Carlsbad Caverns

Our final destination was Carlsbad Caverns, a subterranean wonder on the edge of the Guadalupe Mountains in the very southern tip of New Mexico. The cave was discovered by a cowboy, Jim White, almost 100 years ago. He thought he saw smoke in the distance, and when he went to investigate, it turned out to be millions of bats leaving the mouth of a giant cave. At first no one would believe the caves were everything White said they were, but after showing photos to Congress, in 1930 it was proclaimed a National Monument, and became one of the most famous caves in the world. In 1995 it was designated a World Heritage site.

the Natural Entrance

What surprised me most the very first time we visited, was that the cave entrance is in the top of the mountains, so one has to drive seven miles up a winding mountain road to reach it.

The most spectacular way to see the caves, is to descend through the Natural Entrance trail down to the main cave complex, then take one or more of the mile long tours down below. But it's a steep mile long trail, descending 800' down into the earth. My feet have a 2 kilometre limit, and the steep downhill slope is far too difficult on my knees, so I decided it was best for me to save my feet and just take the mile long Big Room Tour - which is accessible by elevator. Yes, an elevator! Back in the 30's they drilled an elevator shaft down to the main cave complex. I doubt the Park Service would do such a thing in this day and age, but I'm grateful they added one back then.  So Jan took the Natural Entrance trail by himself, while I entertained myself in the RV. 

The trail switchbacks down into the mouth of the cave

After lunch, we both went down the elevator to take the Big Room self-guided Tour. 

Most of the cave photos were taken by Jan with his small point-and-shoot camera. He had greater success with it in the low light than I did with my Canon Rebel. Even with flash.

It's hard to tell scale from the photos, but the cave formations are gigantic. People are kept well back so as not to touch the formations, which are very dimly lit. The photos are misleading, since they were taken by flash.  Personally I'd have liked a bit more light to more fully appreciate the rock formations, but the Park service wants to keep it as "natural" an experience as possible, so lighting is kept to a bare minimum, with hand railings on both sides of the winding trail to help guide people through the caves. Children must stay within arms reach of their parents at all times 

*Note:  Efreet and Bonnie only got to explore the displays in the Visitor Center, which is where I photographed them - we did not take them down into the cave.  Which proved to have been a smart move.  The cave was so dimly lit, that photography was almost impossible. I don't see well in low light, and with humidity over 90%, my glasses would fog up instantly, so I had to do without them - not that it made much difference in the dark. By the time we finished the tour, my hair was drenched and I felt like a 'drowned rat'.  I was so glad we hadn't taken any dolls along.

Well, this is finally the end of my doll's adventures on our Fall Trip. I can't believe how many photos of them I took. It's probably because of my decision to take a group of contemporary dolls along - after all, they can be photographed almost anywhere.  I'll have to do that again.

We visited many fabulous places, and experienced some spectacular wilderness scenery. 

I was touched by a quote on the cover of the Carlsbad Caverns Visitor Guide.....

Forever Wild...
"If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them something more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it." - President Lyndon B. Johnson