BLUE RIDGE
GROTTO
of the National Speleological Society
Minutes 4/19/24
Jersey
Lily’s; Roanoke, VA
Attendance:
Nick Schmalenberger – Chair |
Dave Socky – Vice Chair |
Marian McConnell – Secretary |
Carl Cornett |
Tom & Marylou* Beaman |
Barry Ferguson |
Helen Ferguson (sub) |
Lynn Ott |
MarySue Socky |
Susan Burr |
Trish Geiger |
Cyndi Hutchison |
Jeff Huffman |
John Pearson |
Jacob Whitlock* |
*Guest
Trip Reports:
March trip
reports:
·
Dave Socky:
o 3/23: Maxwelton
Cave, WV. Participants included David Socky, Joe
Zokaites, and Alina Valop. Team 2: Nikki Fox, Alex Faunce, and Eli Meyer. We
went to H Canyon to mop up leads. We were trying to get 600 feet to get the
Great Savannah Cave System to 54 miles. But only got 467 feet. Next time. It
was a good 13-hour trip.
o 4/10: Pasco Dig,
VA. Participants included David Socky, Joe
Zokaites, Amos Mincin, Jim Schurman, Keith Sweeney, and Rick Lambert. Another
dig on the Pasco Dig (temporarily named Das Boot Cave). We made about 7 feet of
progress, doing about 5 or 6 technical digs. The way on looks grim. Amos did
recover my boot, plus he was able to snag my dropped camera case.
o 4/13: McClung
Cave, WV. Participants included David Socky, Nikki
Fox, Kelly
o McCarthy, and Rob Wardell. Went into Lightner entrance and to the Lower
Gymnasium dig lead. We got through the dig with a rock hammer and a sledge. It
was a 19-foot- deep drop, vertical required. We surveyed 633 feet of new cave,
but only some of it was virgin. The Great Savannah Cave System is now over 54
miles long!
·
Susan Burr: 3/16: Wild
sections of Lost World
Caverns, Lewisburg, WV – Susan Burr, Jeff
Huffman (leader), Kelly Perkins, Abbey Mays (guest), Alexander Koch (guest),
Logan and Erin Van Hon (guests). We did the normal route we usually do. We saw
Lots & Lots of pretty formations. Unfortunately, we don't know the names of
the different areas. I do know that apparently the latter section we went to
was called the Sewer. I am just not sure what part of that latter section. One
part was a fun narrow passage with a few slightly difficult parts. It ended for
most at a small waterfall, however, Jeff & Logan climbed above the
waterfall & did part of the upper section. Once out of that passage, Jeff,
Logan & I opted to do a just for fun small passage that has a very tight
& difficult hole to get out of. The guys had more trouble than me since
they are bigger. Lots of
pictures taken there!
Our last section was through a crawl with lots of mud sculptures. It ended at
some more pretty formations. Then we had to go through another super tight
& this time very wet hole to get out. Luckily, we saved this for last so were
weren't wet for very long since we headed straight out. We did notice that Mike
Phelps had a group there doing Grapevine Pit. On the way out of the tourist
part of the cave, we got to see 2 cavers coming down the ropes. I also got to
speak with Mike for a bit inside the gift shop. He invited Jeff, Kelly & me
to come up to see the new rigging Steve Silverberg has come up with. Our
overall time in the cave was just under 4 hours. We thanked Steve multiple
times for allowing us to come. I also discussed with Steve the possibility of
us trying to come sometime during the summer to do Grapevine Pit. [This,
with some pics, will be included in the May Carbide Dump.]
·
Nick Schmalenberger:
o 3/24: Dig with Martin DiLeggi, blowing air.
o 4/17: Climbing at River Rock Climbing gym with Dave Socky. We can’t use
our caving harnesses when climbing, but they let us use theirs. May plan
another night in 2 weeks if enough interest. Perhaps we can have a vertical
practice there on a regular basis too?
·
Trish Geiger: 3/22:
Ana Te Pahu on Easter Island in Chile – lave tube.
This
Month’s trips –
ü
Trip to Virginia
Museum of Natural History in Martinsville, VA for the annual Reptile Festival, Saturday
April 20th. https://www.vmnh.net/events/reptile-festival
ü BRG trip to Goodwin Cave, Roanoke Co. VA.
Beginner trip: basic cave gear required.
