We made New Mexico today!

We went through the Carlsbad Caverns today and were amazed at the beauty and immensity of the caverns and tunnels and all of the cave decorations (say stalactites and stalagmites), that were there. It is such a beautiful place that I can't describe what an experience it is to see. Pictures don't do it justice. The park service has done an amazing job at making the caverns accessible for the public to walk through, and that in itself is an amazing feat. We walked two and a half miles into the caverns and descended 800 feet. At the end was the "Big Room" which was an 8.5 acre chamber full of incredible features. Afterward we took the elevator back to the lobby!!!

We spent two days camping at Guadalupe Mountain National Park and had cool nights, a small trace of snow Sunday night, and strong winds, but the days are bright and sunny and mild. We have done a lot of hiking in the mountains and have had so much breathtaking scenery! The trip so far has far exceeded our expectations.

Hope you are all OK and everyone is healthy.

We took a hike at Guadalupe Mountain into McKittrick Canyon. The scenery and vegetation there were spectacular. There was a spring that fed a brook that irrigated the canyon floor and an incredible array of plant life grew there. This is where the desert met the hardwood forest. Maples, Oak, cactus, and even aspen grew here along with ponderosa pine, junipers and Texas Maldrone (in the picture). The canyon has been described as the most beautiful spot in Texas.

 

Here is a picture from the Carlsbad Cavern hike we did today. These are formations growing in a pool of clear water left in the cave. It was amazing to see the beauty in the cave and what an incredible artist Mother Nature can be. The "Big Room" in the cavern was so immense that sixteen football feilds could fit into this one area.