January 2019 Vol 54, No 1 - The Carbide Dump - Blue Ridge Grotto
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January 2019, V54, #1
The Carbide Dump
January 2019
Vol 54, No 1
2 The Carbide Dump January 2019, V54, #1
The Carbide Dump is published monthly by the Blue Ridge Grotto of the National Speleological Society in Roanoke, Virginia. Distribution date is
approximately the second week of each month. An issue may be skipped if insufficient material is received. Contributions of articles and artwork
are invited and will be gratefully acknowledged. Art work originals will be returned. Contributions should be sent to the editor. Regular and
associate grotto membership ($10) includes a Carbide Dump subscription. Subscriber rate is $10.00. Exchanges with other grotto and caving
organizations are invited. Direct exchange mail to Al Stewart.
EXCHANGE MAIL EDITORS TRIP COORDINATOR
Mary Sue Socky David & Mary Sue Socky Susan Burr
6572 Woodbrook Dr 6572 Woodbrook Dr 4544 Cordell Dr SW
Roanoke, VA 24018-5402 Roanoke, VA 24018-5402 Roanoke, VA 24018
H: (540) 989-7693 C: (540) 529-3954 H: (540) 989-7693 C: (540) 529-1591 H:540-989-5809
email: sockymss@cox.net email: sockydr@cox.net or sockymss@cox.net email: pondlady97@cox.net
The Blue Ridge Grotto holds its monthly meetings every third Friday of the month at 6:30p at Jersey Lily’s Roadhouse, 1650
Braeburn Dr. Salem, VA 24153. See the Grotto meeting announcement in this issue.
GROTTO OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
Chairman Vice-Chair Secretary Treasurer Safety & Techniques
Susan Burr David Socky Marian McConnell Trish Geiger Dan McConnell
H: 540-989-5809 H: 540-989-7693 C: 540-309-4707 C: 540-761-9998 C: 540-597-7909
pondlady97@cox.net sockydr@cox.net marian.mcconnell@gmail.com caver28182@gmail.com danomcconnell@live.com
Opinions expressed in The Carbide Dump are those of the editors, unless otherwise acknowledged. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
except by the National Speleological Society and its various internal organizations, without the written consent of the Blue Ridge Grotto.
You can access the Carbide Dump electronically at: https://blueridgegrotto.org/carbidedump.htm
Copyright 2019 by the Blue Ridge Grotto
Contributors: David & Mary Sue Socky, Susan Burr, Meredith Weberg, Greg Springer, Wil Orndorff, Mark Minton, Ken Mays,
Dave Jackson, Marian McConnell, Bob Alderson, Yvonne Droms, Geary Schindel and Jerry Fuller
Cover: Delicate formations in Second Canyon area, Windy Mouth Cave, WV Photo by Nick Socky
Jan 18: BRG meeting, 6:30p, Jersey hatan Boy Scout Reservation, Radford,
Lily’s Roadhouse, 1650 Braeburn Dr. VA. Hosted by JRG.
Salem, VA 24153. May 11 - 18: NCRC National Training
Jan 24-27: Winter Adventure Weekend Seminar, Camp Rivervale, Mitchell, IN.
at Carter Caves State Resort Park, KY. See www.ncrc.info for details.
Click here for more info. May 17: BRG meeting, 6:30p, Jersey
Feb 15: BRG meeting, 6:30p, Jersey Lily’s Roadhouse, 1650 Braeburn Dr.
Lily’s Roadhouse, 1650 Braeburn Dr. Salem, VA 24153.
Salem, VA 24153. June 17-21: NSS Convention in
Mar 15: BRG meeting, 6:30p, Jersey Cookeville, Tennessee. For info, visit:
Lily’s Roadhouse, 1650 Braeburn Dr. http://nss2019.caves.org/
Salem, VA 24153. July 18-21: Karst-O-Rama, Mt.
April 6-7: Spring Restoration Weekend Vernon, KY. Hosted by the Greater
at Grand Caverns, Grottoes, VA. Con- Cincinnati Grotto.
tact Meredith Weberg at the following Oct 7-11: National Cave and Karst
email: merecaver@yahoo.com Management Symposium (NCKMS).
