The John Guilday Caves Nature Preserve of the NSS

The John Guilday Caves Nature Preserve of the NSS Natural caves preserve .... open to properly equipped and trained cavers, who follow the management plan rules.

I am very sad to share that Alice Guilday (wife of the late John Guilday), died peacefully at home on February 23 at the...
02/28/2024

I am very sad to share that Alice Guilday (wife of the late John Guilday), died peacefully at home on February 23 at the age of 98.

02/09/2024

FYI: Several cavers, myself & the WVDNR will be conducting the annual bat count on Feb 10th at Guilday.

We are working on maintenence at Guilday. I am fixing the fences and will replace and add some fence panels soon. I am a...
06/20/2023

We are working on maintenence at Guilday. I am fixing the fences and will replace and add some fence panels soon. I am adding steps the hill, to what is there now. We painted the kiosk and a sign in New Trout. Cheryl is adding bat murials to the lateral sides. The National Speleological Society convention is from June 26th - 30th in Elkins, WV. I expect a large increase that week in visitation to Guilday. Any questions call me or email me: 703-431-2661, [email protected] Earl Suitor (Preserve Manager).

Yesterday 9-18-21 Cheryl, Charles Maurer, Mike Armstrong and I worked on a slope of the trail above the kiosk that had g...
09/19/2021

Yesterday 9-18-21 Cheryl, Charles Maurer, Mike Armstrong and I worked on a slope of the trail above the kiosk that had gotten slippery & erosion worn. We put in 7 steps that should make travel easier. We also found a rockfall that had happened recently near the kiosk. We moved a number of the rocks that cleared the trail a bit, but further work will be required this fall to remove more of the rockfall. Please bear in mind that this is a natural area and rockfall occurs from time to time. Be careful & as always this property is used free of charge and you are taking your own responsibility for safety. Be careful. Earl Suitor

Cheryl & I were at the preserve last week. We cut the tree blocking the trail before you get to Hamilton. Fixed the fenc...
06/21/2020

Cheryl & I were at the preserve last week. We cut the tree blocking the trail before you get to Hamilton. Fixed the fences. Painted the Kiosk. Cleaned some graffiti & trash out of Hamilton (not much). Lots of Poison Ivy near trail, be careful.

03/30/2020

Dear Fellow Cavers:

The NSS preserves staff are asking that you reconsider caving until the COVID-19 pandemic situation passes.

We are not "closing" the preserve..... and you may certainly hike up there and look around all you like, but we are strongly advising against caving at this time.

Several reasons are that caving requires folks in the caving party be in close quarters in crawlways and helping one another under the best of circumstances, closer than the zone of safety for COVID-19, and that in the event that a cave rescue becomes necessary we cannot guarantee a timely or adequate response.

Here is the link to the NSS Presidents statement about COVID-19:

https://caves.org/committee/pr/releases/OFFICIAL-NSS%20Press_Release-Coronavirus.pdf

I'll keep you posted!

Earl 703-431-2661 and [email protected]

03/22/2020

All of us here at the John Guilday Caves Preserve Committee send best wishes to all our caving friends in these trying days. We wish you all the very best, and hope to see you caving and having fun after the virus passes. Keep positive thoughts, all things pass, and better times are coming! With Love, Earl & Cheryl and all the committee members.

01/20/2020

Dear caving friends:

Yesterday we took the Mount Saint Mary's University Outdoor Club to Hamilton Cave on the preserve. I noticed aproximately 20 instances of graffitti scratched on the walls in and past the Slab Room. These were large arrows with notations, and writing around the Airblower area. First of all, if you need markers to find your way out please use flagging tape or cards and remove them on your way out. There is no need for defacing the cave, and it creates a lot of work for us to remove these (which will be done in the next few months). Some of them were scratched in gypsum formations which will be extremely difficult to restore to the original condition. Please help us keep these caves nice for future generations. If you have any questions call me. Earl Suitor 703-431-2661 THANK YOU!

10/09/2019

Counted the bats in Trout with WVDNR! Looking good. Earl Suitor

03/27/2019

We will soon be updating the management plan which I think will clarify some items, bring it up to the 2019 level..... and make some folks happy. Nuff said.

In January Kathleen Guilday visited the preserve with her daughter and we took them a little way into New Trout. Miles D...
03/27/2019

In January Kathleen Guilday visited the preserve with her daughter and we took them a little way into New Trout. Miles Drake and I met them.

Installed new signs at kiosk & at entrance to New Trout. The old one at NT was 35 years old. Painting at kiosk and other...
03/27/2019

Installed new signs at kiosk & at entrance to New Trout. The old one at NT was 35 years old. Painting at kiosk and other places on property.Cleaned plexi-glass. Installed brochures. Planning on redoing the displays this Summer to include a great photo of John Guilday and a bit about him.

Address

Rt 220
Franklin, WV
26807

Telephone

(703) 431-2661

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