Gribblenation

As noted in Part 21 of the 2016 Fall Mountain Trip series I made a western turn from US Route 89 onto Arizona State Route 64 towards Grand Canyon National Park. This article serves the 22nd entry in the 2016 Fall Mountain Trip Series.  Part 21 covers former US Route 89 over the 1911 Cameron Suspension Bridge. 2016 Fall Mountain Trip Part 21; former US Route 89 over the Cameron Suspension Bridge AZ 64 is a 108.31 mile State Highway which begins at US 89 in Cameron and travels directly west to Grand Canyon National Park near Desert View.  While AZ 64 technically doesn't exist within Grand Canyon National Park the signage posted by the Park Service on Desert View Road and South Entrance Road imply it is a continuation of the route.  AZ 64 resumes co-signed with US Route 180 the South Entrance of Grand Canyon National Park in Kaibab National Forest.  AZ 64/US 180 multiplex to Valle where the latter splits southeast towards Flagstaff.  AZ 64 continues south ...

After entering southeast New Mexico I passed through the cities of Hobbs and Carlsbad on US 180/62 westbound on New Mexico State Route 7 to Whites City where I reached the Guadalupe Range.  My next stop was at the end of NM 7 at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Carlsbad Caverns actually has an onsite kennel to drop animals off at.  After dropping my dog off I made my way through the visitor center to the natural entrance of the caverns. Carlsbad Caverns is a series of limestone caverns underneath the Guadalupe Range.  The primary attraction is the Carlsbad Cavern which one of 119 caverns located at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.  Carlsbad Cavern contains the fifth largest cave chamber in the United States which is known as the "Big Room."  Carlsbad Cavern the surrounding caverns are known for their calcite formations which were formed when there was a high ground water table in the Guadalupe Range. Carlsbad Caverns National Monument was created in...