April 19: BRG meeting, 6:30p, Jersey Bristol, VA, http://nckms.org/2019-
Lily’s Roadhouse, 1650 Braeburn Dr. symposium
Salem, VA 24153. Nov 3: VSS Meeting, 11:30a, Natural
April 21-27: Virginia Cave Week. Bridge State Park, VA.
April 25 - 28: Spring VAR, Camp Pow-
January 2019, V54, #1 3
The Carbide Dump
AN N O U N C E -
BRG Meeting MENTS
Notice
BRG Meeting Minutes – can be read
The January 18, 2019 meeting of the on the BRG webpage at:
Blue Ridge Grotto will be held at: http://blueridgegrotto.org under the
Jersey Lily's Roadhouse 1650 Brae- ‘BRG Organization’ button.
burn Dr, Salem, VA 24153. Dinner
or appetizers with socializing starts at Trip Reports: To keep the meeting
6:30pm with the meeting starting soon moving along, ALL trip reports will be
after. limited to FIVE MINUTES per cave; 15
minute maximum for reports per person.
PROGRAM - The program will be a And please submit written cave trip re-
video from the 2018 NSS Video Salon ports to the secretary. Thanks!
- “No Cave For Old Men” by Peter
Penczer. It is a 24 minute program on Cave Lists: Bob Gulden’s Updated
project caving in 2008 in Shovel Eater Cave Lists can be found at: http://
Cave, WV. www.caverbob.com/. His link to the
“Number of Caves by state” doesn’t
Grotto Trip work from his main page, so here is the
direct link: http://www.caverbob.com/
Tawneys Cave ncaves.htm
Giles County, VA
National Cave & Karst Manage-
Date & Time: Saturday, January 19, ment Symposium (NCKMS) is look-
2019. Meet at the Hanging Rock Or- ing for volunteers and sponsors for their
ange Market at 9:00 am Saturday Oct. 7-11, 2019 meeting in Bristol, VA.
morning. Contact Wil Orndorff for more info.
Leader: Susan Burr
Coordination: Susan Burr 540-989-5809
pondlady97@cox.net
Requirements: Basic caving gear.
Limits: 12 cavers
Description
Tawney’s Cave is a perfect beginner
cave. There is mud, an active stream,
breakdown mountains, exposure,
walking passage to belly-crawls, mud,
saltpeter diggings, a maze, a pit, mud,
pretty speleothems, slippery mud
slopes, fossils, salamanders, and if it
hasn’t rained for a while, big cracks in
the drying mud. There is about 3,500
feet of passage in the cave.
Silas Springer in Classic Canyon
in Maxwelton Cave, WV.
Photo by Dave Socky
4 The Carbide Dump January 2019, V54, #1
The Endless Classic Canyon
Greg Springer
Technically, Classic Canyon ends where shown on the original map as
it dumps into Cove Creek in Maxwelton not(?) ending in a blank spot
Sink Cave, WV. The source of the Clas- within the many parallel trunks
sic Canyon stream is unknown and de- of upstream Cove Creek. Dave
spite repeated attempts no upstream volunteered to resurvey and
“end” has been found. Technically, that push onward in the lead during
“end” would really be a start, but until the Classic, hence the name.
this elusive start is reached I consider Needless to say, Dave et al did
the canyon to be never ending. Why? not finish the lead. They tallied
Because we have thrown five survey 253 feet, which remains the
trips at the canyon and each has ended unbroken champion of Classic Silas surveying in a nice section of Clas-
inconclusively. And, tellingly, these Canyon survey footages, and
trips have averaged a whopping 190 feet sic Canyon. Photo by Dave Socky
turned around in very narrow,
of survey. That alone tells you all you
but going cave. Two subse- slide into and over each slot. Or, lay in
need to know about Classic Canyon. quent trips yielded a grand total of 252 the stream and crawl in a floor-level
feet of mostly narrow, potholed obsceni- horizontal notch. No matter how you
ties. One of those surveys was designat- choose to go about it, the result is the
ed JKE, as in “Just kidding everyone!” same as smearing mud all over yourself.
