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Cake day: July 7th, 2023

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  • Access to Lechuguilla has been very restricted by the National Park Service because the cave has such extensive beautiful but delicate formations. As such when people go in they are typically very experienced cavers. Accidents can still happen (I actually know someone who broke their arm in this cave but their group managed to self-rescue) but the Nutty Putty scenario resulting in complete closure is unlikely as 1) Nutty Putty was privately owned where this is owned by NPS and 2) this cave is considerably more valuable in multiple ways (including scientifically as the article demonstrates). Also I just want to say that sealing off Nutty Putty because of someone’s death is just such an unconscionable action. It’s like filling in a canyon with concrete because someone fell off a cliff.

    Side note I hate to call one cave more ‘valuable’ than another but I don’t know a better way to say it. Lechuguilla is basically a world treasure due to the large amount incredible, pristine decorations. See photo for an example.