What’s WVACS?
by Dale Lofland
For twenty years I
have been leading caving trips. One of my favorite areas is Green brier County, West Virginia. This
county has over one thousand caves and is in the heart of the Great Greenbrier Karst, a prime
caving area in the east. Caves in the karst are well developed with large passages and more than a
dozen of these caves are over ten miles long.
Our trips would generally leave Columbus on Friday evening and arrive in West Virginia about eleven or twelve PM. Camp would be set up in the dark often in the rain. Over the years we became acquainted with many other cavers in the area and their group affiliations. One of the best known and longest operating of these groups is the West Virginia Association for Cave Studies (WVACS), incorporated in 1961. After caving with many of their members for a short time I was enthusiastically accepted into their membership and have served in a number of positions of leadership within the organization.
WVACS has graciously
accepted the Columbus cavers at their facilities located just outside of Renick, WV in the heart of
the Great Greenbrier Karst. There are over 2000 caves within fifty miles of their facility. Their
Field Station offers facilities including a climbing tower, several acres of land for camping, bunk
beds in dormitories, fully equipped kitchens, hot showers and flush toilets as well as common
rooms. WVACS library archives include thousands of cave maps, cave descriptions, numerous
publications and books. Our cavers were always allowed full use of their facilities for an average
cost of $4.00 per night. I have given my personal support to them for several years.
Cave surveying and map making is basic exploration of large cave systems. WVACS is very active in these pursuits and they have published many cave bulletins that contain maps, geological, hydrological and descriptive information about specific caves and cave areas. WVACS also helps train cavers in proper caving techniques, teaches rope work and works with landowners to conserve caves and keep them open.
In recent years land owners, particularly with cave on their land, have posted “No Trespassing” signs and denied access fearing that someone might sue if they are hurt on their property. We are often told it is “OK” to go into the cave even though there are posted signs which has often put us in an awkward position, especially when the real estate changes owners without our knowledge. As an alternative to this WVACS has developed a liability release they can furnish cave owners free and they have entered into no fee “Cave Management Agreements” with cave owners to place the Corporation between a litigant and the cave owner. WVACS has helped build gates to lock some cave entrances to assist cave owners in both controlling access to the caves and also for conservation purposes such as protecting bats during their very important hibernation periods. Some cave entrances are fenced and a kiosk is erected to notify visitors that caves have natural hazards that can injure or kill people.
All these types of activities are funded by donations and by the members.