARTS OF THE CAVE.

Phil: SO THERE ARE OBVIOUS RISKS OF CAVE-INS

OR GETTING LOST OR FLOODS

AND ALL SORTS OF DANGER US BEING IN THERE.

BUT YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S KIND OF A DIFFERENT

TYPE OF DANGER AS WELL. YES, YES.

IT'S A VERY REAL THING.

OKAY? THERE'S PLACES THAT WE REALLY SHOULDN'T GO.

♪♪

AND YOU WILL EXCUSE ME WHEN I GET EMOTIONAL.

THE PLACES THAT Y'ALL ARE POSSIBLY GOING INTO,

IT'S NOT FRIENDLY.

THERE'S DEATHS.

MURDERS. THESE ENERGIES KILL PEOPLE.

SO I'M GOING TO SET YOU UP WITH THINGS THAT I WANT YOU

TO GO INTO THE CAVE WITH.

I WOULDN'T GO WITHOUT THEM.

Jessica: BRAVEHEART LEADS US TO A NEARBY SPOT

WHERE SHE CONDUCTS A BLESSING

AND HELPS CREATE A PROTECTIVE TALISMAN

FOR ME AND PHIL.

GRANDMOTHERS OF THE NORTH.

SHE USES A COMBINATION OF SACRED HERBS

AND EVEN A LOCK OF OUR OWN HAIR.

JUST A LITTLE SNIP IS ALL YOU NEED.

OH, IT'S FINE.

IT'S AN UNUSUAL GIFT, BUT CONSIDERING HER DESCRIPTION

OF WHAT'S LURKING INSIDE THE CAVE,

I'M FEELING THANKFUL FOR THE GESTURE.

THE NEXT MORNING, WE DRIVE BACK TOWARDS THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN

TO JOIN THE TEAM ABOUT TO MAP MORE OF MAMMOTH CAVE.

I'M LEGIT FEELING WAY BETTER GOING TO THE CAVES

AFTER GETTING THESE BAGS FOR PROTECTION.

DO YOU FEEL PROTECTED? I FEEL GOOD.

DO YOU REALLY? I THINK IT WAS A REALLY

NICE GESTURE, REALLY -- VERY MEANINGFUL.

I'M ACTUALLY REALLY SURPRISED TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT

THAT WAS LIKE A MEANINGFUL VISIT.

I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE,

"BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. I'M PHIL, I'M A SCIENTIST."

BUT INSTEAD, YOU'RE LIKE TOTALLY DOWN.

WHEN I HEAR THESE STORIES OF PORTAL

OR THE SPIRITS OF THE DEAD AND THESE PLACES,

I WONDER, LIKE, WHAT'S THE SEED OF TRUTH TO IT?

WHAT WAS REALLY HAPPENING BACK THEN?

THERE COULD HAVE BEEN ROCK SLIDES.

THERE COULD HAVE BEEN FLOODS. MM-HMM.

THERE COULD HAVE BEEN DISEASE FROM THE DEAD

THAT THEY WERE STORING IN THE CAVES.

I DO THINK THERE'S A SEED OF TRUTH THERE,

BUT WHAT'S THE PARANORMAL OR MYTHOLOGICAL SEED?

WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE SOMETHING...

REAL?

BUT I WOULD COUNTER THAT IN REGARDS TO THE CAVING TEAM,

WE'RE GONNA BE MEETING UP WITH,

THEY THEMSELVES HAVE MENTIONED WEIRD EXPERIENCES

THAT THEY CAN'T EXPLAIN THAT THEY'VE HAD IN THE CAVE.

THEY'RE SCIENTISTS, AND YET THEY'RE STILL MENTIONING THIS.

SO EXPLAIN THAT ONE.

SEE, THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING. THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING

AND YOU STILL TURN A BLIND EYE TO THEM.

IT'S NOT A BLIND EYE.

IT'S A CRITICAL EYE. IT'S A SKEPTICAL EYE.

AND I JUST THINK WE NEED MORE EVIDENCE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING INTO THE CAVE, TO GET MORE EVIDENCE.

