Two people were safely rescued on Wednesday from a Pleasant Gap cave that has been closed to the public for more than 20 years, according to emergency response agencies.
Responders were dispatched at about 4 p.m. to the “J4 cave” near Tressler Road off of Route 26 after a third person who was in the group made it out and called for help, according to the Pleasant Gap Fire Company.
It was initially unclear whether the two inside were injured, trapped or lost and confused, the fire company reported.
Personnel from Spring Township police, Alpha, Undine and Citizens’ Hook and Ladder fire companies, Mount Nittany EMS and Centre County Emergency Management also responded, and Nittany Grotto Cave Rescue was called to the scene.
Cave rescue specialists made their way inside and were able to guide the two individuals out, Alpha Fire Company wrote in a Facebook post. The two were uninjured, but were evaluated by EMS.
Cutting Edge Tree Professionals also assisted with clearing a pathway for the rescuers, according to the Pleasant Gap Fire Company.
The J4 Cave is on Graymont property and has been closed to the public since 2004. Located in a mine area, it was closed because of liability issues and posted as no trespassing.
Cavers periodically have continued to explore it, resulting in the occasional rescues. In 2018, multiple emergency response agencies participated in a successful rescue operation there after a man went inside 18 hours earlier and had not been heard from.
“As a reminder to all, the J4 cave is off limits, private property and posted as no trespassing,” Pleasant Gap Fire Company wrote on Wednesday. “Please do not enter this area or cave.”
