Pennsylvania caves?
Jstoffel2
Has anyone got any idea of which caves are particularly worthwhile and how
to get there? Thank you!
Scott A Askey
In <546d8l$n...@newsbf02.news.aol.com> jsto...@aol.com writes:
> Has anyone got any idea of which caves are particularly worthwhile and how
> to get there? Thank you!
Centre County
J-4
Pleasant Gap PA
Whiterock road
For the Don't post location folk:
This is the local sacrificial cave though it is rather large and nice for PA.
Thos location is common knowledge.
Jim Shaffer, Jr.
Scott A Askey <SAA...@ECL.PSU.EDU> wrote in article
<546u9c$5...@r02n01.cac.psu.edu>...
> J-4
That it may be, but it's still not something I'd send a first-timer to. (The
original poster didn't say he was a novice, but it was a public message.) For
one thing, there are a few nasty drops (including the one down the quarry wall
upon coming *out* of the thing!) For another thing, you could get lost in
there!
As a non-Grotto-affiliated caver, I'd hate to see anybody do anything to
restrict access to J-4.
--
"listen, there's a hell of a good universe next door; let's go" e.e. cummings
"The Libertarian Immortalist ticket -- 'An End To Death And Taxes'" R.A.Wilson
My home page: coming soon (I hope). IRC: JustnCase (I'm one of several.)
Williamsport Area Computer Club: http://www.sunlink.net/wacc DALnet:#wacc
diane h peapus
In article <01bbbd1e$cb5f2760$LocalHost@jshaffer>, "Jim Shaffer, Jr."
<jsha...@mail.csrlink.net> wrote:
> Scott A Askey <SAA...@ECL.PSU.EDU> wrote in article
> <546u9c$5...@r02n01.cac.psu.edu>...
> > J-4
> > Thos location is common knowledge.
>
> That it may be, but it's still not something I'd send a first-timer to.
I agree! J4 is not a beginners cave! Of course, this doesn't stop
beer drinking chain smokers from bringing their kids into the cave ...all
with no helmets and a single flashlight. Such a party held up our grotto
trip once when we realized they were following us, we refused to help them
do the step across, and it became obvious that the didn't know where the
hell they were and had to be escorted out!
Given the lack of really nice caves in PA, and the growing number of
conflicts between cavers and mining companies, and the fact that the company
that owns J4 is so graciously kind as to leave it accessible... I think that
giving the location of J4 to beginners is pretty stupid. There are too many
flashlight cavers in J4 as it is.
diane h peapus
nss 38189 (??)
RobrLewis
What exactly do you mean by "particularly worthwhile?" I've had many
great experiences in PA caves, though I wouldn't drive frthree states away
to see them.
Jim Shaffer, Jr.
diane h peapus <di...@kuchem.kyoto-u.ac.jp> wrote in article
<diane-25109...@130.54.49.240>...
> Given the lack of really nice caves in PA, and the growing number of
> conflicts between cavers and mining companies, and the fact that the company
> that owns J4 is so graciously kind as to leave it accessible... I think that
> giving the location of J4 to beginners is pretty stupid.
I agree.
The question now becomes, "Is there a suitable 'sacrificial' cave in central
PA?"
My vote would be for Mount Rock, because it's pretty straightforward (except a
couple of tight spots) and is already thoroughly trashed. It does not,
however, show you any formations. To see nice formations in an easy cave,
you'd have to go to Seawra I suppose -- but Seawra is, by some miracle, almost
vandalism-free, and I'd sure like it to stay that way!
Any other suggestions? I'm avoiding McClure because I have no idea what the
ownership and access status is, and Kerosene because the entrance looks scary
to newbies (and there's also a small pit not too far inside.)
Keith Christenson
>The question now becomes, "Is there a suitable 'sacrificial' cave in central
>PA?"
>My vote would be for Mount Rock, because it's pretty straightforward (except a
>couple of tight spots) and is already thoroughly trashed. It does not,
>however, show you any formations. To see nice formations in an easy cave,
>you'd have to go to Seawra I suppose -- but Seawra is, by some miracle, almost
>vandalism-free, and I'd sure like it to stay that way!
>Any other suggestions? I'm avoiding McClure because I have no idea what the
>ownership and access status is, and Kerosene because the entrance looks scary
>to newbies (and there's also a small pit not too far inside.)
Folks, please be aware of which caves are important bat hibernacula. Mount
Rock Cave is an excellent beginner cave, but has a voluntary moratorium on
caving from October 15th through April 15th. Trips to the cave during the
summer can be encouraged, but please make sure that this moratorium is
enforced, as it may be necessary to gate this cave otherwise. This cave used
to have about 600 big brown bats hibernating in it, the second largest site
for this bat species in the state, but is now down to less than 200, if my
memory serves me correctly. I will gladly post the exact numbers if asked, as
we have three good data points on the cave over the last few years, but they
are not in front of me. Remember, that just because a cave is easy to visit,
does not mean that visitation does not have an impact. The impact to a cave
is not merely measured by broken formations.
As for Seawra Cave, the same moratorium is in force, since there are over two
thousand bats using the cave as a hibernaculum, one of the largest in the
state.
Seeing bats in caves is cool, but if you are seeing them by the thousand, you
are probably having an adverse effect on them. This is especially true during
the Pennsylvania winters.
Other caves which are closed for the bats in PA include: Ruth Cave, Eiswert 2
Cave, Aitkin Cave, Salisbury Mine and Cave, Sharer Cave, Canoe Creek Mine and
Cave, and Lemon Hole Cave. At least these are the ones I can think of off
hand. Most are only closed during the winter, but some permanantly due to the
landowners request. Recently, Blessing Mountain Wells Caves have also been
posted as closed, but work trip access can be arrainged with the PA Game
Commission.
For more information on either bats or PA Caves, email me directly.
kc
chefda...@gmail.com
> Has anyone got any idea of which caves are particularly worthwhile and how
> to get there? Thank you!