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| Road to the caverns |
An action-packed day today with visits to 2 National Park Sites! I was able to accomplish this because Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains are a mere 35 miles apart. And you don’t so much tour Gualdalupe Mountain National Park as drive through it.
There is a terrific visitor’s center with a small, but interesting, museum.
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| The El Capitan of Texas |
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| Guadalupe Peak - Texas high point. |
I had planned to stay at Davis Mountain State Park Campground but realized, upon arrival, that I had zero wi-fi signal before settling in. I guess internet access is more important to me than sleeping among the Javalina. But at least I saw one!
I'm parked for the night next to a pretty and historic hotel in
the heart of Ft. Davis (pop. 1,071). Got permission
from both the hotel owner and the town sheriff
hisself. A real-life Marshall Dillon/ Miss Kitty moment!
I so wanted to get the sheriff's photo (he had on a black 10-gallon, a badge and everything)
but didn’t want to make him feel like a Sea World exhibit or something. Plus it was getting late.
The hotel is next to the library and across from the county courthouse. I was tempted to park in the spot labeled County District Attorney, but ultimately reasoned that the funny story wouldn't make up for the ensuing legal drama.
Oh, was Carlsbad Caverns worth the trip!
I have been on several cave tours in my life and the last
one, in Ireland with John, gave me the willies. So I wasn’t sure how I would feel about
returning to the underworld today. Oh, was Carlsbad Caverns worth the trip!
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| Web Photo. Notice how hell yawns before you? |
When pondering my options, a ranger explained that the elevator takes you 750-feet down in less than a minute. He described it as a free-fall. My recurring nightmare. With dry mouth and pounding heart, I elected to walk I far as I could.
Not sure how far I got, but not even close to the bottom. By the time I made it back
up the steep walk, my calves and thighs were shrieking at me. I’m sure I’ll be sore tomorrow, but what a show! Photography is limited, considering there is
no natural light.
Even the great Ansel Adams considered his 1936 photographs of the caverns "unsuccessful".
Agreed.
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| Exit to daylight. |
More driving on lonely roads today. You can go ½ hour without seeing another
vehicle. I love it!
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| Highway 54 |
Glad to hear that you walked down into the caverns, but I can't believe you walked out. I took the elevator back up.
ReplyDeleteOh, I need to go back and clarify that! I didn't make it to the bottom - not even close. Though half-way thru the hike back up, I wised I had.
Deletejust now catchung up with you again. You are giving me a lot of options for our return trip.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about going into deep caverns, I'm not sure I could do that. I think I'm going to have to take your word for it that it's beautiful down there. :(
ReplyDeleteGreat shot of the Javalina. :)
I really enjoyed my hike down to the bottom when I was there. Of course that was 25 years ago and I was a bit sprier. :)
ReplyDeleteOmigosh the memories!! When we were in Carlsbad, I had just had knee surgery several months prior to that trip so I had to take the elevator and then took the short tour from the bottom. It was totally awesome. And we got to see the bats too. It was breathtaking but for some who there, not in a good way! LOL I guess they didn't know they had a bat phobia until the very moment all the bats came out. The sky turned black, literally, from all the bats in the air. And I'll never forget one lady hitting the deck. Glad you got to see the caverns.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite picture is the exit to daylight! :)
ReplyDelete