THE UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT - CENTRAL CONNECTICUT GROTTO VOLUME18,NUMBER7 JULY2018 - NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
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Central Connecticut Grotto
The Underground Movement
Volume
Volume17,
18,Number
Number12
7 December 2017
July 2018
The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 July 2018
The Central Connecticut Grotto (CCG) is a local chapter IN THIS ISSUE
of the National Speleological Society (NSS) dedicated to First Cave with the Central Connecticut Grotto…………4
the exploration, scientific study, and conservation of Images from the CCG Caving Weekend………………...5
caves and all aspects of the underground environment, as NSS Members Caving Weekend……………………….11
well as promoting a spirit of camaraderie and fellowship Bats Harbor Gene Swiped from Ebola-Like Virus…….12
among cavers. Membership is open to anyone who shares Protecting Public Lands in Connecticut………………..14
these interests. Regular membership dues are $5.00 per In the News……………………………………………..15
year. An option for current NSS members is $20.00 for From the Bookshelf…………………………………….19
five years. Institutional membership is free. Please visit The Creative Corner……………….…………………...20
www.caves.org/grotto/ccg/join.htm for additional mem- Calendar of Events/Photograph of the Month………….22
bership information. Grotto meetings, consisting of a
short business meeting followed by a caving presentation,
are usually held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, start-
ing at 7:00 p.m. However, the date, time, and location of Christopher Shih snaking his way through the
meetings may vary, so please check the CCG website Gunbarrel in Knox Cave during the Central
(www.caves.org/grotto/ccg/) or contact grotto chair Ash- Connecticut Grotto’s annual caving weekend
ley Pospisil (860-869-0932) for any updates. in Schoharie, New York (July 20 - 22). Start-
ing out at 18 inches high by 12 inches wide,
The Underground Movement is the official newsletter of this 50-foot-long tube gradually narrows to 8
the CCG. Submissions can be contributed by grotto mem- inches by 12 inches. Photo by Dan Meldrim.
bers as well as friends of the grotto. Opinions expressed Additional photographs from this weekend’s
in articles are not necessarily a reflection of the official caver gathering will appear in the August is-
position of the CCG and NSS or shared by the newsletter sue of The Underground Movement.
editor, CCG officers, or grotto members. Unless it has
been independently copyrighted (as indicated by © or as
“reproduced with permission”), material published in The
Underground Movement may be reprinted in any NSS-
affiliated publication—pending permission of the author/
photographer—provided appropriate credit is given and ©
either a hard copy or a digital file made available.
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT GROTTO
Submissions to The Underground Movement, including OFFICERS (2018)
original or reprinted articles, photographs, and artwork
are welcome. Images (jpegs) and word files (composed in Chair: Ashley Pospisil
Microsoft Word, with minimal formatting) should be sent Vice Chair: Veronica Sassu
to the editor at underground_newsletter@yahoo.com. The Treasurer: Norm Berg
CCG cannot publish copyrighted material without written Secretary: Alisa Werst
permission of the copyright holder. Contributors are re- Webmaster: Ian Preston
sponsible for determining whether material is copyright- Membership: Diane Lucas
ed, as well as for securing appropriate permission. Safety: Doug Truitt
Conservation: Amanda Cooper
In conjunction with ongoing efforts to help diminish the Vertical: Felicia Millett
spread of white-nose syndrome among hibernating cave Equipment: Steve Millett
bats, the Central Connecticut Grotto encourages cavers to Member at Large: Blase Lasala
adhere to all seasonal cave closures and to follow all rec- Newsletter Editor: Danny Brass
ommended gear-cleaning & disinfection protocols. These
can be found on the NSS White-Nose Syndrome Page Grotto officers can be reached through the CCG email
(www.caves.org/WNS/). Your continued cooperation and address (info@ctcavers.org). The newsletter editor can be
support are greatly appreciated. reached at underground_newsletter@yahoo.com.
2
The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 THE NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY July 2018
The National Speleological Society (NSS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the scientific study of caves and
karst; protecting caves and their natural contents through conservation, ownership, stewardship, and public education;
and promoting responsible cave exploration and fellowship among those interested in caves.
