|
NOTICE: NEW VISITATION PERMIT SYSTEM FOR THE HALL NATURE PRESERVE
By Mark Lancaster
Starting January 1, 2009, a permit system shall be in place for visitation to the Hall Nature Preserve. From January 1st, hence, visitation of the Hall Nature Preserve is by written permission (permit) only. This permit system is being initiated due to growing liability concerns and a laundry list of rule violations that have taken place over the past few years. The permit system will allow us to have better control over who is accessing our property and also gives us a much stronger legal position if we need to have a vehicle towed or trespassing charges filed.
The following shall be the format for obtaining a permit to visit the Hall Nature Preserve:
- The Hall Nature Preserve permit shall consist of a numbered (non-sequential) permit which shall be obtained from the Preserve Manager via email.
- All visitation requests shall be at a minimum of two weeks prior to the planned trip date. This will allow time for the information exchange needed to obtain the permit and to also handle any scheduling conflicts.
- Upon receipt of a request, the Preserve Manager, shall provide the interested party, a permit application and a copy of all rules and regulations for the Hall Nature Preserve.
- The interested party shall return the completed and signed permit application to the Preserve Manager. The return of the application affirms that everyone in the interested party agrees to follow all set rules and regulations of the Hall Nature Preserve. The return of the completed application also constitutes a waiver of liability between everyone in the interested party and the Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy and/or its agents.)
- Upon approval of the completed application, the Preserve Manager shall email the interested party their dated/numbered visitation permit. The Permit must be displayed in the front window of one of the group’s vehicles on the day of the scheduled trip.
Permit applications can be obtained via email at: mlancaster@karst.org
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 an estimated 100 additional feet of passage
un-mapped. Surface features on the property such as numerous sinkholes earmark this as
prime karst property. This parcel will be known as the Hall Cave Preserve in honor of the
previous owner. The MAKC believes that Hall Cave offers opportunities for education,
recreation and research. Therefore the Board of Directors has made an effort to tailor
this management plan to address those opportunities.
History
Local folklore has it that Hall Cave was discovered on the John Hall farm around the
turn of the 20th century when a trapper tracked a fox to a hole under a tree stump. After
pulling out a few rocks, an entrance appeared to the cave. We know from accounts of the
late Ruth Hall that the cave was discovered around 1900 (or a few years after) and as a
young girl, she was forbidden by her parents to enter the cave (although she admitted that
she did get to see it at least once.) The late Dr. Ralph Stone investigated the cave
around 1930 and described the entrance as being under a stump and twenty inches in
diameter. The cave was briefly mentioned in a publication called Pennsylvania Caves (1932)
by Ralph Stone (Bulletin G3, Dept. of Internal Affairs, Commonwealth of Pa.) This
publication made no mention of a cave map. The cave is later noted again in a publication
called Caves of Pennsylvania, National Speleological Society Bulletin 15, December 1953 by
Ralph Stone. This article mimics the 1932 version except with an updated location and
entrance description. The short entry is authored not only by Stone but also by William B.
White of Penn State University. Dr. White apparently added the updated information. The
entrance is now regarded as in a small sink near the top of a hillock. Again, no map is
mentioned in the publication. Another published description of Hall Cave appeared in MAR
Bulletin 9, The Caves of Huntingdon County (June 1975) by Jack Speece and Mike Cullinan.
The information provided in this write-up was by the late Bernard Smeltzer. Smeltzer
describes the entrance as being a triangular shaped hole under a stump. He also mentions
in the article that in of April 1955, a colony of 40 or more little brown bats were seen.
During the same year, another renowned caver by the name of Bill Devitt III found what was
believed to be claw marks and tracks left by a bobcat (it should be noted that Cullinan in
the 1960s also saw these or other tracks and marks made by a large cat.) The first known
(published) map was surveyed and drawn by Bernard Smeltzer on April 3, 1955. With a
surveyed length of 380 feet, this is the only known map of the cave. Although uneventful,
the cave was periodically explored during the 1960s by the Standing Stone Grotto of the
NSS, now defunct) and later in the 1980s by the Huntingdon County Cave Hunters of the NSS.