♪♪

Phil: WE'RE MEETING WITH JOSH'S CONTACT,

EXPERT CAVER MARK WENNER. WELCOME TO MAMMOTH.

HE BELIEVES THAT WHEN HIS TEAM STARTED MAPPING

AN UNEXPLORED AREA OF THE CAVE,

THEY ENCOUNTERED SOME TYPE OF DARK SPIRIT.

NOW THEY'RE HEADING EVEN DEEPER INSIDE,

AND WE'RE JOINING THEIR EXPEDITION.

WE'RE GOING TO CAMP OVERNIGHT,

THE FIRST NIGHT AFTER TRAVERSING

SOME RELATIVELY DIFFICULT PASSAGE.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO END UP THE SECOND DAY

IN THIS AREA, COMPLETELY UNEXPLORED.

WE'LL BE THE FIRST ONES IN THERE.

Phil: NOT ONLY THAT, BUT TO GET THERE,

WE'LL PASS THROUGH THE AREA

WHERE HE EXPERIENCED THE UNUSUAL PHENOMENA.

WELL, PART OF THE REASON

WHY WE'RE WE'RE WANTING TO GO DOWN THERE

IS THAT I ALSO WANT TO DO A PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION.

YOU HAD EXPERIENCES WHILE YOU'VE BEEN DOWN THERE?

NUMEROUS.

SO IT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN ONCE.

THE LAST TIME WE HAD AN EXPERIENCE,

THERE WERE THREE OTHER GUYS WITH ME.

I FELT A PRESENCE. SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED.

I JUST LOOKED AT MATT AND I SAID,

"YOU FEEL THAT AGAIN?" HE SAYS, "YEAH."

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE EAGER TO GET DOWN INTO THE CAVES.

BUT FIRST WE CHECK IN WITH JOSH AND UPDATE HIM ON THE VARIOUS

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS WE'VE HEARD IN THE FIELD.

PHIL, WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THIS? AS MR. SCIENCE,

YOU ARE OFF THE MAP HERE, MY FRIEND.

TALKING TO ALL THOSE CAVERS,

THEY ALL HAVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

THEY'RE ALL VERY SKEPTICALLY MINDED,

BUT THEY ALL SAY SOMETHING KIND OF HAPPENS TO YOU

WHEN YOU'RE DOWN THERE.

LOOK, WHEN YOU'RE IN THOSE UTTERLY DARK PLACES

AND THOSE NARROW, WINDING TUNNELS,

IT IS EASY TO LOSE A SENSE OF TIME AND SPACE.

IT'S COMPLETE SENSORY DEPRIVATION

INTO THE DARKNESS. YOU READY?

THINGS CAN GO SIDEWAYS PRETTY QUICKLY, GUYS,

ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE MOVING INTO UNMAPPED AREAS OF THE CAVE.

USE YOUR EYES AND EARS AS WELL AS

THE TOOLS THAT YOU HAVE,

AND I'LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE.

ALL RIGHT, MAN. SOUNDS GOOD.

Phil: WE GRAB OUR GEAR AND LINK UP WITH PAT

AND THE REST OF MARK'S TEAM,

WHO WILL BE MAPPING THE UNEXPLORED AREA OF THE CAVE.

LET'S DO IT. GEAR UP.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

Jessica: OUR PLAN IS TO HEAD TO THE SPOT

WHERE MARK SAW THE APPARITION AND RECORD ANY ANOMALOUS SOUNDS

OR HEAT SIGNATURES THAT WE COME ACROSS.

♪♪

BEFORE WE KNOW IT,

WE'RE ENTERING A WORLD OF DARKNESS

AND AN EXPEDITION WHERE ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.

THIS PLACE IS [BLEEP] TERRIFYING.

♪♪

Josh: PHIL AND JESS ARE IN KENTUCKY,

EXPLORING REPORTS THAT MAMMOTH CAVE,

THE WORLD'S LONGEST CAVE SYSTEM,

IS HOME TO A SHADOWY PARANORMAL PRESENCE.

Jessica: THIS PLACE IS [BLEEP] TERRIFYING.

