Trip East - Carlsbad Caverns National Park Day 1

We have a 10:30 timed entry into the Caverns so we head up

 the 7 mile winding road after breakfast

We get inside and I go to check in and find out the elevators are down.  The only way in is through the Natural Entrance which is a 1.25 mile train following the traditional explorer's route. 

We walk down the path to the  Bat flight Ampitheater.  Unfortunately, they are still working their way here from Mexico.

 It descends over 750 feet down and then after to 1.25 miles the trail around the big room is another 1.25 miles.  I tell Gary we should just wait and see if the Elevators will be running tomorrow, he insists "he's fine".

  Even the Park Ranger who is preparing our group to descend says if you are not in good physical shape you should not attempt this hike several times after seeing Gary's cane.

You can see the Natural Entrance from here

If the walk doesn't kill us . . . 

Again I say we shouldn't do this but Gary goes full steam ahead.

A look back to the opening

Opening to the Bat Cave

The Devil's Spring

Shortly after this we run into some people coming back up.  I ask the young fit guy who was breathing heavily how far we have come.  He says probably 1/4 to 1/3.  He looked as his watch and said his heart rate was 180.  I turned to Gary and put my foot down that we were turning around.  The hike back up was going to be difficult and we hadn't brought any water. I looked down and saw several switchbacks still to go further down.  Someone else said we had seen 

most of what we would see in the Cave at this point.

Back to the entrance

Checked my fitbit when we got out and we had gone .5 of the 1.25 before turning around. 

Before leaving, I ask the Ranger at the information desk about the elevators.  He gave me a direct line phone number to call to check if they are running tomorrow morning.