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Tunnel entrance #1B. It doesn't look like much in this photo but the
owner says this is a collapsed entrance and we tend to agree with him.
Tunnel #3 is the only other Navy tunnel that is accessible today. A pile
of soil and rocks outside the entrance keeps nearly half of the tunnel
flooded. Lots of garbage and miscellaneous junk at the entrance makes
sliding in a bit messy but it is not a problem. No concrete lining is
visible but as Karl's sketch says, the floor may be concrete under the
muddy water. Walking through the water is easy and you only have to be
careful of a few submerged objects (truck tire, electrical cable etc).
There is one air vent on the right as you enter. Almost everywhere you
can walk upright. I noted that the flooded section of the tunnel (which
is at a level lower than the rest of the tunnel) is narrower than the
un-flooded section.
Sketch of Tunnel #3. (Sketch courtesy of Karl Welteke)
Standing on a pile of garbage looking at the entrance of Tunnel #3.
The view walking along the flooded
tunnel.
The main tunnel makes a left hand turn here. That is electrical cable
hanging from the ceiling.
After seeing a short lateral on the right, you will soon come to the end
of flooded tunnel. A slope of about 5 feet or more in elevation takes
you up to the rest of the tunnel.
On viewing the photos on both sides of the 5 foot high tunnel
transition, I have a theory on what caused the difference. It can be
summed up in the term 'SNAFU'. The lower flooded section is narrow and
the upper dry section is wider. A short sloping section that roughly
connects the two tunnels seems to be an afterthought. Perhaps two
separate tunnels were not originally designed to connect but that
decision was made later. Whether it was an error or a later decision, I
see two separate tunnels meeting at this point. Have a look and decide
for yourselves.
The flooded tunnel ends and Karl is ascending the short passageway
between the two tunnels. Note two things: (1) see how much smaller the
passageway is than the flooded tunnel and (2) the flooded tunnel has a
low ceiling.
I am standing in the passageway looking up at Karl who is now at the
upper tunnel level. Note how small he looks in that tunnel that has a
high ceiling.
This photo was taken on the way out so now I am standing in the upper
tunnel looking towards the passageway. This tunnel (wide and high) seems
to come to an abrupt end straight ahead. Note the small dark area in
front of Karl. This is the start of the narrow passageway down to the
flooded tunnel.
Standing at the top of the narrow passageway looking down at Karl who is
about to step into the water.
From the bottom of the passageway (at the start of the water) we see
Karl walking along the narrower flooded tunnel. You can see from his wet
pant legs how deep the water was that day. Stain marks on the walls
indicate it is deeper at times.
Moving further into the upper tunnel one area has piles of gravel and
rocks to walk over.
Karl inspecting the end of the main tunnel. It is completely collapsed
now but used to continue past here.
On the left a side tunnel intersects perpendicular to the big tunnel. On
the ground is the only piece of concrete we have seen in any tunnel so
far.
Karl cuts a path through the bats.
The tunnel is a bit wet.
This is as far as we can go in Tunnel #3.
Again it is not a dead end but a collapsed tunnel. I thought it was a
complete collapse until I viewed this photo. If you look close you can
see a bat flying from the right side out of a crack in the wall. It is
definitely open past this little collapse.
On the way back out, here is a look at the short lateral in the flooded
tunnel.
A right turn will put us onto the last straight leg out of here.
The entrance is in view. The tunnel sea monsters have let us pass in
peace.
Karl standing at the entrance to Tunnel #4. It is flooded and the water
is being used to supply the nearby houses along the road. The tunnel
ceiling is close to the water level so we did not attempt to enter here.
I am sure no one would approve of us messing up their water either.
Tunnel #5 entrance. The water in this tunnel gravity feeds even
more houses and the entrance is too small to get into anyway. It has
been fun but our tunnel explorations are finished for today.
