View the bats leaving the Orient Mine - Thurs, Aug 27
On Thursday, August 27, GARNA is organizing a tour to the Orient Mine cave to watch the colony of migratory bats fly from the mine at dusk. The Orient Mine is located on the Orient Land Trust (OLT) and Valley View Hot Springs property, approximately 11 miles SE of Villa Grove in the San Luis Valley. The closed Orient Mine has been the home to nearly 250,000 migratory bats for the last 40 years. The Orient Mine is also home to five or six populations of hibernating bats. The OLT will provide us with a guide, as we hike 2 miles to the bat cave opening called The Glory Hole to witness the mass flight exodus of the bats at dusk over the San Luis Valley. The hike is on fairly level ground for the first 1 ½ miles and the final 1/2 mile is up a steep incline on uneven terrain. The total hike is 4 miles.
Please note: Valley View Hot Springs (located on the property) is a clothing-optional facility. Participants may experience nudity with the guide and/or hot springs guests therefore this trip may not be appropriate for all age groups.
The group will meet in Poncha Springs at 4:30 pm to carpool and caravan to OLT’s Welcome Center outside of Villa Grove. The group should return to Poncha Springs at approximately 10:30-11:00 pm. We will ask for volunteer drivers; others please plan to chip in for gas.
The cost of the trip is $12 for GARNA members and $15 for non members and the fee includes a donation to the Orient Land Trust. Pre-registration is required by visiting garna.org/calendar/orient-mine/.