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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Rupert Cave has never had a large bat population, although four bat species have been found in the cave; Northern Long Eared, Eastern Pipistrelle, Big Brown and Little Brown bats. In 2001 a bat gate was added to the side of the entrance building. Over the following eight years the bat count would climb from […]
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Bear Cave is a privately-owned cave, and always has been. It is owned and managed by cavers, Tom and Kim Metzgar, who permit visitation for those who have read the management plan and agree to abide by certain restrictions. If the owners are taking the time to manage the preserve, and to permit visitation, which […]
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Sarah Furnace Cave By Kim Metzgar The MAKC has been interested in purchasing Sarah Furnace Cave in northwestern Pennsylvania’s Clarion County since 2006 when we learned that the property had changed hands. The cave had been owned by Mary Landi of Clarion, who at one time permitted caving, with permission obtained by cavers through her […]
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INTRODUCTION The Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy (MAKC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania in 1997. The MAKC owns and leases several karst preserves in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The MAKC was established by cavers to preserve and ensure access to caves. We acquire and manage caves and karst areas for conservation, […]
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On May 30, 2002, just two weeks before the final payment was due on Billy Clay Pit, the MAKC got a phone call from Dick Blenz, the Indiana caver who has supported many cave conservation projects from many conservancies and the NSS. Dick bought a whole lot at the Hall Cave Preserve to get us […]
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Here are some photos of the preserve.
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Special Note: White Nose Syndrome-Trout Run Woods Caves were closed in an attempt to prevent White Nose Syndrome from being spread by caver contact. During that closure period, the fungus was spread from bat to bat contact and the caves in the region have been contaminated. Everyone visiting this preserve must follow strict decontamination procedures […]
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Silers Cave is a new cave preserve of the MAKC. The current owners purchased the property in October 2018 with the intent of reopening the cave to the caving community. MAKC is partnering with Sligo and Baltimore Grottos, both of which are members of MAKC, and Jim McConkey, who will serve as cave manager, in […]
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Rupert Cave is notable for its many speleothems, and for an interesting combination of cave passages that change character as one travels through the cave. Speleothems include a number of large ribbons, many of which have a twin, or second ribbon, right behind the first ribbon. The largest broomstick stalagmite in the cave is well […]
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In November 2002, the MAKC leased Harlansburg Cave, the longest cave in Pennsylvania. At the request of the owners, in June 2003 gates were installed on cave entrances both north and south of the road cut. The MAKC plans include: Cleanup the results of fifty years of abuse. This includes the removal of lots of […]
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Hall Cave Management Plan Introduction The Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy (MAKC), a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania purchased Hall Cave and 9.475 acres of classic Pennsylvania karst for the purposes of creating a preserve. Hall Cave has been surveyed to a depth of 80 feet and a length of 380 feet and has […]
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Hours The Library is open during the MAKC Board’s quarterly meetings, held the third Saturday of February, May, August and November, from 10 a.m. to noon. MAKC members volunteer at various times, and can be available to allow use of the facility for researchers. While the main part of the collection is for research and […]
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So, I got to go caving on Saturday for the first time in a very long time, and it was wonderful. I had such a great time, why not blog about it. I still don’t understand the concept of blogs, what they are for, why people write them, who reads them, etc, BUT I’ll hop […]
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