Tagged: cave

Bandera Ice Cave 0

Bandera Ice Cave

The temperature in this cave never gets above 31 degrees. As rain and snow-melt seep into the cave the ice floor thickens… more and more each year. They estimate it to be over 20 feet thick, with the deepest ice being more than 3400 years old. The green tint is...

El Malpais National Monument 0

El Malpais National Monument

The term El Malpais (“the Badlands”) is used locally to refer to lava flows. I did not know this when I came to this Ntnl Monument. From the satellite view it is clear; a huge black smudge blankets the area south of Grants, NM. It’s volcanic features include a string...

Carlsbad Caverns, natural entrance 0

Carlsbad Caverns, natural entrance

Since we were passing nearby,  I stopped in at Carlsbad Caverns so I could hike down the natural entrance. Last year I only had time for the elevator ride and the ‘Big room’ hike, but today we had time for me to make the short 1.2 mile hike down. It...

Carlsbad Caverns Ntnl Park 0

Carlsbad Caverns Ntnl Park

Finally, I can check the box that I visited Carlsbad Caverns. This trip was planned two years ago but I did not make it, then again last year but a vehicle breakdown prevented me from making it. This year I only just made it and with only hours to spare....