Jenn McGuire had apparently promised
her team something more exulting and Our WXP survey took us through multi-
like all good teams, they learned never ple enlargements and slots until WXP12
to trust a trip leader. where we had to climb into the first spa-
cious upper level we had seen. This
Dave Socky returned to the lead on 8 proved to be a rectangular “tube” 15 feet
December 2018 with Lydia Albright, wide and 4 feet high with the canyon
Silas Springer, and yours truly (WXP wandering through as a 12-foot deep
survey). This was Lydia’s first cave trip floor channel! However, in only a couple
ever. We were expecting grand things of shots a sketchy traverse appeared and
because Drew Hall and I had surveyed a it was obvious that Lydia needed more
small amount of passage there the previ- experience before attempting such an
ous weekend and had turned around in exposed route. So, we turned around at
12-foot high by 3 feet wide passage WXP15 with only 200 feet in the book.
(ABC12). At last, Classic Canyon was
opening up! Dave, Silas, and I returned on 18 De-
cember to push onward. We managed an
As it turned out, we were surveying early start and were surveying by 11am.
completely off the map because the can- As it turned out, WXP15 is at the junc-
yon had wandered under the parallel tion of a right-hand canyon and left-hand
trunks and into white space outside the upper level stoopway. The latter was the
main body of the cave! And, as you easier, so we began our PXW survey
might be expecting by now, the fun did- thenceward (nice word!). We quickly
n’t last for long. reached a low room with the canyon
Although tall, the passage is (Continued on page 5)
Delicate formations. Photo by really a string of large pot-
holes and plunge pools sepa-
Dave Socky rated by slots connecting one
enlargement to another. The
The Classic Canyon odyssey began dur- slots were originally pothole
ing a WVACS Classic weekend (8 July walls, but the stream cut
2017) when Dave Socky, Errol Glidden, through them to create waist
and Erik Tesnau tried to wrap one of the -high grooves slightly nar-
few remaining leads in historic Max. rower than a typical human
The latter is the portion of the cave leg. As a result, you must
mostly known to the original explorers. somehow wedge yourself
We have surveyed over 13 miles in his- between pothole walls and
toric Max and the Classic Canyon lead is Helectites in Classic Canyon. Photo by D. Socky
January 2019, V54, #1 5
The Carbide Dump
(Classic Canyon continued from page 4) onto the ledge while at the top of the 10-
wandering through as a floor channel foot climb, but I was so covered in mud
and around a corner to WXP15. The from Classic Canyon that my left hand
room has multiple small pillars and the slid off a handhold as if it were greased
floor is very, very slimy. and my feet slid off a sloping ledge in
Two shots later we were back in more the same manner. I had just enough time
canyonlands, as the upper level left as a to think, “I’m going to get hurt” before
small tube on the right wall. We pushed reaching the floor and falling backward
ahead in the canyon, but things become over a piece of breakdown.
progressively more and more narrow. Much to my shock, I didn’t feel any pain
Eventually, it became less than 9 inches when I came to rest. In fact, I thought I
wide and only Silas could fit (PXW14). had escaped without any injury whatso-
Dave and I, not being 15yo, were not ever. Hoorah!
going any further! Silas confirmed the
The next day proved me wrong. My
cave still went and opened up a little, so
a thin team is needed. We all agreed this right ankle swelled up and my back felt
horrible. It is a week later and my back
was a job for Nick Socky, Silas, and
some other poor sucker. still hurts!
