BLUE RIDGE GROTTO of the NSS

Monthly Meeting Minutes –  Jersey Lily’s Salem, VA

 

March 17, 2023

Attendance:

Lauren Appel – Chair                       Nick Schmalenberger - Vice          Mary Sue Socky – Treasurer/Secretary   

Doug Feller                                          Jeff Huffman                                      Dave Socky

Susan Burr                                           Lynn Ott                                               Trish Geiger                                        

Cyndi Hutchison                               Carl Cornett                                        Dr. Michael Rowland

*Ben Helton                                       *Lisa Graves                                       *John Pearson                  

*Donovan O’Daniel                                          (* denotes guest)

 

Meeting called to order 6:31p  by Chair Lauren Appel.  Introductions, everyone was welcomed.

 

Trip reports:

2/18/2023:  BRG trip to New River Cave, VA. They made it up the Waterfall, to Tuxedo Junction.  Met two ‘non-caver’ groups as they exited the cave.  See report in March DUMP. 

 

2/26: Crossroads Cave, VA.  Lauren Appel, Doug Feller, Kelly Perkins, Nick Schmalenberger, Brian Williams.  Nice little trip: explored the creek area, then left. 

 

2/24:  Conley Hole, TN.  Nick Schmalenberger, Elliot Stahl, Noah Mann visited this beautiful, decorated 150’ pit.

 

3/4/23: Cyclops Cave, Russell Co. VA.    Nick Schmalenberger visited Cyclops Cave with Jon Mnich and Sonya Erickson. Nick reported he was happy the cave passages were not as tight as the description implied.  (This was the site of a 2019 cave rescue- Dave Socky reported that the tight spots had been drilled, modified to get the spelunkers out of this vertical multidrop cave.)  (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/virginia-cave-rescue-five-men-rescued-cyclops-cave-russell-county-virginia-2019-04-28-live-updates-today/ ). Probably true about the drilling, we noticed some drill holes also. There were big rooms, borehole, a nice stream and interesting places such as the Pirates Treasure traverse and the Cheese Farm Traverse.  Nick enjoyed this cave. 

 

2/18: Boar Hole Cave, WV. Participants included David Socky, Greg Springer, Jada Townsend, and Ripley Taylor. Survey in Boar Hole. Ripley learning how to sketch. Jada's 2nd cave trip and she learned how to do foresight. I did point and backsights while Greg also sketched. We did mostly walking passage, but there was one side lead which devolved into a belly crawl. I dug enough to move forward 8 feet, but the crawl wasn't getting any better. It continued, but for us to keep going would have required digging. It was perhaps 9 inches, so a tiny person survey could have continued. We then surveyed upstream in a nice stream passage. We stopped where we would have had to crawl in the water. Normally the passage is dry. We then surveyed another 7 or 8 stations in larger passage and tied into a known survey. We headed out at about 6 pm. Good, fun, easy trip. It was a good 8-hour trip with 400 feet of survey.

 

2/22: Good Reception Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Bob Alderson, Mark Minton, Yvonne Droms. Surface crew: Larry Hart, Rick Lambert, Amos Mincin, Billy Pickett, Jim Reddington, and Keith Sweeney. The surface crew put up a fence around the pit entrance in order to keep cows out. The cave is 120 foot deep, with 3 rebelays, plus one redirect. Some of the drops are pretty narrow and very muddy. But there is a big room (Hoover Room) at the bottom. Surveyed a bunch of virgin cave! Pain in the butt getting back out, but not as bad as I thought it would be. Challenging 8-hour trip with 315 feet of survey.

 

3/1: Good Reception Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky, Bob Alderson, and Yvonne Droms. Team 2: Mark Minton and Rick Royer. Surface work: Rick Lambert, Keith Sweeny, and Miles Drake. Bob, Yvonne, Miles

(Trip reports cont.)   Drake, and I did a surface survey between Glass Menagerie and Good Reception while Mark and Rick Royer used straws to open up a lead part way down the entrance pit series. However, the holes blew out so no luck there.   Bob, Yvonne, and I went to our up lead that we had left last time while Mark and Rick R worked on a high lead in Lower Hoover Hall. Their lead didn't go. They also surveyed the canyon going upstream out of Hoover Hall, which didn't go either. Bob put in 4 nails which allowed us to climb up the small hole without touching the loose breakdown on the way up. Yvonne didn't want to do the climb because of the unstable breakdown so Bob and I did a two-person survey. Yvonne teamed up with Mark and Rick R where they surveyed in a lead we had left at the initial climb up. Their lead tied back to the bottom of a pit that was just before the climb up that Bob and I had done. Our lead went up and up, but eventually ended in breakdown collapse with was too small to get through. By this time, it was getting late, so everyone exited. There was one lead left where Mark and company were, plus the now dried out stream crawl. There is also a possible bolt climb. Climbing out, I had problems at the first rebelay. I had gotten up too close to the bolt and had problems getting my ascenders off the rope. But I finally managed. The rest of the climb was obnoxious, muddy, and contorting, but doable. We got out just after dusk, around 7:30pm for an 8-hour trip with 128 feet of Survey.

