Christian
Member
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2012
- Messages
- 161
On Saturday my little brother and I headed down to Great Basin NP. Our first stop was the Lehman Caves. They are very impressive. If you go, get the 90 minute tour rather than the 30 or 60 minute tour. We got the 60 minute tour and it skipped a significant portion of the caves.
The first room in the Lehman caves v
Other areas in the Lehman Caves v
After that, we hiked to Stella and Teresa lakes up on Wheeler peak. Teresa is fed by a tranquil spring that flows through a picturesque grassy creek surrounded by Parry's Primrose. We missed the much anticipated Bristlecone grove due to the sun setting, so we headed back to the Wheeler peak campground under the light of the super moon.
Teresa Spring Moss and Parry's Primrose v
Wheeler Peak Sunset Alpenglow over Teresa Lake v
I woke up at dawn the next morning to catch the first light on the peak.v
After we broke camp we headed to Crystal Ball Cave in UT where we had a tour appointment. Jerald Bates, who discovered the caves and usually gives the tours, said he was getting too old to hike the trails up so his granddaughters did the tour instead. They knew a lot about the caves and were great tour guides. If you go, bring some money to tip your tour guide with, as they do this without asking a specific price. Crystal Ball is an amazing cave with the requisite stalactites and stalagmites but even more incredible are the sparkling, translucent crystals which grow on all the walls throughout the cave.
Driving down the poplar lane to the Bate's residence
Translucent Crystals v
The Cupcake Room and the crystal balls growing from the floor for which the cave is named. v
A naturally split crystal ball v
A horse Hoof from an ancient, miniature horse that existed before horses went extinct in the Americas v (They also have camelops bones, saber tooth tiger bones and more.)
After the tour we went around mountain to visit the springs. Unlike what I'd read online, the springs were crowded with about 15 various people who came and went and tossed beer cans on the shore and smoked up a storm.
Maybe the crowds are a result of people like me posting about places like this online.
Fortunately, the people who showed up didn't stay too long and none dared enter the AMAZING underwater cave that has maidenhair ferns and water trickles guarding the entrance. You can swim really far back into the cave and there is an underwater arch and an opening with water falling out from the depths of the earth. The ceiling of the cave is covered with travertine formations that drip and trickle out of all the spots on the ceiling. Some of the formations look like the slimy insides of a body or something. The light hitting the spring outside filters about halfway into the cave creating a magical blue glow.
Does it get more inviting than this cave entrance? v
Tiny opening you have to swim under to access the secret "Fern Room" v
The big fern room v
Under water in the small fern room v
The magical blue glow which refracts halfway back into the cave v (No PS)
Camera Half above, half below the water v (No PS)
All the way underneath, looks more like something you'd find in the ocean than the barren deserts of Utah v (No PS at all, that's how it really looks!)
This is the mountain where the spring is, which goes to show what a true Oasis it really is!! v
As we drove home, I stopped to shoot photos of Notch Peak, which is one of the highest vertical cliff faces in the U.S. v
The Great Basin area has it's own desolate charm, I especially liked the roadless, never-ending, golden flat lands that give way to solitary mountains with strangely cut rocky faces. v
As the sun set and we go closer to Delta, I shot Notch Peak from behind at sunset. v
We got back to SLC rather quickly, which makes Great Basin NP a prime repeat destination since it's closer to SLC than any other National Park! It was a GREAT 2 day trip!!
Featured image for home page:
The first room in the Lehman caves v
Other areas in the Lehman Caves v
After that, we hiked to Stella and Teresa lakes up on Wheeler peak. Teresa is fed by a tranquil spring that flows through a picturesque grassy creek surrounded by Parry's Primrose. We missed the much anticipated Bristlecone grove due to the sun setting, so we headed back to the Wheeler peak campground under the light of the super moon.
Teresa Spring Moss and Parry's Primrose v
Wheeler Peak Sunset Alpenglow over Teresa Lake v
I woke up at dawn the next morning to catch the first light on the peak.v
After we broke camp we headed to Crystal Ball Cave in UT where we had a tour appointment. Jerald Bates, who discovered the caves and usually gives the tours, said he was getting too old to hike the trails up so his granddaughters did the tour instead. They knew a lot about the caves and were great tour guides. If you go, bring some money to tip your tour guide with, as they do this without asking a specific price. Crystal Ball is an amazing cave with the requisite stalactites and stalagmites but even more incredible are the sparkling, translucent crystals which grow on all the walls throughout the cave.
Driving down the poplar lane to the Bate's residence
Translucent Crystals v
The Cupcake Room and the crystal balls growing from the floor for which the cave is named. v
A naturally split crystal ball v
A horse Hoof from an ancient, miniature horse that existed before horses went extinct in the Americas v (They also have camelops bones, saber tooth tiger bones and more.)
After the tour we went around mountain to visit the springs. Unlike what I'd read online, the springs were crowded with about 15 various people who came and went and tossed beer cans on the shore and smoked up a storm.
Maybe the crowds are a result of people like me posting about places like this online.
Fortunately, the people who showed up didn't stay too long and none dared enter the AMAZING underwater cave that has maidenhair ferns and water trickles guarding the entrance. You can swim really far back into the cave and there is an underwater arch and an opening with water falling out from the depths of the earth. The ceiling of the cave is covered with travertine formations that drip and trickle out of all the spots on the ceiling. Some of the formations look like the slimy insides of a body or something. The light hitting the spring outside filters about halfway into the cave creating a magical blue glow.Does it get more inviting than this cave entrance? v
Tiny opening you have to swim under to access the secret "Fern Room" v
The big fern room v
Under water in the small fern room v
The magical blue glow which refracts halfway back into the cave v (No PS)
Camera Half above, half below the water v (No PS)
All the way underneath, looks more like something you'd find in the ocean than the barren deserts of Utah v (No PS at all, that's how it really looks!)
This is the mountain where the spring is, which goes to show what a true Oasis it really is!! v
As we drove home, I stopped to shoot photos of Notch Peak, which is one of the highest vertical cliff faces in the U.S. v
The Great Basin area has it's own desolate charm, I especially liked the roadless, never-ending, golden flat lands that give way to solitary mountains with strangely cut rocky faces. v
As the sun set and we go closer to Delta, I shot Notch Peak from behind at sunset. v
We got back to SLC rather quickly, which makes Great Basin NP a prime repeat destination since it's closer to SLC than any other National Park! It was a GREAT 2 day trip!!
Featured image for home page:
