Furthermore, Caliente Mine, where the carcinogen has been found, is only about a quarter of a mile from Rainbow and taps into the same talc vein. But at the moment, at nearly 115 oF outside, I feel I'll be lucky if I live long enough to die of asbestos poisoning. Clearly bats aren't the only animals using the mine. A dozen red-tailed hawk feathers are strewn near the mine's entrance. The raptor presumably retreats here, just as I have, to escape the heat of the day.
Kit foxes use it, too, as do other birds.
After half an hour spelunking, I come back into the now blinding light. Strange markings look like they may have been left by the ground-hunting pallid bats chasing insects. The tracks of a kangaroo rat end with a tussle right where they cross those of a kit fox. And there is direct evidence of wildlife, too. It will be a scorching walk from this extraordinary, secluded place back to the road.