We worked this morning, but then over to nearby Kartchner Caverns State Park. In 1974, two cavers were exploring the foothills of the Whetstone Mountains and discovered an unknown "living" cave, with formations in a dazzling array of sizes, shapes and colors, dropping down thousands of feet. It was an extraordinary find. The owners and the cavers worked to get the caves into protection as a State Park and research center. It wasn't until 2003 that the cave tours opened. You can tell they are relatively new, as the facilities are all very well done, and beautiful. The tours are some of the first that can be accessed by folks in wheelchairs. You are taken over to the cave site from the visitor center in a trolley. You can NOT take in any cameras, cell phones, back packs, purses, or anything that will shed. They built the cave viewing system with short cement walls on either side of the walkways, to create a "wind tunnel" effect, along with misters, to keep the walkways wet, to prevent lint from humans to get on to the cave formations. The cave is a steady 72 degrees, with 98 % humidity. Some of the formations are amazing, with a big variety. At one point in the tour, they do a light show, with music, in the "throne room" -- very impressive.
After the tour, we walked the Foothills Trail. A 2.75 mile loop that surrounds the Caverns. It goes through the foothills, through some passes, and up over the foothills. There are some very impressive vistas of the Whetstone and Dragoon mountain ranges, and the very large basin in between. Very enjoyable day.
Since I couldn't take my camera into the caverns, I went online and found some photos.
Kartchner Caverns photos:
Foothills Loop Trail photos:
No comments:
Post a Comment