BLUE RIDGE GROTTO of the National Speleological Society

BRG Minutes for July 19, 2024

Jersey Lily’s; Roanoke, VA

 

Attendance:

Nick Schmalenberger, Chair

Dave Socky, Vice Chair

Kelly Perkins, Treasurer

Marian McConnell, Secretary

Mary Sue Socky, Membership

Barry Ferguson

Helen Ferguson (Sub)

Margo Soucek*

John Pearson

Lynn Ott (Sub)

Doug Feller

Jeff Huffman

Susan Burr

Kevin Johnson

Carrie Doupnik

Rolland Moore*

Logan Van Han*

Carl Cornett

*Guest

 

TRIP REPORTS

·         March – May 2024 caving in Mexico – reports by Rolland Moore. [pending his details]

·         6/22 – Island Ford Cave, VA. Susan Burr, Doug Feller, Kelly Perkins, Margo & Calvin. Margo may have seen a “rare salamander. Calvin fell but no injuries. Susan was glad it wasn’t Doug!

·         7/1-5 Sewanee, TN. NSS Convention – Nick Schmalenberger went caving during Convention in the Widow’s Crack, Crystal Cave, Bible Springs, Adair Pit, and “No Cave.” Dave and Mary Sue went caving in the Caverns; see Dave’s Trip reports.

·         6/22 McClung, WV. Participants included David Socky, Nick Socky, and Joe Zokaites. We cleaned up leads in the Lower (Lost) Freeman Ave trunk. Went to the end of our last survey and finished the main room, and then got into a route through a maze of breakdown passages and eventually got back to the stream. It was virgin cave. But eventually all routes got too tight, and we finished off all leads. From the line plot, the end of our survey was only 200 feet and 10 feet above the Chocolate Ave passage that ties into the sump. That is where the stream most likely goes. There are still more leads to survey in the Lower (Lost) Freeman Ave passage. It was a fun 8-hour trip with 470 feet in the book. Nick sketched.

·         7/10 Dressler Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Joe Zokaites, Rick Lambert, and Jim Schurman. Rick, Joe, and I surveyed this whole cave while Jim kept watch at the surface. The down climb that I had left turned out to be pretty easy to climb down and just as easy to climb out again. It did bell out a little at the bottom, but not bad. The lower level ended up ending, except for one lead that was blowing a little bit of air. A tight 4" constriction hole opened up within a half-foot, so a couple of straws would open the way up. The passage past the constriction looked like hands and knees and about 2 to 3 feet wide. Looked good! Need to return to this. We surveyed 268 feet in about 3 hours.

·         7/10 Go Slow Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Joe Zokaites, Rick Lambert, and Jim Schurman. This was a little cave right on the side of Rt 220. An easy belly crawl going in and then the floor sloped down so you could stand up just inside. There was a floor channel. After 17 feet there was a slot in the floor which you couldn't fit into, but it looked like it opened up below. There was trash down below which had washed in The drop was about 10 to 12 feet, maybe a little less. It looked good sized, but there was no air flow.

·         7/10 Rushing Waters Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Joe Zokaites, Rick Lambert, and Jim Schurman. Joe and I went in to check the data logger and the second sump. The data logger was still in the water, but we moved it so it was in the flowing water an little deeper. The second sump was pretty much at the same level as when I was there last, but the water was clearer. I went in up to my neck and could see into the sump. The passage sloped downwards and looked to be 3 feet high by 3 to 4 feet wide. I couldn't see any back wall and looked to keep going down. A promising dive.

·         7/17 Grape Arbor Pit, VA. Participants included David Socky, Joe Zokaites, Bill Koerschner, Jason Sargent, Tom McIntyre, Keith Sweeney, Rick Lambert, and Tom Whitehurst. Joe, Bill, Sarge, Tom McIntire, and I did all the digging. Rick, Keith, Tom W, and Sarge (for a little) put data loggers in Collins Cave and Rodent Hotel Cave on the hillside. They then did geology stuff. I did one 9-inch straw and then the drill broke. But the one straw did a good number and we spent the rest of the afternoon digging out the spoils and digging down. There didn't seem to be any air movement, but it must have been sucking a little because it was hot at the bottom and the smoke from the blast was gone almost immediately. Bill was down in the hole when a thunderstorm roiled in and it started to rain. We got halfway down the hill before the rain started in earnest. We got soaked, but it only lasted for 1/2 hour and then the sun came back out. We then went over to look at Triplet Cave.