Josh: THEY'RE BEING LED BY RENOWNED CAVE EXPERT MARK WENNER,

WHO HIMSELF ENCOUNTERED A GHOSTLY FIGURE

DEEP IN THIS TUNNEL SYSTEM.

SO YOU SEE ALL THE ROCKS ON THE FLOOR?

- YEAH. - THEY CAME FROM UP THERE.

- WOW. - SO YOU SEE THAT ONE

STICKING RIGHT OUT LIKE A LITTLE TOOTH?

- Jessica: YEAH. - WE CALL IT A WIDOWMAKER.

WOW. BECAUSE IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE

STANDING UNDER IT AT THE WRONG TIME...

YEAH. WE'RE STANDING IN THE PERFECT PLACE

FOR MORE OF THESE TO FALL ON US. YEAH.

BY ALL MEANS, LET'S CONTINUE

TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ELSEWHERE.

[ LAUGHTER ]

♪♪

Jessica: THE CLOSER WE GET TO THE UNEXPLORED AREA,

THE MORE TREACHEROUS THE GROUND BECOMES.

WHOA!

ONE FALSE STEP COULD EASILY RESULT

IN A SERIOUS INJURY, OR WORSE.

- HERE'S THE LITTLE SLIDE HERE. - SUPER SLIDEY?

SUPER SLIDEY.

AND IT'S KIND OF SLIPPERY HERE, GUYS, SO...

- OKAY. - THREE POINTS OF CONTACT.

WHOA! [BLEEP]

NOT IT. WHEW.

- YOU'RE GOOD, YOU GOOD? - YEAH.

- SIT DOWN AND SLIDE. - OKAY.

WHOO! LIKE, LEGIT SLIDE.

LET ME GET BACK UP BEFORE YOU GET YOUR BIG BUTT DOWN HERE.

Phil: THE ONLY ENTRANCE TO THE PASSAGEWAY

WHERE MARK SAID HE ENCOUNTERED THE SPIRIT IS STRAIGHT DOWN.

WE TIE A ROPE TO A SECURE SECTION OF ROCKS

AND DESCEND INTO THE UNKNOWN.

♪♪

[ EXHALES ] ALL RIGHT.

WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE UP HERE?

UH, I THINK YOU CAN GO THROUGH.

- YEAH? - YEAH, YEAH, I THINK SO.

JUST BE REALLY CAREFUL WHERE YOU STEP.

THERE'S LOT OF PEOPLE THINK CAVING WILL LOOK LIKE

GOING DOWN A BIG TUNNEL, TAKE A RIGHT OR A LEFT,

AND THAT'S CAVING.

REALLY, THE PASSAGEWAYS WILL LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

♪♪

Jessica: AS WE GET FARTHER INTO THE CAVE,

THE TUNNEL CURVES, AND WE'RE SUDDENLY HEADING UP AGAIN.

A THIN LAYER OF WATER COATS THE ROCKS,

CREATING A SLIPPERY MUD.

[ GRUNTS, GASPS ]

REAL CAREFUL HERE.

PHIL, I'M ALMOST OUT!

ALL RIGHT, I'M TRYING TO MAKE MY WAY OVER.

HOW DID YOU FIT THROUGH HERE?

[ DEEP EXHALE ]

[ GRUNTING ]

Jessica: ALL RIGHT, I'M UP.

- THAT IS A STEEP DROP BACK HERE. - YEAH, YEAH.

SEE THOSE LITTLE FOOTPRINTS THAT I MADE IN THE MUD?

YEAH.

KNEE AND HAND CRAWL

ALL THE WAY UP WITH THEM, OKAY? OKAY.

THIS IS REAL SLIPPERY.

HERE. HOLD ON. GOT IT?

[ GRUNTS ]

WHOO!

[ GRUNTS ]

Phil: MARK, PAT, AND THE OTHER TWO CREW MEMBERS

CATCH UP WITH US AS WE CONTINUE

THROUGH THIS MAZE OF DISORIENTING TUNNELS.

WHAT'S UP?

THIS IS WHERE I FELT THE PRESENCE.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS.

