Stop 5: Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Alright! A few new states added to the list in the last couple days. Kind of on accident. After our morning at Canyonlands, we left for Mesa Verde National Park. Unfortunately, after a few hour drive there, we learned that they were gonna be closed for a few days due to the same snow storm that almost froze us to death the night before. And we just don't have time to waste! Onwards to the next stop, I guess.

So, we left for New Mexico. And Texas. After driving all day, we decided we deserved a hotel. Mostly because finding a camping spot in the dark is extremely difficult, but also because we needed a shower and some heat. We stayed in Hobbs, NM. I tried to get us a hotel in Roswell because I wanted to see all of their alien shit, but SHOCKINGLY, I fucked up our reservation. Oops. Our La Quinta was nice so it doesn't matter. I'm still a little upset about it.

Side note, New Mexico has THE WORST DAMN ROADS I have ever driven in my life. Like, you need four-wheel-drive to go on the fuckinghighway. Also, everything is dusty there. Everything. And it smells like sulfur everywhere. Turns out the sulfur thing is from oil companies polluting the entire state and making literally every resident sick (its actually super fucked up, read this article if you feel like being annoyed at an oil company https://nmpoliticalreport.com/2019/05/28/the-hidden-consequences-of-new-mexicos-latest-oil-boom/ . Someone should make a documentary on it).

The following morning we left for Carlsbad Caverns. I think caves are sick but I've only ever been in little ones and J had never been in one at all, so we were both really excited! Before we got to the caverns, we entered a town called White's City... (SIDE EYE). Turns out it's called White's City for a reason that isn't what you initially thought. Probably. I'll explain later.

The park was fairly busy, but we weren't crowded in the cave at all. It literally took 2.5 hours to get through the whole thing, and felt like an entirely different planet. I was in awe the entire time. The pictures seriously don't do it justice.

Oh! White's City! How could I forget. Turns out, it's not for only white people. So sick! It was named after the lil cowboy Mr. Jim White who basically discovered the cave. He was the first person to go down the entrance (which is like 100+ ft deep or something like that) and he did it with just a fucking lantern. And he built ladders out of fencing wire to climb down into the holes of the cave that he couldn't see into??? Mf was actually crazy. This picture if one of the fence ladders he made (it's still hanging inside the cave, which is pretty cool). So! The little town outside of the park is called White's City for him. Unfortunate name but a cool guy.

After Carlsbad we went to Guadalupe Mountains National Park (it was like an hour away). I'll put that in another post. I know you're anxiously waiting.

Wishing you a wonderful day, friends. Bye kids!

Drew

Oh before you go, look at this picture of the cave that J and I thought looked like Jabba the Hutt. Lmao.

Okay bye.