We paid our $6, spit out our gum, and descended the S'ing blacktop to tour the big room. Cave swallows were flying all about in the massive entrance passage. Evidently, they clean during weekdays because we saw a couple poor saps cleaning the trail. One guy was spraying off the entrance blacktop. Further in they were actually vacuuming the path. I felt sorry seeing that the vacuum brush was no larger than the diameter of a coke can. Carlsbad was just as spectacular as I remembered. We followed the trail weaving further down the huge passage occasionally encountering park personal lurking in the shadows.
It's insane how enormous the cave passage is. The lighting inside the cave is also beautifully done. It's also nice not to have to put up with tour guide BS. Further inside the enormous passage becomes lined with beautiful formations of all shapes and sizes. Carlsbad is simply magnificent. Alan and I took a few pictures. I relied on a high ASA and my image stabilization lens. We looped around the big room. It was funny how much I remembered. Eventually, we headed up to the elevators. We'd been poking fun at the sign that we'd seen on the way in and commented to each other about our weakening knees and how exerting it was. It's pretty sad if you get exerted going down hill.
After Carlsbad, we drove back toward El Paso and stopped at a pull off to photograph Guadalupe Peak. We tried to visit Hueco Tanks but didn't have enough time. I got to walk around a little bit while there and then Alan took me to the airport. I checked my bags, passed security, and walked to my gate in under � an hour. I don't think the 2 hr rule applies to the El Paso airport on weekdays. Once on the plane, I enjoyed watching the Guadalupe mountains from the air as my plane flew to Dallas.
Carlsbad
First photographable formation.
First photographable formation.
Carlsbad
Big formations in the big room.
Viewed:
Viewed:
Carlsbad
Another big formation.
Totem poles and stalactites.
Carlsbad
Another monster formation.
Viewed:
Viewed:
Carlsbad
A rather unique formation :)
The Painted Grotto.
Carlsbad
Alan photographs formations.
Viewed:
Viewed:
Carlsbad
Alan the touron.