Day 27 Deep Dive: 84 Miles
Starting location: Pine Springs Campground, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, – 25 degrees
Ending location: Pine Springs Campground, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, – 48 degrees
Major Stops: Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Weather: Sunny but cool
My parents took us to Carlsbad Caverns on the big family vacation when I was fourteen. We were going to visit my maternal grandparents who had moved to Mesa, Arizona a few years earlier. Since I remembered our visit to the cave as breathtaking, magical and ultimately a mountain-top experience, I was excited to see if my adult self would see it in the same manner. So, we headed out early, knowing we had a bit of a drive and I wanted to give myself time to get Dottie situated. Our entrance ticket was for 9:30am which allows you to enter the cave at any time between 9:30 and 10:30am.
Drive Into the Park
After the deer, I got the biggest surprise when we drove around the next couple of curves! I thought I was in Africa when we ran into these Barbary Sheep. They are indigenous to North Africa and the plan is to remove them to allow the indigenous Bighorn sheep to take over, but they keep growing in numbers.
The plan was to leave Dottie safely in Clarice with the AC turned on auto and 72. That way if the van gets too hot, the AC kicks in and she will stay nice and comfy. Unfortunately, when we got there, the entire parking lot was a construction site. Knowing that if they worked near the RV, Dottie would have an apoplectic attack, we became fluid with the plan.
The Cave Conclusion
I will offer my conclusion first, and then just let the images speak. This is the most beautiful cave I have ever been in during my lifetime. I won’t say I’m a cave expert, but I highly recommend this tour if you are ever in this area. It is so incredibly beautiful and just as magical as when I was a kid. I spent two plus hours in the cave.
The 75 stories of descent end at what they call the great room. That room is 30 miles long (you only see a fraction of it) and is relatively flat. If you don’t want to do the big descent, then you can take the elevator down and just do the great room. Fortunately, they don’t let you hike back up and you must take the elevator out. My sister assures me that we did the descent, but I have to say my fourteen year old self did not remember it, and my sixty-one year old self will probably make this the last descent. I’m glad I did it while I still could!
The Camera
By the way, these images are from my new camera that I bought myself for retirement. It’s a Cannon EOS R6. The lens is for low light and portraits and it is a RF24-105mm F4 L. I took hundreds of pictures and have culled it down. They are not necessarily in the order they were taken. I thought about doing a gallery, but think you would miss some of the beauty, so left them whole. I hope you enjoy the images.
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Definitely not a cave person but these caves are incredible. The decent must have been amazing!
Thanks, Gilann! It was quite a walk! It was mostly paved trail on a steep decline. So, not like mountain climbing rocks, but just a long descent. You would want good rubber soles to keep you on the path at the angle. I hope you do it someday! It’s worth it, and I know what you mean about not being a cave person. I’m slightly claustrophobic, but this does not feel that way at all.
Awesome pics, Karen! I enjoy reading about your journey!
Thanks, Wendy! So glad you are enjoying!
Looks like a great hunting spot indeed Karen!! I love the pictures of the cave. It looks awesome! I can’t imagine being the National Geographic Explorer doing the initial exploration. 😳😄
I can’t imagine using that ladder either! LOL…
Your pictures are amazing!
Thanks, Tammy! That makes that camera worth it all! 😊