After too many years barely surviving financially in the buy and sell flea market business of my gypsy life, and really missing being a seasonal Park Ranger, I secured a position with the National Park Service at Oregon Caves National Monument as a cave tour guide.
+-+Copy.jpg "RV in snow at Oregon Caves NM OR")
Carson in RV space at Oregon Caves National Monument
I arrived on a Thursday in March and parked my RV at an assigned site two miles away from the visitor center and cave entrance. It snowed all weekend and I didn’t see a soul. Monday, and for the next two weeks, I mostly walked to training. Then I bought a cheap car.
.jpg "Gaelyn in Visitor Center Oregon Caves NM OR")
Me in the visitor center
Sometimes I worked in the visitor center selling cave tour tickets, books and postcards. Every person going on the 90 minute cave tour must be able to walk a paved half-mile at 4,000 feet, climb 527 steps mostly up, twist, turn, stoop to 4 feet in one place, and kids must be 42 inches tall. Plus the cave temperature is 43F degrees.
.jpg "Cave entrance Oregon Caves NM OR")
Cave entrance
Most of the time, I lead tours of no more than 16 visitors through this maze of marble cave, up to three times a day. I wove together a story about the natural and cultural history of the cave along the way. It’s a very personal cave, narrow, walls close enough to touch, which is the number one thing not to do. If you want to see more of the cave and can’t visit it yourself (closed in winter) click here for a cave tour.
.jpg "Petrified Gardens Oregon Caves NM OR")
Travertine flowstone in Petrified Gardens
After the tour it’s like a step back in time visiting the historic lodge. Called the Chateau, it was completed in 1934 and you can still sit in the old fashioned soda shop and enjoy one of the best milk shakes ever.
.jpg "Chateau Oregon Caves NM OR")
Historic Oregon Caves Chateau
Oregon Caves National Monument is located in southwestern Oregon between Crater Lake and Redwoods National Parks just 20 curvy miles off the Redwood Highway. I visited both, however this was the summer of many fires and Crater Lake wasn’t visible for photos.
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Giant Redwoods
The Smoke from the Biscuit Fire actually came into the cave’s upper blasted entrance tunnel but not past the door. I went camping on the coast with another guide and returned driving thru the fire along the Smith River. My body hair stood up as we drove past trees candling next to the narrow shoulder. Unfortunately, no photos.
.jpg "Panther Creek campground Six Rivers NF OR")
Carson in Panther Creek campground Six Rivers National Forest, Oregon ( and the cheap car)
I really enjoyed being a Park Guide at Oregon Caves. Such a fulfilling experience to learn and share an intimate experience in our underground world. But my season only lasted six months so I gave away the car to another guide and continued my gypsy life.
Gaelyn: What a neat view of the cave. You would have to be in shape to make that trek in the cold. It’s nice that you weave a story as you go through.
This is a beautiful my world post. I can imagine how fun it is to work in such a beautiful surroundings.
You are so lucky! To be able to spend my days in such splendor is something I can only imagine. Happy Holidays!
Gaelyn, love your photos and your description of the places you’ve been and worked in. Take care, have a wonderful holiday! Look forward to your next My World!
Interesting how you arrived under the cover of a fairly thick blanket of snow. And the constant cold temperature of the cave also. All the parks have something unique to offer and captivate, and the change throughout the seasons. Can’t wait to next part of trip.
We are apply at Sequoia Kings Canyon in addition to North Rim again. But, if all works out right we’ll be at North Rim.
WOW, what an awesome post and photo’s! Thanks so much for sharing your part of the world with us.
Take care and Happy Holidays
That’s too wierd, Stacey and I were at Oregon Caves in 2003 preparing to hike the Continental Divide Trail. In april and may we first Hiked up and then back down the Rouge River Trail and then Hiked back and forth the length of Redwood National Park. And then on the way home we did some hiking and camping in Oregon Caves backcountry and took the tour. I kept having the tour guide turn off the lights as much as we could get away with it. That place is awesome. Were you there in 2003?
This looks like a very similar cave and tour to one near us caled Alabaster Caverns in Freedom OK. Your Rv looks so gorgeous sitting there and what a chateau! Merry Christmas.
As Bernie just commented, we were there in 2003. Very facinating place to visit. That would be an interesting place to live and work! Happy Holidays!
What a fascinating post! I enjoyed the story and look forward to the next part. The pictures were great.
What an interesting life you’ve led. I, for one, would love a photo tour of the cave.
Very interesting post. What a very nomadic life you lead. Thank you for sharing it with us.
You’ve lived a very interesting life and a fun job. I love the outdoors. I invite you to come visit my post about Powell River and see some of the sites we have to offer. — Margy