Saturday, 8 August 2009
Trek Day 11
Another day, another state. We've crossed the border from Texas into New Mexico. We arrived at our hot and steamy campsite in time for lunch, then reluctantly pitched our tents in the baking sun.
Back into the van for a 30 minute drive to Carlsbad National Park and it's main attraction, the Caverns. The cave system here is huge and features the second largest single "room" of any cave system; the cunningly named "Big Room".
We took the Natural Entrance into the caves, as opposed to taking the elevator, which follows a winding path down into the cave mouth. As we entered we were over-flown by dozens of Swifts, one of which kindly blessed me with good luck... if you know what I mean.
Speleothems
Collectively, Stalagmites, Stalactites, Columns and Draperies (curtain-like folds of deposits) are called speleothems. Bet you didn't know that!
Walking down into the caves is quite an experience as the path winds steeply down and natural light starts to fade. Once you get into the caves proper, each turn seems to bring a different kind of stunning formation. It's also very cool and tranquil down there, with a steady temperature of 56 degrees and humidity of 90%. The lights are kept low too, adding to the atmosphere and the Rangers request for people to keep their voices low is well respected.
I've taken some photos, but I'm not sure they do justice to the intricate beauty of these entirely natural formations.
Bats
We finished the tour, I was last out which is typical pattern for these kind of events and then I took a temporary transfer to the other Southern Sun trek group running parallel to ours. Their agenda meant they were staying on at Carlsbad to witness the nightly exodus of some 400,000 bats from the main cave entrance. It's one of those natural phenomenon which I was keen not to miss... the rest of my group went to see a drive-in movie.
Several hundred people had arrived and were sitting in the amphitheatre which has been built at the cave entrance. A park ranger gave a jolly talk on what we'd be seeing, the species, feeding habits and what-not.
Then, very suddenly, the Bat detector started clicking and a typhoon of bats began to whirl out of the cave mouth. It was surprisingly silent. I had expected a click or squeak or something but they were just there, a black whirling cloud, spiralling out of the cave and off to the nearest water supply before a night of eating moths and bugs.
I'm glad I took the option and am very grateful to our tour leader Kate and to Kai, the leader of the other trek to allow me to switch teams for the evening.
Campsite Shock!
I returned to the empty campsite and took a leisurely shower, wrote some more of this blog entry and then my gang returned. They not been back long when Kate started to light the gas lamps but something went wrong, there was a blaze of flame, a scream and she ran from the lamps clutching her face. Seconds later she returned to turn of the gas bottle before heading straight to the shower block to dowse herself in the shower.
As things stand, she has left us here and driven to the doctors for a check-up. Kai assures us it's a precaution but we are here, worried for her safety. We all hope the best for her and won't sleep easy until she's back.
Goodnight, I hope.
Stats - Day Fifteen
Distance travelled (as the crow flies) - 133 miles - Fort Stockton RV Park, TX to Carlsbad RV Park, NM
States entered - New Mexico
State count - 12 + DC
Burgers eaten - 3, though the steam heated POS I had today hardly counts!
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