 

03/04: McClung Cave, WV. Participants included David Socky, Nick Socky, Paul Walko, Anna Makarov, and Laurel Moloy. This trip had a dual purpose. One was to have Laurel do her vertical test for the VPI Cave Club, but the best was to survey the passage that leads to the overlook over Freeman Ave at the Tufa Trail connection. The tight squeeze at the entrance to this section was not as bad as I remembered. The trick was to stay right in the center of the slight channel. Finding the right way from the end of our previous survey turned out to be simple. A little crawling, scrambling, and a downclimb and then a short section of walking passage and we were at the overlook. Paul and Laurel started their survey from where we had left off last time. Nick rigged the drop while Anna and I surveyed back toward Paul. The survey started simple, then got complex at the junction between the lower and upper level. But we finished. We may have left one lead that is on the old map. It was really nice to be able to rappel down into Freeman Ave right at the Tufa Trail, saving us from going back around the long way. Going out was uneventful. It was cold out, about 31 F, but not bad. Another 8-hour trip with 333 feet of survey.

 

3/11: McClung Cave, WV. Participants included David Socky, Bob Alderson, and Chris Coates. This survey trip started in the Historic Entrance with the goal of going back to Outer Mongolia to do a high lead in the north section. It took us 2.5 hours to get there. The high lead was a funky 12-foot climb on the right side of the main passage. The starting point for the climb, though, was on the edge of a bank, so a fall from the climb would have been close to 20 feet. The climb was also slightly overhung. Hmmm. Bob climbed up with no problems. I started, but felt uncomfortable so I asked for a belay, apologizing for being a wimp. Chris also put in a nail to supply a better foothold on the way up. The handholds were good, which was a plus. With the nail and belay, I climbed up with no problem. Of course, it was easier than it looked at first blush. I sketched. We first surveyed to the southwest and eventually killed all leads. Then we traversed over the pit (with a few nails for handholds) and surveyed to the northeast. There were a few tight spots, one in which I had to exhale a little, but they were short. I got through without too much trouble. In one, I dug it out a little to make it easier. In any case, we killed all leads that way too. We finished about 8:30pm. We got to the entrance around 11:00pm, making for a good 12.5-hour trip and 438 feet of survey.

 

3/15: Good Reception Cave, VA. Participants included David Socky David Socky, Rick Royer, and Amos Mincin. Rick Lambert and Keith Sweeny doing surface geology. Went in about 10:20am. I went in first, then Rick, then Amos. Lots of warm air blowing out the entrance. It was a cold morning, around 28 Degrees. We first went to Lower Hoover Hall to look at the stream crawl. Looked tight but doable. There was air blowing out. We then headed to the last breakdown lead at MY5. I sketched and did foresights while Rick did point and back sights. Amos checked leads. MY5 to DR1 was a shot down the drop off into the breakdown room. There was a lower route under the breakdown that didn't require climbing down the little drop off, but we didn't survey that route since it was just under the upper survey. The breakdown room had leads up on the right which Amos climbed

 

(Trip reports cont.)   into, but they all headed up and back toward our previous WWS survey. Going south, the survey went through a narrow canyon with a slopy ledge on the left and then opened up into a small room with another narrow canyon heading south. Only trouble is that the canyon ended totally with mud/dirt fill. There was a narrow crack in the floor where you could see down about 10 or so feet, but it was only a few inches wide. But this is where the water goes. At this point, we considered the lead dead. We then went back to the room before the climb up (GP13) with the narrow crack in the floor. There was a lead in the breakdown at the end of this passage, on the left and about 5 feet up. Amos dug at this lead for about 40 minutes, moving lots of mud and some rock. Soon enough we could stick our heads in and see what it looked like ahead. More tight breakdown too tight to fit into. Another lead killed. Finally, we went back to the crawl in Lower Hoover Hall. Being the smaller of our group, Amos crawled in finding it was big enough that he could fit. After 15 feet, the ceiling came up enough that it was a hands and knees crawl. But after 20 feet or so, it got low again. Amos crawled in another 20 or so feet and determined that it continued, but maybe a little tighter. He would have to squeeze to get through. But it looked like it might get a little higher ahead. There was a good breeze blowing out of the crawl, but not as much air that was coming out the entrance. I tried to squeeze in and found I didn't fit. It was close, but just a little too tight. Amos came back because he didn't want to 'scoop' too much without surveying. Rick was not enthused about getting wet from the mud floor even though there was no standing water. It was still early, but we decided that a small person survey team was needed for this lead. So, Amos dug out some of the initial crawl on his way out, but left the first 5 or 6 feet for the next team. We made our way back to Hoover Hall. Rick went up first, then me, and finally Amos. We were out at 4:30pm. A good 6-hour trip with a whopping 53 feet of survey.       

