BLUE RIDGE GROTTO of the National Speleological Society

BRG Minutes for 11/21/2025

Famous Anthonys- Brookside 6499 Williamson Road NW Roanoke VA 24019

Attendance:

Susan Burr Mary Sue Socky John Pearson

Dave Socky Doug Feller Jeff Huffman

Trish Geiger Helene Ferguson Barry Ferguson

Jessica Hester *Ben Hester *Derek Nash

Bob Alderson *Guest

Treasurer Marian McConnell was not present. Chair Dave Socky took over dues collections and other Treasurer duties in her absence.

Chair David Socky called the meeting to order at 6:34.

Everyone was welcomed. Introductions.

PROGRAM: “Mystery Cave Underground: Mapping for the Future” a 15 min. video on how to survey caves. Filmed in Mystery Cave, MO.

TRIP REPORTS

8/30: Bob Alderson, Bill Koescherner, Michael Raymond surveyed in Shorts Moonshine Cave KY as part of CRF.

8/31: Bob Alderson, Tom Brucker, and Tim Green visited, surveyed in the Elysium area of Mammoth Cave, KY

9/13: Shoveleater Cave, WV. Bob Alderson, Daniko Maybrook, Adam Happensack, and Mike Shank surveyed and explored the Three Column Hall area to the Gaping Blackness.

10/1: Bob Alderson, Bill Koershcner, Dave Socky, and Joe Zokaites surveyed in Dunn’s Cave, VA.

10/4: Susan Burr and friends visited James Cave, VA as a pick-up trip. Everyone had forgotten how difficult James can be. The roadside entrance of James Cave can use a cleanup – glass shards are everywhere! BRG needs to get with NRVG and plan a conservation trip here in 2026.

10/7: Bob Alderson, Bill Koershcner, Dave Socky, Joe & Carol Zokaites surveyed in Dunn’s Cave, VA

10/11: Bob Alderson, Bill Koerschner, and Mike Conover surveyed in the Popcorn Canyon section of Roppel Cave, KY (CRF)

10/12: Bob Alderson, Bill Koerschner, Sully Sullivan, Tress NLN surveyed in Rider’s Mill Cave, KY. (CRF)

10/18: Warm River Cave, VA. (NOTE: Warm River Cave is closed except for science and survey trips through the Warm Springs Project group with express permission from the owner.) Bob Alderson, Mark Minton, Corey Hcackley, Keely Owens surveyed. Bob reported that breakdown climb past the ‘Mouse Hole” resulted in a major breakthrough in Warm River Cave – it may bypass the sump.

10/19-20: CaveSim visited GO FEST in downtown Roanoke, VA. Dave Jackson and Geoff Lawrence say THANKS to

Robert Balch, Susan Burr, Doug Feller, Barry Ferguson, Helene Ferguson, Jeff Huffman, Bambi Marshall, Marian McConnell, Derek Nash, Jen Perdue, Nick Schmalenberger, Dave Socky, and MarySue Socky for helping with CaveSim. 1042 visitors crawled through CaveSim! See report under Old Business.

10/22: Dunn's Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Joe Zokaites, and Bill Koerschner. Bob Alderson and Rick Royer as team two. A total of 507 feet was surveyed on a 7-hour trip.

10/24: Shenandoah Wild Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Dave Hubbard, Blaine Schubert, Davis Gunnin, Shea Gunnin, Casey Tucker, and Carl Amundson. Carol Tiderman was surface support. Permitted Peccary bone removal.

10/25: Triplet Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Keith Sweeney, Rick Lambert, Jason Sargent, Jim Schurman, Marissa Loftus, Andrew Newton, plus 3 others from RASS. Continued the dig – still going.

10/29: Dunn's Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Joe Zokaites, Bill Koerschner, and Bob Alderson. We mopped up in the main upper level. Meanwhile, Bob Alderson was shoved down a pit where he surveyed 20 ft. of passage.

11/1: McClung Cave, WV. Participants included David Socky, Joe Zokaites, Bob Alderson, and Nick Socky. We went to the Junction Connection passage (off the Breezeway) to bolt climb several high leads. Also surveyed in another close by area in some low passages. Eight hours and 175 feet of survey with more to do!

11/5: Warm River Cave, VA. (NOTE: Warm River Cave is closed except for science and survey trips through the Warm Springs Project group with express permission from the owner.) Participants included David Socky, Joe Zokaites, Bob Alderson, and Mark Minton. We went to the upstream historic section, past the end of the 2014 survey - to survey the high lead that Bob Alderson and company had climbed this past April. We found more passage on two levels. We surveyed 480 feet of virgin cave that was well decorated. We left leads in this area, so more trips are planned!

