Road Trip Day 4 – Going Down

There are a few things that I wouldn’t voluntarily do. One of them is walk 800 feet underground into the deepest cavern in the United States just cause it’s there.  Yet I did that.  And I surprised myself, I loved it.

The day started normal. Breakfast then drive. And that was pretty much 60% of the day. These days the most interesting thing I do is get out of the car for a bathroom break or some gas. But I didn’t have time for food this trip. I had 5 intense hours of concentration to get to the Carlsbad Caverns before they closed the walking path at 2pm. And as much as I would have liked to just take the elevator down, I felt like I needed the full experience.  I arrived at 1:45.

It’s like a reverse Grand Canyon. It’s huge, and deep but it is completely underground.  Once you begin your descent into the cavern, light quickly disappears. You are left with only mood lighting that the park has set up inside the cavern.

It’s doesn’t quite have the grandeur of the Canyon, but make no mistake, it is absolutely worth the visit if you can go.  It’s a bit out of the way, and next to a small town in New Mexico called Carlsbad, but being in there is so cool.  Figuratively and literally.

It’s so vast you almost expect there to be a whole city .  There might as well be as there is plumbing, lighting, and a small restaurant. The temperature is cool and there is a bit of moisture but you don’t really feel it. By the end of the trail, I had walked about two miles. It’s that big. It’s very well protected and noise levels are at a bare minimum, there’s even a meter for you to test how loud you are.

There is a lot of walking,  jagged edges, plus points where you have to duck as you’re walking under low hanging rock. And don’t get me started on the spikes hanging on the ceiling.

This stuff is eerily beautiful. Nature made this place.

That last photo, is of the restaurant and subterranean gift shop. It’s pretty cool and kinda nerdy place to have. I’m glad I went.  I instinctively walked a little faster as it did get a little claustrophobic, but when you get the biggest chamber dubbed, “The Big Room” it makes it all worth your while. It’s a solid afternoon and depending on your pace, it can take longer. Be sure to have a good low light camera, however these shots are all iPhone shots.

See you in Austin!

Talk soon,

Jonathan

@jonleehk

@theriothk (instagram)

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