·         7/17 Triplet Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Joe Zokaites, Bill Koerschner, Jason Sargent, Tom McIntyre, and Keith Sweeney. Sarge and I went in to look at the dig face. The cave is about 60 feet long now with two rooms (spaces) in which you can stand up. The floor is gravel and small rock and diggable. Might need to blast to widen the passage after which we'll be able to see if it gets bigger or not. It was cold and blowing a little air. Bill really likes this dig!

·         7/12-13 – CaveSim in Roanoke, VA (Washington Park & Wasena Park) – Dave & Mary Sue, Marian, Kelly, Doug, Susan, Carl volunteered and participated. All loved it and so did the kids!

 

UPCOMING TRIPS:

·         7/20 - This month’s trip:  July 20 – Culverson Creek, WV; meet at HROM at 8:30a. Dave Socky leading. Trip route will depend on rain and potential for flooding.

·         8/3 – Mystik and Lauren Appel are planning a pick-up trip to Bone Norman Cave. (This was changed from Rehoboth Church Cave which is now closed due to liability issues.) Details TBD.

·         8/24 – Lone Ash Cave (AKA Bertha Cave), VA – organized by Susan Burr. Meet at 8:30a at HROM. $10/person covers guide and ride to and from the cave (3.5 miles). $7 parking fee to the park will be waived if you let them know you are on the caving trip. Easy cave. Please let Susan know if you plan to go.

 

PROGRAM:  NSS 2024 Photo Salon (24 minutes)

 

BUSINESS MEETING

Treasury Report – Kelly Perkins, Treasurer –

 

Committees:  

●        Newsletter – July issue is out; the August issue will be combined with the September issue. Times have changed; back in 1990 we mailed out 75 hard copies and mailed them. Now we send out digital copies and only mail 9; postage has gone up!

●        Membership – currently we have 55 members & 5 subscribers.  

●        ROCKS – Per Dave Socky - Ongoing work in Allegheny County in Warm Springs every Wednesday, and on the 4th Saturday of each month. Lots of RASS members helping. Digging, surveys, mapping, etc. if anyone is interested.

●        Safety & Techniques – Nick has found a possible place to practice rappelling – in the Church Avenue parking garage.

 

Membership Proposals:  None at this time.

 

Old Business 

·         Blue Ridge Grotto Google Groups - blueridgegrotto@googlegroups.com; anyone who doesn’t accept the invitation will no longer receive the emails (meeting announcements, newsletters, etc.) Some reported that BRG group emails are going to their spam folder; so Nick sent out email instructions (7/19) and attachments on how to fix that issue by creating a filter to “never send it to spam”.

·         Recap from those who attended NSS Convention in Sewanee, TN. BRG won some awards: Carbide Dump covers won 2 Merit and 1 Honorable mentions. Marian’s Christmas Bat art won a Merit Award in the Fine Arts Salon, and her Emergence music video won a Merit Award for Mixed Media [you can watch it on Youtube 3:44 minutes at: https://youtu.be/4C132p2Lktk ]

·         CAVESIM – was in Roanoke July 12 & 13.  BRG members came out to help and participate and bring guests with kids. [See trip reports above.]

·         BRG FLYERS AND STICKERS: The BRG 500 flyers and 250 each of the 2 styles of stickers came in. Some were handed out at CaveSim with the new flyers.

 

New Business:

·         BRG Officers (Nick Schmalenberger, Dave Socky, Kelly Perkins, Marian McConnell met on July 16th and discussed:

o    BRG Payment Account: The goal would be to add an option for BRG members to pay for their dues (and any other charges) online, through our Google group account. No action required at BRG meeting pending further investigation.

o    BRG Data and Reports Digitized: Kelly suggested setting up a way to record, track, print out information such as the monthly Treasurer’s report and Membership list. No action required at BRG meeting pending further investigation.

o    GoFest in Roanoke October 18-20:

§  Kelly will check to see if we can put some of our BRG items (flyers, stickers) with CaveSim’s info.  To rent our own BRG table/space may cost $650; however, Kevin and Carrie are Master Naturalists and said they were only going to be charged $100; so Kelly will see if we can get a discount as well.  If we choose to get our own space, we may have to do some fund-raising such as raffling off donated items. We would need enough BRG volunteers to man the space the whole 3 days.

