What is the CFRP?
About the Cave Formation Repair Project
The Cave Formation Repair Project (CFRP) was founded in June 2018 by Mike Mansur to address a long-overlooked need in cave conservation: repairing damaged cave formations. Across caves throughout the American Southwest and beyond, thousands of stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, and other delicate speleothems have been broken by vandalism, accidental contact, or natural processes. Before the formation of CFRP, there was no organized program in the Southwest dedicated to restoring these irreplaceable features through standardized methods, training, and volunteer collaboration.
CFRP is committed to preserving the beauty, scientific value, and natural heritage of caves through responsible formation repair. Using carefully developed techniques and conservation-focused practices, our volunteers work alongside cave managers, landowners, and conservation organizations to restore damaged formations while minimizing impacts to the cave environment.
Education is at the heart of our mission. Rather than limiting repairs to a single team, Mike’s vision has always been to train and empower others to carry this work forward. Through hands-on workshops, field projects, and mentorship, CFRP equips volunteers with the knowledge, skills, and ethical foundation needed to safely perform formation repairs in caves across the United States.
Today, the Cave Formation Repair Project continues to expand its network of trained volunteers and conservation partners, demonstrating that restoration, education, and stewardship can work together to protect caves for future generations. Every repaired formation represents not only the restoration of a cave’s natural beauty, but also a commitment to responsible caving and long-term conservation.
About Mike Mansur
My introduction to cave restoration began at the 1986 Carlsbad Caverns Restoration Field Camp, led by Rich Wolfert. During this weeklong event, participants went into Carlsbad Caverns every day at 8:00 a.m. and learned how to clean formations impacted by human visitation since the days of the original explorer, Jim White. We came up with some interesting ways to clean out foreign objects from cave pools, pits, and areas along the main trail. We made retrieving tools from broom handles, allowing us to pick up hundreds of coins, batteries, and other objects from the pools. We rigged several pits, including Bottomless Pit, and while on rappel, we stopped and worked our way across the pit walls like a pendulum to collect items we found on ledges. These included more coins and batteries, hand-held audio devices that told visitors about interesting points along the trail, assorted trash, and a live shotgun shell, which fortunately had not discharged when it was thrown into the pit. While we worked, we also provided interpretation for the visitors, who had many questions as they passed by.
I participated in eight more Carlsbad Caverns Restoration Field Camps, and I was the Expedition Leader for the 1996 Camp. I continued supporting cave restoration efforts through the High Guads Restoration Project and the Cave Impact Mapping Project, which I was the project leader for from 1997 through 2002. That project assessed and produced impact maps for Hidden, Hell Below, and Hidden Chimney Caves for the Lincoln National Forest to USFS employees could convey the work and accomplishments of the volunteers to their professional networks. Currently, in addition to leading the Cave Formation Repair Project, I am the project leader for the Lechuguilla Cave Restoration Project, which began in May 2019. Through that project, we have conducted five trips in Lechuguilla.
The initial idea for the Cave Formation Repair Project arose from a conversation I had with Aaron Stockton, the Lincoln National Forest Cave Specialist at the time. He and I were on a team with others in Hidden Cave in the Guadalupe Mountains. Aaron showed me a 48″ stalagmite that had been broken into six pieces. He said he would like to have it repaired, and I told him I would like to try it. I later told Jen Foote, the project leader for the High Guads Restoration Project and now the Lincoln National Forest Cave Specialist, about what Aaron had shown me in Hidden Cave. She mentioned another broken stalagmite right next to the main trail in Black Cave and said it had been broken for at least ten years.
With permission from Aaron and Jen to attempt these repairs, I contacted Jim and Val Hildreth-werker, who had written about how to repair broken cave formations in their 2006 book Cave Conservation and Restoration (ISBN: 1-879961-15-6). I met with them in May 2018, and they explained how to prepare the broken formations for repairs, how to drill holes in them to place a stainless steel rod through the center for strength, and how to apply epoxy.