 

UPCOMING TRIPS

Tomorrow Sat. 3/18/2023:  BRG trip to Butler Cave, VA. Sign up with Susan Burr. 8:30a HROM.  Trip limited to 8 BRG members.

 

3/26: Slow Cave Trip to Wild Cat Cave, WV. WET CAVE. Dave & Mary Sue Socky, Marian McConnell are leaders.  This will be Al Stewart’s farewell cave trip.  Rain Date: 4/1/2023.  Contact MSSocky sockymss@cox.net if you want to be on the trip. 

 

Upcoming Vertical Practices @ HROM:  March 26, April 1.  Doug Feller and Nick Schmalenberger are instructors. Two ropes will be rigged. Contact Susan Burr pondlady97@gmail.com if you are interested. 

 

BUSINESS MEETING

3/17/2023 BRG Treasury Report – Mary Sue Socky, Treasurer

Fund Amounts

$       40.96          Cave Bucks*

$         2.00          Conservation Fund

$     104.12         Equipment Fund

$   3858.21         General Fund

     $ 3985.29      Total Funds

*Cave Bucks:  All Cave Bucks donations are voluntary; funds go to cave conservation programs.

 

Committees: 

·         Newsletter – This was a big DUMP – 7 pages.  Cost more to mail the dozen hardcopies, too.  

·         Membership – BRG has 55 members and 4 subscribers. 

·         ROCKS – Discussion and invite for people to come up to the Butler Cave area (Bath County, Highland County VA) if they want to help on digs and exploration.  Wednesdays and weekends. Contact Dave Socky. 

·         S&T -  Nothing from Dan & Marian.  Dan is recovering from a stent placement and should be home by Saturday.  Some discussion on upcoming training with Nick Schmalenberger in new business.

Membership Proposals:   John Pearson, NSS # 25731 RL, FE, CO applied for membership in BRG.  His co-sponsors are Dave and MarySue Socky.  2nd by Michael Rowland?  John’s membership is tabled until the April 21 BRG meeting.   

 

Old  Business:  

·         Cave Owner award for Carroll Bassett has been framed.  BRG would like to do a group presentation to him, TBA. Discussion on the TBA.  MarySue feels her hands are full herding cats with the Slow Cave Trip, but Trish thinks we should swing by Carroll’s place afterwards and award him.  TBA.  Something will be done. 

 

·         The May 19 BRG meeting conflicts with Spring VAR.  Several options:  cancel, reschedule, hold meeting @ VAR, or have meeting anyway if there is a quorum.  Discussion.  Several people are planning to attend VAR- enough to decide to CANCEL MAY 19 meeting.    All in favor, motion passed.

 

·         Grotto Funds. Mary Socky’s and  John Pearson’s suggested Donation groups and amounts were printed in the March DUMP p. 26 and were discussed, adjusted.   These organizations were not selected for 2023:  Appalachian Karst Conservancy (AKC), Bat Conservation International (BCI), Butler Cave Conservancy (BCCS), VA Region (VAR), Virginia Speleological Survey (VSS), West Virginia Association for Cave Studies (WVACS).  Maybe next year, and there is always Cave Bucks for additional requests/donations.  

 

·         Mary Sue Socky tracked down updated contact info for people wishing to visit New Castle Murder Hole, VA. The cave is limited access. The Landowner list has also been updated (2022 xmas card was returned).

 

New Business

·         Vertical practice (Susan Burr). BRG needs vertical training sessions.  Some cavers are rusty; new folks wish to learn. Future trips are planned to Catawba Murder Hole and Grapevine Pit. Remaining practice dates at HROM have been selected: March 26, and April 1 (weather permitting).  Nick Schmalenberger and Doug Feller will be instructors.  Contact Susan pondlady97@gmail.com if you want to sign up.

 

·          Additional vertical training places in Roanoke, VA (Nick Schmalenberger).  Nick has been looking for additional vertical practice areas.  He has been in contact with Dylan Kelly of Roanoke City Parks and Rec., and he hopes to stop by River Rock Climbing gym with Marian McConnell to see if they are still open to BRG holding a small practice inside their gym.  Discussion of various places and groups that might be open to vertical practice.  The Socky’s oak tree is available.  BRG can possibly use Blacksburg Rescue Group site for SRT, vertical training, ropes courses, etc. RASS has a climbing tower on their Bath Co. VA property that BRG may be able to use.  The Gauntlet (vertical group) is also available (for donations) to teach SRT and vertical skills.  Nick will let us know of more findings next month. 

