Went to Carlsbad Caverns last month and the formations looked different than I remembered

I visited Carlsbad Caverns back in 2010 and then again last month, and I swear the stalagmites near the entrance look more dull and gray now. They used to have this shiny, wet look to them, but now half of them seem dried out or covered in dust. I asked a ranger about it and he said visitor traffic and humidity changes over the years can affect the surface, but he didn't seem too worried. Is that normal for caves with heavy foot traffic, or am I just imagining things? Has anyone else noticed stuff like that at other national parks?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_patricia11d ago

Oh man, I noticed the exact same thing at Mammoth Cave a few years back! When I went as a kid in the 90s, the formations looked all glossy and alive, but the second time around they seemed faded and almost dusty in spots. A guide there told me it is normal from all the oils and stuff we track in, plus the air gets drier with so many people breathing on everything. They actually clean some areas sometimes, but it is a losing battle with that many visitors.

singh.blair10d ago

Yeah, that's the thing that got me too. The glossy vs faded thing. I guess that's what happens when you've got a bunch of us lugging in all our skin flakes and breath. Makes me wonder what my own house would look like if I brought 500 people through it every day. Probably need a lot more than a wet wipe.