During the 1980s, the cave entrance was located in a sinkhole with a vertical entrance for
a short distance. The area was wooded with very large virgin timber. This changed when the
hillside was timbered. In fact the cave entrance was concealed for a time by treetops.
Around 1992 the owner, Bill Anderson, excavated the entrance so that cavers could
practically walk in from the surface. About a year later several parts of the rock face
above fell in. Members of the HCCH helped chain these boulders and heavy machinery was
used to pull them out. However, because of freeze and thaw cycles, additional rocks have
fallen, which is how it is today. A CCUS (Contemporary Cave Use Study - NSS) register was
placed in the cave around 1991-92 and designated the first official code number for any
register in the state (PA-001.) A radon study of the cave took place also in that year.
The cave during the last decade has largely become a site for recreation. The HCCH
continues to monitor the cave register and lead youth group trips. Cavers and youth groups
have used the cave for educational purposes. Although the cave has been documented since
1932 as Hall Cave, it is interesting to note that many locals today still know the cave as
Orchard Cave. Locals applied this nickname many years ago. A large apple orchard was once
situated near the cave site which gave locals a landmark to go by when looking for the
cave.
Geology
Hall Cave is formed within the Keyser and Tonoloway formations of Devonian-Silurian
age. The sinkhole pocked western flank of Warrior Ridge also contains two nearby show
caves, Lincoln and Whisper Rocks. The vicinity’s geology and hydrology remain a
fertile field for future study.
Biology
During April, 1955, Hall Cave map maker Bernie Smeltzer reported a colony of at least
40 little brown bats. Bill Devitt reported bobcat prints in the cave that same year. A
cursory examination during July, 1998 turned up the usual assortment of inhabiting
insects, including beetles, mosquitoes and flies. Spiders and a few millipedes rounded out
the invertebrates. Super-imposed upon the multitude of boot and glove prints lay the paw
prints of a raccoon and a mouse.
Archaeology and Paleontology
As with other scientific aspects of the cave, investigators have not delved
sufficiently into the subject to yield any published reports.
Research
The MAKC encourages research to explore the preserve's historical, biological,
geological, hydrological, paleontological and archaeological potential. As previously
noted in the history section, the cave was both a site for sociological study as part of
the NSS’ CCUS (Contemporary Cave Use Study) program, and a radon test site.
Researchers who desire access to the preserve should submit a brief, written synopsis of
their project to the MAKC board for consideration. Researchers are also required to submit
a written report to the MAKC board no later than 30 days after the completion of their
project. Documentation or historical evidence of a "significant" bat population
does not exist, therefore a seasonal bat moratorium on visitation is deemed unnecessary.
Preserve Management Team
The MAKC board will designate a preserve management team to oversee the property. The
size of this team shall be determined by the board and one team member shall be named as
the preserve manager. The preserve manager shall report directly to the MAKC board of
directors on all issues concerning the Hall Cave Preserve. Preference will be given to the
nearest NSS grotto(s) for management team selection, however, this is not a requirement.
News / Publication Policy
The Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy, Inc., seeks to publicize caves only as befits our
mission as stated in our bylaws and constitution: for education of the public about caves
and karst resources; for published scientific studies in cave-related publications, and,
depending on the sensitivity of the material, on the world wide web. Specific cave
location information will not be released to the general public; i.e., directions to the
cave or maps of the cave. However, in publicity concerning Hall’s Cave we can note
its county and proximity to other caves, such as Lincoln Caverns and Tytoona Cave, and to
other nearby geographic features, such as it "is near Huntingdon" and
"Raystown Lake." In the event of a rescue at the cave, the MAKC will seek to
minimize publicity of the cave’s location; while providing the media with necessary
information on the cave/rescue. The MAKC can use the cave name in publicizing acquisitions
and in its newsletter and other caving publications, such as the NSS News and local grotto
newsletters. The management plan will be available for publication in these mediums and
can be published on the world wide web (with contact information), provided no sensitive
material, such as bat count numbers, is released in this manner. Specific requests for
publicity concerning the cave/cave preserve that are not covered under this policy should
be approved by the MAKC Board of Directors.
