In case you are not familiar with the term, “spelunking” is defined as the exploration of caves, especially as a hobby. (We will discuss the topic of real spelunking in length at a later date.) Urban spelunking (US), while related to its natural cousin, is nuanced in ways that make it a sport all its own. Indeed, for the Jacksonian, this is an easily accessible pass time, as there are several US entryways located within the city limits.
US is a rather easy hobby to get involved with as it only requires the participant to own a flashlight, and clothing they do not mind seeing absolutely destroyed. The art of US (as it is certainly not a science) requires one who is not afraid of tight spaces, standing or running water in said tight spaces, or small, sewer-dwelling creatures. The US environment is one of varying shapes, sizes, and construction materials. Often, the tubing used to build these underground passageways is large and made of concrete. In these instances, one's footing is usually quite stable. On the other hand, there are instances where steel and even reinforced plastic tubing is used in the drainage systems. If that is the case, the tunnels can be quite slippery and one must proceed with caution. In addition, many times standing water inside the tunnel networks will prohibit the spelunker from seeing the bottom of the tunnel. It is not uncommon to see water anywhere from ankle to waist deep, depending on the recent rain flow. Be careful as random debris can often be found lurking under the surface of the water.
Of course, I must provide a word of caution to anyone who is considering a US outing. This can actually be quite dangerous at times. Never go by yourself and do not go during a rain storm or very shortly after. Please keep in mind the nature or underground tunnels if you plan on goofing off in them.
In Jackson, there are several places where the interested spelunker can gain entry to a network of underground tunnels. The two most famous are found near Jackson General Hospital, and the shopping centers near Union University. For the sake of anonymity, I will not post exact locations to these entry points on this blog. However, someone interested in finding them should keep his or her eyes peeled for open drainage tunnels around heavily developed areas. Follow the path of rainwater and you will find where these tunnels slip in and out of sight. Also, keep in mind that Jackson is rapidly developing in places and these rain water drainage tunnels often change shape, direction, and new ones occasionally appear.
Happy Hunting.
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