 

·         Proposed new Explore Virginia Caves License plate.  Design by Luray Caverns group; artwork features cave formations, bats, flashlights, not everyone wearing helmets.  But – this is portraying Show Cave visitors, the general public.  People need to pre-order 450 plates for this design to become a reality.  Send your orders in, see March DUMP 2023 p. 20 for details.  (NOTE:  An NSS-logo themed license plate for VA, similar to the one currently in use in MD, was proposed several years ago, but failed to get enough orders.)  If you want the plate, put your money down and place an order now, and tell your friends, too.   

Announcements:

·         Please sign get well cards for Karen Kastning and Dan McConnell.   

·         TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE APRIL 1ST, 2023 TALES FROM DARK PLACES all day event at the Explorers Club in New York City. Please go to the Explorers Club Calendar of Events at the below site for details.   https://www.explorers.org/calendar-of-events/tales-from-dark-places/

Chris Nicola
https://youtu.be/SD6PzklEbHU
http://chrisnicola.weebly.com
www.chrisnicola.com
www.noplaceonearthfilm.com "I am in part all that I have seen and met in life” (Tennyson's  Ulysses)  "Cavers look for the Darkness Beyond Void"   (Chris Nicola), and הכל אפשרי

 

·         2023 Spring VAR will be May 19-21, hosted by Battlefield Area Troglodyte Society (BATS) at Thorn Springs Campground, Franklin, WV see  https://var.caves.org/index.php/events/spring-var   or flyer.

o   Update:  2023 Spring VAR Registration is now open!  See attached Spring VAR form. 

 

·         Vote for your Favorite 5 Carbide Dump covers. Winners will be submitted to the 2023 NSS Cover Arts Salon.

 

·         Pandemic Caving – let’s be healthy going underground.  Rules have been posted in the DUMP.

·         Closure for bat caves

o   West Virginia Closed Sept 1 – May 15 for bat hibernation. 

o      Virginia -         Closed Oct. 15 – Apr. 15 for bat hibernation. 

 

2023 CAVER CALENDAR:

·         Apr 1 –Explorer’s Club TALES FROM DARK PLACES, New York City, NY.    See above.

·         Apr 21 – BRG meeting @ JL’s

·         Apr 22 – VAR Earth Day Restoration sinkhole cleanup @ Apple Farm near Covington, VA.

·         May 5-7 – Spring MAR, Shade Gap, PA  https://www.franklincountygrotto.com/fcg-spring-mar-registration/ 

·         May 19 – NO BRG meeting @  JL’s - Go To VAR!!

·         May 19-21 – Spring VAR @ Thorn Spring Campground, WV; hosted by BATS.

·         June 19-23 – WVACS Convention Pre-camp, Renick, WV.  Contact Jessica Reep j.reep@aol.com for info.

·         June 26-30, 2023 – NSS Convention, Elkins, WV.

 

7:38p Cold Beer!

Program: Dave Socky’s video “Single Rope Ascending Systems – An Introduction.” Featuring Dan McConnell, Doug Feller, Gary Drewry, and other cavers.  C2003.    

 

 

Minutes Submitted by

Mary Sue Socky, Substitute Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final 2023 Donations List    BRG

 

 

We donate, support conservation efforts of many organizations by paying dues. 

Any other donations should have a suggested $50.00 cap.

Cave Bucks can be sent to any organization throughout the year.

 

                               

New Order

 

Organization                                                                                                         2023 Dues/Donation          Notes                    

 

ACCA      American Cave Conservation Association (KY)                               $25/yr.                                   2023 dues in June.

CSim       Cave Sim                                                                                                $50                         usually before NSS Convention        

MAKC     Mid Atlantic Karst Conservancy                                                         $15/yr.                                   2023 dues in June

NCRC      National Cave Rescue Commission (Eastern Region)                    $50.00                  

NSS         National Speleological Society                                                           $100.00      to buy Al Stewart Memorial Brick

VCB         Virginia Cave Board                                                                             $50.00                  

WVCC     West Virginia Cave Conservancy                                                       $50/yr.                                   due 5/21/23.

SCCi        Southeastern Cave Conservancy Inc.                                               $35/yr.                                                                  

                                                                                                                                $375.00   Total

 

 

 

 

 

Dropped:  AKC, BCCS, VAR, VSS, WVACS.  Maybe next year.