The Caverns

We have enjoyed two days of exploring Carlsbad Caverns, beautiful weather and lovely walks with the dogs.  We  left Guadalupe Mountain state park around 8:30am and got to the caverns at 10 in time for a self tour of the Big Room,  Since it was Friday, it seemed no one but we were there.  What an experience!  The vastness of the caverns is startling.  Ceilings 80' high with stalactites hanging several feet long almost touching the stalagmites reaching up.  Formed 4 million years ago by underground water the formations are magical and totally overwhelming.  There are silent pools of water that you must look closely at in order to tell they are really water.  Everything is silent and completely still.  Because there is no movement the pools often look like a darker colored rock formation.  This is truly one of the greatest wonders of the planet and should not be missed by anyone. 

The next day on our guided tour in another part of the cavern we had the opportunity to experience total darkness and silence.  It was so black you could not see your hand no matter how close you held it to your eyes.  This was truly being in the womb of  Mother Earth. 

No bats this time of year.  They migrate to warmer climates and do not return until the end of March.  We did, however,  see the bat guano and occasionally a drop of water would land on my head.  This experience certainly is a highlight of the journey.