03012018 Karchner Cave State Park AZ

Great day! Nice hot shower before leaving Picacho Peak AZ State Park, then headed on I10 E, stopping in Tucson for some supplies then to Benson with scenic views along the way. Cave tour doesn’t allow any taking of pictures 🤪, but took many in Visitors Center and learned much there and from Ranger-led cave tour. This cave is inside a peak, so it’s not below the surface level! There are actually 3 caves in 2 peaks. Hard to see in dim lighting all the handiwork of Mother Earth. The cave, which looks no different from the surrounding terrain on the outside, was discovered the year my son was born, 1974; but, it took until 1988 for it to become a State Park to be preserved. The cave is closed when the bats 🦇 are present there. Fascinating to me was the video of early discovery of the cave, with 3 Rangers wiggling/stretching/squirming to get into this treasured cave. I’m debating whether or not to go on a tour of the other cave tomorrow or go rockhounding …hmmm. Peace be unto each one reading this!