Atlin, BC  A group of cavers from Prince George is on a quest to
B.C.'s far northwest to identify what could be Canada's deepest
cave.  Bob Rutherford, president of the Northern B.C. Caving
Club, will begin exploring a large limestone formation near
Atlin, on the Taku River, along with eight others from the club.
The group scoped out the area last year and based on the
elevation, Rutherford estimates the cave could be up to 1,000
metres deep.  He is packing about 600 meters of rope, but if he
finds what he's looking for, he doesn't think it will be enough.
"I don't think we have enough time, and possibly not enough rope
to get to the bottom of it."  In addition to reams of rope, the
expedition requires lots of cash.  "We're looking at between
$1,500 to $2,000 per person to get in there."  The cavers will
likely have to brave cold, dark, damp and dangerous conditions.
"A little bit of fear's a healthy thing, I think," Rutherford
said.  With files from the CBC's Marissa Harvey