Phil Gowaty has been the MAKC’s vice chairman for almost as far back as we can remember. Known for his calm demeanor and his ability to get along with just about everyone, Phil decided to take a step back from board management and preserve management for a while. Phil started caving in 1974 while in […]
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Aron Schmid has been a caver for over 25 years concentrating in the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Project caving, especially cave survey, is his particular area of interest. Aron is a life member of the MAKC and the NSS. He is also the long serving treasurer of the Loyalhanna Grotto and member of the […]
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Did you know that not only does the MAKC have scientists on its board of directors, but that it also encourages scientific work on its preserves. The MAKC Science Committee now has an email address, and has developed a MAKC Science Permit Application for all science projects. We should note that scientific work on leased […]
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On Saturday, August 28, 2021, MAKC went to Penn State. Ann Dunlavy, who owns Lincoln Caverns and Whisper Rocks, was having a cave day and members of Nittany Grotto, the Lincoln Staff, and some other groups were on hand for a hot day. The Nittany Grotto had brought a squeezebox, a great idea. Our site […]
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We’ve had several recent additions to our library, including some additional convention mugs from the estate of Larry Southam (via Bert Ashbrook and Chris Hill), some books from Jeff Jahn, and a large donation of collectibles from Judi Stack. Kim Metzgar, her mom, Marian Opatka, and Tyler Reed, traveled to Harrisburg this spring to pick […]
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MAKC member George Bange’s second favorite cave—aside from his own, Rupert—is Penn Aqua. Not far from where he lives and about a half hour’s drive from Rupert, this Mifflin County Cave was acquired by MAKC in November of 2021. George, who is the preserve manager, began building the kiosk, well before the artwork was completed. […]
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The MAKC board of directors just approved an extremely crappy project that involves our Team Sarah! We have a temporary reservation for a used porta-john that would become permanently ours. It needs a little work. We are hoping to have it hauled to the MAKC headquarters this week for a quick repair job to the […]
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Last Revision 2/14/2022 Introduction The Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy (MAKC) is a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania. The MAKC’s purpose is to promote the study, conservation, and preservation of caves and karst resources and the education of the public about those resources. In the winter of 2022, MAKC purchased a .74-acre parcel of […]
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MAKC Treasurer Johnny Motto, Board member Walt Hamm, and Preserve Manager Rick Smith took part in the closing for McClure Cave on Monday, January 31, 2022. Dori McKnight hands over the key to the gate to Johnny Motto following the signing of papers. Thanks to all who helped support this acquisition!
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At the November 2021 quarterly board meeting of MAKC, Curt Harler of Cleveland Grotto was elected to the board to fill the vacancy created by outgoing chairman Kim Metzgar. After being re-elected to a three-year term, Ryan Maurer was elected chairman and Hope Brooks will fill the shoes of long-time vice chairman Phil Gowaty, who […]
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Board Member (Term Expires 2025) • McClure Cave Preserve Manager Rick Smith has always had a fascination with the underground since the age of 8 when he entered his first cave, McClure Cave. It was not until many years later he found the caving community and since then has visited caves throughout Pennsylvania and West […]
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Board Member, NSS 22735 CL (FE) Curt Harler, a long time member of the Cleveland Grotto and a former executive vice president of the National Speleological Society, was elected to a three-year term on the MAKC Board of Directors in 2021. Curt is a life member and conservation life member of the NSS, fellow, frequent […]
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The total now raised for McClure Cave is $15782. Total project cost: $18,000. Total to go: $2218. Bob Addis Bert Ashbrook Baltimore Grotto George and Karen Bange Cindy Barton Dr. Hazel Barton Don Beach Andrew, Gabrielle and Amelia Benner Blue Ridge Grotto Barbara Bramley Hope Brooks Brother Muckers Joe Brown Charles Chapman Kerry Clancy-Burns Cleveland […]
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On Saturday, June 5, 2021, MAKC Treasurer Johnny Motto and member Rick Smith met with the owner of McClure Cave, Dori McKnight, who lives in a house right next to the cave parcel, and they signed an agreement of sale for the MAKC to purchase this Snyder County Cave. The cave is listed at https://caves.org/conservancy/pcc/Files/PA_Long_Caves_2012-12-01.pdf […]
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A few photos from Snyder County’s McClure Cave, whicih the MAKC has an agreement of sale to purchase. This horizontal, gated cave has seen some abuse and had some issues. However, it should be popular for years to come and is a mere 15 minutes from our Penn Aqua Preserve in Mifflin County.
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On Saturday, June 26, 2021, more than 60 MAKC members and friends from Pittsburgh and other local caving clubs, gathered for an official dedication of our Barbara Schomer Preserve in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. In just the few short years since we have owned the property, survey teams led by Bert Ashbrook and Chris Hill have […]
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