Vertical Training
No gear is necessary, absolute beginners welcome!
Email Trevor Cicchinelli at
trvcic@gmail.com if interested.
2026
January
February
March
April
Vertical Practice
Date: April 25(26 if it rains)
Location: McConnell's Mills
Joint vertical practice with Cleveland Grotto. Email
dennis.melko@gmail.com if interested.
April Grotto Meeting
Date: April 29
Location: CMU campus, room GHC 4405
Beginners welcome! Bi-monthly meeting. Email
pittsburghgrotto@gmail.com if interested.
May
Spring MAR
Date: May 1-5
Location: McClure PA
Registration info:
https://www.baldeaglegrotto.com/events-1/spring-mar-2026
VAR Lowmoor Cleanup
Date: May 2-3
More info:
https://var.caves.org/index.php?view=article&id=44:var-lowmoor-cleanup&catid=2:uncategorised
Spring VAR
Date: May 8-10
Location: Endless Caverns, New Market, VA
More info:
https://var.caves.org/index.php/events/spring-var
WVASS Spring Meet
Date: May 10 11AM
Location: Frankford, WV
MAKC meeting
Date: May 16
Location: MAKC library(Blairsville, PA)
Speleofest
Date: May 21-26
Location: Bonnieville, KY
More info:
https://www.louisvillegrotto.org/speleofest/
Bear Cave trip
Date: May 24
Location: Bear Cave
Led by Tom Metzgar
June
Karst-O-Rama
Date: June 12-14
Location: Mt. Vernon, Kentucky
More info:
https://karstorama.com/
WVACS Classic
Date: June 12-14
Location: Frankford, WV
More info:
https://wvacs.org/calendar/wvacs-classic-2026/
Billy Clay Cave Preserve work day
Date: June 20
Location: Billy Clay Pit
Run by Walt Hamm and Carl Pierce
Hall and Tytoona trip
Date: June 21
Location: Central PA
Very beginner-friendly trip, email
trvcic@gmail.com for details
June Grotto Meeting
Date: June 24
Location: CMU campus
Beginners welcome! Bi-monthly meeting. Email
pittsburghgrotto@gmail.com if interested.
Jenkinsburg Bridge vertical practice
Date: June 25
Location: Jenkinsburg Bridge, WV
Vertical practice and cook out hosted by Carl Pierce.
Lemonhole, Con, Bear, and Coon caves with NFG
Date: June 27th, 28th
Contact Tom Metzgar(724-433-5752) if interested. Saturday Niagara Frontier Grotto is doing a Lemonhole trip for vert cavers, and Bear+Con caves for non-vertical. Sunday they'll be going to Coon cave.
July
NSS Convention
Date: June 6-10
Location: Corydon, Indiana
More info:
https://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/activities/
Shafers Run Cave
Date: June 18
Location: Shafers Run Cave
Kecksburg UFO Festival
Date: June 17-19
Location: Kecksburg
More info:
https://kecksburgvfd.com/ufo-festival-latest-news/
AMRG practice
Date: July 28th
Location: TBD
August
MAKC meeting
Date: August 8, 10 AM
Location: Barbara Schomer Preserve (East Brady, PA)
MAKC meeting and members event site prep.
MAKC members event
Date: August 14-16
Location: Barbara Schomer Preserve (East Brady, PA)
Free MAKC members event.
August Grotto Meeting
Date: August 26
Location: CMU campus
Beginners welcome! Bi-monthly meeting. Email
pittsburghgrotto@gmail.com if interested.
September
Pittsburgh Grotto Picnic
Date: TBD
Location: TBD
OTR
Date: September 3-7
Location: Dailey, WV
More info:
https://otr.org/
Fall MAR
Date: September 25-27
Location: Newville, PA
Hosted by York Grotto. More info:
https://mar.caves.org/fieldmeets.htm
October
October Grotto Meeting
Date: October 28
Location: CMU campus
Beginners welcome! Bi-monthly meeting. Email
pittsburghgrotto@gmail.com if interested.
November
MAKC meeting and elections 10 AM @ MAKC library (Blairsville, PA)
Date: November 14, 10 AM
Location: MAKC library, Blairsville, PA
December
Grotto Christmas Party
Date: TBD
Location: TBD
Annual get-together. A fun evening with cavers and pot-luck.