But, to conclude, Classic Canyon still
Dave, Silas, and I retreated to where the
upper level tube wandered off. We sur- goes and a thin team is needed. There is
a lot of airflow, which bodes well.
veyed inward, but it became too small
after only 40 feet. Thus, we were defeat- Whether the cave will become more
enjoyable is an open question, but who
ed again! And with only 194 feet to
knows? The canyon has wandered com-
show for the day!
pletely away from the known cave and
We headed out of the cave, which was there is no reason why it shouldn’t con-
not without one more unpleasantness. I Greenish cascade of flowstone and tinue for quite a while. Meanwhile,
was the first to climb up to a narrow Maxwelton Sink Cave is now 20.16
ledge in Errol’s Bypass and this ended gypsum. Photo by Dave Socky miles long with no end in sight.
ingloriously. I tried to shove my pack
Spring VAR 2019
by Ken Mays
April 25 - 28, 2019 The Adirondack area contain 3-sided those who preregister. The Adirondacks
buildings with an overhanging roof with and cabins will also be reservable online
The Spring VAR 2019 will be at Camp bunks inside. Small groups can team up for those who preregister. Once a build-
Powhatan in Wytheville, VA. This is a and use one building. They sleep six or ing or cave trip is full, it will be marked
Boy Scout Camp, so there will be plenty eight people each and there are 10 to 12 as such and no one else will be able to
of other things to do for those who have buildings. The cabins are set up with sign up online.
children - it's family friendly. There are bunks as well.
hiking trails, a lake to canoe in and fish, Dinner will be provided on Saturday.
and a rock climbing wall. They have There are showers in separate shower Most likely burgers and hot dogs, with
17,000 acres.....yes 17,000 - this is not a outbuildings. plenty of veggie options such as veggie
typo. burgers, salad, veggie baked beans,
We will have led trips on Saturday and
mashed potatoes, cornbread, and cob-
We are planning on registration opening will provide maps and markers for those
blers for dessert. The menu may change
early for those who drive down from up who want to cave on Friday and Sunday.
as time nears.
north and for those who want to get in There will be many cave trips, we hope
more caving - like we used to do years around 20, ranging from easy to hard The Saturday evening program and en-
ago before the moratorium. and a few vertical trips. tertainment is still being lined up. Cost
for the meet is also still being worked
There will be three types of camping for When we open early registration, we
out. So stay tuned to the VAR Listserve
the weekend. Regular tent camping, Ad- will have one or two areas with cave
and read the Region Record for more
irondack camping, and cabins. Those descriptions and the Option to sign up
announcements about the Spring VAR.
who have RVs, there will be a parking then and there. We are against the mad
Hope to see you at Camp Powhatan!
lot for them to park in. At this point, we rush on Friday night. Early sign up for
do not know if there are RV hook ups. trips will also be available online for
6 The Carbide Dump January 2019, V54, #1
Climb of the Cave Bear
Lowmoor Mine - December 8, 2018
Mark Minton
On our way to the WVACS Christmas The climb was straightforward and after
Party on Saturday December 8, 2018 half a dozen bolts the rock began look-
Bob Alderson, Yvonne Droms and I ing better toward my lead. I began trav-
made a short trip into Lowmoor Mine to ersing up and to the right. After 9 bolts
do a bolt climb near station EX34. We total I had run out of quickdraws, so I
drove into the Truck Entrance and tied off the static rope I was trailing and
parked in our usual spot near E1. This Bob climbed it, cleaning the route as he
was pretty deluxe, given the cold weath- went. He sent up the first several draws
er outside and the fact that we could see and some extra bolts so I could reload.
the climb from where we parked. In fact, The remainder of the route was up a
Bob drove his Subaru farther in than
steep slope and considerably easier since
usual and parked right next to the climb. I could partially support my weight with
my feet on
ledges.
Unfortunately,
the closer I got
to the lip, the
less it looked
like passage at
the top. My last
bolt was just
high enough to
Bob cleaning the route to re-
get my head
over the edge cover quickdraws.
and, indeed, Photo by Yvonne Droms
there was noth-
ing up there but
an alcove.
