The NSS Board of Governors, meeting today in Richmond, voted to add a
14th preserve to the NSS Cave Preserve system?the five-mile-long New
River Cave, longest cave in Giles County, Virginia. It is the first
cave preserve for the society in the commonwealth.
Nearly a year ago Virginia caver Tim Kilby, owner of New River Cave,
approached the Cave and Karst Acquisition Committee with a desire to
sell the cave to the society. Tim has owned and managed this
frequently-visited wild cave for 25 years and would like to see it
preserved for future generations. He has permitted recreational,
educational and scientific access to NSS members and to recreational
cavers. It is the desire of the BOG that this continues. A management
plan has been developed and will be finalized once a management team
is in place. Cavers interested in serving on the management committee
should contact Gary Moss.
The acquisition includes two tracts of land of 13.6 acres and 0.38
acres. The $40,000 sale will be paid out over a three-year period for
both tax purposes for Tim and fund raising purposes for the NSS.
Surveyed in 1976, and updated in recent years, the 5.3 miles of
passages makes New River Cave the longest known cave in Giles County
and the immediate area. While the vertical extent is 359 feet,
virtually all areas of the cave are accessible to the horizontal caver
.A variety of trips may be tailored to the experience level and
interests of cavers. The cave was among those featured during the 1995
NSS convention in Blacksburg.
New River Cave contains one large waterfall, several small waterfalls,
stream passages, many rooms, breakdown and alcoves. A trip to the back
of the cave takes experienced cavers around 18 hours. The cave, while
mostly linear, has some maze sections. The cave is formed along the
Saltville Fault and has a wide variety of speleothems, although some
damage to formations in the front part of the cave has occurred. The
cave is in the process of being remapped by Dave West and a new map
should be completed in the near future.It has been open to
recreational caving for more than 70 years.
Those interested in supporting this acquisition and keep cavers and
the NSS owning caves, please send your donation to the NSS, c/o Cave
and Karst Acquisition Fund, 2813 Cave Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35810-4431.
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