You might have to crawl in cold water. This cave is gated. Permission
has been received for BRG to visit the cave. Meet 8:30a @ HROM. Jeff Huffman is
leader. Contact Susan Burr pondlady97@gmail.com, 540-580-9409 for more info. After the caving trip, and if there is
interest, there will be a ‘pick up’ vertical practice, to be held sometime
Sunday afternoon at HROM.
Next
Month’s grotto trip – 5/18 to Scott Hollow, WV Omega Loop;
meet at HROM at 8:30a.
BUSINESS MEETING |
Treasury Report – Kelly Perkins, Treasurer –
Note – the NSS advised us to void the check
for the brick for Al Stewart – it was lost in the changing of the bookkeepers
so currently our books are up to date. We need to resubmit the check since it
was lost; then the brick will be made.
$ 110.96 Cave
Bucks
$
2.00 Conservation Fund
$
144.12 Equipment Fund
$ 6,936.09 General Fund
$ 7,193.17 Total
Funds
Committees:
●
Newsletter –There was no April Carbide Dump
newsletter. Note: the USPS is raising
its rates so postage will be going up effective July 14th for the few
newsletters we mail out. [The new rates include a 5-cent increase in the price
of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 68 cents to 73 cents.]
●
Membership – has 53 members & 5 subscribers.
The membership list and cards are delayed until the new membership card design
is approved.
●
ROCKS – Active in Allegheny County every
Wednesday and the 4th weekend of each month.
●
Safety & Techniques – No rescues this
past month that we are aware of. Note: per NCRC, they are reinstating the rule
that locking carabiners must be used on cow’s tails (QAS – quick
attachment safety’s).
Membership Proposals: None.
Old Business
·
Updates for back of
BRG membership cards to make current. – Dave has the info and will put on the new membership cards.
·
Blue Ridge Grotto
Google Groups - blueridgegrotto@googlegroups.com; as of 4/13/24 we have
had 42 members sign up. That leaves about 10 (+
5 subscribers) who have not. The
Officers have made individual calls and sent messages to those people to give
them a final chance. If they don’t
accept the invitation, they will no longer receive the emails (meeting
announcements, newsletters, etc.)
·
CaveSim –Funding was
arranged for CaveSim for the July 12-13 dates – See ADDENDUM AT THE END OF THESE MINUTES FOR INFO FROM DAVE
JACKSON! Note that CaveSim will be in Roanoke July 12 & 13 (Fri and Sat)
and in Blacksburg on July 14 (Sun).
They
are also looking at GoFest in October. Here is what we know so far:
o From Dylan: Below is a breakdown
in pricing. It is significantly higher than the July dates as CaveSim won’t be
on tour and will be traveling from Colorado where they are based. I understand
that the total amount is intimidating. I’m looking at getting multiple cave
clubs and businesses to combine donations to sponsor CaveSim at GO Fest.
§ CAVESIM GO FEST PRICING
§ Per Day Rate: $1,958
§ Travel Expenses: $2.75/mile
§ Cave Sim would run Sat and Sun at GO FEST
§ Per Day Rate: $1,958 * 2 days = $3,916
§ Travel Expenses: $2.75/mile * 3,066 miles = $8,431.50 (round trip cost)
§ Total Cost: $12,347.50
·
BRG stickers – see
info Kelly provided at Officers meeting April 16th. (See below in
New Business)
·
Final Votes for
favorite 5 Carbide Dump covers.
New Business:
·
BRG Officers (Nick
Schmalenberger, Dave Socky, Kelly Perkins, Marian McConnell) met on 4/16 at
Wasena Tap Room. We discussed:
·
BRG
CAVING EQUIPMENT – MarySue provided a list of caving equipment we have on hand.
Dave gave it to Nick. It lists helmets, lights, bash (First Aid) kits, etc. We
need to set up a date and time to go through it all and see about
replacing/upgrading it; especially the helmets and lights. Nick suggested we have a BRG day where we do
that and also practice some vertical work off the tree in the Socky’s backyard.
Marian suggested perhaps in early November.
·
COMMUNICATION
– At the next BRG meeting we need to remind everyone that if they have a
question or concern, to contact any/all of the 4 Officers: Nick, Dave, Kelly,
Marian. Also, anyone with questions, concerns, or who just wants to come to our
monthly Officers’ meetings at the Wasena Tap Room Grill; are always welcome,
they just need to let us know at least a day or two in advance so we have
enough chairs. The next Officers’ meeting is Tuesday, May 14th at
5:30p.
