The most recent acquisition by the WVCC was the Scott Entrance to Maxwelton Sink Cave back in October 2008. As many WVCC members know, we've had a relationship with this cave for several years, dating back to about 1998. The wonderful relationship we had with the owners who sold us the cave helped us concentrate efforts on regaining a permanent entrance to the cave outside of the floodplain in which the original entrance was located. This had been the main roadblock to continuous access for many years. Thanks to some great survey work (in the '70s and during the recent dig); good science; and a ton of volunteer time, effort, and blood, we were able to gain access to the cave once again, and immediately started to resurvey the cave and make some conservation-minded trails in the cave.

We raised a lot of money and we made a lot of promises, and I'm happy to say that we've kept them all or are in the process of fulfilling them. In February, April, and September of 2009, the Maxwelton Sink Management Committee and WVCC volunteers continued work toward fulfilling these promises. Over the weekend of September 19-20, 2009, we held a major work weekend at the cave property to complete a large portion of the final phase of the entrance and cave stabilization project. Some of the improvements that were made at September work weekend included: the installation of the promised ladder, the clearing away of loose shale near the entrance and on the cliff, filling in holes with rock at the cliff base, constructing a rock stairway to make getting on and off rope at the top of

the entrance pipe easier, and placing the secure lid on the pipe. We also placed plaques on the lid at the entrance to acknowledge not only the ladder/hatch fundraiser donors as promised (whose help we could not have been without), but to acknowledge those who gave up so many weekends, weekdays, and the aforementioned blood, sweat, and tears to get access to this cave re-established. We definitely would not even be talking about this cave if it were not for those individuals that put nearly all other caving activities aside for anywhere from six months to four-plus years, depending on when the person became involved. It was really an amazing site to see so many folks gathering on a regular basis for such an unselfish activity like this, which became known as the "world's largest cave dig."

We designed this entrance to be something we expect will last for hundreds of years. Our philosophy was that if you build something to last, and do it right and not rush into it, then you will save money and effort in the future. We feel we have done this. But it will also be up to those who visit the cave to keep it in great lasting condition. As you would in any other cave, please respect the unique and delicate formations as you come across them. Please stay on marked trails, and if you encounter something that you feel should be marked to help keep people from harming it (or themselves), please mark it temporarily and then communicate this to any member of the management committee (contact info can be found on the WVCC Web site for the Maxwelton Sink Cave Project).

Current WNS government recommendations and issues aside, we expect this cave to be open to vertically competent cavers. The entrance ladder will be a bit of an illusion—the cave is still a vertical cave! Even with the ladder, there will still be a cable ladder drop within a couple hundred feet of the entrance, and if you plan to continue deeper in the cave than a couple thousand feet, you will have to negotiate another traverse and drop. Plus, WVCC asks that you be on belay when using the ladder. Beyond that, there are miles of cave to explore! And it's a gem!  I hope that everyone who has an interest will take time to enjoy and appreciate this cave once it is re-opened.

The reason this cave had diggers with such devotion to the project was because this cave was special to many folks back when it was open in the 1970s. The owners who sold us the cave respected this property to a high level, and one of them is a caver who had been in the cave in the 1970s. He recognized the uniqueness of this cave and felt that it was important to regain access, if for no other reason than to study it and enjoy it.  Now, thanks to his help in so many ways, and to those mentioned above, the entire caving community should be able to appreciate this resource for generations to come!

Please keep in mind that once caving resumes in the Virginias, this cave does have a lock, so you need to plan your trips to Maxwelton Sink Cave. Please see the Web site for any contact numbers, and please plan ahead! One cannot simply expect to reach anyone on the contact list the day of or just before a trip! We're cavers too, ya know! So plan ahead, and in the meantime, while we are asked to stay above ground to help our bats, consider taking part in a conservation project with the WVCC, VAR, or your local grotto. This is a great opportunity to give something back to your community through some volunteerism!

By Jeff Bray
Maxwelton Sink Cave Preserve
Committee Chair