The Wanderling's

I'm sitting in a laundromat in Idontevenknowwhere, Arizona, preparing to tell you all about our time in the Carlsbad area of New Mexico. I've been somewhat reluctant to get to this particular blog post. Not because we don't have anything good to say about Carlsbad but because we loved it so much. We have SO much good to say! So that sort of puts the pressure on, you know, -- to convey our enthusiasm accurately and with all the feels and stuff. I'm not convinced I can do it and, to make matters much worse, when I look at our pictures it is so glaringly obvious that they aren't doing it either. I guess if a picture isn't painting a thousand words, then I shouldn't put that pressure on myself either. But when you have a degree in creative writing, I think that's just what you do. Anyhoo, I'm going to put away my pessimism right now and hope that between what is left (following brain surgery) of my ability to write creatively combined with our photos, will at the very least, give you a small glimpse into the beauty, enormity and awesomeness of the Carlsbad Caverns. My hope is to inspire you to want to go there, as that is really the only way (I believe) to experience these caverns (I've seen the professional photos and while ours may pale in comparison, I can assuredly tell you even they are not doing justice to this place), to truly comprehend the breadth and scale of these caves.

Travis and I kept remarking that we felt as though we were at church. Seriously. That's how it felt. Devine.

Check it out:

Doing like the big bros do...

We really had no idea what we were getting into. So we stepped on this elevator and it started going down so rapidly that our ears popped. The caves are 800-850+ feet below ground.

I realized this is a terrible picture but it was our best attempt (I know!) at catching the initial reaction, as we existed the elevator. We think taking the elevator down first is the best way to do it. Using The Natural Entrance, which we did on the third day, is also pretty spectacular. Actually much more spectacular than the elevator but the elevator just lays it all on you like that. It's a really surprise. I guess what you have to ask yourself is: would you like to gradually descend into awe and splendor or would you like to do it all at once?

Hanging in the caverns.

Do their faces say, "This is incredible!?"

The caves are 56 degrees year round. It was pretty cold in Carlsbad, so we went into the caves to warm up! Haha!

There are a lot of lights in the caves but, probably, most of it is not lit up. You can see the splendor in person because the lights are well placed. But most of it does not lend itself well to photography.

This is as we entered the Big Room. It is huge.

There were all different types of rocks and formations. It was cool to see it change so frequently and to speculate and/or learn why it was the way it was.

The kids dubbed the The Angel of the Glade (from a book series we recently read). Hopefully there's better picture in here somewhere! The angel is right in the middle of the photo.

Church like. Right?

See?

Sometimes it reminded us of Ghostbusters 2 though.

Or like some massive, hideous space creature.

Everytime Simeon saw formations that looked like this he would start singing, "Baby shark..."

We probably spent a total of 8 hours, over 3 days down in the caverns.

Stalactites.
(Stalactites hold tight to the ceiling. Stalagmites grow mighty from the ground!)

Do you see children?

Baby shark....

Getting a different perspective.

These are called drapes.

It really looked a lot different from this perspective.

Big Monster Mouth!

One of the many pools in the caverns.

A drop. That's what makes these things incredible.

Kai was our tour guide on the second day. (He's listening to the audio tour, then he shared it with the rest of us.)

The Chandelier.

You don't go down this ladder!

Blinded by the light!

Just hanging with my Mama 850 feet underground!

I tried to use this particular rock formation to illustrate the child birthing experience. (It didn't work. They all walked away in horror.)

On the third day we used The Natural Entrance to get into the caves.

This is also were close to a million bats leave the cave in the summer months to hunt for food. We didn't get to see a million, maybe more like 5,000? They don't allow any photos during the bat flight, so you'll just have to imagine!

You descend for about 1.5 miles. That's like a really long way down!

And when you thought it was done, it just kept going!

Bye, bye day light!

Still going! (See those specks? One is pink. Those are people.)

Still going!

The Natural Entrance is an experience unto itself. It is totally different than the elevator entrance!

I think this is Carlsbad Cavern's biggest fan! (He's been talking about being a Park Ranger when he grows up ever since!)

We also spent sometime in the Guadalupe Mountains. Carlsbad is technically in the Guadalupe's but there's another park just down the road dedicated to these incredible mountains!

Hanging with my littles in a cave that used to be someone's home. A long time ago.

The Mescalero Apache's that used to inhabit these areas were only recently allowed to come back onto these lands.

Photographing the photographer. :)

A doit ma self!

See that little speck on top of the mountain? Yea, we were being stalked by that thing (elk? bighorn sheep?)

Is Kai spitting something into his hand?!

Kai was really into collecting (but we didn't let him) these cacti skeletons. They are from the Cholla Cactus. Pretty cool looking!

Sunrise at our campsite!

Sunset over The Guadalupe's.

I put the fear of rattlesnakes into my kids (not much I could do for Cappy!). Always watch were you put your feet! (But they are likely hibernating anyway! But they'll know for next time!)