Close to 200 regional member organizations (called grottos) make up the backbone of the NSS. Grottos are devoted to the
training of both novice and advanced cavers, as well as to the continued development and refinement of equipment and tech-
nique for safe underground exploration. Grottos conduct meetings, organize training programs, and sponsor caving trips on a
regular basis. Interested beginners are welcome. Information on membership in the NSS and its various programs and ac-
tivities can be found on the NSS website (www.caves.org/).
Although membership in the NSS is not a requirement for joining the CCG, all CCG members are strongly encouraged
to join the NSS. In terms of educational opportunities available, acquisition of caving skills and experience, and the po-
tential for networking with other cavers on a local, regional, or even global scale, the benefits to cavers of NSS member-
ship are incalculable.
I would like to express my thanks to those who contribut-
ed material―either articles, photographs, trip reports, or CAVE SOFTLY
announcements―to the last several issues of The Under-
ground Movement as well as to everyone who contributed Take Nothing But Pictures
to this month’s issue. It is only through continued submis-
sions from the membership and friends of the grotto that a
Leave Nothing But Footprints
viable newsletter can be sustained. Kill Nothing But Time
Special thanks to Merrill Ann Gonzales for generously allowing
the Central Connecticut Grotto and The Underground Movement
to use her beautiful illustrations for the cover and page headers
and as the backdrop for the cover-illustration description.
3
The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 FIRST CAVE WITH THE CENTRAL CONNECTCUT GROTTO July 2018
On the way back, I was a bit more confident; my feet
FIRST CAVE WITH THE CENTRAL knew the grip of the rocks, and now I was really looking
CONNECTICUT GROTTO around. Ryan was, too. The fungi, the spiders, the roots,
all kinds of things to see. Up ahead, there were voices
― Stephen Kennedy ― excited about finding something and people looking and
climbing into a small chamber― “the Thook,” they said.
About twenty feet into Clarksville Cave, it was clear to
me that almost nothing from my previous climbing expe- Ryan went in first. He moved well through the crawl to
rience was going to help me now. My son, Ryan, was in the first small chamber. Waiting his turn, he pushed him-
front and he seemed to be adapting well to the environ- self up though the tight opening and found his way into
ment and pushing through the first narrow section just to the next chamber. Awesome. I decided that I was good
the right of the entrance. This was his idea from a year where I was and that this challenge would have to wait for
ago, when he asked if we could find some caving to do. next time. People started working their way back to the
After getting through the first narrow section on our main cave, getting ready for the next part of the cave. At
chests, I didn’t know whether this was a good or bad idea! this point, Ryan and I decided to exit the cave, and headed
out the Ward Entrance to the cars.
The cave opened up into a chamber where all of us could
stand. What I didn’t know at the time was that this assem- Later on, after some awesome barbecue, it was a great
blage of cavers had an amazing collective knowledge of night of hanging out at the campfire, enjoying a beer, and
earth science, and a willingness to take the time to point listening to stories. Jose described his cave trip: floating
out features and explain their origins. A quick count of on his back, helmet off, three-inch air space. Steve and
headlamps, a group chorus of Newbies to the front, and Joe were glad to talk about cave rigging and harness set-
up the scramble we went...with Ryan in the front. ups. Joe explained digging to me, which blew my mind.
That seemed like a good time to watch the fire and think
Initially, the footing was slippery, the water was cold, and about the awesome day and my first cave trip. I am grate-
the head room was getting steadily shorter. But every now ful to members of the Central Connecticut Grotto for in-
and then, I’d see a feature or some interesting organic viting my son and me to walk in our first cave and to en-
thing that made me forget the discomfort. The formation joy a night by the fire with a great group of people.
of the cave, the direction of the water flow in sculpting
the rock, and the petrified branches in the rock were ex- I hear Merlins is nice.
plained by Mina and Amanda. Danny described the
curved fossils with the many segments and long tail, as
well as many other things I’ll try to recall when I see
them again.
After countless moments of ‘whew, glad I have my hel-
met on’ or ‘elbow pads would be handy here’ we reached
the Lake Room at the north end of the cave. After a few
moments of exploring and some adjusting to find a com-
fortable spot, it was headlamps out. Darkness. It was a
moment when you could feel the ageless environment of
the cave. Pretty cool.
Even cooler was watching the experienced cavers in their
element. I watched as some found the small opening on
the upper right, and in they went to see where it could go.
