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| the McDonald Observatory |
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| approaching the Guadalupes |
Recommended to me by several people, Carlsbad happened to be directly in my path so that's where I headed. Fort Davis is in the Davis Mountains and because hardly anyone lives out this way, the Observatory pictured is on top of a hill only 15 minutes, or so, north of town. Beyond the mountains the land flattens out once again and it pretty much remains that way all the way north to the Guadalupe Mountains N.P. The drive to Whites City just south of Carlsbad was 186 miles and 3-1/2 hours.
Whites City is on the highway about 7 miles from the Carlsbad Caverns visitor's center. Named after Jim White, the man who began exploring the caverns over 110 years ago as a teenager, the town was sold by the White family several years ago in an auction. To me, the "town" is the place to stay as Carlsbad itself is just more driving and not very attractive. I stayed in their campground.
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| down to the natural entrance |
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| cave |
It's amazing to know that Jim White and others walked into and out of these enormous caverns with rope ladders and lanterns. Today, the path is paved with handrails the entire way in from the natural entrance. Some people elect to use the elevator that takes you directly to the bottom and to what is called the Big Room. It's a steep walk down through the natural entrance some 800 feet, but well worth it. Everyone takes the elevator back to the surface.
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| cave |
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| cave |
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| cave |
I'm attaching a few of the pictures that came out at all, no need to put a title on them. You might want to click to enlarge to see any detail. The caverns are beautiful, magical and truely exceptional. I can't recommend them enough. I can see coming back here some day to take one or two of the ranger-guided trips into areas that are not normally open to the public. Some of it looks like a winter wonderland the way it's been strategically lit up. Let me put it this way...it's tee shirt worthy.
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