Hike the Lupe': Gaudalupe Mountains

Day 142

That wind. Oh that wind. Twenty mile an hour constant winds accompanied by thirty five mile an hour gusts rocked the RV all night. Every time a strong gust hit the side of Roo we were rustled from our slumber. She shook from side to side as nature hurled it's wind energy at us.

from where we stand it's another 3,000 ft to the top

The rules said we have to exit our parking lot spot by 11 am. It's off to north to hit up a small hike known as Smith Springs. It's only 2 1/2 miles and the loop is pretty gradual. The wind has died down and the sun is out. Time to hit the open trail and see what Guadalupe has to offer.  

Our morning hike out of the way allowed us to continue northward. Carlsbad Caverns is another National park just across the border in New Mexico. They have the largest cave in the western hemisphere and experiencing this place first hand totally blew us away. 

Stepping down into the abyss

The caverns were absolutely astonishing. The pictures that did partially turn out don't even start to do it justice. The trip down the natural entrance descends 800 ft. From there it's a 1.5 mile walk to the Big room. On the way visitors trounce through hallways with 100ft tall ceilings and so wide people can get lost. The big room itself is just that. With a 70ft ceiling and 1.25 miles long it swallows hundreds of people without even trying.
With our minds blown it came to one of those reflection points. Days like today remind us why we gave it all up to travel. Now we'll go find our home in the New Mexico desert and bed down for the night.