BLUE
RIDGE GROTTO of the National Speleological Society
BRG Meeting Minutes 5/15/2026
Famous
Anthonys – Brookside, 6499 Williamson Road NW Roanoke VA 24019
Attendance
|
David
Socky (Chair) |
Susan
Burr (Vice Chair) |
MarySue
Socky (Secretary) |
|
Marian
McConnell (Treasurer) |
Barry
Ferguson |
Helen
Ferguson |
|
Doug
Feller |
Bambi
Marshall |
Jonathan
Constantine (guest) |
|
Jim
Bowen (Guest) |
Trish
Geiger |
Paul
Westbury (guest) |
Chair
Dave Socky called the meeting to order at 6:30p.
Everyone
was welcomed; introductions.
Program: Wishing Well Cave, by Phil Lucas (30 minutes)
Trip
Reports:
4/18:
Carpenter Swago Cave, WV. Participants included David Socky and Shawn
Hogbin. A trip into the Carpenter entrance to survey leads that Shawn wanted to
get done. We put 600 feet of survey into the books and a great 9-hour trip. See
the article on page 32.
4/20:
Shenandoah Wild Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Carl
Amundson, Davis Gunnin, Shea Gunnin, Dave Hubbard, and Greg McCoy. Carol
Tiderman was surface support. It was another science trip today. It was good to
cave with Carl again. I was the last one in (except for Carl, who set up the
haul lines) and last one out. Dave Hubbard had a spot to
himself, but I helped him a little, crouched in the small space just behind
him. It got cold. Eventually I went out and put on an extra polypro (as did
Dave) and ate my sandwich. Talked with Carl until everyone was ready to head
out at 3:30pm, making it a 6 hour trip.
4/22: Warm
Springs area dig, VA. Participants included David Socky, Bill Koerschner, Amos Mincin
and Keith Sweeney. This was a dig that Keith and Bill knew about down the field
and into the woods from Dogwood Cave. It was a nice-looking dig that was
blowing a little bit of cool air on this temperate day. Amos dug a while I
helped with technical digging. We took turns mucking and hammering. After 3
hours of work, Amos was able to squeeze down a hole and got into a small crawly
room. After Amos made it bigger, Bill and I went in to take a look.
Unfortunately, there was only one lead, a 6-inch-wide vertical crack going
horizontally into the hillside. It looked like it "might" open up a little after 10 feet. It was where all the air was
coming from. It would be a mining operation. However, it is a cave and needs a
name. But we probably won't be going back except to survey it.
4/22:
Hide-A-Hole Pit, VA. Participants included David Socky, Bill Koerschner, Amos Mincin.
We took a rope and digging tools and sent Amos down to take a look. We gave him
a belay with the rope. He had no problem climbing down the 15-foot-deep
pit. Amos dug, mostly with the short, handled shovel. He dug until he got
cramps in his hands and proclaimed he was at ".25 Amos's". Amos
climbed up and I went in, with a belay. It was pretty easy getting down the narrow pit because of the many
ledges. I dug down until I got to a thin shelf of rock that was right at the
lip of the pit. It was hard to tell, but it was probably 10 to 12 feet to the
bottom. It belled out into a room so it definitely needs vertical gear. The hole down was bigger,
maybe big enough for an Amos to get through. I had no desire to try, but once
the shelf was knocked out, no problem. I climbed out with no problems at all.
We packed up and headed home. Next trip we’ll get in.
5/9:
Howlin' Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Bill Koerschner, Jacob
Whitelock, Andrew Newton, Mia Blyseth, and Keith Sweeney. Time to survey virgin
walking cave! We got to the cave and started surveying right at 10am. We
finally got to the virgin cave. There was popcorn all over. walls, ceiling,
floor. The air was strong, warm, and humid. Jacobs digital thermometer read 67
to 68 degrees F. But the walking passage got smaller and then within 40 feet
stopped in a small breakdown room. But there was a belly crawl
at floor level on the right. It was enlarged and Mia reported it opened up into a canyon. The 13-to-14-inch crawl was about
10 feet long and came out into a cross canyon. It went to the right, but all
the air was coming up from a down lead. Andrew checked the downlead. But a big
rock had rolled down and blocked the way. The conclusion was that technical
digging would be required to get down. It looked larger below. We surveyed 227
feet and were down 80 vertical feet from the entrance. But it is still 120 feet
above Warm River.
(5/2?)
Bambi Marshall went to Nickajack Cave, TN in
Chattanooga, TN. Semi-flooded bat cave with large entrance on the Tennessee
River. Folks paddle out to watch the bat
flight; you can also watch the twilight flight from natural areas near the
entrance. No public entry to the cave
(5/3?)
Bambi Marshall went to Hermit Cave in Sewanee, TN. A guy lived in it
back in the day.
(5/3?)
Bambi Marshall went to Bible Springs water cave. Washed off in it.
Stayed at Maureen Handler’s Cavers’ Paradise.
3/21
– Susan Burr and group went to Helectite cave; see article in April Carbide
Dump.
4/18
- Susan Burr and group went to Porters cave; see article in May Carbide
Dump.
5/2
– Susan, Jeff, Hillary, Jess, Ben and others participated in the Lowmoor cleanup
day.
(date?)
Trish Geiger went to Lost World and rappelled in twice. Went with
Extreme Rappels and Mike Phelps.
