In 1898, an adventurous 16-year-old named Jim White began exploring the caves near Carlsbad, New Mexico. The caves are extensive and are still being discovered today. As Martin and I climbed down the 750 feet into the cave, I was constantly amazed at Jim White’s bravery (or stupidity?). Armed with just a flashlight and a homemade rope ladder, he somehow learned his way around the maze-like cavern. I was thankful for the theatrical lighting and the paved paths. A cave explorer is not a job aspiration of mine.
Some more adventurous souls go on guided tours that require hard hats and the ability to belly crawl through small spaces. Not for me. We purchased an audio tour for $5 and spent three hours exploring the big room.
The natural cave decorations are intricate and huge. I was overwhelmed by the end – there was so much to see. I know that many of the formations have names and scientific explanations, but I just really enjoyed looking at them. See if you can tell which of my photos below are of small decorations and which ones are gigantic.
Truly amazing!
W-O-W!