Tunnel Beginnings

I rounded up some more of the old photographs from the area.

These photos were taken fairly close together, but came from different places.

It seems strange to see the rock on the left, as it has been gone since I can recall. 

Highway 82 Tunnel Ice

Just east of the tunnel is this area where the water seeps all year.  It is wet all summer, but forms these spectacular icecicles in the winter.  I was the passenger in the car as I snapped this, so it is a titch out of focus.

This was coming back down the highway and you can see the tunnel from here.

A bit closer to the tunnel.  The climate changes dramatically as you pass through the tunnel and your elevation climbs to aprox. 6,500 feet.

Fresnal Canyon

This was taken a bit below the tunnel, looking down Fresnal canyon. We have amazing vistas here! It is easy to imagine the first peoples here, living in the caves and hunting along the water.

This one is looking back up towards the tunnel, which is just out of sight between the mountains. You can see the road to the right.

Tunnel Vistas

About 7 miles from Alamogordo, on your way up hwy 82 to High Rolls and Cloudcroft, you will see the famous tunnel. I have always been amazed at the change of climate as you emerge on the other side. This side of the tunnel is still desert. When you emerge on the other side, it is a distinct difference. You know you are entering the mountains.

These next few photos are looking west from the tunnel. If you look, on top of this mountain is a cross.

Here you can see the bottom of Fresnal canyon and the green where water flows. In the distance, the White Sands, and beyond that, the mountains on the far side of the basin.

Here is another one where you can see the road cut into the mountain on the left. People that are not familiar with area see the White Sands in the distance and think it is water. I tell them we have beach, but alas, no water. On a clear day it seems you can see forever . The climb to Cloudcroft is steep and passes through six of the seven life zones of the United States: Arctic-alpine, Hudsonian, Canadian, Transition, Upper Sonoran and Lower Sonoran.