fireman1904 wrote:Brian.... where are the parking spots you are talking about?
The car lot on the north of the culvert. The dealership has moved and the property is up for sale. I've heard the realtor is, for the time being, tolerating cavers parking there. The other spot is curbside on the street in front of the church south of the culvert. IMO just one incident in the cave or complaint about the traffic to and from the cave, will bring an abrupt end to parking at both spots and may lead the "local authorities" to be on the watch for trespassers.
Illinois Caver wrote:My understanding is the boat entrance is off-limits and I've always heard of the "flushing" but haven't talked to anyone who knows first hand.
As I've said, I do not know the official status of the boat club entrance but I do believe it should be concidered closed. The owners of the boat club may tolerate cavers occasionally (and descreetly) exiting thru the spring entrance but they have never been overly happy about anyone using it to park and enter the cave.
I can recall two ocassions, long ago, when the city flushed the sewer facility and overflow from the procedure entered the Dog Hill section of the cave. It may well have happened more often than that. The cave did not flood but it did stink to high heaven. Other than the odor, I dont believe the Donahue section was affected. Those incidents were at least 15 years ago. I doubt the city still practices the same routines.
The Doghill Donahue System is a fun and interesting cave. It's accessability status has been up and down for many years due to locals complaining of caver traffic and the occasional rescue. I advise anyone visiting this cave to do so in moderation and to use discression when doing so.