CAME UP OUT OF THE SHADOWS THERE.

[ LOW GROWL ]

♪♪

AND THIS IS WHERE I SAID, "YOU GUYS FEEL THAT?

THERE'S A FIFTH PERSON IN OUR PARTY.

MATT SAID, "ABSOLUTELY." EXACTLY RIGHT HERE.

THIS WAS IT. WOW.

I'VE BEEN CAVING A LONG TIME

AND I'VE NEVER FELT ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE.

AS REAL AS YOU STANDING NEXT TO ME.

WELL, THIS WOULD BE AN IDEAL PLACE FOR OUR INVESTIGATION.

SO COULD WE SET UP BASE CAMP SOMEWHERE CLOSE BY?

YEAH, THERE'S A FLAT SPOT RIGHT BACK THERE, AND IT'S PERFECT.

IN FACT, THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE WE WERE

WHEN WE SET UP CAMP THAT NIGHT.

♪♪

WHAT DO YOU THINK WE NEED FOR THIS?

LET'S GRAB THE THERMAL. OKAY.

JUST TO SEE IF WE CAN GET ANY CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE.

YEAH.

AND LET'S GRAB THE AUDIO RECORDER.

AND IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START.

OKAY, COOL.

♪♪

Jessica: WE'RE ON TOP OF THE SPOT WHERE MARK BELIEVES

HE ENCOUNTERED SOME TYPE OF ENTITY.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER IT'S STILL HERE

OR WHETHER ANY RESIDUAL ENERGY CAN BE DETECTED.

I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY OUR BEST BET FOR A HOT SPOT...

YEAH. ...FOR FINDING OUT WHY

MARK WAS FEELING THOSE PRESENCES.

SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.

PHIL PLUGS A THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA INTO HIS TABLET

WHILE I RECORD AUDIO.

EVEN WHEN AN ENTITY ISN'T VIEWABLE

IN THE VISIBLE LIGHT SPECTRUM,

IT IS THEORIZED THAT IT MAY BE ABLE TO DISPLACE HEAT,

WHICH APPEARS IN RED ON A THERMAL CAMERA.

THE AUDIO RECORDER I'M USING CAN ALSO DETECT SOUNDS

THAT ARE IMPERCEPTIBLE TO THE HUMAN EAR.

[ FAINT INDISTINCT NOISE ]

DID YOU HEAR THAT?

OVER IN THAT DIRECTION?

I SWEAR I KEEP HEARING SOMETHING.

YEAH, ME TOO.

I STILL DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS VOICES.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO TELL WHAT IT IS.

[ FAINT, DISTANT RHYTHMIC PULSING ]

WOW.

[ NOISE CONTINUES ]

IT JUST KEEPS PULSING. IT GETS LOUDER.

IT IS STILL GOING.

♪♪

[ LOUD CLATTER ]

WHOA!

♪♪

Josh: THE TEAM IS 300 FEET DEEP

IN THE LONGEST CAVE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD.

THIS IS WHERE MARK AND HIS CAVING TEAM ENCOUNTERED

WHAT THEY BELIEVE WAS SOME TYPE OF DARK,

POSSIBLY EVIL SPIRIT

WHILE THEY WERE MAPPING A NEW SECTION OF THE CAVE.

WHILE PHIL IS SWEEPING THE AREA WITH A THERMAL CAMERA,

JESSICA IS RECORDING AUDIO.

[ RHYTHMIC PULSING IN DISTANCE ]

[ LOUD CLATTER ] WHOA.

WHAT WAS THAT?

THAT'S LIKE THE SOUND PAT SAID SHE HEARD BEFORE HER ENCOUNTER.

AND THEN WE STARTED HEARING, LIKE, ROCK FALL

AND WE WERE LIKE, "OOH!"

[ CLATTERING ]

[ THUD ]

AND LOOK AT THIS. LOOK HERE.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE? WHAT DO YOU GOT?

THERE'S A LITTLE HOT SPOT HERE.

OH, YEAH, THAT LINE.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER HERE?

BE CAREFUL.

