Into The Absolute Darkness
Into The Absolute Darkness tells the true story about the early adventure filled life of Glenn Thompson and the events that culminated in the underwater exploration of Blanchard Springs Caverns . This story is about: 1) human survival in extraordinary situations that normally end as tragedies, 2) discovery of vast new underground chambers with beautiful and unique cave formations accessible only by scuba diving, and 3) scientific discoveries about Arkansas climate during the Great Ice Age and its effect on the development of Blanchard Springs Caverns.
About the Book:
In the rugged Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, two Memphis State geology students—Glenn Thompson and Bob Langford—set out to solve a baffling mystery: why did the green die injected where the stream disappeared inside the massive Blanchard Springs Caverns, take 24 hours to emerge on the outside at Blanchard Spring, barely a mile away? Cave experts calculated it should arrive at the Spring in only 3 hours. Where did the water go, and what was it doing for the other 21 hours?
Denied access to the cavern system by U.S. Forest Service officials, they hatched an audacious plan—scuba dive directly into the spring and gain access to the main cavern through the uncharted watercourse. Their exploration revealed extraordinary discoveries and nearly cost them their lives.
With minimal gear, a single shared air tank, and a Kodak Instamatic camera carried underwater inside a mayonnaise jar, they descended into a world of total darkness where no human had ever been. Battling violent currents and inching through claustrophobic tunnels, they advanced through the labyrinth on sheer grit and instinct. Every foot forward was a victory. Every breath could have been their last.
Expecting a reprimand when reporting their findings, they were stunned when the U.S. Forest Service recognized the magnitude of their discovery and funded further exploration. That unexpected twist launched them into a surge of subterranean adventure that reshaped their futures—and the legacy of Blanchard Springs.
Told by Glenn Thompson himself, and featuring 84 color images, this gripping true story of risk, resilience, and the thrill of discovery plunges readers into the claustrophobic darkness of the Ozarks’ underground frontier, following two unlikely pioneers as they uncover secrets only the courageous dare to seek.
Read the Book's Back Cover:
“DEEP INTO THE CAVE SYSTEM, Bob and I noticed our flashlights were rapidly dimming, meaning it was past time for us to be on our way out of the cave. Due to the excitement of our big discovery, we had avoided talking about the peril we faced to get back to the Griswold Room through the underwater passage with only one tank between us and no lifeline to follow.
I planned to go first with the string tied to the tank. We knew the string was too short and would run out at least thirty-five feet before I reached the Griswold Room. When I reached the limit of the string, I would ditch the tank for Bob to pull it back, and I would swim the rest of the way, holding my breath. I would need to catch a breath from an air pocket against the ceiling to make it that far. But clearing my snorkel in a thin air pocket would be a challenge while holding my breath. If I did it wrong, I could inhale water, causing me to choke and cough.
But swimming straight in the darkness without a lifeline to follow was the biggest challenge. It is like trying to walk straight with your eyes closed. I knew if I didn’t reach the Griswold Room after one or two minutes of swimming once I’d abandoned the tank, it would mean I had swum offcourse and would likely drown.
Bob would then be on his own to MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.”