Leonids Adventure

There is no end to the adventures we can have.

01-17-2010_coronadocave_leonids01

Coronado Cave

Gathered a group of pals to spelunk in Coronado National Memorial. Here are a few photos of the many taken on our hike & cave exploration yesterday!

Cave exploring & spelunking in Coronado National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
Coronado Hills

Cave exploring & spelunking in Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
The group, all clean, before entering the cave.

Cave exploring & spelunking in Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
This photo was lightened significantly in Adobe Lightroom. It was pitch black when our flashlights were off.

Inside the cave in Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
If you’re really, really sensitive dust, you may want to bypass this cave. It’s extremely dry & dusty inside, as you can see by all of the floating particles.

Cave exploring & spelunking in Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
Climbing up into the many holes.

Cave exploring & spelunking in Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
He’s extremely happy to be rolling around in the dirt.

Inside Cave exploring & spelunking in Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona

Inside Cave exploring & spelunking in Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
Scooting through what is actually a narrow -45 degree passageway.

Inside Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
More scooting, upwards.

Cave exploring & spelunking in Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona

Cave exploring & spelunking in Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
If you can see me in the background, I was really crossing my fingers that Michael wouldn’t fall on my already flat face!

Slide inside Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
Weeee!

Cave exploring & spelunking in Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
One of the many small tunnels we crawled through. I think this one led to China.

Cave exploring & spelunking in Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
I was right! Here come some Chinese! Teehee.

Descent into another hole in Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
Getting ready to go down into another hole.

Cave exploring & spelunking in Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
He volunteered to be the first to be eaten by any lurking monsters.

Cave exploring & spelunking in Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona

Cave exploring & spelunking in Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
Following right after.

After about two hours of exploring every crevice, we decided to ascend back for some grub.

Ascending out of Coronado Cave National Memorial, Miracle Valley, AZ, Arizona
Chen near the mouth of the cave.


We survived!

Afterwards we hit up Trail Dust Town amidst a cloud of cave dust & dined on Cowgirl/boy steaks at the Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse, went home & cleaned up for a night of karaoke & Rum Pong. All in all an excellent day for our first spelunking adventure!


Address 4101 W Montezuma Canyon Rd, Miracle Valley, AZ 85615
Website www.nps.gov/coro/index.htm
Map
Hours
  • Dawn to Dusk
  • Visitor Center: 8AM – 4PM
Distance 1.5 Miles Roundtrip
Fees Free