Texas and New Mexico trip - Carlsbad Caverns National Park
May 22, 2017 12:20:44 #
I had been looking forward to this day for some time. I had read about it, and seen pictures of it. Now I was finally going to experience it for myself. It was a short drive from the city of Carlsbad to the road into the caverns that is accessed through Whites City which has an RV park and several shops. The road into the caverns was laid down following the gullies between brown and scrubby hills with little green vegetation. Soon after I had passed the sign announcing that I was entering Carlsbad Caverns National Park, I noticed movement on the hill to my right and so I slowed down to see what it was. Several large goat-type animals crossed the road in front of me and I immediately looked for a place to pull off the road. Several more animals crossed the road, and disappeared into the thick brush and bushes on the other side of the road. I knew that they were not Desert Big Horn Sheep, but didn't know what they were. In my opinion, they looked something like an Ibex from the Middle East. My waiting paid off and a group of adults and young finally scrambled up the rocky side of the opposite hill. Cars were driving past me headed to the caverns, and I pointed to the hill to show people there was something there to take a look at. Most cars and campers continued on, but two cars did slow down to find out what was going on, and then pulled off to look at these animals. It was a puzzle to me why so many people in those cars were not curious as to what I was pointing at, or interested in looking at their surroundings. Their mindset seemed to be that they were going to the caverns and nothing along the way was of interest to them. I found out at the Visitor Center that these animals were Barbary Sheep that had been imported for game (hunting) animals in New Mexico. Some escaped and now roam freely in this area.
The road continued through the gaps in the hills and eventually started up the side toward the top where the entrance to the cavern was. From the parking lot at the Visitor Center I could see the ancient reef that I was standing on stretching to the south and north, and the plain below where the sea bed once was and gas and oil wells were being drilled. Entering the Welcome Center, I learned there were two entrances to the cavern below. The original, natural entrance is located by an amphitheater that needs to be driven to where the bat flight in the summer occurs. The hike is 1.5 miles to the Big Room at the bottom with a couple of side caverns along the way. I was hoping to see some bats fly at night, but was told there were very few in residence and were continuing to arrive from Mexico for their birthing in about a month. Just my luck! The other entrance is by elevator - which is the route I took. I was informed that a hike around the Big Room is about 1.5 miles also, and would take about 1.5 hours. I showed my Senior Park Pass and got my free ticket.
The elevator takes you 755 below the surface and deposits you at a rest area and lunchroom. It was a balmy 55 degrees, so was glad I had my lightweight jacket on. The snack bar there had flashlights for sale, and I noticed that the entrance to the Big Room was quite dark, but figured that I would not need any light once my eyes adjusted. I expected to see the formations lit up like a Christmas tree with all sorts of colored lights like in other caverns I had been to, but the lighting is not showy or gaudy at all. There is just enough light to highlight the formations to their best natural advantage, and different types and colors of light area used for that purpose. I met a couple who were exiting from the natural entrance into the Big Room who said that they had no more energy to tour the main cavern and were headed back to the surface - so I was glad to have made the decision to "take the direct route" to the bottom. Once my eyes adjusted to the dark, I could only marvel at the size of the room I was standing in - but had no idea of the wonders further on that awaited me. I was constantly trying to get the right exposure with both my cameras - my Sony (which has a higher ISO rating) with my wider lens, and my Canon with my 18-135 lens. The problem was having the ISO high enough to get the shot without too much noise, and a fast enough shutter speed to get a crisp shot. Sometimes it worked and sometimes not.
It took me 4 hours to make the 1.5 miles. I was in absolute awe of this natural wonder. Some of the formations had stopped growing, but others were still forming with calcium rich water dripping on them. I got dripped on several times when I was in the walkway taking a shot and thought to myself that I was inside of a living thing. There were places to sit at several areas on the walk, so I took the opportunity to sit and just absorb the enormity of my surroundings and the wonder of the formations, not to mention the silence once families with screaming children had faded into the distance. At the furthest point on the walk is where you can look into another cavern that is a couple hundred feet below the main room. This lower room leads to further parts of the cave system that are still being explored. I was sad once my walk had been completed and I needed to return to the surface, but this had been a truly magical day for me.
