[Nmcaver] Caves in Guadalupe Mountains NP.

[mpearson at ix.netcom.com]

Several years ago, me and another person acquired a back country permit at Guadalupe Mountains NP. During a conversation with the Ranger at the desk, we inquired about caves in the area. We were informed there were no caves in the park. We went back to camp knowing full well that there were caves in the park. Our trip was for hiking and camping out in the backcountry but a little ridge walking for caves would have added to the overall trip. That evening a park ranger came into our camp at the bottom of the trail and gave us a talk about the dangers of getting off trail in the back country and that there were no caves in the park. We changed our plans and went elsewhere, but not before playing 20 questions with a park service employee that finally admitted there were caves in the park but that we should talk to the Chief Ranger before we tried to go to them.

Park policy...go figure. All I know is that the mention of looking for caves set off some alarms with the staff and led to an effort to actively discourage our looking for them.

Mike P.

>
>Message: 2
>Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 09:52:33 -0600
>From: Carol Belski <belskic at valornet.com>
>Subject: Re: [Nmcaver] nmcaver Digest, Vol 21, Issue 9
>To: Mike_Bilbo at nm.blm.gov
>Cc: Stephen Fleming <swcaver at warpdriveonline.com>, nmcaver at caver.net
>Message-ID: <1C96B64E-06BE-11DB-A285-0030656ADE5E at valornet.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>
>
>On Wednesday, June 28, 2006, at 08:17  AM, Mike_Bilbo at nm.blm.gov wrote:
>> On NPS-managed land, is that land technically public, given NPS 
>> protection
>> mandate (as opposed to multiple use)?  Years ago I got into trouble by
>> leaving a trail and traveling cross country in the back country of
>> Guadalupe Mountains NP.  I maintained it was public land and that I 
>> could
>> do that as I wanted to visit an area other than where the trails led.  
>> I
>> was informed to go back to the trail and stay on the trail, end of
>> discussion.
>
>
>> Mike  -- unless you were in the lower part of McKittrick Canyon, the 
>> part of the trail from the McKittrick VC to Pratt Lodge (special 
>> management due to "delicate" area), OR in the area beyond Hunter Cabin 
>> (research only for what reason I know not!), you actually are allowed 
>> to go off trail.  Most of the Park is Wilderness.  Of course, it's 
>> best not to cut switchbacks since that increases erosion (and the 
>> trail is easier anyway).  Where were you when you "got into trouble" ?
>
>Carol
>