BRG Minutes for  01/16/2026

Famous Anthonys- Brookside  6499 Williamson Road NW Roanoke VA  24019

 

Attendance:

Tom Beaman                                       Kevin Johnson                                      Dave Socky

Mary Lou Holland                               Carrie Doupnik                                    Mary Sue Socky

*Ben Hester                                         Marian McConnell                              Jeff Huffman

Jessica Hester                                     Trish Geiger                                          Robert Balch

Barry Ferguson                                    *Alex Thompson                                  *Jesse Burgardt

Helene Ferguson                                Susan Burr                                           *Robb Burgardt

*Clint Barnett                                      *Sira Goldman                                     *Paige Manter – guest speaker

*Guest 

 

Chair David Socky called the meeting to order at 6:30p

Everyone was welcomed.  Introductions.

 

PROGRAM: “Bats Bats Bats”  Paige Manter, our guest speaker, is an Outreach Coordinator at the SWVA Wildlife Center as part of the Education Department. She is also a permitted private rabies vector species rehabilitator. She has worked with bats extensively and has a particular fondness for them.  Paige showed us the kinds of “tree” and “cave” bats found around VA, and described their care and rehabilitation.  Great presentation!

 

BRG passed the hat, and collected $480.00 for SWVWC!  This is in addition to the $100 fee the center charges for  presentations.  Blue Ridge Grotto loves and supports this important wildlife center. 

 

 

TRIP REPORTS

1/10/2026: On a rainy January, Jeff Huffman, Kelly Perkins, Mystik Miller, Jenny Varuska, Randy Wilfong, Betty Bridges, and Caroline Domeika went to Greenbriar Poor Farm Cave, WV.  We entered the cave around noon and exited around 3:00 pm.  Caroline and Betty were newbies that attended the YMCA with Kelly.  Kelly had Mystik arrange the trip.  The group visited the entire cave, including the area where Doug Feller broke his leg in 2023.   After the cave trip, they met Ed Swepston at The Asylum restaurant for dinner.  

 

11/22/2025: Graham Pit, VA. Participants included David Socky, Rick Lambert, Keith Sweeney, Andrew Newton, Aubrey Stallard, Conner Smith, and Mia Blyseth. It was a tight vertical entrance (climbable) which opened into a small room. It continued to the right. A smaller crawl presented itself with a 6-foot climb down into another small room. Unfortunately, there were no leads out of this small room. We surveyed the whole thing in 7 shots for a total of 74 feet.            

 

11/22/2025: Triplet Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Rick Lambert, Keith Sweeney, Andrew Newton, Aubrey Stallard, Conner Smith, Jason Sargent, and Mia Blyseth. Rick Lambert went in immediately and started working on widening the keyhole slot. Jason and Andrew worked on digging out the dig face and actually got into it for a body length and a half, but it was really tight. It was nice because we didn’t have to bring spoils out to the entrance anymore. They just go to fill up holes in the walking canyon just preceding the dig face.  

 

12/3/2025: Triplet Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Rick Lambert, Andrew Newton, Mia Blyseth, and one other from RASS. Two teams again. Rick pretty much turned the keyhole slot to a walking passage. We made good progress on the dig face. Maybe a 3rd of the way there. Can't tell what it does yet, but there is still air!

 

1/7/2026: Dunn's Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Joe Zokaites, and Bill Koerschner. Started the survey of the NW upper-level passage. Found some virgin cave with a connection down to the stream passage. That connection is vertical and will require a bolt and vertical gear to survey. We surveyed 36 stations and are only a bit less than a quarter of the way done with known stuff in that section. This area is crawly and complicated with multiple levels.

 

1/10/2026: McClung Cave, WV. Participants included David Socky, Joe Zokaites, Errol Glidden, and Deneshia Farraris. We went back to the 12-foot-high lead that Bob had bolted up on the previous trip along the GDS passage (Geezer Deluxe Survey). It was easier getting off the rope than I thought it would be, but the tight crawl at the top of the drop was a pain. It was a gnarly crawl for about 2 body lengths. Then it opened up just enough that it was comfortable to sketch. We actually got to survey some walking passage, but after a very tight crawl the lead ended in a 10-foot diameter room. We called it an end even if I didn't see it. We surveyed 200 feet of virgin cave on a good 7-hour trip. As it turned out, the end of our high lead was about 13 feet below the Junction Complex section, near the Lt Dan Dome. On the way out, water levels were noticeably up from a rainstorm during the day.

 

1/14/2026: Shenandoah Wild Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Blaine Schubert, Davis Gunnin, Shea Gunnin, Casey Tucker, Joe Zokaites, and Greg McCoy.  Carol Tiderman surface. While the rest of the team went to do Peccary bone stuff, Joe and I went down the Aragonite Passage and the Aragonite Room to find and dig open the crawl that Rick Royer had gotten into that possibly connected with a surface dig. But we couldn't find the crawl. It was really muddy, goopy, and climby. It was hard to move around because so much mud would stick to our boots that it was hard to walk, let alone climb up steep stuff. Joe and I took a bunch of photos. We finally gave up on finding the lead and headed back to the bone site. Davis had found a fifth Peccary and maybe a sixth. Bones all over the place. We toured past the main bone site to the passage where Davis and Shea were working. Big cave that way. Collecting was finished by 3p. Bones were packed up and we slowly made our way out. Good 6-hour trip!       

