Days 8-9 Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

[Kalon]  From Albuquerque we drove to Carlsbad, New Mexico.  From our motel it was about 25 miles to the National Park. 

When we arrived at the park I was a little disappointed that the "Natural Entrance" was closed for the day so instead of hiking down I had to take the elevator 750' into the Caverns.   This was in fact a return to Carlsbad Caverns for me: I was here with my parents probably about 70 ! years ago and remember very little about the cavern except for the restaurant below.

I spent about two hours wandering through what they call "the Big Room", and it's absolutely incredible.  There is a mile+ trail that takes one from one geologic feature to another, all softly lit and amazing.  While I tried taking pictures I wasn't happy with any of them when I got home so there are none here.  Notwithstanding, I would recommend this visit to anyone.

We drove back to the town of Carlsbad and had dinner.  I was much intrigued by a technological gadget that Chili's restaurant had (a mobile touch screen unit that encouraged interaction during the meal; advertised its offerings; recommended deserts when it was time to think about those; and then allowed one to swipe their credit card and pay the bill without any interaction.  The unit then glowed green (presumably to let the waitress know that we had in fact paid our bill!)

The next day Karen and I got up early and drove back to the Cavern for their 8 am opening.  I had signed up for a "Lower Room Tour" that was rather more strenuous than the easy walking in the "Big Room".  Our group of eleven (with two rangers) were outfitted with helmets and headlamps and off we went, first down the elevator to the Big Room and then quickly off a little locked side gate.  Here one had to descend about 25 feet via knotted rope and then three metal ladders.  The picture below - if you look carefully - is of some of our group descending the latters.

From here we followed a route through the lower cavern marked by tape on the ground that passed by some superb stalactites and stalagmites, little ponds, and some historic features dating back to the first early cave explorations (early 19 hundreds). 

 

 

And toward the end of the three hour tour we ended up doing some segments that gave one a feeling for what cave exploration is like (squeezing through very narrow and low ceiling passageways, and crawling on one's hands and knees through tight crawlways that twist and turn.   While this tour is not for the claustrophobic :)  I would love to come back here with our boys and their wives and four grandchildren (who would absolutely love this!)

[Karen]

Well, here is the story - 1) I tend to be claustrophobic. I remember going to Carlsbad when I was 12 and  having to take the elevator back up right away in order to get out quick!! 2) If you use a cane or any other aid you are not allowed to go down. So - Kalon went down the first day on a self guided trip to the main cave on his own. For the second day he had a ticket which he reserved a month or more ago for 8:45 this morning... This tour was sold out when we arrived at Carlsbad Caverns! So if you want a particular tour like the lower cave it is best to buy your ticket in advance on the internet on the Carlsbad/National Park website.  All a long way of saying I did a lot of sitting in the cafeteria or walking around the gift stores.  I have some cute Kakopelli earrings and a lovely square of slices of stone embedded in metal on a leather thong necklace. That should larn that man to leave me with time on my hands! My advice would be to stay at the caverns. There are several choices there.We stayed in the town of Carlsbad. Kalon said he had a hard time finding a reservation for us... which may account for the piece of orange chewing gum stuck on the top of his headboard at our Motel 6 in the town Carlsbad.

My pix are not ready to add so will try to get them in later.