Surface Management
Camping on the preserve shall be prohibited. Exceptions may be made for specific
requests pre-approved by the board. Examples such as work weekends or an "open
house" weekend may be entertained. No campfires will be permitted. The collection of
firewood is also prohibited except for Mr. William Anderson as specified in the Agreement
of Sale. There are no sanitary facilities on the property. All trash and waste from both
the surface and underground must be packed out. There are two designated parking areas.
Car parking shall be in the allocated spot in the field before entering the woods. 4WD
vehicles can drive up to the turn-around near the cave. Please use only these areas. Do
not park along the access road. ATVs, dirt bikes and snowmobiles are not permitted on the
preserve. It is highly suggested that visitors to the cave stay on the existing path in
order to minimize long term impact. Do not collect or damage flora or fauna found on the
surface. The collection of rocks, minerals and fossils is also prohibited.
Access Policy
No permission is required. The cave is generally open from dawn until dusk to properly
equipped cavers. While membership is not required, it is strongly recommended that
visitors be members of the conservancy. The MAKC is in the process of becoming an NSS
conservancy. Membership in the National Speleological Society is also highly recommended.
Visitor conduct should adhere to National Speleological Society conservation guidelines.
Visitor conduct should also reflect NSS Safety and Techniques Committee recommendations
for safe caving practices. Small groups are encouraged. Visiting groups larger than 15
must get advance, written permission from the MAKC board. Illegal drugs, drug
paraphernalia, alcohol and alcoholic beverage containers are not allowed on the preserve.
Use of the property for any kind of commercial activity, including “cave-for-
pay” caving (as defined by the MAKC board) or other recreational activities is
prohibited. Educational trips are encouraged. Groups such as Boy Scouts shall adhere to
the BSA and NSS caving guidelines and policies. No modifications to the cave or property,
including the use of bolts or other permanent climbing aids are allowed. Exceptions may be
granted in writing only by the MAKC board. No hunting or firearms will be allowed on the
property. The board only allows hunting by Mr. William Anderson as per our Agreement of
Sale. It is strongly encouraged that cavers visit Hall Cave only on Sundays during hunting
season as long as William Anderson is able to hunt on the property. Fireworks are also
forbidden. Please keep noise to a minimum and be discreet in changing clothes. We ask this
in order to maintain good relations with our neighboring landowners. Exceptions to any
part of the access policy or management plan must be obtained in writing from the MAKC
board of directors in advance.
Future Plans
The property lines shall be defined and posted. Access information signs shall be
placed where appropriate. General property maintenance will be scheduled as well as
clean-up trips to the cave as needed. Placement of an information kiosk which includes an
(above ground) visitor register is being considered. Regardless, CCUS participation will
continue. The MAKC board believes that there is no need to re-map the cave. Bernie
Smeltzer’s 1955 map is deemed adequate both for visitor and MAKC use at this time. It
is the MAKC board's desire to install an unlocked gate along the access road. The property
shall be maintained in its natural state and will not be developed or improved in
concurrence with the Agreement of Sale with the former owners, except to manage its usage
as a natural area.
Liability Disclaimer
The Mid-Atlantic Karst Conservancy, its board of directors, the Hall Cave Preserve
management team, the National Speleological Society or its local chapters (grottos) or any
individual members thereof will not be liable for any damages, accidents, injuries, or
death on the surface or subsurface of the property. All the above named organizations will
also not be liable for any damage or loss of personal property while visiting the
preserve.
Future Updates
This management plan was approved by the MAKC board on November 14, 1998. The MAKC
board reserves the right to update, adjust, alter or amend this plan at any time without
notice. Changes in the management plan must be sanctioned by the board of directors, and
thereafter will be publicized in the MAKC newsletter and/or website at the board’s
discretion.
|
