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3824 National Parks Hwy, US Hwy 62/180, Carlsbad, New Mexico, 88220, United States
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Walnut Creek Canyon drive into the National Park
Bison stirring in the ungulate section of the Park
Desert Uplands landscape with tall Soaptree Yuccas
Nicely landscaped entrance to Visitor Center
Couple of quick questions:
1. Is a side-trip to the drive-in a worthwhile endeavour? Is it old fashioned? Is it busy on say a Friday night?
2. Are there any motels, hotels between Carlsbad and Alomagordo that you could recommend - preferably one that's approx. half way.
Thanks!
Lee
I can't say that I remember a drive-in in Carlsbad. These are usually nothing very spectacular. As for the crowds, I'd guess that there would be a crowd on a Friday night provided that you go when the high school football season is over though. If you've never been to a drive-in though, don't go with the idealized, Hollywood imagery of the 60's drive-in. They're not really like that anymore.
US 70 is the road between Carlsbad and Alamogordo. Much of it is in the mountains and the Lincoln National Forest. There are lots of very reasonable hotels in Carlsbad because of the Caverns, a few in Artesia, and then very little as you head into the mountains. Ruidoso (ski resort town off to the north) has some motels. There is also a really cool, little mountain town along the way called Cloudcroft. There is a very fancy, 19th century lodge there as well as several cheaper hotels. It's a beautiful place, and only about 40 miles outside of Alamogordo (i.e. - Alamogordo is not a beautiful place).
Hope that helps.
Join a ranger-guided caving tour. This is certainly a must!
KING'S PALACE (US$8): 1 1/2 hours tour.
Daily: 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm. We started the tour descending to 830 feet below the surface. There's 4 highly decorated chambers not huge but with detailed stalactites & helictites some with formations like popcorns! Draperies are commonly found in this part of the cave as well.
This 'Christmas Tree' is a natural structure. Over thousands of years, tiny drops of water will fall from the ceiling, leaving bits of limestone both from where it falls and where it hits the ground. Thus, stalagtites (from the ceiling) and stalagmites (from the ground) can grow. The white colour indicates that it is FRESH, darker colours show old structures.
This photo shows me 1600-ft down, in front of the 'cage' that carries men and equipment up and down. My typical kit was worn by all our employees who ended up spending time underground at the mine. The coveralls are designed to resist a certain amount of energy in the event an electrical arc flash occurs while working on equipment - preventing you from catching fire. The yellow flash stripes glow brightly when light is shone on them, enabling you to be seen by equipment drivers in the dim recesses of tunnels. The sturdy blue belt has to support a large battery attached on one side (with its cable running up your back to the light on the hard hat). On the other side of the belt is an SCSR (Self-Contained Self-Rescuer) - a device you will deploy in case of smoke or other breathing dangers. Once opened, it will provide oxygen for up to an hour. Rules also require that a larger rescue-breather also be kept nearby (on your vehicle for instance) to provide a few more hours for you to reach the surface or a rescue chamber. The small round metal tag hanging from the belt is your personal number, with an identical one hanging on a board located above ground indicating whether you are either on the Surface or Underground - a method used to determine exactly who and how many miners are down at any time. Safety glasses and steel-toed/electrically insulated boots make up the rest of the kit, along with your water jug and lunch box to get you through an 8-hour shift in the heat below.
The 2nd photo shows the long brown 'cage' on the surface as it hangs on the right side of the tower, with its lower compartment used for transporting equipment and the upper compartment for miners. The 3rd photo shows one of the rescue chambers where miners can retreat and seal themselves off with extra air breathers, food and cots if things get bad. There is also a telephone and air pipe direct to the surface in case they are trapped for an extended period.
The 4th photo shows one of the many Miners - a large battery-driven machine that can raise its rotating 'chewing bits' on the front end to gouge away at the walls and ceilings to spit the ore out its rear-end onto a Haul machine. You can see the marks on the roof where the teeth have done their work and also how reflective those stripes can be.
In the 5th photo, I'm at the controls of one of the several vehicles required to move men around the many miles of underground tunnels that branch out from the shaft. They are 4WD and quite easy to use but many tunnels are so low that you have to always be prepared to duck your head (sometimes as low as the steering wheel!) to avoid serious injuries!
Sitting Bull Falls. It's right there on your map, but you may ignore it because it's so far down a dirt road. You want to check it out! In the middle of the desert you'll find a big waterfall complete with cottonwoods and columbine. Well worth the drive.
Looking back on it, I don't believe that I went so far below ground. But it was a fascinating experience--seeing all these stalactites and stalagmites really made me understand the power of dripping water.
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Q: Caverns from town "Is there anyway to get to the caverns without renting a car (don't have licence)?"
A: "My Rough Guide to Southwest USA says there are minivan shuttles to the park from the Greyhound bus station for $15 round-trip. The number is 505-887-1108."
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Address: 3824 National Parks Hwy, US Hwy 62/180, Carlsbad, New Mexico, 88220, United States
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