§  As for BRG donating to CaveSim coming to GoFest; John Peason proposed BRG donate $300. Susan seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

o    Moving BRG program to beginning of meeting; we started with this meeting.

o    T-Shirts: Kelly said (for example) to have 40 printed (100% cotton), it would be about $9.50 each; so we could charge $10. It will be the logo used on the stickers (one color, multi-color would cost more). Shirt colors available are: black, white, gray, royal blue, red, navy. Kelly will get estimates and info, to include the price for 50/50 blend (to prevent shrinkage), the price to add a front pocket, and if we need to select one color or if people can choose their own (would this cost more?) Also, the cost if there is a small logo on front and large one on the back. This info will be shared with members to get their feedback. Once a final design is decided, orders will be taken to get sizes, etc. from each member, with a few extra, to order from the printer.

o    “Associate” memberships – fee or free? Currently, BRG Members are classified as:  Regular, Associate, Family, Junior, and Institutional[MM1] . Dave reviewed the bylaws for membership; there is no mention of a ‘subscriber’ category. This was to allow for others to be informed of BRG activities and get the Carbide Dump. But since this category is not in the bylaws, subscribers are not voting members of the BRG.  It is just a mechanism that allows for non-members to be informed of BRG activities and get notices of the Dump publications.  No action required since we already have Associate membership, and Subscribers.

·         Susan checked on Lone Ash (AKA Bertha Cave, VA near Foster Falls State Park, about an hour south of Roanoke near Claytor Lake, and a special trip for BRG. See info about upcoming trip in Trip Reports.

·         Who would be interested in helping (as leaders or volunteers) sponsor a VAR in Spring of 2025 in Bath County at the RASS field station property? The property has been offered for free, has electricity, has a source for porta-johns, and Alex Sproul has a contact for catering. If BRG takes this on, we need to decide ASAP to do all the planning and logistics that will be required – volunteers, etc. If you have ideas and/or are willing to volunteer for particular jobs, please contact Nick Schmalenberger via email ASAP. The dates will have to be selected too; Spring VAR’s have better turnout. Note – don’t plan over Memorial Day!

·         Rehoboth Church Cave is closed due to liability reasons per Susan/Lauren. (This trip has been changed to Bone Norman Cave, see Trip Reports).

 

Announcements:

●        Lynn Ott donated boxes of caving magazines and books to CaveSim; there were 2 boxes left over so anyone can take a few for free. She took the rest home, and will donate to CaveSim/BRG for GoFest freebies.

●        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 Blase.

●        We are in summer bat closure, only a few caves are closed for bats, so cave elsewhere. VA = April 15 – Oct 15 (maternity colonies) and WV = May 15 – Sept 1 (maternity colonies).

●        Catawba Murder Hole Cave is CLOSED

 

2023 CAVER CALENDAR:

●        July 31 – TRA Membership applications must be received by TRA Secretary by this date

●        August 16 – BRG meeting 6:30p Jersey Lily’s Salem, VA

●        August 24 – Lone Ash/Bertha Cave BRG trip.

●        August 29 – September 2 – Old Timers Reunion (OTR)

●        September 20 – BRG meeting 6:30p Jersey Lily’s Salem, VA

●        September 20-22 - Eastern Region NCRC is offering a weekend course, Orientation to Cave Rescue (OCR) held at the Elkins Fire Dept. and camping will be at the OTR site in Dailey.  See  https://ncrc-er.caves.org/  for updates on registration and class info. 

●        September 27-29 – Fall VAR @ Hungry Mother Lutheran Camp; Marion, VA by www.outofboundsgrotto.org 

●        October 3-6 – TAG Fall Cave in – Tommy’s Lazy G; Union Grove, AL

●        October 18-20 – CaveSim may return to Roanoke during GoFest

●        November 7-10 – Karst Waters Institute 4th Appalachian Karst Symposium, Lewisburg, WV

●        November 9 – WVCC Banquet, Lewisburg, WV

       

Cold beer 8:20p

 [MM1]