The road continued through the gaps in the hills and eventually started up the side toward the top where the entrance to the cavern was. From the parking lot at the Visitor Center I could see the ancient reef that I was standing on stretching to the south and north, and the plain below where the sea bed once was and gas and oil wells were being drilled. Entering the Welcome Center, I learned there were two entrances to the cavern below. The original, natural entrance is located by an amphitheater that needs to be driven to where the bat flight in the summer occurs. The hike is 1.5 miles to the Big Room at the bottom with a couple of side caverns along the way. I was hoping to see some bats fly at night, but was told there were very few in residence and were continuing to arrive from Mexico for their birthing in about a month. Just my luck! The other entrance is by elevator - which is the route I took. I was informed that a hike around the Big Room is about 1.5 miles also, and would take about 1.5 hours. I showed my Senior Park Pass and got my free ticket.
The elevator takes you 755 below the surface and deposits you at a rest area and lunchroom. It was a balmy 55 degrees, so was glad I had my lightweight jacket on. The snack bar there had flashlights for sale, and I noticed that the entrance to the Big Room was quite dark, but figured that I would not need any light once my eyes adjusted. I expected to see the formations lit up like a Christmas tree with all sorts of colored lights like in other caverns I had been to, but the lighting is not showy or gaudy at all. There is just enough light to highlight the formations to their best natural advantage, and different types and colors of light area used for that purpose. I met a couple who were exiting from the natural entrance into the Big Room who said that they had no more energy to tour the main cavern and were headed back to the surface - so I was glad to have made the decision to "take the direct route" to the bottom. Once my eyes adjusted to the dark, I could only marvel at the size of the room I was standing in - but had no idea of the wonders further on that awaited me. I was constantly trying to get the right exposure with both my cameras - my Sony (which has a higher ISO rating) with my wider lens, and my Canon with my 18-135 lens. The problem was having the ISO high enough to get the shot without too much noise, and a fast enough shutter speed to get a crisp shot. Sometimes it worked and sometimes not.
It took me 4 hours to make the 1.5 miles. I was in absolute awe of this natural wonder. Some of the formations had stopped growing, but others were still forming with calcium rich water dripping on them. I got dripped on several times when I was in the walkway taking a shot and thought to myself that I was inside of a living thing. There were places to sit at several areas on the walk, so I took the opportunity to sit and just absorb the enormity of my surroundings and the wonder of the formations, not to mention the silence once families with screaming children had faded into the distance. At the furthest point on the walk is where you can look into another cavern that is a couple hundred feet below the main room. This lower room leads to further parts of the cave system that are still being explored. I was sad once my walk had been completed and I needed to return to the surface, but this had been a truly magical day for me.
Barbary Sheep
(Download)
Family group
(Download)
The Big Room
(Download)
Giant Dome (right) and Twin Domes
(Download)
The Big Room
(Download)
Mirror Lake
(Download)
This was my favorite formation
(Download)
People on walkway to show scale
(Download)
Close up of curtain formations
(Download)
A soda straw formation
(Download)
May 22, 2017 17:18:14 #
Have not been to this cave,yet.
I like the quality of the lighting.
Enjoyed viewing the series.
The last image of the soda straws is very nice!!!
Looks like I better stop by!!!
Pat
I like the quality of the lighting.
Enjoyed viewing the series.
The last image of the soda straws is very nice!!!
Looks like I better stop by!!!
Pat
May 22, 2017 17:51:09 #
Jay Pat wrote:
Have not been to this cave,yet.
I like the quality of the lighting.
Enjoyed viewing the series.
The last image of the soda straws is very nice!!!
Looks like I better stop by!!!
Pat
I like the quality of the lighting.
Enjoyed viewing the series.
The last image of the soda straws is very nice!!!
Looks like I better stop by!!!
Pat
I understand that you have some pretty nice caves in the Hill Country, had several of them on my "wish list" if I had found the time to visit them. But a Ranger at Alibates Flint Quarry north of Amarillo who hailed from Kentucky and had worked at Mammoth Cave for several seasons said that nothing can compare to Carlsbad. I hope you get there - try to time it for when the bats are there and swarming out of the cave by the thousands at dusk.
