SEPTEMBER 2019 Reserved Sept. 21 and 22, no trips open OCTOBER 2019 and beyond – open at this point Please read the Silers Cave Management Plan before asking for permission to visit. NSS and other cavers please e-mail the cave manager at SilersCave@karst.org. Youth and other groups, please fill out the cave trip request form. […]
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Silers Cave contains approximately a mile and half of maze passage. The cave was originally mapped in the 1930s, and again in the early 1980s, but the new owners of Silers Cave have requested an up-to-date map be made, and we are happy to oblige. A core group has already formed, but new members with […]
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Online shopping is a great way to buy just about anything, and when you buy something on amazon.com you can also benefit MAKC. Amazon.com has a program called smile. MAKC is registered. A portion of everything you buy can benefit our cave conservation efforts. Instead of going to the link www.amazon.com, please visit smile.amazon.com. Type […]
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RUPERT CAVE – The first 1,800 feet of passage within Rupert Cave, between the entrance and the “Keyhole”, is considered the “Historical Section” of the cave. Beyond the “Keyhole” is considered the “New Section”. An aluminum sign positioned directly over the “Keyhole” clearly marks the dividing line. The two sections have distinct access / management policies, […]
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On November 17, 2018, MAKC’s Board of Directors voted to help manage Rupert Cave from George and Karen, at their request, in order to help them manage the cave. The MAKC has appointed a preserve management team, headed by Jeff Jahn, which will coordinate trips to the cave starting in the spring of 2019. George […]
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Application for Permit Application for Permit Billy Clay Cave Preserve Billy Clay Cave Preserve. Each person on the trip should fill out the form and submit it. BE IT KNOWN TO ALL WHO APPLY FOR A PERMIT TO BE IT KNOWN TO ALL WHO APPLY FOR A PERMIT TO VISIT THE BILLY CLAY CAVE PRESERVE […]
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INTRODUCTION The Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy (MAKC), a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania leased Harlanburg Cave, Lawrence County, Pa., in November of 2002. HISTORY Bruce Smith prepared a brief history of the cave for the Pittsburgh Grotto’s August/October 1970 Netherworld News. Smith was able to interview key participants in the cave’s early exploration. […]
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INTRODUCTION The Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy (MAKC) is a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania in 1997. The MAKC owns or leases several karst preserves in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The MAKC was established by cavers to preserve and ensure access to caves by acquiring and managing caves and karst areas for conservation, scientific […]
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(Revised May 2015, February 2019) Pocohontas County, WV Introduction The Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy (MAKC), a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania, purchased 2.87 acres subdivided from a development located near Snowshoe, West Virginia for the purpose of creating a karst preserve. The tract includes both Billy Clay Pit and Clay Pit #2. Billy […]
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MAKC member Mike Kern was instrumental in proposing a lease of this cave for MAKC, to assist the resort with cave management. Since cave management is our area of expertise, the resort was very interested in a lease for management purposes. So now we have one! Mike and Kaleb Hammond have agreed to be the […]
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Bear Cave Management Plan • Cave Closed between October 15 and April 15! Enacted May 1, 2002 (Revised January 10, 2004, February 16, 2019) NOTE: Bear Cave is Now Closed October 15 – April 15 Special Note: Bear Cave Closed was in 2009 due to White Nose Syndrome. While it has been reopened, please contact […]
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The Management Plan for this preserve will be in effect once the transfer of the property is completed July 1, 2019. MAKC does have permission to begin surveying and numerous cave mapping trips have been conducted already. For details email sarahfurnace@karst.org
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Persons wishing to visit the Barbara Schomer Preserve of the MAKC and Sarah Furnace Cave, should submit the following permit application.
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After much work and persistence, the MAKC and Franklin County Grotto (FCG) negotiated a lease of Cleversburg Sink with Southampton Township (the cave owners) in Cumberland County, PA. Since late in 2006, the cave has been closed until an access policy could be worked out. Cleversburg Sink is a significant geologic and hydrogeological cave.The management […]
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Thanks to the work of member Mike Kern, the MAKC has negotiated a lease agreement for access to the Bedford Springs Cave. Mike Kern and Kaleb Hammond are heading up the preserve management team and can be contacted at BedfordSprings@karst.org. Part of our lease agreement includes notifying the owner and the security team when a trip is […]
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Bear Cave Natural Area • Western PA •Open 4/15 to 10/15 • MAKC Lease • Permit Required • bearcave@karst.org Please read the management plan and mail or email a permit application to visit Bear Cave. While the permit application is below, the management plan should be read before submitting. The plan will be changing with […]
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Shortly after her passing in 2011, the MAKC received a substantial gift from the estate of Barbara Schomer, which was restricted to our cave acquisition fund. We have looked at at least a half dozen cave projects in that time; however, none have come to fruition. Finally, with the option on Sarah Furnace Cave, MAKC […]
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