Yeah. Went three miles into a cave system. Right before Monsoon season. Brilliant!
Seems like the just filled in the details as they went along or after the fact to make it seem more believable.
After getting kids through the Rite of Passage known as "13" (between kids & grandkids we're up to 8 with 4 pending), I'd claim sufficient experience to postulate that even the brightest 12-13 yo occasionally-varying-to-always considers himself or herself as immortal, nine feet tall & bullet proof or (at the very least) totally immune to consequences of even the most stupid move.
The only bright side is that the girls seem to learn from these events.
14yo boys, OTOH.....sheesh.