Hello Friends,
Hope your Christmas was everything you wanted it to be. Ours was very sedate. John caught my cold and feeling rather lousy yesterday. He's feeling better today, but we're taking it easy all the same.
Earlier in the week we took a boat ride on the Pecos River to see the Christmas lights with other friends from the cave. We were lucky it was the warmest night all week. The lights were beautiful, some set to music. We missed the lunar eclipse because of clouds, but hope to see the meteor showers in early January.
Back to work for me tomorrow. This was to be my last week here in Carlsbad, but I've been extended until 'spring' so we'll be here for a while longer. John is taking the week off - he has to use the rest of his vacation time before the end of the year - use it or lose it! :-(
That's about it from here. Miss you all...
VAL & JOHN
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Rock of Ages
Hi Friends,
Tonight will be the last of the "Rock Of Ages" presentations. I'm portraying the character, 'Elizabeth Lee', the first female to ever explore Lower Cave. Our dress rehearsal was a week ago, and John was our unofficial photographer. Last night was our first performance for the public. It went pretty well.
In case you're not familiar, it was a program that ran in the early days up until 1944 when crowds became too large. Back then, visitors were escorted through the cave, then they would turn out all the lights and sing 'Rock of Ages' at the large formation which bears the same name. Now, we lead visitors through the cave using lanterns. Staff portray historical characters at different spots in the 'Big Room'. It's fun and an interesting way to view the cave. At the Rock of Ages formations, all larnterns are extinguished, and in total darkness, one of the staff members sings "Rock of Ages". After the solo, they turn the lights on and visitors exit the cave with modern lighting.
Here are a few pictures from our dress rehearsal...
Tonight will be the last of the "Rock Of Ages" presentations. I'm portraying the character, 'Elizabeth Lee', the first female to ever explore Lower Cave. Our dress rehearsal was a week ago, and John was our unofficial photographer. Last night was our first performance for the public. It went pretty well.
In case you're not familiar, it was a program that ran in the early days up until 1944 when crowds became too large. Back then, visitors were escorted through the cave, then they would turn out all the lights and sing 'Rock of Ages' at the large formation which bears the same name. Now, we lead visitors through the cave using lanterns. Staff portray historical characters at different spots in the 'Big Room'. It's fun and an interesting way to view the cave. At the Rock of Ages formations, all larnterns are extinguished, and in total darkness, one of the staff members sings "Rock of Ages". After the solo, they turn the lights on and visitors exit the cave with modern lighting.
Here are a few pictures from our dress rehearsal...
That's all for now...
Love,
VAL & JOHN
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Chimney Cave
I promised you pictures of my Chimney Cave adventure. So here they are. Look at the bottom of this picture. You'll see the entrance to the cave! Yes the little dark spot.
Inside the cave, but before the 35' drop!
Geared up a few moments before the big drop...
Down inside the cave. I survived the drop!
Going back up. It's a lot of work. Going down was much more fun.
I've been extended at CAVE until 'spring'. So I'm not sure when I'll be heading home. Hope to find a summer job elsewhere in the NPS.
VAL
Inside the cave, but before the 35' drop!
Geared up a few moments before the big drop...
Down inside the cave. I survived the drop!
Going back up. It's a lot of work. Going down was much more fun.
I've been extended at CAVE until 'spring'. So I'm not sure when I'll be heading home. Hope to find a summer job elsewhere in the NPS.
Love ya all, and miss ya,
VAL
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Chimney Cave
Hi Friends,
I never thought I'd ever be saying this, but yesterday I used verticle gear to get into and out of Chimney cave! I've spent two 'off days' training for this particular skill, using rope and various climbing equipment. Even after training, I think I was more nervous than excited, but on we went...
First, I had to hike a little over a mile in the canyon to the opening of Chimney cave. There are two openings, but we used the lower opening. The entrance hole, is all of about three feet wide. You could easily walk past the entrance, never realizing what lies underneath. After squeezing through the small hole, I had to use a hand line to drop down about ten more feet. That was pretty simple and my adrenaline was beginning to flow.
Next, was walking through the cave, on uneven surfaces, but nothing too difficult. But soon you come up to the area where you put on all your verticle gear. That in itself can be daunting. With help from the group, I eventually got all my equipment ready. Jason, our leader/teacher, tested the rope, finding it was fine, coming back up to give us last minute encouragement.
I hooked up my rack, and started walking down backwards, until I couldn't walk any more. Then down to my knees, nearing the lip of the dropoff. I could see Tami's headlamp from the bottom of the pit, 35' down. Yeah, I definitely had second thoughts for a moment, wondering the the he?? I was doing at my age trying something this crazy. Knowing that both Jason and Tami have spent many hours training me to do this, I knew I couldn't back out now. So I pushed off, holding the rope tightly in my right hand, sliding down into the pit under my control.
When I finally realized, I did have control of my descent, the fear was gone, the rush and joy took over and I had a blast as I zipped down into the bottom of Chimney cave. The few seconds it took to slide down that line was worth the clumsy equipment, new vocabulary, and sore muscles.