OH, RIGHT THERE. OH, THERE IT IS, YEAH.

WHAT IS THAT?

WHY DOES IT GET HOT ALL OF A SUDDEN?

IT'S THAT ROCK RIGHT THERE. ARE YOU SEEING THIS?

- YEAH. - YEAH.

I DON'T SEE IT ANYMORE. THAT IS SO WEIRD.

YEAH.

♪♪

Jessica: AFTER ANOTHER THOROUGH PASS THROUGH THE AREA OF THE CAVE

WHERE MARK ORIGINALLY FELT A MYSTERIOUS PRESENCE,

WE DON'T ENCOUNTER ANY OTHER ANOMALIES,

SO WE HEAD BACK TO CAMP FOR SOME MUCH-NEEDED REST.

ACCORDING TO THE CAVERS, MANY OF THE STRANGEST ENCOUNTERS HAPPEN

WHEN THEY PUSHED INTO AN UNMAPPED SECTION OF THE CAVE.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADING TOMORROW.

EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT SHOULD BE NIGHTTIME,

IT'S LIKE IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHAT TIME IT IS

IN A PLACE THAT IS PERPETUALLY, COMPLETELY DARK.

YOU JUST -- YOU HAVE NOTHING TO RELATE TO.

AND AFTER THIS CRAZY DAY

OF JUST PHYSICAL AND MENTAL EXHAUSTION,

YOU'D THINK IT'D BE EASY TO SLEEP,

BUT THEN AGAIN, THERE ARE GIANT SLABS OF STONE

HANGING OVER ME THAT COULD FALL AT ANY MOMENT.

SO, ACTUALLY, I MIGHT SLEEP WITH THE HELMET ON.

♪♪

THAT'S BETTER.

♪♪

- GOOD MORNING. - HEY, BUDDY.

Phil: AFTER A QUICK BREAKFAST OF SOMETHING

THAT I WOULD DESCRIBE AS WELL, EDIBLE...

IT'S CALORIES.

[ LAUGHS ]

...WE HEAD OUT FOR DAY TWO OF THE EXPEDITION.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET'S GO.

WE HEAD DEEPER INTO THE CAVE TO THE LOCATION

WHERE MARK AND PAT'S PREVIOUS MAPPING EFFORTS ENDED.

ALMOST EVERY TIME SOMEONE HAS CROSSED INTO A NEW AREA,

THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF ODD SOUNDS

AND EVEN SIGHTINGS OF A STRANGE, DARK FIGURE.

♪♪

[ EXHALES ]

♪♪

THIS IS THE SIDE THAT I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT,

AND IT GOES TO UNCHARTED TERRITORY.

SO THIS IS THE EDGE OF THE MAP RIGHT HERE?

- YEAH. - WOW.

YOU READY FOR A CRAWL? I'M READY FOR A CRAWL.

I'M READY FOR A CRAWL. YEAH.

♪♪

Jessica: THE PASSAGEWAY INTO THE NEXT PART OF THE CAVE

IS EXTREMELY NARROW.

TO GUARD AGAINST LOSING THE ENTIRE TEAM

IN CASE OF A CAVE-IN, WE GO THROUGH IN PAIRS.

Phil: WOW. OKAY.

GETTING WAY NARROW OVER HERE.

AND WE'VE BEEN HEARING WATER THE ENTIRE TIME,

SEEING IT DRIPPING FROM THE CEILING.

WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING TO BE UP AHEAD.

♪♪

WHOA, OKAY. YEAH.

SHINE YOUR LIGHT DOWN THERE.

DO YOU SEE -- DOES IT GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH?

WOW, IT JUST KEEPS GOING.

Phil: AS THE TEAM CATCHES UP,

WE CONTINUE TO CLIMB THROUGH THE NARROW PASSAGEWAYS.

SUDDENLY IT OPENS UP AND WE'RE STANDING IN A GIANT CAVERN.

[ SNIFFLE, EXHALING ]

♪♪

HEY, GUYS, THIS IS WHERE OUR NEW SURVEY WILL START.

SO THIS IS WHERE THE MAPPING BEGINS?

