One of coolest member outings this year was caving in Lanesbourough thanks to our host Kevin Ricci.

“Found Cave 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 workers entered 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. Due to the steep sides of the sinkhole, it doesn’t last past spring thaw most years and would require a culvert or reinforcement to stabilize 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. After a few feet, though, the cave opens into low, wide stream passage with nicely sculpted bedrock walls and stream channels. The stream enters almost immediately from the left from Cow Bone Cave, which is a short nasty cave adjacent to the Found Cave main entrance. Continuing down the stream passage, one passes a few side channels and some nice solution rills, as well as the occasional flowstone. As one travels downstream, the passage character changes from wide and flat to high and narrow. A dirt pile on an upper level eventually marks where the back entrance intersects the cave, and the water takes a lower route into the back room of the cave and the impassable tight spot. The stream travels a few hundred feet through what is likely more cave before being seen again in Drag Rock Cave. Found cave is 365ft long.”

Western Mass Hilltown Hikers Visit the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts Visit Massachusetts Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation   #hikethehilltowns with the #westernmasshilltownhikers #hilltownhistory  #hilltownhikersadventures #discoverthehilltowns    #intheberkshires #hiking #visittheberkshires #hilltownhikers  #hikingwithdogs @topfans
SEE MORE and  become a member at www.hilltownhikers.com Support us at –> https://hilltownhikers.square.site/ Text HILLTOWNHIKERS to 707070 to donate!
Venmo @hilltownhikers