I used this knowledge to begin making repairs to broken formations in other Guads caves like Virgin, Little Manhole, and Carlsbad Caverns. Aaron suggested I set up a Volunteer Service Agreement (VSA) with the USFS to continue to the formation repair work. Doing so has given this project access to workers’ compensation funds, should they be needed, and allows us to track our Volunteer Value Hours on the forest. In setting up the VSA, I decided to name the project the Cave Formation Repair Project.
Taken from the Cave Formation Repair Project: Restoring the Beauty of America’s Great Caves – 3rd Edition by Michael C. Mansur
Mansur’s Vison for the Future of the Cave Formation Repair Project
I have made certain that this work has been inclusive to anyone who wishes to learn and participate, with the hope that the training they receive can spread and be used in other cave formation repair projects across the country and world. There is a great need to attempt to restore caves that have been damaged so future generations can see the beauty these caves held prior to vandalism and human impact.
I hold a high regard for cave conservation, the safety of cave life, and the safety of those who visit and work in caves. I also want to promote ingenuity and creativity in restoration. To that end, I created the Stalactijack Award, with the pillars of conservation, restoration, innovation, volunteerism, and project support. I donated funds for this annual $100 cash award, which includes a beautiful certificate for recipients. My wish is that this will inspire people to volunteer for cave conservation projects and pay the support forward to their own caves and caving communities.
“I am so proud to see the eager participation of younger cavers in this project and to know that they will continue to participate in the future. It is they who will be creating new methods and tools which will help continue the Cave Formation Repair Project’s quest to restore the beauty of America’s great caves.” – Mike Mansur
It should be made clear that any cave conservation project needs to follow basic rules to lessen the impact of the conservation work itself on cave life and cave environments. Proper handling of formations requires the use of nitirile gloves, so as not to leave contaminants on cave minerals and to protect those handling the formations. Staging areas should not be near any formations or fragile cave surfaces. Only individuals, pairs, or very small groups should work in low-ceiling or delicate areas to prevent the accidental breakage that can occur with overcrowding. Volunteers need to work closely with cave owners, managers, and/or government agencies to see that their policies are strictly followed. Communication and transparency are key in these relationships.
The caves of the world need to have some tender loving care, and people volunteerign for cave conservation projects who follow this advice will help return the beauty of these wonderful and fascinating places that we love to spend our time in. Because of our repair work, photographers of the future will have plenty of whole, restored formations to take pictures of. I hope to provide further editions of this book as we move ahead to showcase everyone’s latest accomplishments in this highly productive, rewarding, and fun project!
Taken from the Cave Formation Repair Project: Restoring the Beauty of America’s Great Caves – 3rd Edition by Michael C. Mansur
Memorable Repairs of the Cave Formation Repair Project
Brad Pitt Stalactite Repair
One of the Cave Formation Repair Project’s most technically demanding repairs reached a major milestone in September 2023 with the successful completion of the Brad Pitt Stalactite (BPS) repair in King’s Palace at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
The BPS is an extraordinary formation measuring approximately 42 inches long and weighing 37.5 pounds. What makes it especially unique is that the stalactite starts as one at the top, splits into two stalactites, and joins back together to form one stalactite. It was broken by a camera operator during Brad Pitt’s GQ photoshoot during the Summer of 2017. BPS was previously repaired with epoxy, but unfortunately the repair failed.
Over multiple trips, volunteers carefully removed failed adhesive from previous repair attempts, installed stainless steel reinforcement rods, fabricated custom support structures, and engineered specialized Stalactijacks to hold the formation in precise alignment while the epoxy cured. After overcoming an initial installation setback and reapplying the ceiling anchor, the team returned to remove the support system. The moment of truth came when both the BPS and a second repaired stalactite remained securely in place after the Stalactijacks were removed, confirming the success of the repair.