- RIGHT. - ALL RIGHT, WELL, IF YOU GUYS

ARE GONNA GO AHEAD AND DO THE MAPPING HERE,

WE'RE GONNA GO DO OUR INVESTIGATION...

WE'LL HEAD BACK A LITTLE BIT. ...A LITTLE FURTHER.

YOU GOT IT. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

Jessica: IF BRAVEHEART IS RIGHT, AND THERE REALLY IS SOME KIND

OF PORTAL TO THE UNDERWORLD HERE,

I WANT TO DOCUMENT IT.

WHILE MARK AND HIS TEAM START THE MAPPING PROCESS,

WE MOVE AHEAD TO A COMPLETELY UNEXPLORED AREA

AND PREPARE FOR WHATEVER THE CAVE HAS IN STORE FOR US.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, THIS LOOKS GOOD.

Phil: IT'S PITCH BLACK IN HERE,

THE PERFECT PLACE TO TEST MY THEORY THAT MAMMOTH CAVES'

MYSTERIOUS SIGHTS AND SOUNDS COULD BE EXPLAINED

BY THE EFFECTS OF SENSORY DEPRIVATION.

AT THE SAME TIME, JESSICA WILL BE TESTING HER THEORY

THAT THERE'S A PRESENCE IN THE CAVE

THAT IS THE SOURCE OF THESE PHENOMENA.

SO WHAT I'M THINKING IS WE CAN SET UP

THE WIRELESS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM,

BUT I'M GOING TO GO BACK THERE AND JUST SIT IN THE DARK.

I WANT YOU TO MARK DOWN ANYTHING THAT SEEMS WEIRD.

♪♪

SO HOW'S THREE LOOKING?

THREE'S LOOKING GOOD.

OKAY, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TURN OFF MY HEADLAMP

AND BUST OUT THE RECORDER, AND WE'RE GOOD TO GO.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD LUCK IN THERE.

Jessica: THE INFRARED CAMERAS SHOW WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND ME

AS I SIT IN COMPLETE DARKNESS

IN THIS UNCHARTED AREA OF THE CAVE.

I'M HOPING TO ENCOUNTER THE STRANGE SOUNDS

OR THE SENSE OF A DARK PHYSICAL PRESENCE

THAT BOTH PAT AND MARK DESCRIBED.

OKAY, RECORDING.

HELLO, I'M JESSICA.

BRAVEHEART MADE A PRAYER ASKING IF WE COULD HAVE PASSAGE

INTO MAMMOTH CAVE.

Phil: WE'RE ALLOWING 30 MINUTES FOR OUR EXPERIMENT

TO SEE WHAT MIGHT BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT HERE,

AND WHAT MIGHT JUST BE IN JESSICA'S HEAD.

♪♪

IS THERE ANYONE HERE WITH US?

♪♪

PHIL, DID YOU CAPTURE ANYTHING ON CAMERA?

SO FAR, NOTHING.

A LOT OF SHADOW PLAY FROM THE INFRARED AROUND YOU,

BUT I'LL LET YOU KNOW IF I SEE ANYTHING.

♪♪

IS THERE ANYONE THERE?

[ FAINT CLATTER ]

PHIL, DID YOU HEAR THAT?

I'M PRETTY SURE I HEARD SOMETHING OFF TO MY LEFT.

[ FAINT CLATTER ]

HELLO? IS THERE ANYONE OVER THERE?

[ CLATTER ] YOU'RE HEARING IT AGAIN?

YEAH, AND I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY.

THAT'S THE SIDE WITH THE WATER. I KNOW WHERE THE WATER IS.

IT'S NOT THE WATER. IT'S LIKE AN UNDERTONE TO THE WATER.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S ALMOST A WAILING.

ARE YOU PICKING ANYTHING UP ON THOSE CAMERAS?

BECAUSE I AM HEARING A LITANY OF VOICES TO THE RIGHT OF ME.

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

I'M GETTING NO VISUAL SIGNS OF MOVEMENT BACK THERE.

♪♪

PHIL, DID YOU SEE THAT?

I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. WHAT HAPPENED?

