Carlsbad Caverns

The next morning, we headed to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, which I blogged about in 2014. Click here to read.

Nice sign

As I mentioned then, my recommendation is to skip the tour and walk the caverns yourself, starting early to avoid the crowd. I like to walk in (it’s a little over a mile with an 800-foot drop), tour the caverns (about another two miles) and take the elevator out. 

We saw a lot of people walking out – but that’s quite a climb and why take that extra time? By the way, entry to cave is free with a National Park Pass, so you could really spend a lot of time in and out of the caves if you wished.

Cave opening

This time it was a bit early for bats, but the cave entrance was abuzz with Cave Swallows. These little guys never slow down (more about that later).

Back to the caverns ...

Shooting in a cave is tricky

Carlsbad Cavern is the fifth largest cave chamber in North America and the 28^th largest in the world. 

The part you can tour includes The Big Room, a natural limestone chamber almost 4,000 feet long, 625 feet wide and 255 feet high at the highest point. 

The Park actually includes more than 100 caverns and isn’t completely explored yet.

With my newer camera, I got much better photographs than last time I toured the cave. 

It’s a bit tricky because it is so dark – you just need to be very steady. I could have taken a tripod (we saw a person with one), but I think that is intrusive to people trying to pass you on the narrow trails. 

Walking sticks are NOT allowed, probably because prolonged use would damage the asphalt trail. I also encountered this in Machu Picchu.

Some of my best shots

I won't attempt to identify all the formations -- there are just too many -- stalactites, stalagmites, columns, smaller caves, pools ... 

But, I would like to point out a few interesting features.

Interesting mineral deposits

For example, there are a number of small pools in the cavern. 

Before we went in the cave, the ranger told us that they used to ENCOURAGE people to throw coins into them. Now, of course, it is forbidden because all foreign objects are potentially damaging to a cave. The water in the pools is exceptionally clear and there is no wind to create ripples, so it can be difficult to even gauge how deep the pools are.

The one below had such a phenomenal reflection that it was hard to tell what was real and what was reflected.

Pool

The cave's name comes from the nearby town of Carlsbad, which is named after the Czech town formerly known by the German name Karlsbad and now known by the Czech name Karlovy Vary, both of which mean "Charles' Bath[s]." 

I always think the cave is going to be cold -- at some time in my life I must have visited a cold, damp cave or perhaps my sensibilities have changed since I live in a cooler climate now. So, we took jackets. Not needed. It was a tiny bit too warm/steamy for a light jacket. It's probably too cool for shorts, but jeans/capris and a tee shirt are fine. I do recommend good shoes -- trails can be slick. 

I love this

There aren't many artifacts in the cave, but there is a cool circa 1920s ladder. In the early days, tourists entered the cave by ladders or (sometimes) in "guano buckets," which were also used to remove bat guano, which was sold as fertilizer. 

In 1932, the National Park opened a large Visitor Center that contained two elevators to take visitors in and out of the caverns below. It included a cafeteria, waiting room, museum and first aid area. There are still elevators. And, there is still a small snack bar/gift shop in the cavern, but it seems less expansive than it was. 

Now it just offers pre-packaged sandwiches and bottled drinks. I suggest going up to the ground-level cafeteria if you want eat at the Park. They have some pretty fiery salsa for their New Mexican food. That's one thing about New Mexico; their food is unabashedly hot. And, generally yummy -- even in a cafeteria.

Snack bar

After we toured the cavern, we went back down to the entrance to try to get some pictures of the Cave Swallows. The ranger even let us bypass the safety/rules talk given to anyone entering the cave since we had already participated once.

Flocks fly dramatically in and out of the cavern, sometimes swooping right by your head but never ever stopping.

Cave Swallows; Photo: Caty Stevens

Trying to get a picture was an exercise in futility. Caty was a little bit luckier (or more skilled) and was able to get the shot at the right at the cave entrance.

Cave Swallows first appeared in what is now the National Park before 1930, but didn't occupy the cave until 1966. 

A close relative of, but far less common than, the Cliff Swallow, Cave Swallows arrive at the caverns from Southern Mexico, El Salvador and Costa Rica in early February and stay as late as late November. They eat insects that they catch in flight. 

Coexisting with bats, they fly during the day. The bats fly at night.

Cliff Swallows nest just inside the cave entrance. Unlike a Cliff Swallow's nest, a Cave Swallow's nest is not fully enclosed. It is shaped like a small half-cup constructed of mud and plant fibers, and lined with feathers.

Got one!

I was finally able to get ONE semi-good picture by randomly aiming my camera into a large group flying overhead. Sometimes you just have to try a lot of techniques until one works out. We spent an inordinate amount of time getting the few shots we got, but we had to move on.

So, after the cavern tour, we decided to drive the nine-and-a-half-mile scenic desert loop. It didn’t really show us much more than we could see from the regular road. 

I guess it would have been interesting if I had never driven in the desert. But, I have – many, many times. 

Or, if we had seen a frickin’ Bobcat, Mountain Lion, Golden Eagle, Roadrunner or Javelina. Or even a unique raptor. But, we didn’t.

Pretty

Trip date: April 6-10, 2017