Hi! Alex from Cleveland

[alx2000]

Hi all. My name is Alex, and I'm now in the Cleveland area. I used to cave with folks in Loyalhanna grotto, but I'm now away from the grotto. I'll be checking out Cleveland grotto soon. I've been going underground for around 15 years. I've been to J-4, Bear, Bowden, and a few which escape me as far as names. I've never ventured far from home or OTR, so I'm into finding some new areas nearby or back in PA, WV. Contact me if you need another on your trip. My fiance' is just getting into caving, so we are psyched to go back out when the weather is good.

Alex

[Scott McCrea]

Hi Alex,

Welcome to Cavechat! I cut my caving teeth with the Cleveland Grotto about 15 years ago. Good bunch of cavers.

[adleedy]

welcome to the forum

[Mirth Beneath the Earth]

J-4?



Trespassing is bad! But you must have gone there *before* it was closed, right, right? Just like the rest of us!

[alx2000]

Thanks guys! Oh yeah, J-4 was a LONG time ago. I wanted to go back last year and found out on the interweb that it was closed :( Oh well, I guess we need to protect people from themselves. Now if I could only go outside without almost getting shot or jumped by three kids for my shoes! I suppose we should hold a city libel for anything bad that happens on THEIR property? Sigh.... Sorry, just venting. I'm done. Good to meet all of you!

[Mirth Beneath the Earth]

Your shoes? Haha, what is this, the early nineties?

As for J-4, I completely understand your sentiment. The property owners unwisely refused cooperation with local grottos, preventing the installation of a gate. The result? More people getting into J-4 and potentially getting hurt. It's still open and people still go there all the time. Instead of limiting access to the most experienced, the landowners continue to allow J-4 to be a liability. Education of the public only goes so far - in the end the people we're trying to convince need common sense, or it's all for naught.