I SWEAR TO GOD, I JUST SAW SOMETHING

PASS RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE.

IT WAS SUPER CLOSE.

IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO ME.

I'M GETTING KIND OF FREAKED OUT.

IF IT'S NOT OKAY FOR PHIL AND I TO BE HERE,

WILL YOU PLEASE SEND A SIGN?

♪♪

- HOLY [BLEEP]! - OH!

HOLY [BLEEP], HOLY [BLEEP], HOLY [BLEEP].

♪♪

PHIL AND JESSICA'S INVESTIGATION INTO MAMMOTH CAVE

IS A STARK REMINDER OF SOMETHING I'VE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND.

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU BELIEVE A CAVE

MIGHT BE HOME TO SUPERNATURAL FORCES,

IT COULD CERTAINLY BE A PLACE THAT TURNS DEADLY IN A HURRY.

ON A RECENT EXPEDITION TO ECUADOR,

MY OWN TEAM DESCENDED HUNDREDS OF FEET INTO THE EARTH

TO EXPLORE THE MASSIVE TAYOS CAVES.

IN PLACES LIKE THIS, EVERY STEP COUNTS.

THE CARELESS PLACEMENT OF A FOOT OR A LOSS OF BALANCE IN THE DARK

CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GETTING OUT OF A TIGHT SPOT

AND NOT MAKING IT OUT ALIVE.

AND WHILE PEOPLE THINK OF CAVES AS EMPTY PLACES,

THEY'RE ACTUALLY TEEMING WITH LIFE.

THEY ARE ALSO TREACHEROUS CONDUITS FOR WATER,

AND WEATHER CONDITIONS ABOVE CAN LEAD

TO UNEXPECTED FLOODING UNDERGROUND.

THESE REALITIES WERE DRAMATICALLY HIGHLIGHTED

IN 2018, WHEN 12 BOYS AND THEIR COACH

WERE TRAPPED UNDERGROUND IN A FLOODED CAVE IN THAILAND,

SPARKING A DRAMATIC RESCUE EFFORT

WITH THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS AND 100 TRAINED DIVERS.

SO IF YOU ARE VENTURING INTO A CAVE,

GO WITH AN EXPERIENCED GUIDE, GO WITH THE PROPER GEAR,

AND ALWAYS GO WITH A PLAN FOR HOW TO GET BACK OUT SAFELY.

♪♪

Josh: DEEP INSIDE MAMMOTH CAVE, JESSICA IS ALONE IN THE DARK,

TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS

PARANORMAL PHENOMENA HERE, OR IF REPORTS OF PHANTOM FIGURES

ARE A TRICK OF THE MIND BROUGHT ON BY SENSORY DEPRIVATION.

PHIL, DID YOU SEE THAT?

I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. WHAT HAPPENED?

I SWEAR TO GOD, I JUST SAW SOMETHING PASS

RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE.

IT WAS SUPER CLOSE.

IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO ME.

I'M GETTING KIND OF FREAKED OUT.

- HOLY [BLEEP]! - OH!

HOLY [BLEEP], HOLY [BLEEP], HOLY [BLEEP].

WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?

SOMETHING JUST TOUCHED ME. [ PANTING ]

JESS, ARE YOU OKAY?

[ PANTING ]

♪♪

OH, MY GOD.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

I WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

I'M COMING UP.

♪♪

SO THIS IS THE AREA BACK HERE. YOU SEE THAT?

JESS AND I LOOK THROUGH THE FOOTAGE, AND FROM ONE ANGLE,

WE SEE WHAT APPEARS TO BE A STRANGE, SHADOWY FIGURE.

THAT'S RIGHT, AFTER I SAID,

"I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING'S STANDING NEXT TO ME."

SO THAT WAS KIND OF -- KIND OF WEIRD.

Phil: WE SLOW IT DOWN, AND WHILE THE SHADOW

DOESN'T SEEM TO BE JESS, WE STILL CAN'T TELL WHAT IT IS.

WOW. THAT'S CRAZY.

WHAT IS THAT?

