Howdy

[Sagebrusher]

Originally Posted by West Texan

Thanks for all the welcomes....

Actually just got back from Carlsbad NP. Daughter and I went to hike and see the cave. We hiked out Yucca Canyon and Rattlesnake Canyon. Was our first ever hikes and Yucca was probably not the best first choice....LOL. We have learned a lot and have some figuring to do to get our weight down. All in all though, we both had a blast.

WT

Ha-ha, what a first hike! I just looked at my Trails Illustrated map of Carlsbad Caverns. I remember Yucca now...it's quite a climb! You might look into the Guadalupe Ridge trail, the ascent is rather gentler. Also, if you go back, you should check out the Slaughter Canyon Cave Tour, there are openings this weekend. If you have any questions about any of the tours, ask me. I have been on all of them, multiple times.

Find Available Tours - CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK, NM park tour, {2} - Recreation.gov

[West Texan]

I am wanting to go to Slaughter Cave. Also want to do lower tunnel and possibly Spider Cave. But my first goal is to actually finish the Yucca Trail. Looked at the topo map and where we made it to, it would have been flat and level the rest of the way, but it was getting late when we got there and didn't finish the trail. I'm hoping to get back sometime in November to hike it again. Just have to find the time to get off work and all my other commitments around here.

[Judy Ann]

Welcome to OBC!

[Sagebrusher]

Originally Posted by West Texan

I am wanting to go to Slaughter Cave. Also want to do lower tunnel and possibly Spider Cave. But my first goal is to actually finish the Yucca Trail. Looked at the topo map and where we made it to, it would have been flat and level the rest of the way, but it was getting late when we got there and didn't finish the trail. I'm hoping to get back sometime in November to hike it again. Just have to find the time to get off work and all my other commitments around here.

What's amazing to me is that Slaughter is a large cave in it's own right. In other states, it would be a state park. The Slaughter Cave tour is moderate, except for the 500 foot vertical-gain trek to the entrance. (nothing like Yucca!) Lower Cave Tour is also not too bad,
the biggest challenge is the ladder at the beginning. It is perhaps 70 feet tall but not vertical, and has a hand-railing.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9lfhEi9600...0/DSCN4833.JPG

The "Spider Cave" and "Hall of the White Giant" tours are considerably more challenging, and there are places where if you slip it could be bad. (say, 10 foot fall) However, as far as I know no one has.
Do not go on Spider if you are large:
http://www.nps.gov/cave/planyourvisi..._jones_415.jpg
Fortunately, you only have to crawl like that about 20 feet or less.


It is not well advertised, but there are permit caves in the backcountry...unfortunately I have not been in any. Ogle Cave is supposed to be awesome, it requires a ranger escort and rappelling skills.

http://www.nps.gov/cave/naturescienc...ermitcaves.pdf

[Barney]

Hi and welcome to what is one of the best sites on the topics you numbered. You will find a lot of people here with the same interest.

[West Texan]

I would like to learn about caving but would rather strike up some friendships with the rangers there and learn from them rather than try on my own. I have never repelled and wouldn't know the first thing about it. The one time I had to wear a safety harness on a jobsite (4th story on edge of building with no walls) I couldn't figure out how the harness was supposed to go on. I had that thing so tangled up, the contractor had trouble fixing it for me...LOL. But I am still having fun learning about backpacking and hiking for right now. Will get around to it at some point in time though.