Post by Tomspy77 on Nov 20, 2013 18:32:13 GMT -6
'Halloween Hall' at Carlsbad Caverns is biggest area discovered in more than 25 years
CARLSBAD >> Shawn Thomas found an unexpected treat at the Carlsbad Caverns National Park on Halloween night. It's a treat the cave technician and other park staff will enjoy more than chocolate candy bars for years to come.
Thomas, along with another caver, discovered a new cave room inside the Caverns hundreds of feet up from the main area. Dubbed "Halloween Hall," the fresh find marks the biggest discovery for the Caverns in more than 25 years.
"It was a little unbelievable at first," Thomas said. "We were kind of shocked and then we were really excited about it."
Along with Derek Bristol, a volunteer from Cave Research Foundation, Thomas wanted to check out a ledge, but didn't expect to find much.
"It didn't look very promising," he said.
But after climbing 255 feet into the "Spirit World" area, the two headed to check the ledge.
The ledge opened up to a 30-foot passage, Thomas said. The room's diameter is about 100 feet, he added.
The pair also discovered more than 1,000 bat bones inside the room. Thomas said bat remains show that they nested in the area. But he said he does not know if living bats call the area home, too.
Thomas, along with another caver, discovered a new cave room inside the Caverns hundreds of feet up from the main area. Dubbed "Halloween Hall," the fresh find marks the biggest discovery for the Caverns in more than 25 years.
"It was a little unbelievable at first," Thomas said. "We were kind of shocked and then we were really excited about it."
Along with Derek Bristol, a volunteer from Cave Research Foundation, Thomas wanted to check out a ledge, but didn't expect to find much.
"It didn't look very promising," he said.
But after climbing 255 feet into the "Spirit World" area, the two headed to check the ledge.
The ledge opened up to a 30-foot passage, Thomas said. The room's diameter is about 100 feet, he added.
The pair also discovered more than 1,000 bat bones inside the room. Thomas said bat remains show that they nested in the area. But he said he does not know if living bats call the area home, too.
