K: I never thought that a 6th grade report on Carlsbad Caverns would lead us to the very remote SE corner of New Mexico and the SW corner of Texas. The journey has been so worthwhile. The region is a remote desert but it is stunning. Our first stop was at the White Sands National Monument. The dunes rival those in the Sahara and are so unexpected to see at the base of a mountain range. We had such fun "playing" on the dunes.
I really didn't expect to camp at Guadalupe Mountains National Park in SW Texas. In fact, I had never heard of the place prior to this trip. The remoteness of the area and proximity to, well, nothing, yields the most beautiful star-filled sky and sunrise that we have seen on the trip. It is one of the few places in the US that is fairly unaffected by pollution. We have had several great hikes through the desert and into canyons. And we were visited by a skunk at the campsite last evening!
Carlsbad Caverns were definitely the most unique park or monument that we have visited. You see no evidence of what lies below the earth as you approach the visitor's center from the desert drive. The hike from the Natural Entrance, through and around the Big Room, was amazing. The only thing that we missed were the hundreds of thousands of bats who had already made their migration south to Mexico.
V: I had always desired to check out Carlsbad Caverns, and Guadalupe Mountains Park, ever since I heard of it. Wish I could have been one of the original spelunkers to explore the passages and rooms of Carlsbad! Just wonderful. I think every American, heck, every Anyone, should visit these caverns. The definition of 'awesome' they are! This is a shining jewel in the American National Park system, no doubt.
Highlights:
Sips: New Mexican red wine. Who knew, but the climate is certainly right. Our first try was a Cabernet/Shiraz blend. Despite being a bit young, it was quite good.
Bites: H&H Car Wash Cafe, El Paso, Texas. This small cafe attached to a car wash (all by hand) was rumored to have the best chile rellenos in the southwest, and it did not disappoint. The cafe is tiny. Ladies behind the counter whip up the Anaheim Chiles, lightly battered, stuffed with cheese and fried. They are served with a side of very spicy green chile sauce. Delicious!
Note. We did not try the All U Can Eat Chinese, American, Mexican Buffet. While the Drive-Thru Option was tempting, we took a pass.
At the campsite - Norwegian fish balls with pasta and broccoli (Knorr's)! Tonight, spaghetti with meat sauce, seasoned with New Mexican chiles.
Shopping at La Tienda in Carlsbad, NM - Anaheim chilis, fresh tamales, mole sauce, hot red chiles..... it was heaven.
Sights:
White Sands National Monument, Alamogordo, New Mexico. This may be one of the unexpected highlights of the trip. Set in the Chihuahuan Desert and ringed by mountains, lies an expanse of white gypsum sand dunes covering 275 square miles. It is amazing to see plants growing and animals living in such conditions. The animals evolve to white colorations to camouflage themselves. Sadly, there was no camping at this site as it was truly otherworldly. As we entered the park, it was clear that a "snow plow" had recently cleared the road. Picnic areas were set up, and it reminded us of the stark landscape of Iceland. We climbed and played on the dunes and even attempted to slide down. It was truly a beautiful, unusual and special place.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, southwest Texas. These mountains are one of the world's best examples of an ancient marine fossil reef. Formed more than 250 million years ago, the ocean covered much of Texas and New Mexico. When the sea evaporated, the reef was formed from sediment and minerals and fossils. The park is very remote with few roads for cars but miles of hiking trails. You can hike from the floor of the desert to the canyons and finally to the mountain forest.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Carlsbad, New Mexico, set in the desert of the Guadalupe Mountains, is one of the world's most spectacular caves. It is believed that the Indians living in the area never ventured into the caves, only to the entrance. Settlers discovered the caves in the 1,800's due to the hundreds of thousands of bats that fly out of the entrance to the cave each evening to feed on insects. Descending more than 800 feet to the end of the tourist viewing areas, you see thousands of stalactites and stalagmites and columns and natural pools of water. The caves are a constant 56 degrees all year round and home to hundreds of living organisms. It is just a beautiful experience.
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