I tied off both
Membership
Caving in style! Mark bolt climbing near EX34 with
the dynamic Updates
Yvonne belaying; Photo by Bob Alderson and the static
ropes and came 27 members and guests attended the
down after about three hours on the wall. December 16, 2018 BRG Christmas
He could practically have belayed from Bob suited up and cleaned the route, Party. Lots of tall tales and jokes, as
his front seat! which was a bit tricky due to the large well as viewing Murder Hole and clas-
The climb of the day was a potential horizontal displacement. At the appro- sics like Her Father’s Worst Night-
lead at ceiling level that we hoped might priate spot, he set two rigging bolts and mare. It was a good party!
bypass a nasty bolt traverse beyond sta- tied off the static line so we could use it 2019 BRG dues are now due. The
tion BYC15 in a bit of passage accessed next time to continue climbing toward treasurer knows who is paid up and
by an earlier bolt climb. The wall direct- the other lead. who has paid ahead.
ly under the lead was pretty shattered, He finished just in time for us to make it Know of a potential caver? Bring them
but just to the left was better rock. There to WVACS for happy hour. to a BRG meeting, sponsor them on a
was also another potential lead above
The Climb of the Cave Bear was about BRG activity, do lots of fun things with
this better wall, so we hoped we might
50 feet high. It was named for a water the best cavers around ~
access both leads from the same starting
point. I climbed, Yvonne belayed, and stain on the ceiling above the "lead" that Cave Softly and Safely
Bob wandered about checking for leads. looked like a teddy bear.
Caver Updates
Marianne Saugstad
waterwitch@protonmail.com
January 2019, V54, #1 7
The Carbide Dump
11/17/2018: Culverson Creek little section. We managed to survey a total walls were somewhat muddy, making
Cave, WV. Participants included of 465 feet. There were some really nice them slick for climbing. In several places
David Socky, Nick Socky, Eric Pelkey, formations in this area, of which I took a we could see high leads, but climbing
and Hope Brooks. We were going to do number of photos. We called the one section them on the way out proved them to be
the Chocolate Drop into Phil Lucas's big ‘The Iron City Terminus” because of the just alcoves. After an hour or so we
lead, but there was a raging river flowing obvious iron deposits. See the December reached a point where we had to climb up
down the main Culverson stream passage. 2018 Carbide Dump for the article. to the upper section of the canyon because
The water was at least 7 feet deep. No it was just too narrow below. But the
12/1/2018: Cave Hollow Arbogast, climb up was a little tricky and wide. We
question about aborting the trip. So we
WV. Participants included David Socky, had to help and spot Lydia up, but she
went back into the Wildcat section of the
Jason Delafield, and Wayne Perkins for made it. However, to continue on, Silas
cave and went to check out the bolt climb
Team 1 and Dave West and Karen Willmes did a funky climb/stem and had to do a
that Nick had started on the left before
for Team 2. Dave and Karen surveyed sketchy move where the canyon widened
Dread Pool. We thought about going back
around 500 feet in the main Cave Hollow – out. There was no place to spot Lydia and
out to get bolting gear, but everyone was
Arbogast stream passage. We surveyed some a fall to the stream below would not have
depressed about the aborted trip, so we
in the stream passage, but then got side been good. Since it was getting late in the
just went and looked at J Station Lake
tracked by upper level narrow, but dry, can- afternoon already, we decided to stop at
(Dread Pool), which was not totally si-
yons which went for a long ways. These this point. The canyon kept going, so we
phoned. Flooded out, we decided to go
upper level canyons had not been surveyed will definitely be back - with webbing
back to the field station and give it a good
before, but they were not virgin. The main next time. We went back to the point
clean up in preparation for the Christmas
canyon overlay the stream passage and was where Classic Canyon cut across the trunk
Party. So, we did - spent all day cleaning,
moving lots of air. We didn’t reach the end, and finished the re-survey of the ABC
plus went to dinner at Carlito’s in
but knew that it tied back into the stream survey. We ended up surveying 262 feet
Lewisburg. [Also, Nikki, Chris, and David
passage because we could hear the water up with 21 shots. Maxwelton is now 20.12
Smallwood where at the field station Fri-
ahead. It was a good 10 hour trip in which miles long! It was 4pm by time we headed
day night and went to Maxwelton/
we got close to 1000 feet of survey done. out. We got out at 5:20pm making for a
Sweetwater on Saturday. The plan was to
move camp from Ghost Camp to the Re- nice 6.5 hour trip and getting us back to
the field station in time for the start of the
treat in the new upper levels up Covert 12/8/2018: Lowmoor Cave, VA. XMAS party. The XMAS party was great
Creek. They planned on coming out the Participants included Bob Alderson, Mark
'usual time' on Sunday.] - good food, steak and salmon, and a great
Minton, and Yvonne Droms. The group did crowd.
