Day 297 May 22, 2017 Carlsbad Caverns, NM

Carlsbad City, NM, where we are staying is 27 miles north east and 1,300 feet lower than the famous Carlsbad Caverns. We decided it was not practical to bike to the caverns. Our choices were limited, either ride 97 miles instead of 70 on May 20th or stay in Carlsbad and ride 27 miles uphill to the park, visit the caverns and then ride 27 miles back in one day. We rented a car.



The caverns are in the Chihuahuan Desert. Once in the park, the road rises sharply, curving up and around the Guadalupe Mountains. There were several spots to pull off for plaques and/or informative walks that we took advantage of.

 Most of the places I have recommended  visiting have been in the spirit of if you're in the area, you should stop and see xyz tourist sight, not this time. Put the Carlsbad Caverns National Park on your bucket list, go hundreds of miles out of your way, make it a destination. It makes the Luray Caverns look like a child's diorama. It's like nothing either John or I have ever seen. Truly. Ya gotta go.

The view of the Guadalupe Mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert outside of the caverns.

Again, just outside the cavern,
signs and a park ranger warned
about the strenuous nature of
the trip.

Once inside the Welcome Center you are presented with more informative displays, a short film and tour choices. Clearly, the emphasis is on education not tourism.

You can reach the cavern's main room by taking a 3 hour walk, or riding an elevator 78 stories down. We had not gone hundreds of miles out of our way to ride an elevator. We wanted to see it all. After being warned that the path down was steep, long, and slippery, we chose to walk.

The minute you clear the bat viewing area it becomes obvious the warnings are warranted. The path entered the cave winds back and forth down the steep slope offering a view from the top that is awe inspiring. It is enormously beautiful.

The bats that live in the cave are not visible but hundreds of nesting swifts are. They swoop and chirp flying in and out of the cave by the hundreds.The park refers to the birds as their day shift bug control and the bats as the night shift.

The grey strip is the path down into the cavern.

In case folks did not listen the first
four times.

After a short while the sun is no longer available. The park lights the path and formations dimly so that the bats that call it home are not disturbed. Additionally, it keeps the birds and other desert critters from venturing to far into the cavern where they become lost and eventually die.

They used lights effectively to allow people to safely walk and to point out "decorations" - their term for the formation all around the path. Any number of times, John and I stopped to just stare at the enormous number and variety of these decorations.




I was familiar with stalactites and stalagmites and columns that are made by the meeting of the two, but there were many others.



Long sheets of rock formed draperies folding gratefully down from the ceiling.

Rough edges balls to rock called popcorn clung to most surfaces.

Large mounds of still forming rock that looked for all the world like ice to me because of the water constantly dripping onto them.

Stalactites, thin, fragile looking and sharp edged decorated the ceilings.





































Straws, looking like tree roots wound across ceilings and draped down walls.
















After 3 hours of meandering down to the elevator level, we were given the choice of continuing on to the Big Room or taking the elevator up.

The Big Room made the ones we had just been through seem petite. Walking through it takes an hour and a half! The beauty of it is indescribable.

We kept trying to imagine what it must have been like for the first explorers making their way though with only a lantern to light the way. How they did not become lost is beyond my understanding.

We finally emerged after 5 hours without words to adequately describe the experience. It just has to be experienced to be believed.