Standing in that location — even with a modern headlamp providing steady, reliable light, even with a team and a survey map and an established route back out — the distance from daylight is palpable.

More than a thousand feet of mountain lies between that spot and the nearest sunshine.

The cave walls on all sides, the ceiling close overhead in the narrower sections, the cold that penetrates even good protective clothing after a while — all of it creates a sensory environment that is profoundly different from anything the outdoor world offers.

The ancient man was here with a torch.

He was alone, or at least he died alone.