Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico The Story of its Early Explorations, as told by Jim White

Born on a Texas ranch and schooled by the open range, Jim White grew up chasing cattle under endless sky. One evening a cloud of millions of bats poured from a dark mouth, sparking a restless curiosity. He imagined the cave as a hidden volcano, a massive hole that could hold an entire sky of winged creatures. Determined to see what lay beneath, he set out with only a few sticks, a bonfire and a gut feeling that the mystery was worth the risk.

Equipping himself with rope, a kerosene lantern and a hand‑axe, Jim fashioned a crude ladder and lowered himself into the yawning shaft. The first steps were a precarious climb on makeshift wooden rungs, but the thin beam of light revealed a narrow ledge and a tunnel that seemed to stretch forever. As he pressed deeper, the darkness gave way to a vast, oval chamber whose size dwarfed anything he had ever imagined. In that moment the raw, silent grandeur of Carlsbad Caverns unfolded, inviting a rugged cowboy to become its first explorer.