| Devoted to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Guadalupe National Park | ||||||||||||||||||||
| National Parks |
On April 30-May 2, 1999, my seventh grade class and some of my teachers went to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Guadalupe National Park. We camped out in White's City, New Mexico, with a view of the Guadalupes. There we went swimming, hiking to Indian ruins, visiting the caves, and most of all having fun. On May 1, we hiked up Guadalupe Peak -- what an adventure! | |||||||||||||||||||
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Carlsbad Caverns National Park has some of the most spectacular caves on the planet. In the parking lot at the visitor center we saw license plates from many different states. Then we walked to the visitor center atop a mountain overlooking the Chihuanhuan Desert. After that we went down an elevator to the caverns with windows to enable you to see the tons of rocks, while dropping 84 stories below the surface. If you have more time you can go in at the natural entrance. The Big Room had some beautiful formations that can only be found in few places around the world. The Big Room is so big that you can fit fourteen football fields in it as well as the Washington Monument. When you're done you can go to the natural entrance at dusk and watch the bats come out. If you need more adventure you can go to Spirit Canyon where Indians used to live, where their spirits still haunt the cliffs and canyons. Carlsbad Cavern's beauty is not all below the surface. You can find more of it above the surface in Walnut Canyon. On the way to the visitor center you go through Walnut Canyon. At first it starts out being hills then suddenly all around you are steep canyon walls and before you know it you're above the cliffs overlooking the canyon. | Underground World | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Island in the Desert |
On May 1, we drove to Guadalupe Peak through the scenic Chihuahuan Desert. The view of the mountains along the road was beautiful. Across the fifty miles of sun drenched desert were the Guadalupe Mountains suddenly rising several thousand feet toward the heavens. To be more precise, 8,749 ft. You're overwhelmed with the beauty of the mountains. Once you get there you begin to realize how small you are on this large earth. Then we started on the trail up Guadalupe Peak. Actually it's not only Guadalupe Peak -- it's several mountains. Once you think you have almost made it you realize there's another mountain to climb then another, then another, and so on. Once you get started on the trail you're in a hot desert type ecosystem. As you go around the curve of the first mountain you suddenly are in a fast cold wind escaping from the valley below. Then just as you begin to recover, you realize you're in the forest among thousands of trees. In that one curve the climate changes dramatically. Then you walk along a curve, along the mountain, above the valley far below. Along the trail you start to notice how steep the mountain is and one wrong step can kill you. Later you arrive at a bridge over a drop off. You start to get used to the forest then before you know it around the next mountain you're again overlooking the desert. On that side you climb a steep winding trail that goes in and out of the forest and desert with a view of the mountains. As you look up you see Hunter's Peak and think soon I'll be higher than that. After hours of hard work you make it to the summit. A black pyramid comes into view on the very top with a guest book to sign, but before you do that you must admire the view. The view is breath-taking! Then you stand beside the majestic like object and realize your higher than millions of people. You're higher than everything east of the Rockies and many large city's on the West Coast! Once you've decided to go back down after soaking everything in you are so glad you accomplished climbing to the peak. The way down is easier but yet tricky. The rocks are loose and you can also get your foot caught on something and trip or tumble down to your death. After that you can go to the visitor center and watch a slide show and look at the museum. If you're up to it, you can drive to a roadside park and see El Capitain rising above the desert like a ruly king. Without my science teacher, park rangers, and some friendly people along the way this trip would not have been possible. Thanks | |||||||||||||||||||
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