Park Revisit, Carlsbad Caverns New Mexico, for stamps

While on our trip from Dallas to Tucson, we made a revisit stop to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico-  Long trip for the day, 518 miles, and we got there three minutes before the last elevator trip down to the Big Room at 3:30! 

I had last been to this park in 1962, I believe, when our family was on our way from Camp Pendleton to Parris Island.  I very much remember sitting down deep in the bowels of the caverns and the ranger turning off the lights and remember clearly how utterly dark and quiet it was. 

This trip, we were accompanied by our Texas Pals TC and Jeanna.  As I said, we hauled boogie from Lewisville Texas, and literally got there three minutes before the last elevator.  We were only able to tour the Big Room, which was plenty-  There was about a mile or so walking, and we thoroughly enjoyed the visit. 

I missed two stamps that were shown as located here, the 25th anniversary, which is now not showing up at several locations, and another bonus stamp, which has stalagtites on it.  I did manage to get the "Mailed from 700 feet below" stamp, even though the area was closing, the young man was nice enough to let me get the stamp.  I posted on my club list the situation. 

The Visitors Center is 7.1 miles from the main road up a pretty twisty turney 2 lane road, and we hustled on it, believe me.  You crest a big hill, and this is the vista from the parking lot, although today was quite hazy and overcast.  It was also chilly and the wind was blowing about 30 mph. 

As I said, we only got to tour the "Big Room" area, which is on the bottom left side of the cave.  We were able to take the elevators down, and then walked from the center where you see visitors center around the Big Room-  Took us about 45 minutes.

I was able to get three pins and a walking staff ornament. 

They really do a good job of illuminating the formations, and the interpretation plaques are well done also.  Beautiful visitors center, but when we got back upstairs, they were't showing the film.