·
PROGRAM
FOR BRG APRIL 19 MEETING: Nick said they had a good vertical practice at the
cliffs behind Hanging Rock Orange Market – himself, his mom, Susan, Doug,
Morgan, Logan, etc. He’ll put together some photos to share as the program;
which may also encourage others to come out on Sunday April 21st
after their trip to Goodwin’s cave.
·
BRG
FLYERS AND SITCKERS:
o Kelly provided samples of the stickers
along with a price list. Samples were
passed around of the 3 stickers, and the info will
be shared in the Carbide Dump so everyone can see them before we vote on
how many to buy.
o Also, a sample flyer (4x6) that will
have our a QRC code for our BRG website:
www.blueridgegrotto.org for contact information. It would be $40 for 250 copies
(color, 2-sided). These can be used at public events like GoFest, or at the
River Rock Climbing Wall, and other venues and events. Kelly/Dave will create a “final” version to share in Carbide
Dump so everyone can see and we can vote on how many to order.
·
PROGRAM
FOR MAY 17TH BRG MEETING: Dave will
confirm guest speaker Dr. Eric Stanley about cave rescues.
·
GOOGLE
MAIL BRG GROUP: The group set up is for BRG members only. MarySue has a list of
prospective members and exchanges (other Grottos) that she and Dave are weeding
out to make current, so they will continue to get a copy of the message(s). If
anyone wants to share a trip or activity with a non-member, they can forward it
individually to that person(s) “ad hoc”.
Announcements:
●
Healthy Caving – let’s be healthy going
underground. Rules were posted in the DUMP.
●
Please send verified cave info updates for https://var.caves.org/index.php/conservation/closed-caves/closed-cave-list to Brad
Blasé.
●
Winter closure dates for bat caves in West Virginia is September 1
– May 15.
●
Winter cave closure dates for bat caves in Virginia is October 15 –
April15.
●
Catawba Murder Hole
Cave is CLOSED – Dano and Marian are still awaiting final resolution of some
landowner issues.
2023 CAVER CALENDAR:
●
April 20 – Trip to Martinsville Reptile Festival
at Virginia Museum of Natural History
●
April 21 – BRG Caving trip to Goodwin’s, then
vertical practice at Hanging Rock
●
April 26-28 – VAR “Earth Day” Restoration
Sinkhole Cleanout – Bland, VA. Reward:
Trip into nearby Coon Cave, VA.
●
May 3-5 – Spring VAR at East Fork Campground;
Durbin, WV. Registration now open.
●
May 17 – Next BRG meeting at Jersey Lily’s;
dinner 6p, meeting 6:30p
●
May 17-19 – 2024 Spring MAR Field Meet at
McClure Bean Soup Festival Grounds; McClure, PA.
●
May 22-28 – Speleofest, Lone Star Cave Preserve,
Bonnieville, KY hosted by Louisville Grotto
●
June 2-8 – Virginia Cave Week.
●
July 1-5, 2024 – NSS Convention in Sewanee, TN
●
Nick asked if anyone would be interested in
going to Camps Gulf cave post-NSS Convention?
●
2024 TAG will be in Union Grove AL on the Lazy G
Ranch; date and details TBD.
●
4th Appalachian Karst symposium
November 7-10 in Lewisburg, in conjunction with WVCC annual banquet, with field
trips, speakers, etc. (per John Pearson)
Cold
Beer! 7:31p
Program: Highlights from last weekend’s BRG Vertical
Session. Plus, photos of recent caving adventures.
Minutes by Marian McConnell
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ADDENDUM FROM DAVE JACKSON RE CAVESIM
IN ROANOKE:
April 22, 2024
Hi everyone,
Thank you for exchanging emails about the CaveSim programs in
Virginia this July! I am including Zenah Orndorff on this email
because Zenah is working with me to coordinate the entire trip. Marian,
to answer your question, we will be in Blacksburg on Sunday, July
14th. Here is the most recent schedule that Zenah put together:
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wed |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
|
July 1-7 |
convention |
convention |
convention |
convention |
convention |
Bristol |
X |
July 8-14 |
X |
Richmond |
Richmond |
H'burg |
Roanoke |
Roanoke |
Blacksburg |
July 15-21 |
X |
I expect that it will indeed be helpful for us to have
volunteers. For instance, cavers can help with the CaveSim SRT tower (the
12-foot-tall yellow A-frame that you've seen at NSS Conventions in the past),
with the CaveSim squeezebox, and with teaching kids about cave conservation
before/after they explore the CaveSim trailer. Is there additional
information that would be helpful for me to provide at this point?
Thank you again, and have a good evening, Dave