11/5: Trish Geiger attended Chuck Hempel’s memorial service. It was well attended by cavers and neighbors.

11/8: WVCC Banquet had a great turnout and a nice dinner at the Clingman Center, Lewisburg, WV. Mark Minton & Yvonne Droms were the guest speakers on "Recent Discoveries in Warm River Cave, VA." There was a Gurney Can at the silent auction! BRG members present were Bob Alderson, Joey Fagan, Gene Harrison, John & Lyn Pearson, Dave & Mary Socky, Nick Socky, Nick Schmalenberger, Alex Sproul, Meredith Weberg.

11/9 Lowmoor Cave, VA. After the WVCC Banquet, David Socky, Mary Sue Socky, and Meredith Weberg went to Lowmoor Cave. Visited the Devils Kitchen and just a little bit down the main passage. The purpose of the trip was to show Meredith spray paint and one place not to go to in preparation for a VAR conservation trip in 2026.

11/11 and 11/18: BRG conservation efforts continue in Dixie Caverns, VA. Mary Sue Socky, Marian McConnell, Susan Burr, Trish Geiger, Abbey Mays, Alex Thompson, and Jenna Fidler are removing green lampenflora and gently cleaning flowstone. The black algae at the Wedding Party Pool has returned. Two Dixie Salamanders & several cave crickets were seen on 11/18!

11/14 & 16. Dave Socky participated in a SPAR (Small Party Assisted Rescue) course at Carter Caves State Park, KY. Caves visited for the course included Cascade Cave at Carter Caves State Park, and then on Tom Wood and Steph Petri’s property: No Thanks Brad Pit, Toothbrush Cave, Ox Barn Cave, and Cliffside Cave.

11/17, 18, & 19. David Socky helped on photo trips for Martyn Farr and Rachael Smith from Wales. Geary Schindel was the main organizer. Mark Minton and Yvonne Droms helped as guides (they had done Butler, Helectite, and Lowmoor earlier). And then Tom Black and Tomislav Gracanin participated as helpers. Over the three days we took Martyn and Racheal into Lost World Cavers, Piercys Mill, McClung, Rapps, and Organ Cave (Note – we got special permission from the owner for Organ Cave. The main entrance is not normally open for caving.)

11/19: Dunns’ Cave, VA Bob Alderson, Bill Koerschner, Amos Mincin, Keith Sweeney. They dug under a flowstone floor, and made more passage.

UPCOMING TRIPS

· 11/22: Trips to Owl Cave/Water Sinks and The Subway, part of the Water Sinks Karst Preserve that Phil and Charlotte Lucas created.

· 11/22 – Dave Socky, others to WSP project N. of Covington, VA.

· 11/26-30 – Hamilton Valley CRF (KY) project caving in Mammoth Cave and Flint Ridge KY.

· 12/20 – BRG trip TBA, likely to Porter’s or Crossroads Cave, VA.

BUSINESS MEETING

Treasury Report

11/21/2025 Treasury Report – Marian McConnell, Treasurer

Fund Amounts

$ 117.96 Cave Bucks

$ 2.00 Conservation Fund

$ 144.12 Equipment Fund

$ 5,395.42 General Fund

$ 5,659.50 Total Funds

Dave Socky will publish the correct account addresses for Zelle and PayPal.

COMMITTES

Newsletter – another issue, published early. Articles, photos wanted. Thank you for the trip reports!

Membership – BRG has 53 members and 3 subscribers. Pay Your Dues!

ROCKS – Dave Socky has been caving with WSP in Highland Co. VA. They are finding, surveying new caves.

S&T – No report.

MEMBERSHIP PROPOSALS - No membership proposals at this time.

ELECTIONS: PROPOSED slate of BRG Officers for 2026

Chair- David Socky NSS 16334

Vice – Susan Burr NSS 53888

Sec – Mary Sue Socky NSS 24206

Treas – Marian McConnell NSS 37358

Nominations were closed.

· John Perarson motioned that the current slate of officers be accepted for a second term.

· Bob Alderson seconded the motion.

VOTING: 4 absentee ballots have been received and counted. the current slate of officers for 2026 were voted in by acclimation of Regular members present.

· After voting, the usual plea for different cavers to step up as officers in the future was made.

Old Business

· the front meeting room @ Famous Anthony’s – Brookside has been reserved for 1/16, 2/20, 3/20, 4/17, 5/15, 6/19, 7/17, 8/21, 9/18, 10/16, 11/20 in 2026.

· VAR Updates. Did anyone present attend Fall VAR 2025? (No)

o No volunteers to host 2026 Spring VAR – yet.

o If no grotto steps forward, Meredith will write the names of “few- to never- hosted” grottos on paper and draw a name out of a hat to choose the host of the Spring 2026 VAR meeting.

