"Some of the Park people and some of the Cave Research people seem to like caves and wilderness more than they like mankind. How stupid."
Stupid? Perhaps... and perhaps not. Time will tell. I know many people I would not consider capable of discerning beauty, whose only measure of worth is whether or not money can be made from it. I enjoy the things I can get with money just as much as anyone but I know of things and places that are priceless. Just like the people of CRF, I will never tell anyone of them.
Sights such as this cave contains are available for anyone to find and enjoy. Unfortunately, few will ever do so. Instead, they will cite their busy schedule, the family that must be provided for, the bills that must be paid. Unmentioned is the tv-remote that seems to be permanently grafted to their hand, the recliner that fits only their posterior or the six-pack they're addicted too.
I used to be a caver and I know what it cost me. I climbed the hills and rocks as a surveyor all week and then did more of it on the weekends. I drove for hours to spend two more wrapped in a sleeping bag before hiking six miles to the site of a cave system we were mapping. Once there, I ate some dried fruit and dropped into a dark, wet hole in the rocks in hope of finding something like this article describes. I was never so lucky. Instead, I found more dark, wet passages, an occasional pool of crystal clear water or, on rare occasions, a stalagmite.
There is a book, an old book whose author I can't remember, entitled "The Caves Beyond." I recommend it.
Unfortunately, even spelunking has its yay-hoos who proceed with callous disregard for the beauty around them and the sheer time it took to form.
I can't fault the CRF folks for wanting to safeguard what they have found, even if it is on public land.
You definitely sound like an old time caver, probably doing some arm chair caving right now. Glad to hear that you are still out there. And I agree with your postings too.