Once our group was down into the cave, we hiked around, enjoying the beautiful formations. A small cave, one quickly explored, but certainly not easy to get to. I signed the register, wanting the world to know of my journey and accomplishment. It's a popular cave, one a lot of beginners get to try.
Soon, it was time to leave. Going back up requires more physical exertion. Again, I attached my gear to the rope, and began the journey UP UP UP! Going down was more fun, and quicker. Took me a good five minutes or more to get up the 35' and get up and over the lip (that was certainly the hardest part). I know it wasn't the most graceful arrival up and over the lip, but I made it without injury.
The journey out of the cave was fun, then the one mile hike back to the truck. Can't explain how exciting it all was, and encourage any of you who think you might be interested to give it a try. Now, I need to get John trained so he can come with me on the next trip...
Thinking of you all as the holidays get closer.
Miss ya and love ya,
VAL
I never thought I'd ever be saying this, but yesterday I used verticle gear to get into and out of Chimney cave! I've spent two 'off days' training for this particular skill, using rope and various climbing equipment. Even after training, I think I was more nervous than excited, but on we went...
First, I had to hike a little over a mile in the canyon to the opening of Chimney cave. There are two openings, but we used the lower opening. The entrance hole, is all of about three feet wide. You could easily walk past the entrance, never realizing what lies underneath. After squeezing through the small hole, I had to use a hand line to drop down about ten more feet. That was pretty simple and my adrenaline was beginning to flow.
Next, was walking through the cave, on uneven surfaces, but nothing too difficult. But soon you come up to the area where you put on all your verticle gear. That in itself can be daunting. With help from the group, I eventually got all my equipment ready. Jason, our leader/teacher, tested the rope, finding it was fine, coming back up to give us last minute encouragement.
I hooked up my rack, and started walking down backwards, until I couldn't walk any more. Then down to my knees, nearing the lip of the dropoff. I could see Tami's headlamp from the bottom of the pit, 35' down. Yeah, I definitely had second thoughts for a moment, wondering the the he?? I was doing at my age trying something this crazy. Knowing that both Jason and Tami have spent many hours training me to do this, I knew I couldn't back out now. So I pushed off, holding the rope tightly in my right hand, sliding down into the pit under my control.
When I finally realized, I did have control of my descent, the fear was gone, the rush and joy took over and I had a blast as I zipped down into the bottom of Chimney cave. The few seconds it took to slide down that line was worth the clumsy equipment, new vocabulary, and sore muscles.
Once our group was down into the cave, we hiked around, enjoying the beautiful formations. A small cave, one quickly explored, but certainly not easy to get to. I signed the register, wanting the world to know of my journey and accomplishment. It's a popular cave, one a lot of beginners get to try.
Soon, it was time to leave. Going back up requires more physical exertion. Again, I attached my gear to the rope, and began the journey UP UP UP! Going down was more fun, and quicker. Took me a good five minutes or more to get up the 35' and get up and over the lip (that was certainly the hardest part). I know it wasn't the most graceful arrival up and over the lip, but I made it without injury.
The journey out of the cave was fun, then the one mile hike back to the truck. Can't explain how exciting it all was, and encourage any of you who think you might be interested to give it a try. Now, I need to get John trained so he can come with me on the next trip...
Thinking of you all as the holidays get closer.
Miss ya and love ya,
VAL
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Goat Cave
Today we hiked to Goat Cave, one of over 100 caves in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. It's a two and a half mile hike each way to get there through Arroyos, or rocky trails where water flows after a storm. Tough on the feet, ankles, knees and both John and I are sore tonight.
It's not an extremely scenic cave with many formations. It was mined for guano in the 30's, and damaged extensively. Here are a few pics John took at the entrance with our fellow hikers/rangers and inside the cave.
The cave itself isn't that long, maybe 1000 ft deep or so. Dark enugh to need a flashlight, helmut or something, but you can't really get lost in it.
One of the little nooks that we investigated. Some graffitti on the formations here back as far as 1920's????
One of the prettier areas in the cave...
Still some activity in the cave - meaning growth for water dripping. New calcite deposits forming a stalagmite.
Appeared to be some fresh bat guano in the cave, but the bats have already migrated south for the winter. Also lots of bird poop, and they too have migrated south for the winter. As the bats and birds have, John and I will migrate back to FL next month some time. I'll keep you posted.
It's not an extremely scenic cave with many formations. It was mined for guano in the 30's, and damaged extensively. Here are a few pics John took at the entrance with our fellow hikers/rangers and inside the cave.
The cave itself isn't that long, maybe 1000 ft deep or so. Dark enugh to need a flashlight, helmut or something, but you can't really get lost in it.
One of the little nooks that we investigated. Some graffitti on the formations here back as far as 1920's????
One of the prettier areas in the cave...
Still some activity in the cave - meaning growth for water dripping. New calcite deposits forming a stalagmite.
Appeared to be some fresh bat guano in the cave, but the bats have already migrated south for the winter. Also lots of bird poop, and they too have migrated south for the winter. As the bats and birds have, John and I will migrate back to FL next month some time. I'll keep you posted.
Love,
VAL & JOHN
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