Cass Cave, WV Survey and Map Status

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Cass Cave, WV Survey and Map Status

Postby wvdirtboy » Apr 11, 2007 12:23 pm

Cass Cave, WV has long been considered one of the classic "West Virginia caves". An evolving crew of around less than a dozen surveyed the cave in the '90s and early 00's. We mapped 4.4 miles of cave and found the cave to be only 323 feet deep.

Unfortunately, the final map languished and I have often been asked when it will appear. Well, the answer is by the end of this year. I have attached a small sample of the working map. It should give folks an idea of where things are headed.

Many rumors now surround access and the future of the land surrounding Cass. Reportedly, the cave closure is now enforced although that too is a rumor.

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Last edited by wvdirtboy on Apr 13, 2007 5:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby Scott McCrea » Apr 11, 2007 12:30 pm

Thanks for the update, Greg! That's good news that the map is forthcoming. I can't wait to see it. I haven't been to the cave in about 5 years, but I do look forward to going back. If you guys need any help, I'd be happy to volunteer.
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Postby adleedy » Apr 11, 2007 9:09 pm

cass cave is one that i havent been too, but would love to do some time, im glad to see that an up to date map is being produced
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Living in WV is the perfect excuse to see Cass!

Postby wvdirtboy » Apr 11, 2007 9:16 pm

Alan - Living in WV is the perfect excuse to see Cass! Good weather and a long rope are all that are needed... well and preferably ascenders and descenders too. :tonguecheek:
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Re: Living in WV is the perfect excuse to see Cass!

Postby adleedy » Apr 11, 2007 9:58 pm

wvdirtboy wrote:Alan - Living in WV is the perfect excuse to see Cass! Good weather and a long rope are all that are needed... well and preferably ascenders and descenders too. :tonguecheek:


i deff. agree with you, i do have a 250 foot section of 7/16ths. (along with descenders and ascenders :-) ) i wasnt sure if cass cave was closed or not.
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Postby wvdirtboy » Apr 11, 2007 10:10 pm

I am unclear as to whether Cass is open now - been caving further north for awhile. Hopefully someone will check out the gate for signs during Spring VAR at the end of this month. VAR is in Durbin, which is just down the road from Cass.

If nothing else, VAR people will probably try and we'll hear if they don't get into the cave.
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Postby adleedy » Apr 11, 2007 10:19 pm

yeah im deff. going to var this year, will you be there?
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Postby wvdirtboy » Apr 11, 2007 10:26 pm

If I am at VAR it will only be for the WVU Student Grotto 30th Anniversary get-together Saturday night. My kids have play practice on Saturday and Sunday, so I'm pretty hamstrung at the moment.

You should hit up some folks from WVUSG and see if they are interested in a trip. They have some pretty competent kids right now and are very active. They have their own website - http://www.caves.org/grotto/wvusg/
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Postby adleedy » Apr 11, 2007 10:29 pm

ok thanks for the link, im planning on trying to hit up the cassel trip on saturday
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Postby George Dasher » Apr 12, 2007 10:18 am

Beautiful map!

Cass is the third longest cave in the county, by the way...
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Postby wvdirtboy » Apr 13, 2007 6:02 pm

I am now told (by a local) that Cass Cave should be avoided for now.
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Re: Cass Cave, WV Survey and Map Status

Postby glacierhikerj » Jan 8, 2009 10:56 pm

Has anyone heard about the status of this map? Just wondered if it was finished or not. I have an old map of the cave, published in a nss bulletin, but would love to see the new one. I love that cave.

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Re: Cass Cave, WV Survey and Map Status

Postby Dave Bunnell » Apr 7, 2009 1:33 am

I have both fond and nightmarish memories of trips to Cass from 30 years ago. Wow, 4.4 miles, we never saw a tenth of that. It would be great to see a map...

In fact, it would make a great accompaniement to an NSS News article (hint, hint). Even have a prospective cover, a vertical mulit-flash of the big room, one of the entries in the last photo salon that was just "accepted" but in my view very printworthy so I have it pulled for future use. Give me a shout here or at my direct address (davebunnell@underearth.us) if you want to put an article together.

cheers,
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Re: Cass Cave, WV Survey and Map Status

Postby dleister » Jun 15, 2009 9:06 am

Did you ever publish a map of the cave? I saw at least one other comment on line that someone would publish a map, but I haven't found anything. My wife's family has owned the entrance and at least part of the cave for 2 generations. I went in up to the falls in 1968.
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Re: Cass Cave, WV Survey and Map Status

Postby George Dasher » Mar 2, 2010 9:40 am

Bob Zimmerman is currently working on a WVASS monograph of the cave, which should include a map.

Bob just did a similar monograph on Cassell, and he did a fantastic job.
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