Deepest Cave MAY 2005 Feature Main Page Photo Gallery On Assignment Learn More Interactive Cave Map In some cases these accounts are edited versions of a spoken interview. They have not been researched and may differ from the printed article. Photograph courtesy Steven L. Alvarez Cave Race Read reports from Mexico's Cheve Cave.  Deadly Heaven: Mexico's poisonous cave. in Deepest Cave Click to View Field Notes From Author Alexander Klimchouk Field Notes From Photographer Stephen L. Alvarez     After 16 days of being underground and breaking a world record, the explorers finally came back to the surface on a beautiful sunny day. It was very emotional. We were so excited to see them make it out safely because Krubera is a dangerous place. To celebrate, we had wine, vodka, and the women picked flowers. It was very sweet.     On the third day of my assignment, I was in an unstable cave with author and team member Alexander Klimchouk when a rock fell off the ceiling and broke my assistant's hand. This was a big loss because I've worked with my assistant, Alan Cressler, since 1999, and cave photography is really a team endeavor. We've worked together so long that we don't even have to talk because Alan knows exactly what I want to do.  Alan felt better soon, but unfortunately, he couldn't continue caving, which was a disappointment for him.     Since Alan got hurt and had to quit, I used different people on the expedition as assistants. There was a Spanish woman who spoke pretty good English and some Ukranians who didn't speak any English but did speak a little Spanish. About three or four of these people came into the cave with me. Our decision-making process became absurd because we had to communicate in three languages. It felt like playing that game where everyone sits in a circle and whispers into another person's ear. By the time the message gets back to you, it's completely unrecognizable. Top