Aren’t caves so cool? When my brother-in-law found out I was heading to New Mexico he told me I needed to go to Carlsbad Caverns, because those were some pretty amazing caves. If I’ve learned anything in the 2½ years he’s been around, it’s that he gives pretty good advice.
Needles to say, I was vibrating with excitement when I arrived. I ended up in line next to this guy wearing a St Olaf sweatshirt and I had the desperate urge to ask him if he was from Minnesota (In my head I could see my dad striking up an extended conversation and I was like, “not today Skip. You know this kid doesn’t really want to talk to a random stranger!”). It’s a mystery I will never know the answer to.
As part of Covid safety protocol only a few people were allowed to enter at a time. As my group waiting with the park ranger to get the go ahead as they lights were apparently not turning on, (I was cool waiting to enter a massive cavern until that was taken care of), she review the safety rules and reminded us to go to the bathroom now because we wouldn’t have a chance again for an hour. Sage advice.
A lot of crummy things have happened and many amazing site and museum are closed because of Covid, but I will say only having a small group of people start the hike down into the cave at the same time as me was pretty great. Not longer after I’d started I basically was on my own.
I shelled out the 5 bucks for the audio guide – I had bee-lined to that bookshop once the announcement had been made. I mean, why wouldn’t you want to know everything? Like, did you know that there are more plant species living in the Carlsbad National Park than in all of the Rocky Mountains!
Immediately, I knew I was in for something amazing. To enter the cavern I had to work my way along the entrance trail, a path that is 1.25 miles, with an elevation difference of 750 feet. That’s equal to the height of the ground to the lower observation level of the Empire State Building (they have a sign at the top showing the comparison, that’s apparently a thing they do at national parks. I’ve seen it a bunch of times).
An hour. That’s how long the descent was supposed to take. Maybe for some people. Potentially I was hindered by the fact that between my mask and the natural humidity of caves, I had to stop every few yards and clean the fog from my glasses.
There was too much to take in. Too much. Just everywhere. Everywhere there was a rock formation that was unique, beautiful, fascinating. I might have been passed by people who had entered at least a half hour after me (I may have also been passed by a tortoise). Whatever. Not my problem if you couldn’t enjoy the journey!
At least 90 minutes later I made it to the actual cavern. And I had thought the trail down had been stunning. Apparently (according to my trusty audio guide) they had hired a Broadway lighting designer to design the lights throughout the caverns. Money well spent if you asked me! I didn’t make it through the caverns for at least another hour. My pictures don’t do the experience justice.
Maybe one year I’ll make it back for a ranger led tour of another part of the cave and the chance to watch as thousands of bats leave to their perch for the night. Wouldn’t that be amazing? But I’ve always felt that you should leave a place wanting more, feeling like you only saw the first layer. Carlsbad definitely is one of those places for me.
Stunning photos, Amy. Your sharing of your discoveries along your way are inspiring! Thanks for sharing them with us. and Happy International Women's Day to you, a strong, adventurous, inspiring woman. You rock!
Wow! Your photos rival some of those taken by Ansel Adams in these caves! (No wonder they sounded familiar!) Yes... leave wanting more--and to return again some day. Good plan. (And good advice from BIL!)