 

12/20/2025:  BRG trip to Tawney Cave and Link’s Cave, VA.  Jeff Huffman, Susan Burr, Bambi Marshall, Jessica Hester, Ben Hester, Tim Boone.  Went to Tawney’s.  Dry conditions, nice formations. No bats in the hibernaculum.  Could not find the Emerald Room.  Links Cave still has tons of bugs and spiders, and some nice formations, too.

 

Jan 2026:  Robert Balch went ridgewalking on Laurel Mountain Preserve, near Bassett, VA.  There are limestone areas – Robert found a shelter cave. 

 

This Month’s grotto trip: Paxton Cave, VA.  Susan Burr is trip coordinator. 

Next Month’s grotto trip:  To Be Decided.

 

BUSINESS MEETING

January 16, 2026 - BRG Treasury Report – V2
Fund Amounts

$    117.96           Cave Bucks

$        2.00            Conservation Fund

$    144.12           Equipment Fund

$ 5,622.90          General Fund

     $ 5,886.98    Total Funds

               

Committees:  

Newsletter –Dec. and Jan. DUMPs were published. Articles, photos wanted.

Membership – BRG has 50 members and 4 subscribers.  PAY YOUR DUES! FINAL CALL! 

ROCKS – The Warm Spring Project (WSP) every Wed. and 4th Saturdays.  Exchanging data loggers this trip.   

Safety & Techniques –  no report

 

Membership Proposals:  Ben Hester 

Ben is sponsored by Susan Burr and Lauren Appel.  Ben and BRG associate member Jessica Hester have been married for many years….Since returning to caving, Ben has been on 9 BRG trips!  Ben’s membership letter was read by Susan Burr.  His proposal is tabled until the next meeting!  

      

Old Business: 

·         Thank you, Marian McConnell, for keeping in contact with the folks at Famous Anthony’s.  BRG Meeting Space. 

·         VAR Updates:  Tri-State Grotto is hosting 2026 Spring VAR @ Endless Caverns May 8-10.

o    NO host for 2026 Fall VAR yet. 

·         Dixie Caverns Conservation Project –The cave is looking good! The Caverns Staff have replaced most of the old bulbs with LEDs.  This will help a lot in controlling the green moss and algae.  There are 2 new hand pumps that need to be tested.  BRG hopes to have a Saturday conservation trip during early spring.

·         New access policy for New River Cave Preserve.  Allows for 4 groups, or max. of 15 people per day.   EVERYONE, CAVER and Surface Hiker, needs a permit.   Permits are here: https://permits.saveyourcaves.org/       

 

 

   

New Business

·         The NSS Nature Preserve at Mill Creek Sink in Alachua, Florida, is under imminent threat from nearby proposed development despite being protected by NSS ownership. This property in FL is under attack from nearby developments.  https://caves.org/preserve/mill-creek-sink-nature-preserve-alachua-sinks/ 

·         The BRG info on the NSS webpage has been updated. 

·         The NSS I.O. report for Blue Ridge Grotto (IO-180) has been turned in.   

·         BRG sent 70 Landowner cards in 2025.

o    Received cards from landowners (Mr. Givens, Gallo Family, Mothes Family/Friar’s Hole.)

o    The owners of Cave Spring Cave, Lexington, VA have sold the property and have moved.   

o    Owner of McNew’s Cave – card was returned, insufficient address.  (The only card returned.)

·         Marian McConnell presented Dixie Caverns owner Jenna Fidler with the framed and mounted original  artwork of the BRG 2025 Landowner card, featuring a Dixie Slimy Salamander!  Thank you for your generosity, Marian!

·         Rapps Cave, WV : new visitation restrictions.  Cave is now closed   Oct. 1 -May 1 for hibernating bats!

 

Announcements:

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

·         Cave Spring Cave, Lexington, VA has been sold to the Maury Service Authority (regional water company).

·         May 1-3, 2026: VAR Conservation project – Remove Spray Paint in Lowmoor Cave, VA.    Please RSVP.  See   

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Pui_xmKg6qgZNzx1tQLufCADc7YRCpOmGjeXJsQyLos/edit?tab=t.0.

 

·         Winter Bat Closure for some caves – Winter closure may affect different caves (hibernacula). 

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

 

Caver Calendar:                                                                            

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

Apr 17, 2026 - BRG meeting 6p @ Famous Anthony’s – Brookside.  Roanoke VA

May 1-3, 2026 – VAR Conservation project at Lowmoor Cave, VA.

May 15-17 – SCCi’ s Homecoming 2026, Little River Property, AL.  . See SCCi website for registration.     

May 8-10, 2026 – Spring VAR @ Endless Caverns VA. 

May 30- June 6 – Virginia Cave Week

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

Aug 22, 2026 – BCCS Open house, more info soon. See  www.butlercave.org    

 

7:51p Cold Beer!

 

Minutes submitted by Mary Sue Socky, Secretary