On Wednesday July 25, we had a sit down breakfast buffet at the Grille next to the Mammoth Cave Hotel. Our campsite at Mammoth Cave Campground was well situated and within walking distance of the hotel and visitor center. Having scored a single ticket for The Grand Avenue Cave tour for Thursday morning on Tuesday we decided to check out the visitor center and we discovered that the Grand Avenue Cave tour had available openings at 11:00 due to some cancellations.
Upon our arrival at the Park we had been bummed out to discover that the more popular Cave tours were sold out days even weeks in advance. The Grand Avenue Tour was one such tour. I had felt lucky to score a single for Thursday now there were several tickets available. We jumped on the opportunity and got 3. Craig, Abby, and I took Mom, who did not want to go on the strenuous 4 hour walking Cave tour, and Zoey, who could not go as canines were not allowed in the cave, back to our campsite.
We hustled back to meet the tour bus. The Ranger team for this tour gave us the spiel on how strenuous the tour was and gave folks the opportunity to second guess their decision to go, telling tales of medical mishaps and reminding us we would be underground and far from easy aid. After listening to their cautionary advice, I wondered what I had gotten myself into.
We boarded the bus and headed to the Carmichael entrance one of several manmade entrances to this vast magical landscape. Thus began our 4 hour 4 mile race walk through the longest cave system in the world. We hustled along Cleveland Avenue, a large tunnel formed of natural arching ceilings. This portion of the tour ended at the Snowball Room, where a food service area used to be. We took bathroom breaks and learned about the history of the cafeteria. It had shut down several years ago when the elevator that serviced this area had broke down. A tour for special needs folks uses the elevator now to give folks who otherwise could not experience the cave an opportunity to descend 267 ft below the surface and learn about the cave. There is a nice sidewalk paved trail that goes some distance from the elevator entrance.
We left the wide open tunnels and entered a different realm. It was my favorite part of the tour and the main reason I decided to repeat the experience using the single ticket I had gotten Tuesday. We entered a series of slot canyons that twisted and turned and led us ever forward in a single file hustle. The speed of this walking tour along with the terrain is one reason it is considered strenuous. We paused for breaks and to hear the Rangers tell interesting geological or historical facts. When we were moving, however, we were moving on. The canyons were strategically lit and the tall walls stretched overhead into darkness. The developed trails were well made and well maintained. The CCC work force spent many man hours developing the underground and top side trail system inside Mammoth Cave National Park during the Great Depression.
From the slot canyons we began the ups and downs that we were warned about top side, climbing a high “hill” called Mt. McKinley where we got another rest and bathroom break. From here we descended and climbed and descended and climbed. It was a workout. We learned about the Kentucky Cave Wars and George Morrison, who opened at least two man made entrances to the vast cave system, earning his fortunes as a cave developer while extending the known length of Mammoth Cave.
Each Ranger is given the freedom to develop their program as they lead tours so my second adventure had a different narrative and I was able to enjoy the tour seeing things I missed first time through.
I would recommend advance reservations for this wonderful tour. It was not as physically strenuous as I feared it would be hearing the Rangers description. I think they make it sound a little worse than it is to discourage those folks who are on the fence about it.
This tour exits the cave through the Frozen Niagara entrance. We were bussed back to the Hotel and sent on our way.
MrsSmithsLifeUnexpected 