Throughout the last couple of years we have been to a number of caves across the country. Mammoth Caves in Kentucky, Lehman Cave in Nevada, Timpanogos in Utah, and now Calrsbad Caves in New Mexico. Each are awesome and today didn’t disappoint.
We were at the flag raising ceremony before the Visitor’s Center opened and met the rest of our tour group shortly after that. Months ago Zak made reservations for this small, dark tour of Slaughter Cave. The rangers talked us through the safety of the cave and how to use our cave gear. Then we all caravanned about 45 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns to Slaughter Cave. Together we slowly hiked a half mile up the side of the mountain, 500 feet in elevation gain, to the entrance. Our group was larger than promised when we made the reservations and the going was slow, but we all eventually made it up. Those of us who climbed a mountain yesterday were kind of the showoffs, this was easy peasy.
After final handfuls of trail mix and gulps of water, we locked our bags up, and entered the cave. We each had to scream loudly “ON LADDER!!” and “OFF LADDER!!” so no one else would get on the three rung ladder at the same time. I got reprimanded for not saying it loud enough. Once we were all in the cave we started the slow process of going room to room. Each cave feature truly was beautiful, especially only being lit by our headlamps. It is remarkable to think that caves are so stunning, yet in the complete dark, not visible to human eyes. It is almost like uncovering a treasure when we hike through them.
With that being said, I think I’m caved out. I do find them beautiful, but I find so many more rewards in the above ground nature. I like the sounds, the smells, the movements, and the life of the desert, the plains, and the forests. That’s where I find my peace.
After the tour, we hiked (very slowly) back down and headed back to the same spot we had dinner last night, La Patrona. It is a literally a hole in the wall, but the number one restaurant in Carlsbad. You can only order at a small window and a few minutes later bags of the most delicious New Mexican food is handed to you. We ate at one of the few picnic tables with those who were on their lunch break from the oil fields. The tacos, rice, and beans were delicious, one of the better meals we’ve had. I glad we got it twice.
We drove the three hours to Alamogordo and were all exhausted from the past couple of days. Cold beer, crappy pizza, and lots of good old family laughter was exactly what we all needed.
