Caverns of Sonora

The Caverns of Sonora were the first real scheduled stop on our trip. This was our first experience inside a cave so we were very excited.

Finally, we're on our way to something interesting!

They've closed the natural entrance to the cave and added an airtight chamber to protect the cave. The couple behind us sounded nervous and commented on how the building looked like a mausoleum.

Inside the cave everything is well lit. Not quite as adventurous as we might have hoped, but was still really cool.

Near the entrance of the cave, this broken row of stalactites covers a small crawl-way into the next major chamber. I wonder what broke those stalactites? Spooky.

This snowy looking shelf is actually liquid calcium dripping down. They call this stuff moon milk. I think I'll stick to chocolate milk myself.

If you look closely slightly above and right of the picture center you can see what the cave divers call cave bacon. It does actually look like bacon. Cool.

They call these taffy-looking stalactites chandeliers.

This little greenish hole is actually a small cave puddle. The water is green because of coins people have thrown into it.

This hole in the ceiling extends up 30 to 40 feet.

Behind here, a little path winds off into the distance. Everything in this side of the cave is covered with little sprouting deposits that look like petrified broccoli.

This is our idiot tour guide. This kid couldn't have been more than 17, and had no idea what he was talking about half the time. He was obviously making up answers to our questions on the fly. Also, he kept referring to me as sir... how irritating.

This gooey mass of mineral deposits look kind of like a primeval slip-and-slide.

Near the bottom of the cave we came to Horseshoe Lake. This lake runs off into the distance through a small opening at the back.

After Horseshoe Lake we came to what the cavers call cave applesauce. I probably would have come up with a different name...

This cavern has loads of cave soda straws. They're basically young stalactites.

This is just a small fissure between the roof and an underlying rock.

This small passageway is covered with bulbous pods all along the walkway. Looks like something out of the movie Aliens.

This enormous stalagmite looks like a Christmas tree covered in snow.

Some massive cavern columns.

.This tunnel has more of the pods along the left side of the cave and what looks like snow on the right.

.They call all of these little pieces of cave wall, cave French fries. Can you see the naming trend?

.A whole pack of cave bacon.

.This is a picture off of the side of the crystal palace. It's hard to tell from the photo just how deep the room is.

.This smooth tunnel leads to the exit of the caverns.