On November 19 I found myself driving through Sonora Texas, and I decided to take a tour of the Caverns of Sonora. I'd never been in a cave before. I was under an overhang in Missouri, but that's not the same thing. I've wanted to climb Guadalupe Peak - TX's highest point - for a few years, and in preparation I'd read up on the nearby Carlsbad Caverns. They seemed quite interesting, but at the same time I was worried about claustrophobia. Also, I was worried about earthquakes. Most people, myself included, who've lived in Los Angeles for a while become accustomed to earthquakes and become even blase about them. However, the last thing I want is to experience an earthquake underground. So, even if an area doesn't have active faults, I was thinking that would be something I'd be constantly worried about. In the Navy, those who volunteer for submarine duty are subjected to various tests to determine that they won't freak out underwater; I don't think I'd make the grade.

Despite that, I didn't sense any concern when descending into the cave. Perhaps that's because it was mainly a walk along a concrete path with a few stairs here and there. I felt quite safe, like I was in an underground mall rather than in natural formation. Whether I'd have the same feeling in a wild cave that didn't have any light fixtures on the walls is another matter entirely.

As for the caverns, they were certainly interesting, although having never been in a cave before, I don't have anything to compare them with. They don't appear to be as deep as the various caves in Carlsbad, but they certainly are attractive. They have the only known butterfly formation, which can be seen in the left photo here.

This was a guided tour with just me and an expatriot British couple and their baby. The baby would occasionally cry, which was not exactly the best situation, but I was able to enjoy the 1 or 2 mile walk nonetheless.

There's an above-ground gift shop and flyers for the cave are available in motels, restaurants, and all the other places in the area. In keeping with that theme, I thought this was just a tourist trap and that the guide was just a relative or something. However, it turned out that he was an avid and experienced caver, and he provided me with much useful information. So, if you're in the area, I'd suggest checking it out.