“Found Cave (located on private property) was rediscovered by Bill Howcroft and James Wells around 1981. Initially thinking they had discovered a virgin cave, their excitement quickly subsided when they reached the last room and discovered names and dates from the early 1900’s. Later on, Bob Dion and Larry Botto dug open a sinkhole which they hoped was beyond the impassable tight spot at the end of the cave. Digging open the sink, they discovered drilled marble slabs had been placed over the bedrock entrance with dirt filled in, giving it a natural appearance. The new entrance lead to within 10 feet of the rooms with the dates, leading them to believe that the quarry workersentered the room, but likely did not explore the rest of the cave due to a lack of other inscriptions. The back entrance has opened and closed over the years and was redug by the Berkshire Diggers in 2007, but has since collapsed again.”  Kevin Ricci and his volunteers have reinforced it.  Entering the cave through the main entrance at the end of the gully, one first must pass through a prodigious amount of porcupine guano (now cleared). After a few feet, the cave opens into low, wide stream passage with nicely sculpted bedrock walls and stream channels. Courtesy NRO

A big THANK YOU to Kevin Ricci and Michael Telladira for inviting us to the newly aquireed caving property in Lanesborough! Please support, like and follow their non-profit organization the Foundation for Underground Caves and Karsts  to bring more caving outdoor recreation to Western Mass! Volunteers appreciated to help with the dig, please contact Kevin on fb and get involved.

@followers
#hikethehilltownhistory
#hikethehilltowns with the #westernmasshilltownhikers  #discoverthehilltowns #visitthehills  #hilltownhistory  #flashhike  #intheberkshires #nature #adventure #history #hiking #outdooradventures #visittheberkshires #mylocalMA #visitma #hilltownhikers #westernmass #hikingwithdogs
Visit our blog for all of our adventures! want to come along on these hikes? Become a member at www.hilltownhikers.com
Help conserve the Chester Granite Saw, our newest property! https://www.pledge.to/help-conserve-the-chester-granite-saw
Text HILLTOWNHIKERS to 707070 to donate.
www.hilltownhikers.com
You can mail your tax-deductible donation to Western Mass Hilltown Hikers, PO Box 3, Chester, MA  01011
Venmo @hilltownhikers
Stay informed – join our mailing list https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/5O0RYN5/hilltownhikeremail