How Deep Is the Pit? Part I

Well...

I have managed to stay at the edge of the pit for a while.  A couple of times I think I lost my footing but now I think I finally fell in.  At first I thought I have hit the bottom.  In the shower today I wondered, "O man, what if this is not the bottom yet?  How deep is it?"  I have also thought of the analogy of a tunnel.  I started this journey in July and until now I have kept the opening of the tunnel in sight.

I lost it.

I cannot see the opening anymore.

Do not worry.  I do not feel hopeless.  I know I just need to climb my way back out or meander a little more through the tunnel to find where I entered.

The light is still there,
I just don't see it right now.

But again, this is my quandry.  How deep is the pit? How much further does this tunnel go?  I am the type of person who is always curious and I always want to make it to the end.  It's like hiking Exit Glacier.  I don't think I have ever made it to the Harding Ice Field and this really bothers me.  I have made it to the shelter at the top but is this on the Harding Ice Field, where does the trail to Exit Glacier stop and the Harding Ice Field begin?

It scares me a little to think about how deep it might be, how far the tunnel goes and this is the one time I don't think I want to know.  Where I am now is good.  Everyday I would like to get a little further out of the pit or at least recognize my path in the tunnel to know I am on the right track.