Carlsbad Caverns
Well, today was my first day off since I left San Diego over two weeks ago. I began with my first real breakfast of the trip: pancakes, eggs and sausage, courtesy of KOA Carlsbad, New Mexico 
, and hosted by Scott Bacher. He was kind enough to hook me up with a big breakfast despite my arrival 20 minutes after the kitchen closed.
After a big meal, I was really looking forward to doing something that I have wanted to do for a long time. I visited Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico and watched the flight of the bats .
When I was first planning this journey, my intention was to stop at all sorts of sites along the route — even cool places that had nothing to do with the Butterfield. However, reality had other plans. I have found that the rigors of doing a trip like this are much more than I anticipated. I find myself running out of time everyday, so that most everything I'm doing is Butterfield related. Don't get me wrong — it's been amazing, and there are more Butterfield sites than I could have ever imagined. But with the time constraints, I really had to focus my energy. I hope I've been able to create an interesting, albeit incomplete, log of Butterfield sites from St. Louis to San Francisco . There are still many more sites out there to be discovered and I wish I could have seen them all.
But today, it was all about the caverns and the bats! The trip to the National Park is a beautiful drive up a winding mountain road. The visit began in the Visitor's Center, where I found out it was my lucky day. The tickets to the caverns were — free!
In order to get down to the "big room" of the cavern you must descend in an elevator. Before stepping onto the elevator for my ride, I decided to use an audio wand so I could be enlightened while touring. Good choice! I recommend this device — it really made the tour more meaningful. While at the one of three gift shops in the visitors' center, to pick up my audio wand, I even adopted a bat!
When you adopt a bat at Carlsbad Caverns, you don't get to take it home, unfortunately. But you do get a cool bumper sticker, photo and official adoption certificate. All of the proceeds go to help with bat habitat and conservation efforts and studies. Once my adoption was final, I proceeded to the elevator feeling like a new brand new father. Ok, not really — but I was proud nonetheless.
After a quick ride, the doors of the elevator opened to reveal what felt like the center of the earth: the temperature drops considerably. The caverns are simply spectacular. I chose to take the long tour and spent a good two hours looking at the most otherworldly and fantastic formations . This is Mother Nature at her most creative, for sure.
After my tour I had about an hour and a half to kill before the bat show. I had a little snack at the restaurant in the Visitor's Center, then took Eddie and Charlie for a much needed walk around the grounds. Finally, it was time for the bats to come out for an evening of feasting, so I made my way over for the show. The amphitheatre overlooks what is called the Natural Entrance to the cave and from here the bats make their exodus each evening.
For about a half hour, one of the park rangers gave her speech about the bats and took questions from the audience. She was actually pretty good — her talk was interesting and informative. I heard a few people in the audience say, "It's started." I turned to the cave entrance and sure enough, like a black whirlwind, the bats were coming out of the cave by the hundreds in waves. It was so amazing how they whirl around with tornado fury as they exit — then, in a stream they disappear over the cave top into the horizon.
According to the ranger they can eat several tons of insects a night! There are anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 bats. (The estimate for this night was on the lower end, given this was the end of the season for them here.) The bats have begun their migration to Mexico, but do so only a few at a time for some reason. It was marvelous to watch the whirling bats disappear in a river of wings into the setting sun.
Having had my fill of bats, I headed back to the Carlsbad KOA for a good night's sleep. Tomorrow the road trip continues, and the search for the Butterfield begins anew.
Students! The mail is safe and secure after a small break, and is back on track for arrival in San Francisco on October 10.
Comments
This is totally interesting. It is a unique way to get a piece of history step by step. I love checking in to see whats next. Thanks Casey and Wells Fargo. Its great to see the company I bank with give something back through education!
Posted by: Scott | October 8, 2008 03:51 PM
Casey- you forgot to mention that some Wells Fargo History Museums also have audiowands to give the visitor a "more meaningful experience"!
Posted by: Megan | October 9, 2008 07:57 AM
Amazing footage and video, Casey...you really helped us to feel like we were there with you through your posts & stories.
After just reading your Fort Chadbourne visit and now the Carlsbad Caverns (which is high on my list of must-visit), I'm thinking what the stones of the Fort of the Butterfield Stage stops or the walls of these deep caverns can tell of its many inhabitants over many centuries!!! ...if only these stones had voices - well the past few weeks, thanks to your journey and the people you've met dedicated to keeping history alive...memories are shared, celebrated and created! What Joy :~)
Posted by: joycee | October 9, 2008 12:04 PM