another bolt climb in the mine, but the sup-
11/18/2018: Lowmoor Cave,
VA. Participants included David Socky,
posed lead at the top didn’t go. See Mark’s 12/13/2018: Lowmoor Cave,
article in this issue of the Carbide Dump, VA. Participants included David Socky,
Nick Socky, Eric Pelkey, and Hope
page 6, for details. Dave Collings, and Bob Alderson. We
Brooks. We went up towards the Capital
parked in the mine because of the rain. We
Room area to get up the bolt climb that 12/8/2018: Maxwelton Cave, WV. first went into the cave and did the dig by
Jon Lillestolen had left way back in March Participants included David Socky, Greg
2015. It was the last section that needed to the Brian Williams lead near the farthest
Springer, Silas Springer, and Lydia Albright connection to the mine. The dig led to one
be done. Turned out both Nick and Eric (Greg's graduate student). Lydia had never
free climbed up the canyon, but Nick set small room which didn't do anything, but
been in a cave before (except for some we did survey 2 shots for 22 feet. We then
two bolts and we rigged a rope, which mines), but she did very well on the trip. We
Hope and I climbed. The old survey team went back to the mine and finished all the
entered the cave about 11am and made our mine passage near the second truck en-
had obviously gotten up because the hand way to the Latte Room without incident,
sketch showed details that could only be trance. This pretty much completes the
although we did do a lot of explaining and entire mine except the Sofa Section and
shown if one had been there. So we sur- spotting for Lydia. Silas had a hard time
veyed, but only a little over 114 feet. any other little places we find further up
restraining himself from bouncing ahead. We the valley. We netted a total of 1398 feet
There was enough cave that another trip turned left at the Latte Room and went past
would be necessary. Everyone was anx- for a 6 hour day.
H Canyon. A few hundred feet later we
ious to get back so we packed it up and reached the Classic Canyon passage, which 12/15/2018: Lowmoor Cave,
headed out. We did take a quick tour to cuts across the old Cove Creek trunk at 90 VA. Participants included David Socky,
the Ship Room. We were out of the cave degrees, but is actually below the trunk by Bob Alderson, Joe Zokaites, and Bill
by midafternoon for a pleasant 3 hour trip. about 15 to 20 feet. We went upstream and Koerschner. Again, it rained, so we parked
soon reached the end of Greg's previous in the mine. We surveyed 736 feet of un-
CBA survey. Greg sketched, Silas did point, known (but not virgin) cave accessed from
11/24/2018: Lowmoor Cave, VA. I did back sights, and Lydia picked up front the Lowmoor mine. There was a lot more
Participants included Bob Alderson and sights very quickly. She had a steady hand!
David Socky. Bob sketched. We finished cave there than we expected. We left 3
It was a nice canyon, but got restricted in good leads because of hibernating bats.
