Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Governor Wolf’s travel ban, our board of directors is delaying the opening of our preserves which are scheduled to open on April 15 following the end of our bat hibernation closure. We are also asking that persons refrain from visiting any other preserves while the travel ban is in […]
Continue ReadingOn Saturday, November 16, 2019, three new faces joined the MAKC Board, one of whom is not entirely new to the board. Andrea Gillis, chairman of the Ohio Cavers and Climbers, and a former board member and board chairman of MAKC, rejoined the board to fill out a one-year term. Ryan Maurer joined the board […]
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Board Member (term expires 2020) Andrea Gillis rejoined the board in 2019 to fill out a three-year term. She is a former board member and former chairman of MAKC, as well as chairman of the Ohio Cavers and Climbers. While on the MAKC board a number of years ago Andrea spearheaded a project to clean […]
Continue ReadingBoard Member (Term Expires 2022) Hope Brooks joined the MAKC board in November of 2019.
Continue ReadingBoard member • (Term expires 2021) • Fayette County Cave Survey Ryan Maurer joined the MAKC Board in November of 2019.
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Fall survey dates include: October 16, 17, 21, and 22 (all weekdays) as well as the last Sunday in October, the 27th. Email teamsarah@karst.org for details.
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2020 February Reserved February 15, survey trip. All surveyors welcome Reserved: Saturday, February 29, one trip open. March Reserved, Saturday, March 14, one trip open. April May June July August September October Reserved: Unavailable for the month of October. Please read the Silers Cave Management Plan before asking for permission to visit. NSS and […]
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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 was adopted by the MAKC Board on November 16, 2019. After reading this plan carefully, cavers interested in visiting the preserve should fill out the free permit available at this link. INTRODUCTION The Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy (MAKC), a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania completed the purchase […]
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