Oregon High Desert Grotto
I'm Neil Marchington, the Secretary/Treasurer of the Oregon High Desert Grotto. I write many articles about caves and caving for the grotto and other regional publications. I am currently editing an NSS publication, the 2005 Speleo Digest, a 600 page compilation of caving articles from around the world. I have been caving for 12 years. I am an experienced vertical caver and rock climber. I teach the grotto's annual vertical practice and do the majority of the rigging for trips to pits. I am a very active conservation advocate, working closely with many state, federal agencies and non-profit conservation organizations across the western US.
I love unusual geology and unique cave resources. I have visited many highly unusual and delicate caves across the western US. In addition to the many limestone, marble, dolostone and lavatube caves, I have visited caves in materials such as caves in salt (halite), gypsum, travertine, obsidian, alluvium, sandstone, welded tuff and lake sediments (soil piping caves). Caves at volcanic vents and soil piping caves are a particular interest of mine.
Caves are an incredible part of our world and truely one of the last frontiers. Cavers across the nation discover many new caves every year. Here in central Oregon, I've discovered several new species of cave adapted invertibrate. I have also discovered many new caves here and across the western US. As you enjoy the pictures on this website I hope you realize that the unique features of caves are incredible, beautiful and worth protecting. Welcome to the Oregon High Desert Grotto and the National Speleological Society. I hope you will join us in exploring and protecting caves.