up the section of cave above the bolt width at the bottom in a number of places, We saw around 150 bats (most likely Lit-
climb that we had left on Sunday. We forcing one to either crawl in the water or
surveyed just about everything, expect one climb up and over the narrow channel. The
(Continued on page 8)
8 The Carbide Dump January 2019, V54, #1
Dr. John Holsinger Passes
John Robert Holsinger, 1934 - 2018
It is with great sadness that we learned friend, and to have had the great privi-
of the passing of Dr. John Holsinger this lege of knowing him. The context in
morning (Nov. 10, 2018). John was one which both my personal and profession-
of the most influential cave scientists in al lives exist would not have been possi-
Virginia, and a founding member of the ble without the leadership and vision of
Virginia Cave Survey, later to become John Holsinger. John was I believe the
the Virginia Speleological Survey second director of the Virginia Cave
(VSS). Dr. Holsinger's legacy and influ- Survey, which transmogrified into the
ence on the VSS and the Virginia Re- VSS. He followed Henry Douglass and
gion Caving Community is hard to quan- preceded Phil Lucas. John put the cave
tify, but the long lasting effects of his biology of the Appalachians on the map,
dedicated work in cave science, biology and realized more than anyone the nex-
and exploration will be forever etched us between conservation biology and the
into our history. protection of caves. I still meet land-
We don't have an official obituary or owners on a regular basis who remem-
fitting chronical of Dr. Holsinger's life ber John and ask about him “Hey,
yet, but hopefully, we will be able to how's Dr. Holsinger? What a great guy,
post something soon. For now, this I was just a little girl when my grandpa
short memorial from Wil Orndorf will showed him the cave behind the barn-
give us a start: yard." More than we probably realize,
both literally and metaphorically, we
Our dear friend, mentor and partner in
tread in John Holsinger's footsteps. If
crime, Dr. John " Captain Karst"
you aren't familiar with the breadth and
Holsinger, passed away this morning in
depth of John's life's work, you should
Richmond, Virginia. It's beyond the
take time to learn about it. It makes
scope of this email to do justice to the
everything we do in the caving world
man and his legacy - accolades and
more meaningful. We are all part of his
tributes will no doubt pour forth. I will
say that I feel proud to call John a legacy. Karst uber alles!
(Trip Log continued from page 7) Browns, Little Browns, Tri-Colored, and
tle Browns), with two large clusters. There Eastern small-footed (Myotis leibii) bats, and
Spring Restoration were also some Tri-Colored and Big Brown
bats. It was a good 6.5 hour trip.
possibly a cluster of Indiana Bats. There is
still several hundred or more feet of passage
at Grand Caverns 12/18/2018: Maxwelton Cave, WV.
that needs surveying, but it will have to wait
until the spring.
2019 Participants included David Socky, Greg
Springer, and Silas Springer. The cave trip 1/5/2019: Boarhole Cave, WV. Par-
The date for the today was the continuation of ‘Classic Can- ticipants included David Socky, Chris
annual conserva- yon' in Maxwelton Sink Cave. We surveyed Coates, and Nikki Fox. The dive trip into
tion project at 20 stations in this twisty, narrow canyon until McClungs was cancelled due to the rain, so
it got too narrow. Silas had no problems, but Chris Coates, Nikki Fox, and I went into
Grand Caverns is Greg and I just couldn't fit. We decided to Boarhole Cave, WV where Chris did a bolt
Saturday, April 6, leave the continuation of this virgin lead to a climb into an intriguing lead. It took 8 bolts,
2019. This is a fun 'small person' survey. Actually, the passage but unfortunately it didn't go. No survey this
and worthwhile we did survey was pretty cool, with lots of day. We spent the rest of the day poking
project that unites really nice formations, including squirrely around in the K survey looking for the way to
cavers from across helectites. It was a fun 6.5 hour trip with a the Portal. We made it through the break-
the region. The VAR Conservation whole 200 feet of survey added to Maxwel- down route, but gave up when we found big
Committee hosts the project and pro- ton. See the article in this issue of the Car- cave at multiple levels, with leads going off
vides lunch and dinner to participants. bide Dump for a fun description of this and every which way. We gave up when we real-
other trips. ized we didn’t know where the Boarhole
Please RSVP to Meredith Hall Weberg
passage connected into the Portal on the map,
(merecaver@yahoo.com) so the commit- 1/4/2019: Lowmoor Cave, VA. Par- plus we didn’t have a compass with us! We
tee will have enough food. More infor- ticipants included David Socky, Rick Reyn- got out just before dark for a fun 8.5 hour
mation will be sent out as the date nears. olds, Joe and Carol Zokaites. Went to the trip.
