[Nmcaver] Lincoln Caverns in FSC - 38 Years Old Today

[Lee H. Skinner]

It was on August 9, 1969 that Dennis Engle, Lee Skinner, Elbert Bassham 
and Chuck Ridpath made the big breakthrough from the New Section into 
Lincoln Caverns, culminating 7 years of digging from Gypsum Passage that 
started in 1962.  The breakthrough followed 10 consecutive weekends of 
digging 8 hours each on Saturday and Sunday of each weekend, but 
sleeping outside the cave on each Saturday night.  During those 7 years 
of digging, many Southwestern Cavers contributed to the dig including 
Robbie Babb, Pete Lindsley, Donald Davis, John Corcoran and dozens of 
others too numerous to mention.  The large beautifully decorated 
borehole found that day included the best decorations found so far in 
New Mexico's Fort Stanton Cave and included the areas of Engle's Hill, 
Skinner's Pass, Elbert's Alley and Chuck's Dome.

Lee Skinner