Post by gaetzchamp on Aug 15, 2007 0:41:16 GMT -5
Well, some of you may have wondered if I had gotten eaten by a dinosaur or something because I've not been around too much lately. Seems like I go thru this "passive" phase every year and don't get around to posting much. It seems like it always takes something to motivate me or inspire me to get back into the tumbling/cutting mood. Well today I was inspired like never before and was litterally "awed" by a chunk of Mother Earth I had never been to before yet it's only 20 minutes away from my front door (Ok 1 hour and 20 minutes....it's a 1 hour hike from the parking lot)!!!
Timpanogos Cave is truly a sight to behold - - www.nps.gov/tica/. Pictures can't even come close to capturing the mind-boggling sights in this cave and words can't describe how breathtaking it is. How can you accurately describe the formations contained therin? How can you convey the atmospheric conditions? Where on this earth can you be in a 100 degree, fiery inferno then 2 steps later be in an isolated refrigerator? How can you tell someone how FREAKING DARK it is inside a cave when someone shuts out the lights? It's impossible!! I'm lucky to live in such a geologically diverse part of the world and a lot of times I take for granted how majestic this place is, but rarely am I totally taken aback like I was today. Try to enjoy these photos, but realize they can't even come close to the real thing. It was a true test of skill (of which I don't have too much of) to take pictures in the dark. I was happy to get the ones I did and I'm happy to share them with you.
The hike is a pretty grueling one - covering neary 1,500 verticle feet over 1 mile and taking 1 hour. Last year a 3-year old girl from Russia fell over the trail's edge while eating a bag of chips and not watching the 3 foot wide trail. She survived, but her uncle that jumped over the egde after her didn't.
Rainey looking like she's in the jaws of "the beast"
Here's a shot of a crystal clear pool...
An Entombed Mosquito in Calcite
This little gem greeted us immediately upon our entrance
Here are a bunch of shots of various ceiling/wall formations
Anyone see a mouse?
The Twigs
I love this shot of all the dripping stalactites
Here's one drop out of countless billions
The Heart
A final shot of my kids w/ our gide Nancy T.
Nancy was a remakable woman with an amazing gift of communication. She was very passionate about her work and felt we were blessed to have been "given this gift" in the 1920's. She was an incredible teacher and held the kids' attention throughout (except when my 2 daughter's thought they were going to pee their pants because of all the water they drank on the hike up!!!!!) The NPS is lucky to have her as an employee. We are all lucky to have her as a guide, mentor and teacher of our children.
For those of you that have never been here before, plan to do so now!!!!!!!!! Look up the website, plan your trip and don't hesitate another moment. If you can't walk, find 6 people to carry you up the mountain! Do whatever you need to come here before something/someone screws it up.
Gaetz
Timpanogos Cave is truly a sight to behold - - www.nps.gov/tica/. Pictures can't even come close to capturing the mind-boggling sights in this cave and words can't describe how breathtaking it is. How can you accurately describe the formations contained therin? How can you convey the atmospheric conditions? Where on this earth can you be in a 100 degree, fiery inferno then 2 steps later be in an isolated refrigerator? How can you tell someone how FREAKING DARK it is inside a cave when someone shuts out the lights? It's impossible!! I'm lucky to live in such a geologically diverse part of the world and a lot of times I take for granted how majestic this place is, but rarely am I totally taken aback like I was today. Try to enjoy these photos, but realize they can't even come close to the real thing. It was a true test of skill (of which I don't have too much of) to take pictures in the dark. I was happy to get the ones I did and I'm happy to share them with you.
The hike is a pretty grueling one - covering neary 1,500 verticle feet over 1 mile and taking 1 hour. Last year a 3-year old girl from Russia fell over the trail's edge while eating a bag of chips and not watching the 3 foot wide trail. She survived, but her uncle that jumped over the egde after her didn't.
Rainey looking like she's in the jaws of "the beast"
Here's a shot of a crystal clear pool...
An Entombed Mosquito in Calcite
This little gem greeted us immediately upon our entrance
Here are a bunch of shots of various ceiling/wall formations
Anyone see a mouse?
The Twigs
I love this shot of all the dripping stalactites
Here's one drop out of countless billions
The Heart
A final shot of my kids w/ our gide Nancy T.
Nancy was a remakable woman with an amazing gift of communication. She was very passionate about her work and felt we were blessed to have been "given this gift" in the 1920's. She was an incredible teacher and held the kids' attention throughout (except when my 2 daughter's thought they were going to pee their pants because of all the water they drank on the hike up!!!!!) The NPS is lucky to have her as an employee. We are all lucky to have her as a guide, mentor and teacher of our children.
For those of you that have never been here before, plan to do so now!!!!!!!!! Look up the website, plan your trip and don't hesitate another moment. If you can't walk, find 6 people to carry you up the mountain! Do whatever you need to come here before something/someone screws it up.
Gaetz