ETE survey to check on and count the bats in
this section of mine-cave. We found Big
January 2019, V54, #1 9
The Carbide Dump
New NSS Policy PAY YER 2019 DUES!!
(excerpts from NSS President Geary Schindel - Jan 2019 NSS News, p.30)
It's that time -
…The two most important issues the the Society are independent organiza- 2019 BRG dues are $10.00 for regular or
NSS Board of Governors dealt with is an tions and may create their own policies. associate members, $5.00 for additional
Anti-Harassment Policy and changes To remain compliant with the NSS family members. Discount for members
to the Bylaws related to Discipline of Charter, they must also have in place an under 18. Subscriber fee is $10.00 per
Members. The NSS officers and Board Anti-Harassment Policy, or agree to person.
members realized they did not have any- implement the NSS policy, or risk loss of Make checks to Blue Ridge Grotto.
thing in place that stated the position of association with the NSS”. Families, additional dues payers – there
the NSS regarding harassment of mem- will be printed info on your family rate at
To read the NSS Anti-Harassment poli-
bers. In addition, we also had very lim- the BRG meeting.
cy and the Discipline of Members by-
ited provisions in our bylaws to disci- If you mail in your dues, please include a
laws, click on this link
pline members that may have not been piece of paper with your current address,
upholding the tenets of the NSS. The Many grottos have already developed phones, email, NSS number (and NSS
board has addressed both of these issues their own policies concerning proper expiration month), and primary grotto
and will be bringing a proposed “Code caving behavior. BRG has a good safety affiliation.
of Conduct” forward for consideration at policy, ‘with teeth’, that is used on a
You can pay for multiple years.
the Spring 2019 BOG meeting. case-by-case basis.
Most importantly, the NSS is asking that Here’s a link to the BRG policy and by- Pay your dues at the BRG meeting or mail
each internal organization (“grotto”) laws: http://blueridgegrotto.org/ them to:
adopt these same policies in their grotto organization_set.htm Trish Geiger
by-laws. “Internal organizations within 740 Lakeview Circle
Hollins, VA 24019
AUCTION! CaveSim says NSS Book raffle – Lynn Ott (As of 1/09/2019) Thanks to all who
have paid for 2019: Lauren Appel, Su-
THANKS for BRG’s donation! It still has books left over from the
san Burr, Joseph Caldwell, Carl Cornett,
helped provide transport of the CaveSim spring 2018 NSS BOG meeting. She Bill Cuddington (LM), Miriam Cudding-
trailer to Helena, MT. CaveSim was would like to have them auctioned off ton, Martin DiLeggi, Joey Fagan (LM),
well attended by cavers, area summer for Fundraising/Raffle/ Contest/new Bill Farlow, John Fox, Trish Geiger, Bob
camps and the public during this year’s member incentive. Here are the titles: Gulden, Dusty & Nicole Gulden, Gene
NSS Convention. Dave Jackson has Harrison, Jeff Huffman, Cyndi
SERA-VAR 2008 Bristol, TN Hutchison, Ben Johnson, Dan & Marian
given us a “Thank You from CaveSim”
Guidebook McConnell, Greg McCorkindale, Aaron
large t-shirt. Keep your eye out for the
A Study of Environmental was Moses, Lynn Ott, Jenn Perdue, David &
upcoming BRG Online Auction.
Suzanne Rose, Ed and Marianne
Factors in Harrison‘s Cave Barba-
Mary Sue Socky Saugstad, David & Mary Sue Socky,
dos West Indies. 1994 Nick Socky, Alex Sproul, Al Stewart
2016 NSS Convention Guidebook (LM), John Taylor, Bill Walker, Brian
- 75th Anniversary, Ely, NV (3 Williams.
(LM = Life Member)
copies)
2014 NSS Convention Guidebook
- Huntsville, AL (2 copies)
Bat Gate Design: A Technical
Interactive Forum (TX) 2002
On Caves & Cameras (by Thomp-
son & Van Swearingen) 2005
Keep your eye out for the upcoming
BRG Online Auction.
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