May 22, 2017 19:54:17 #
May 22, 2017 21:23:58 #
May 23, 2017 07:44:39 #
I have been to Carlsbad many times over the last 40 years, and you did a great job on your exposures! Last time I went, which was last summer, I had purchased a wide angle lens to use out west. Well, I hiked down the natural entrance taking shots along the way. Somewhere near the bottom of the natural entrance, I had my 50D and new lens on the tripod getting ready for a shot when the whole tripod, camera and all tipped over and crashed to the cavern floor! I was ready to cry........so I packed up my damaged equipment, turned around and decided to go back out the natural entrance.( My family had stayed at the visitor center for a patch program for Scouts. ) I now have a real respect for those early explorers who didn't have the luxury of an elevator or lights for that matter! I thought I was going to have a heart attack getting back out the natural entrance, but I finally made it, tears and all! My new lens was repairable, but it cannot hold the cap or filters, my camera suffered alot of damage to the area where it was attached to the head of the pod, but kept on working for the rest of my trip. The only time in my life I have had an accident with my gear. I guess I'm lucky. If that had been a Rebel, it wouldn't have been so tough! But that 50D has been a workhorse. It cost me almost 300.00 to have both repaired. And by the way, that is also my favorite formation. I will go again in a couple of years. Loved your story too!
May 23, 2017 07:49:39 #
I enjoyed your set very much. I did visit the caverns in the 1960s but don't have any photos from then. I may finagle a visit this coming September as I return from a reunion in Oregon, though, and I'll have my camera with me.
May 23, 2017 08:47:45 #
Thanks so much for sharing photos of your trip through the SW. I visited the caverns several years ago and was awed as well. Your images are stunning. Loved them.
May 23, 2017 09:10:41 #
AuntieM wrote:
I had been looking forward to this day for some ti... (show quote)
Wonderful narrative and photos, as usual, and I am glad you shared.
May 23, 2017 10:09:20 #
I visited Carlsbad for the first time a few years back. Got some marvelous pictures. I know my tripod was in the way of folks, but I tried to be courteous. However, I was doing long exposures, so sometimes it was a problem. I got some great images, though! Then I went back a few days later when there were very few people there. Yes, their lighting is lovely. I found using flash sort of ruined the lighting and wasn't pleased with those I took.
Your pictures are marvelous and I hope we get to see more! Thanks for sharing.
About people not stopping for the sheep - we saw them also. Their camouflage is so good, I think a lot of people don't see them if they just glance their direction.
Your pictures are marvelous and I hope we get to see more! Thanks for sharing.
About people not stopping for the sheep - we saw them also. Their camouflage is so good, I think a lot of people don't see them if they just glance their direction.
May 23, 2017 11:26:09 #
[quote=roxiemarty]I have been to Carlsbad many times over the last 40 years, ......
Maybe the next time I will take the natural entrance to the bottom and then the elevator back up. Sorry to hear about your accident with the camera. I had my tripod with me, but thought it would be too cumbersome to take into the cavern and might obstruct someone trying to walk by me. It was an OK call on my part - I should have taken it and used it as a monopod with the legs together. Live and learn. Glad your camera still worked after the accident. That's one of the reasons I travel with two, although my Sony is going to need to be replaced in the near future. Thanks for looking and your kind comments.
Maybe the next time I will take the natural entrance to the bottom and then the elevator back up. Sorry to hear about your accident with the camera. I had my tripod with me, but thought it would be too cumbersome to take into the cavern and might obstruct someone trying to walk by me. It was an OK call on my part - I should have taken it and used it as a monopod with the legs together. Live and learn. Glad your camera still worked after the accident. That's one of the reasons I travel with two, although my Sony is going to need to be replaced in the near future. Thanks for looking and your kind comments.
May 23, 2017 11:27:04 #
David in Dallas wrote:
I enjoyed your set very much. I did visit the caverns in the 1960s but don't have any photos from then. I may finagle a visit this coming September as I return from a reunion in Oregon, though, and I'll have my camera with me.
Glad you liked my photos, and hopefully you will be able to visit on your way back from Oregon. If you do, would love to see your photos posted.
May 23, 2017 11:27:55 #
AuntieM wrote:
I had been looking forward to this day for some ti... (show quote)
What a nice series AuntieM!
May 23, 2017 11:28:52 #
roder10 wrote:
Thanks so much for sharing photos of your trip through the SW. I visited the caverns several years ago and was awed as well. Your images are stunning. Loved them.
Thank you for looking and your kind comments. Each trip has it uniqueness, and this was one of the better trips I had taken in terms of variety.
May 23, 2017 11:29:27 #
canondave1 wrote:
Wonderful narrative and photos, as usual, and I am glad you shared.
Thank you. I am glad that you liked both. Happy to have you along.
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