MARK AND HIS TEAM REACH US BY WALKING,

ASK US TO MEET BACK UP WITH THEM RIGHT AWAY.

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WE RUN INTO SOMETHING

THAT'S DEFINITELY CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

WHAT'S GOING ON? THIS ISN'T GOOD.

THIS WAS DRY WHEN WE CAME THROUGH HERE ON THE WAY IN.

- Pat: WE SHOULD GET OUT. - HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE?

NONE. WE'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW.

- ALL RIGHT, GUYS. - WE GOT TO GO, GUYS.

- COME ON, EVERYBODY. - WATER'S COMING IN. LET'S GO.

Man: GUYS, LET'S GO. WE GOT TO GET TOPSIDE.

LET'S GO.

Josh: RAIN ABOVE THE SURFACE

IS CAUSING A FLASH FLOOD IN THE CAVERNS BELOW.

WATER LEVELS CAN RISE RAPIDLY AND QUICKLY TURN DEADLY.

OH, IT'S RUSHING. IT'S GOING.

♪♪

[ BLEEP ]

♪♪

Jessica: UP TO THE KNEES!

♪♪

[ MAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

ALMOST OUT!

- Phil: WHEW! - Jessica: OH! OKAY.

Josh: AFTER TWO GRUELING DAYS UNDERGROUND,

AND A NARROW ESCAPE FROM FLASH FLOODING,

THE "EXPEDITION" TEAM IS EXHAUSTED.

BUT THEY'VE ALSO GOTTEN RESULTS.

WHEW!

MARK AND HIS COLLEAGUES HAVE ADDED TO THE MAP

THAT'S PROVIDING A MORE ACCURATE PICTURE

OF THE WORLD'S LONGEST CAVE SYSTEM.

WILL THAT DO IT FOR YOU?

- OH, MY GOSH. - PLEASE.

I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT WAS CRAZY.

Josh: JESSICA AND PHIL HAVE CAPTURED AUDIO AND VIDEO EVIDENCE

THAT MAY INDICATE SOME KIND OF STRANGE PHENOMENA.

THEIR THERMAL CAMERA RECORDED AN UNEXPLAINABLE HIT

IN A PASSAGEWAY

WHERE PARANORMAL ACTIVITY HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE.

[ CLATTER ]

WHOA! WHAT WAS THAT? WHAT WAS THAT?

[ RHYTHMIC PULSING NOISE ]

Josh: THE AUDIO OF STRANGE DISEMBODIED VOICES IS CONSISTENT

WITH WHAT SEVERAL EYEWITNESSES REPORTED HEARING

IN UNEXPLORED REGIONS OF THE CAVE.

WHAT'D YOU THINK? I MEAN, IT'S WEIRD.

AND IT'S PULSING. UH-HUH.

I HAVE NO IDEA.

EVERYBODY INTERPRETS EVERYTHING DIFFERENT.

Josh: PERHAPS MOST INTRIGUING OF ALL,

THE SHADOW FIGURE THE INFRARED CAMERA PICKED UP

SEEMS TO CORROBORATE THE STRANGE EXPERIENCES

OF MARK WENNER AND HIS TEAM.

SO THE QUESTION REMAINS --

ARE THESE JUST THE TRICKS OF LIGHT AND SHADOW

TO BE EXPECTED IN THE INKY,

DISORIENTING DEPTHS OF MAMMOTH CAVE?

OR IS THERE SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY,

SOMETHING PARANORMAL GOING ON?

PHIL PUTS HIS MONEY ON THE POWER OF SUPERSTITION

AND THE SCIENCE OF SENSORY DEPRIVATION,

BUT ADMITTEDLY IS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN THE AUDIO

AND VISUAL EVIDENCE.

JESS BELIEVES THEIR FINDINGS BACK UP EYEWITNESS REPORTS.

EITHER WAY, IF YOU HAPPEN TO FIND YOURSELF

IN THE STUNNING CAVERNS OF KENTUCKY,

BE SURE TO PACK AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT

BECAUSE THERE MAY BE SOMETHING LURKING IN THE DARKNESS

OF THE LONGEST CAVE IN THE WORLD.