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EnCompass®
The AAA Companion |
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September | October 2004
Volume 78 Issue 5
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A Colorado Initiation
By Kristie Bowman
Spectacular sunsets are virtually everyday occurrences in Colorado. But in one magical mountain canyon, it's the moment just after sunset that leaves you speechless.
In the summer of 1993, while visiting from Michigan, I was invited to camp near Buena Vista with some friends of friends. New to Colorado, I arrived at the camp site with my mouth agape, in awe of the grandeur around me. And that was before I knew about the Bat Cave.
Over breakfast, my new friend Marcia casually announced, "Kristie's never been to the Bat Cave." The other campers remarked nonchalantly, "Really? You should go." They shared no details, but their subtle, secretive smiles made me suspect I was about to experience an initiation of sorts.
As we climbed the gently sloping trail late that afternoon, curiosity began to gnaw at me. Why would I choose to be near bats in a cave, and at night? I stumbled repeatedly as we ascended, driven by my need to know. After about an hour, we came to a crevasse.
I could see a series of caves below, about 150 feet away. I looked at my fellow hikers incredulously. "You think I'm climbing down there?" Marcia replied, "No. Now we wait."
We sat on the edge of the crevasse and talked while the sun began to set. As soft shadows replaced the gold and red hues of the canyon, I noticed movement below. Slowly, hundreds of bats swirled in and out of the caves below and then came together in a great river of wings overhead, trailing off to the west. We closed our eyes and listened to the extraordinary sound of countless wings beating softly like raindrops. At last I understood the mystery. As we hiked back to camp, Marcia smiled at me knowingly. I had been initiated.
(The Bracken Cave near San Antonio, Texas, is home to 30 to 40 million Mexican free-tailed bats. This is the largest congregation of mammals in the world. For more information: www.batcon.org.)
Do you have a special memory or humorous story about living in Colorado? EnCompass is looking for original essays that capture the uniqueness of our state. Payment is $60 upon publication. Entries must be typed, double-spaced and 200-300 words. Please include a daytime phone number. Entries will not be returned. Mail to EnCompass, Attn: My Colorado, 4100 E. Arkansas Ave., Denver, CO 80222, or e-mail: editor@colorado.aaa.com. A response to a submission may take six to eight weeks.
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