BLUE RIDGE GROTTO

 of the National Speleological Society

BRG Minutes for September 20, 2024

Jersy Lily’s; Roanoke, VA

 

Attendance:

Nick Schmalenberger - Chair

Dave Socky – Vice Chair

Kelly Perkins – Treasurer

Marian McConnell – Secretary

Mary Sue Socky – Membership

Susan Burr

Lynn Ott

John Pearson

Jeff Huffman

Barry Ferguson

Helene Ferguson

Alexander Thompson*

Bob Balch*

Doug Feller

Margo Soucek*

Brandon Brombach*

 

 

*Guest

 

 

TRIP REPORTS

·         7/28: Mine Tunnel, CO. David Socky. Explored an old mine tunnel hear the trail head for Gray and Torrey’s Peak in Colorado. The tunnel only went for 30 feet or so before ending in a total collapse. Probably just as well, since old mines are dangerous and unstable. It was probably an old silver or gold mine.

·         8/17 – Island Ford, VA – See trip report in Carbide Dump (Mary Sue Socky)

·         8/18 –Dig near the church on Gray Ledge Road in Botetourt County (Nick Schmalenberger) – Didn’t go; went with Martin to Greenbrier meeting.

·         8/24 – Lone Ash Cave (AKA Bertha Cave), VA – (Susan Burr) See trip report in Carbide Dump

·         8/24: McClung Cave, WV. Participants included for team 1 David Socky, Paul Walko, and Eli Meyer. Team 2: Nick Socky and Gracie Cornish. Team 3: Nikki Fox and one other. Team 4: Jason Delafield, Laurel Molloy, and Andy Bui. Crystal Canyon, Ludington dig, and Venti Muddy wet lead. We had a total of 600 feet or so of survey completed, three aid climbs completed, plus digging on the Ludington lead. We spent a total of 13 hours in the cave. Leads killed, but others left. The Ludington dig is discouraging, but Jason left going cave in his very wet lead.                      

·         9/4: Triplet Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Bill Koerschner, Rick Lambert, Keith Sweeney, Amos Mincin, and Jason Sargent. We dug in Triplet cave from 10:30am to 2:30pm. Amos had to quit at 2pm because Rick had to take him Bill Jones's so Bill could take him to Staunton to rent a car since Amos totaled his coming back from OTR (fell asleep at the wheel and drove into a ditch). So, after 2pm we sat around and bs'ed and then went over to look at Wave Function Cave.

 

UPCOMING TRIPS:

●        9/21/24 – Culverson Creek, WV; meet at 8:30am HROM, trip leader Dave Socky. Let Susan Burr know if you are interested. Horizontal water cave. Unless we have lots of heavy rain between now & Saturday, this trip is a go. The water levels have been very low in Culverson Creek so rain this week probably will not affect our trip. Dave will take us to see the "Log Jam" Doug & I are always talking about. Afterwards, Dave will take us wherever. It will be fun. There will be lots of walking in the water so dress accordingly & pack your stuff to be waterproof. There is a little bit of a hike to the cave through a field.

●        10/19 – This would normally be the monthly BRG caving trip; but due to CaveSim that may be changed.  Details TBA.

PROGRAM: Best of Show Program from 2024 NSS Video Salon, “Crypt of the Megafauna”

 

BUSINESS MEETING

Treasury Report – Kelly Perkins, Treasurer – The total for the treasury report as of 8/5 is $6672.35 as of 9/2/24.

 

Committees:  

●        Newsletter – Great August/September issue, thanks to all who contributed. Three NSS award ribbons were given out for the Carbide Dump from the 2024 NSS Convention – Merit Award and Honorable Mention for Dave Socky covers, and Merit award for Kelly Perkins cover.

●        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 – N/A

 

Membership Proposals: None

 

Old Business 

·         BRG Payment Account: Kelly set up a Paypal account. You can now pay for dues, t-shirts, etc. this way, or by cash or check to Kelly in person. The Paypal payee account is: blueridgegrottoofficers@gmail.com

·         BRG Data and Reports Digitized: Kelly set up a way to record, track, print out information such as the monthly Treasurer’s report and Membership list.

·         GoFest in Roanoke October 18-20:

[At the August BRG meeting, Nick moved that we register BRG with $150 for our own space; but if CaveSim is funded, we will cancel our space and volunteer with them, and donate that $150 to CaveSim. It was seconded by Kelly, and passed unanimously.] 

As of 9/18, CaveSim will be at GoFest, but only on October 19 and 20. Nick suggested we still pay for our own space for the whole 3 days; but after some discussion and in keeping with our plans, we will volunteer at CaveSim and give them a $150 donation; but not have our own space. (Nick needs to let Dylan know to cancel that order.) We can certainly still promote BRG while volunteering with CaveSim by wearing our new BRG t-shirts and handing out BRG flyers and stickers and encourage people to come check out BRG.

Dylan had invited us to send a few folks to a panel of experts on that Sunday October 20 from 3-4. So far Dave Socky will be there, possibly MarySue, and Nick Schmalenberger. *This is also an opportunity to encourage people to check out the Blue Ridge Grotto!

·         T-Shirts: The t-shirts are in. You can pay by Paypal to blueridgegrottoofficers@gmail.com; or you can pay with cash, check, or money order. Please pay asap. Reminder: the t-shirts are $12 each unless you bought a 2XL which is $15 each. Extras are available for purchase too.  Let’s all wear our new shirts to the October meeting and get a group photo! Bring a Christmas hat for the pics which we might be able to use for our Christmas card.

·         Should BRG sponsor a VAR? Not enough interest at this time; perhaps sometime in the future.

New Business:

·         Christmas card design ideas – please submit before November 15th meeting.

·         BRG annual Christmas Party – the Socky’s graciously offered to have it at their home on December 15th, pot luck.

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 Blase.

●        Catawba Murder Hole Cave is CLOSED

●        We are transitioning to Winter Bat Closure. Only a few caves are closed as bat hibernaculum’s, so go caving elsewhere. WV – closed Sep 1 - May 15. VA – closed Oct. 15 – Apr 15.

2023 CAVER CALENDAR:

●        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 – BRG meeting 6:30p Jersey Lily’s Salem, VA – Nominations for Officers

●        October 19-20 – CaveSim in Roanoke during GoFest for October 19 and 20.

●        Oct. 25-27, 2024: Orientation to Cave Rescue (OCR) weekend class in Blacksburg, VA.

See https://tickets.caving.dev/caverescue/ocr2024/

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

●        November 9 – WVCC Banquet, Lewisburg, WV

 

Adjournment: 8:21p