The Lechuguilla Exploration and Research Network (LEARN) is an organization dedicated to the pursuit of speleology in Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico. Fully staffed by volunteers, LEARN typically coordinates several survey expeditions per year, and has recently begun leading restoration expeditions as well. Current membership costs are $10. A newsletter was published three times a year, which contains expedition reports, meeting minutes, and other news and articles relevant to the cave. The LEARN representative for the Western Region is currently Mark Scott.

If you are interested in joining LEARN, you can contact Mark Scott at miscottca@yahoo.com, or drop by one of our grotto meetings and ask him for more information. Membership is open to everyone, however, due to the sensitive and fragile nature of Lechuguilla, the requirements for expeditions are fairly restrictive. The newsletter may be revived soon since there has been some interest expressed by the members of LEARN.


These links, while not specifically about LEARN, may be of interest if you're looking for information on Lechuguilla Cave.

LEARN Resource Pages is an excellent starting point for more information on LEARN, and includes more up to date information regarding what is happening at LEARN right now, a list of current "leads," expedition reports, and more.

Lechuguilla Photo Map contains an interesting clickable image map of the cave. Still has great interest, however, for the images you can retrieve from various parts of the cave.

Under Earth Graphics offers images of Lechuguilla, and other caves as well, from the SFBC's very own Dave Bunnell. You can view some thumbnails, or purchase a set of these high-quality images.

Lechuguilla Restoration article, from the NSS Conservation and Management pages, with special emphasis on microbial impacts. Actually fairly interesting reading. This page has currently moved, but when it's located again, the new link will be posted.

Lechuguilla Cave Protection Act of 1993 was written specifically to protect Lechuguilla Cave from exploitation of mineral or oil drilling. At least that was the theory. For more information on some "screw ups" which are currently endangering Lechuguilla Cave, visit the NSS Conservation and Management pages.

More information will be posted here as it becomes available, including membership information and related links. You can also learn more about Lechuguilla by searching for "lechuguilla AND cave" from your favorite search engine. Don't search for "lechuguilla" alone or you'll get a ton of links on the plant of the same name...


LEARN Lechuguilla Expedition Report by Donald Davis
LEARN 1997 Conservation / Restoration Trips by Mark Scott
Lechuguilla Cave Exploration by Peter Bosted
Lechuguilla : The 11th Hour by Merrilee Proffitt
New Discoveries in Lech by Peter Bosted
Mineral Report from Lech by Dick LaForge

Photos: (Top) Lechuguilla Cave's famous "Chandelier Ballroom" by Dave Bunnell; Subaqueous helictites in High Hopes by Dave Bunnell

©2008. These pages and their contents are property of the San Francisco Bay Chapter Incorporated, part of the National Speleological Society, except where otherwise noted. Opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the SFBC, its board members, or the NSS.