Mammouth Cave

Feb. 2nd-Thursday

Today we had the priviledge of experiencing Mammoth Cave.  It is the longest cave in the US at 392  miles compared to Carlsbad at 33 miles.  It remains at 54 degrees year round and was the 26th national park.  Cave man Joe was the guide for our first tour, The Frozen Niagara, and he was very good and informative.  He quoted a Mark Twain quote that I loved.  “The worst death is to be bored to death.” Janae asked what presidents had visited the cave and we learned the Reagon and Andrew Jackson.  I find this hard to believe that they were the only ones to see this incredible natural wonder.

albino crickets

Where the frozen niagra got its name. 

We saw more stalactites and stalagmites than we saw on the afternoon tour due to the fact, we went in the edge of the cave where the water can leak into the cave.  The cave made from a dried up creek bed has a 40-60 feet thick cap rock on the top.  When we entered, Stefan said, “This is amazing.” There is nothing frozen but the flow stone looks like flowing water and since many of the early tourists were from NY, it got called Niagara.

Bats, fish, shrimp and crickets are the living animals.  We  enjoyed seeing a cave cricket upclose.

After lunch we took a little longer tour called the historical tour.  We learned a lot.  During war of 1812 over 1/2 the calcium nitrate needed for gun powder was  mined here.  A side note, The Star Spangled Banner came out of war of 1812.  The acoustics are wonderful in the cave and every year, there is an annual Christmas tree lighting and carols.  It's very limited as to who can perform but Jenny Lind and the Tibetian Monks have given concerts.  There were some markings on ceiling of different groups that had performed. 

The rooms on this tour were very big and dry.  Enjoyed hearing all the historical stories.  One was about Booth's brother visiting who was an opera singer. 

Squeezing through

Saxhorn band

A cave kiss is when a drop of water falls on you.  The slaves were the early guides and since they couldn't read, they used a lot of imagination.  Right now, there is a 5th generation tour guide.  very interesting is that they found preserved bodies, over 2000 years old in the cave due to the constant temperature and humidity.  One of them still had food in their digestive track. Bottomless Pit and the Done were visual highlights.