Underground Ranger: Adventures in Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Other Remarkable Places

by Doug Thompson

For six exciting years Doug Thompson worked as a park ranger at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. In Underground Ranger he passes along the essence of what he learned on this unusual job and in his related adventures exploring the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert. He overcame his fear of tight spaces and heights, learned to climb rope, and went on to explore many of the deep vertical caves in the Guadalupe Mountains of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico including Lechuguilla Cave, one of the most spectacular underground wonders of the world. He even became a member of the park s technical rescue team and made a fifty-story rappel into one of the deepest underground pits in the United States. In visceral detail, Thompson shares the physical and mythical stories of caves and shows what it s like to experience the extravagant beauty of nature s underground realm.

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Genres: Nature, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2016

About the author

For over four decades Doug Thompson has been a marine naturalist, ecologist, and award-winning filmmaker, recognized internationally for his natural history expeditions and for being among the first to recognize the intimate “friendly whale” behavior in San Ignacio Lagoon, the migratory breeding grounds of Baja, Mexico.

As Director of Expeditions for The SummerTree Institute, Doug is often found lecturing on the wonders of the natural world or leading wildlife and marine expeditions in local and far off places. He has organized over a hundred long-range natural history excursions for groups ranging from elementary school classes to Fortune 500 leadership teams. As a marine naturalist, he enjoys worldwide authority as an innovator in experiential research with whales and dolphins, sharing richly woven stories of human interaction with the natural world in his lectures. Universities, corporations, and world-class resorts are among the many clients to whom Doug brings a fresh perspective on nature and the environment, offering participants diverse and memorable experiences.

Reviews

[Danielle Youngblut · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book at the Carlsbad Caverns book store in June 2024 on my NM roadtrip.

Ironically, I’m just getting around to reading it after the current presidential administration fires 1,000+ national park workers and many other individuals from related agencies. While reading this book, I couldn’t help but imagine how the employees, programs, and remarkable locations mentioned in the book will be impacted in future years.

Putting aside the existing concern for the NPS, this book was so interesting as Doug explores both familiar and unfamiliar cave systems and their marvels. I learned so much about the Guadalupe Mountains, Chihuahuan Desert, and technical skills required to access deep vertical caves.

Book includes a limited selection of images.

[Jaq · Rating 3 out of 5]

This man is the Hank Hill of writing about caving: very straightforward, simple language. He'll tell you what he is going to talk about, share a story or two, tell you what meaning he makes of those stories and how they tie back into his larger themes, and then tell you what he's just told you. It's an entire book of five-paragraph essay format.

I have no doubt that this style works very well on an interpretive walk with twenty to thirty guests. It gets a little tedious for a single attentive reader.

Compare with Jill Heinerth's Into the Planet, which has a more adventurous pace and more filmmaking style, or with Barbara Hurd's Entering the Stone, which is more meditative and poetic.

[Jim Anderson-Greenover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our adventure at Carlsbad Caverns came alive as I read, making it feel like we were right in the middle of the story. Reliving the awe of those vast underground landscapes through the pages was thrilling—there were even moments I was too scared to turn the page! I couldn’t help but look back at our vacation photos while reading, marveling at how vividly it captured the spirit of exploration we experienced. It’s a perfect read for anyone who loves uncovering nature’s hidden wonders.

This TBR is definitely going to my bestie….

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decided to read this because we were going there. It probably would’ve been a little better to read before we went, just so I could more easily put names/ideas to what I was seeing...but it’s still very interesting. I’d like to see more of the park, especially a bat flight...but I doubt I can deal with the caving. It’s always just interesting to see an inside perspective from a Ranger.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking forward to a trip to Carlsbad and Guadalupe National Parks after reading Thompson book.

[Meredith]

Between 3 1/2 and 4 stars. Not simply a memoir, this book also gives some good details about Carlsbad caverns and the surrounding area.

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting topic, but a bit too much purple prose for my taste.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read, not only about caving in Carlsbad, but also a bit of what it is actually like to be a Park Ranger.