· CaveSim Update – 1042 visitors crawled through CaveSim during GO Fest. The new climbing tower and squeezebox were hits, too. New site, Zone 8 this year. Thank you, everyone who volunteered! We did a LOT with fewer volunteers this year.

· BRG Landowner Xmas cards are HERE. (show sample) They will be mailed soon. Does anyone have additional names and addresses for the Cave Owner list?

· Dixie Caverns Cave Salamander study took place Nov. 8-9, 2025. The scientists found a few adult Slimy salamanders (Plethodon sp.), took measurements, and sampled their tail tips for DNA.

· Dixie Caverns Conservation Project –volunteers have been working in the lower levels on Tuesday when there are no tours. We will have a Saturday conservation trip during the winter months. The cave is looking better!

· BRG Extra donation of $120.00 was hand delivered to WVCC at the Banquet last weekend (D. Socky). BRG also donated an additional $40.00 to SCCi and MAKC per the motion from the October BRG meeting.

· New access policy for New River Cave Preserve, VA. Allows for 4 groups, or max. of 15 people per day. Eli Myer is the new Preserve Manager.

New Business

· Discussion on Cave Sim: Dave Jackson must drive across half of the USA to share CaveSim with the East Coast. Should cavers begin lobbying the Commonwealth of VA to purchase a CaveSim for use throughout VA? John Pearson offered to draft a letter encouraging Virginia to buy a CaveSim trailer, once we hammer out the language of what we want to request.

· The info on the BRG webpage is OK. However, the BRG info on the NSS website (meeting place & officers) needs to be updated. Dave Socky said he would take care of it.

· Jan. 16, 2026 BRG meeting – Susan Burr has arranged for a guest speaker from the SW VA Wildlife Center to talk with us about what is needed for bat rescues and bat rehabs.

o Susan had paid a $100 speaker fee for a 20-minute talk; (Susan will be reimbursed)

o BRG members will be encouraged to attend the 1/16/2026 talk, and we will PASS THE HELMET for a nice donation to SWVAWC.

· Needed: a better hand-pump/sprayer for conservation efforts.

o We need something that puts out a decent stream of water to rinse off formations, etc.

o Debate on preference of 1 gallon vs. 2-gallon containers. (2-gallon sprayer was preferred).

o A ‘battery backpack’ sprayer may be too heavy and too expensive.

o Don’t know if they still manufacture the good 25-year-old ORTHO sprayer anymore.

§ Mary Socky will investigate what is available in the local hardware stores.

Announcements:

· There will be a Rock and Mineral show at the Salem Civic Center Nov. 28-30, 2025. $5 for all three days.

· There will be NO DECEMBER 19, 2025 BRG meeting. Enjoy your holidays!

· Brandon Phibbs’ cave suit is for sale. $75. Nick Schmalenberger has info. (See Nov. DUMP p. 71.)

· T-Shirts –Limited colors, sizes L and XL. $12.00 each. Contact Susan Burr pondlady97@gmail.com for more information.

· John Pearson will be visiting various Hawaiian caves and hopes to attend presentations during the Hawaiian Cave Meeting in Jan. 2026.

· Gene Harrison says THANKS to the BRG cavers who helped with Lynn Ott’s stuff after her death 11/8/2024.

· Catawba Murder Hole Cave is CLOSED.

· Winter Bat Closure is in effect – Winter closure may affect different caves (hibernacula).

· WV: closed Sept 1 - May 15 VA: closed Oct. 15 - Apr. 15.

· Final call for everyone to take exchange newsletters, magazines. The remainder will be added to the WVACS bonfire.

Caver Calendar:

Nov 21 – BRG meeting 6p @ Famous Anthony’s – Brookside. Roanoke VA

Nov 28-30 -Salem Rock and Mineral Show https://www.rvmgs.org/472-2/

Dec 13 – WVACS Christmas Party. Contact Nick Socky sockynss@vt.edu for info.

Jan 16, 2026 – BRG meeting 6p @ Famous Anthony’s – Brookside. Roanoke VA

Jan 18, 2026 – BRG Winter Party, Socky’s place. Noon-5p, Potluck, BYOB, family, friends are invited.

Feb 20, 2026 - BRG meeting 6p @ Famous Anthony’s – Brookside. Roanoke VA

Mar 20, 2026 - BRG meeting 6p @ Famous Anthony’s – Brookside. Roanoke VA

July 6-10, 2026 - NSS Convention, Corydon IN.

Cold Beer! 7:27p

Minutes submitted by Mary Sue Socky, Secretary