Carlsbad Caverns Part 1

We arrived at White's City RV Park after a 2 hour drive from Bottomless Lakes State Park. This RV park is located at the entrance road to Carlsbad Caverns. Not much of a place for $36/night but saves a lot of extra driving to the Park. So we opted to see something today and only stay 2 days here. Ray and I toured the "Big Room" this afternoon on a self-guided tour. Wow! is it ever huge. Instead of taking the mile long trail into the cavern we opted for the elevator that took us down 750 feet straight down. Then it was a 1 1/4 mile walk through the cave on a paved walkway. We went very slow enjoying the moments of the different views, listening to the water dripping along the way.  Ray used his tripod so it was easier to get better pictures. It was awesome ... very other worldly, perfect for a Halloween day. The temperature remains at a constant 57 F. but felt quite warm as we were walking. Both our feet and backs were protesting when we got home but it was so worth it. Ray is couched for the rest of the day. We have to rest up for our guided tour of the Kings Palace tour tomorrow.

Water Pool

Painted Grotto

Temple of the Sun

Doll Theater

We call this the Abominable Snowman.

Chinamen Theater

This is an old ladder from 1924 when people went down to investigate the lower cave. This ladder goes another 90 feet down. This cave is being kept pristine for future generations so the public does not have access to this lower cave system.

Lions Tail

Mirror Lake

Two Towers

Totem Pole

The pictures do not show the enormity of this series of caverns. The total space equals 14 football fields. Most of the cave is below 750 feet with the ceiling over a hundred feet tall in places. Totally awesome. This area of the cave system used to house bats for thousands of years, but with the advent of people they have moved to the "Natural Entrance area" and the tunnel to the "bat cave" is closed to the public. The bats do come out every evening at dusk and you can sit quietly in the dark and watch them leave the cave.

 Tomorrow a new adventure.