(5/9)
- May 9th, Bob Balch and nine other cavers attending the Spring VAR, explored Allen
Cave near Skyline Caverns for 2 ½ hours.
In addition to negotiating two
ladders, some of the group performed 2 climbs with webbing hand lines. There was quite a lot of sticky mud near the
back of the cave.
(5/9)
– Robert Balch joined a group of 12 for a commercial tour of Endless caverns.
This
Month’s grotto trip:
Wishing Well Cave, VA
Next
Month’s grotto trip: TBA
5/15/2026 Treasury Report –
Marian McConnell, Treasurer
Fund Amounts
$ 147.96 Cave
Bucks
$ 2.00 Conservation
Fund
$ 144.12 Equipment
Fund
$
5,425.23 General Fund
$
5,719.31 Total Funds
Note:
Will add $24 for 2 shirts that were sold.
Committees:
Newsletter –May
DUMP was published. Articles, photos
wanted. Thanks for sending stuff in!
Membership
– BRG has 51 members and 4 subscribers. Ed Saugsted says hi from
England.
ROCKS
– WSP project near Hot Springs,
VA. Wednesdays and some Saturdays.
Safety
& Techniques – N/A
Membership
Proposals: None
Old
Business:
·
VA Cave Week –BRG will hold “Cave Day” at Dixie
Caverns Saturday 6/6/2026.
o Caver Time: 10a – 2p (Set up: 9:30a – 2:30p) Like last year.
o Koda: 10:30a – 12:30p.
·
Bring:
checkbook, educational stuff, extra tables, banner, bat flags, kiosk, squeeze
box (Dave will get from Nick Schmalenberger),.
·
Cavers: Wear your BRG or caving T-shirt, Bring a
chair. Sign up sheet passed around to sign up.
·
Glow salamander bracelets – See NSS News April
article by Nicole Ridlen. Susan Burr moved that we spend a maximum of $50 to
order a variety of colors of the salamander bracelets to sell at our upcoming Dixie Caverns Virginia Cave
day (and if any left at the
Shawsville Library Day); BRG members can purchase as well. Marian will
contact the NSS Bookstore to see what kind of deal we can get (including
shipping and handling). Dave Socky seconded the motion
and it passed unanimously.
Update as of 5/18 – Marian
spoke by phone with Michelle in the NSS Bookstore and she said while there is
no bulk order reduced price, she thinks she can just charge us $50 for 50
bracelets (they are $1 each) and not charge us for shipping & handling! The
total invoice for 50 assorted color salamander glow bracelets (NSS Invoice
200007850) is $49.05; no charge for S&H. They have been mailed to
me, tracking # 9400111206241464692804.
Michelle cc’d Dave on the info so he can pay for them (check or CC).
·
7/18/2026 (Saturday) Shawsville Library Cave Day. We will have a cave
program (include showing the Murder Hole cave
28-minute documentary), info kiosk, AND the squeezebox. 11a-3p for program, plus set-up and takedown
afterwards. Who can help? Marian passed out a sign-up sheet.
·
2026
ACCA dues were mailed in - $25.00
New
Business
·
WVACS
Classic – Dave Socky. See calendar below.
·
Check
for ticks! They are out in full force.
Announcements:
·
R.I.P. Four cavers who have passed
recently: Roger Barrody, Phil Lucas,
Walt Pirie, and Doug Perkins (See email with links to obituaries)
·
Access policy for New River Cave Preserve. EVERYONE, CAVERS and Surface Hikers, needs a
permit! Eli Meyer is
Preserve Manager. https://permits.saveyourcaves.org/
·
T-Shirts
–Limited colors, sizes L and XL. $12.00 each.
Contact Susan Burr pondlady97@gmail.com for more information.
·
SUMMER
Bat Closure for some caves – closure may affect different caves (maternity
colonies).
WV: closed
May 15 - Sept 1 VA:
closed Apr. 15 - Oct. 15.
Caver
Calendar:
May 22-24: Salem Gem
Mineral and Jewelry Show, at Salem Civic Center
May 22 –25- Speleofest, Lone Star Cave
Preserve, Bonnieville, KY. Hosted by Louisville Grotto
May 22-24: Salem Gem
Mineral and Jewelry Show, at Salem Civic Center. $8 adult. Kids free
May
31-June 6: Virginia Cave Week
June
6 – VA Cave Day – BRG @ Dixie Caverns!
June 6 – VA Cave Day -
Cave & Karst Expo @ Grand Caverns
June 12-14 – WVACS
Classic Weekend in Greenbrier Co. WV
June
19, 2026
- BRG meeting 6p @ Famous Anthony’s – Brookside. Roanoke VA
July
6-10, 2026 - NSS Convention, Corydon IN.
July
17, 2026 - BRG meeting 6p @ Famous Anthony’s – Brookside. Roanoke VA
July
18, 2026 – Explore Caves @ Meadowbrook Library, Shawsville, VA.
Aug
21, 2026 - BRG meeting 6p @ Famous Anthony’s – Brookside. Roanoke VA
Aug
22, 2026 – BCCS Open house, more info soon. See
www.butlercave.org
Sept
25-27, 2026 - Fall MAR
@ Newville Lions Club Fairgrounds in Newville, PA.
Fall
2026 – Fall VAR hosted by VPI Cave Club.
Adjourned
at 7:30p.
Minutes
taken by Marian McConnell for MarySue who is recuperating from shoulder
surgery.