Another went to the water level and explored the nearby
chambers adjacent to the lake. Their endless curiosity of
the environment was inspiring me to look closer, to ask
“what is that?”
4
Participants in the Clarksville Cave trip. From left to right (front Stephen and Mina entering the cave through the Ward entrance.
row): Heather Glenn, Dan Meldrim, Mina Hai, Amanda Cooper, The well-worn rocks in the entrance, rounded and smoothed by
and Stephen Kennedy; (back row): Casey Hernandez, Ross the passage of generations of cavers, attests to the popularity of
Clark, Shelby Hernandez, Rob Kissner, Kathryn Lanza, Kalten Clarksville Cave among cavers in the Northeast. Photo by Dan
Walter, and Ryan Kennedy. Photo by Danny Brass. Meldrim.
Regrouping in the Big Room, at the base of the entrance drop, The iconic stream passage in Clarksville is one of the most pho-
prior to entering the stream passage. Photo by Dan Meldrim. togenic sections of the cave. Photo by Dan Meldrim.
Amanda, Rob, and Kathryn negotiating the stream passage Low water levels made passing through the stream passage
through Perry Avenue. Photo by Dan Meldrim. relatively easy. Photo by Dan Meldrim.
5
Dry sections of the cave along Perry Avenue afford cavers an opportunity to bypass portions of the streambed. Photos by Dan Meldrim.
Arriving at the shore of the Lake Room. Photo by Dan Meldrim. Kathryn and Ryan at the Lake Room. Photo by Dan Meldrim.
Danny and Kalten in the Thook passage. Photo by Dan Meldrim. Mina in the Thook Passage. Photo by Dan Meldrim
6
The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 IMAGES FROM THE CCG CAVING WEEKEND - CLARKSVILLE July 2018
Heather scrambling through the Thook passage. Photo by Dan Heather and Dan in the “large room” of the Thook passage.
Meldrim. Photo by Danny Brass.
Down the rabbit hole. Kathryn clambering down The Chutes en
route to Brinley’s Sump. Photo by Danny Brass.
Middle left: Shelby at the top of The Chutes. Photo by Danny
Brass. Bottom left: Casey nearing the bottom of The Chutes.
Photo by Dan Meldrim.
7
The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 IMAGES FROM THE CCG CAVING WEEKEND - CLARKSVILLE July 2018
Approaching daylight at the Gregory entrance. Sunlight stream-
ing through the portal is always a welcome sight after a trip
through the sump. Photo by Dan Meldrim.
Emerging from Clarksville Cave after a through-trip from the
Ward entrance to the Gregory entrance. Photo by Dan Meldrim.
8
The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 IMAGES FROM THE CCG CAVING WEEKEND - KNOX July 2018
Participants in the Knox Cave trip (left to right): Christopher
Shih, Brendan Taylor, Emily Hannigan, Kalten Walter, Alisa
Werst, Heather Glenn, and Dan Meldrim (in front). All photos on
this page by Dan Meldrim.
Once a commercial cave, Knox offers an interesting blend of
passageways, including the notorious Gunbarrel. A bypass has
been dug for cavers seeking a detour around this long and con-
fining tunnel (inching one’s way through which is often consid-
ered a ‘rite of passage’ for Northeastern cavers able to fit).
9
The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 IMAGES FROM THE CCG CAVING WEEKEND - KNOX July 2018
Images from Knox Cave. Each of the cavers are, undoubtedly,
contemplating what to include in his or her newsletter article as
they make their way through the cave’s many twisting passages.
All photos on this page by Dan Meldrim.
10NSS MEMBERS CAVING WEEKEND AT THE SCHOHARIE CAVERNS NATURE
PRESERVE (SCHOHARIE COUNTY, NY) ― August 16 - 19, 2018
The Central Connecticut Grotto would like to extend an invitation to all NSS members to come and join us for
four days of caving in the Schoharie County (New York) area. Our goal is to give cavers from other regions an
opportunity to visit some great cave preserves owned by the NSS and Northeastern Cave Conservancy. There will
be guided trips for cavers of different experience levels.
Members are invited to come and stay free of charge at the Schoharie Caverns Nature Preserve, which includes a
large cabin, areas for tent camping, and a 4,000-foot-long cave that has been owned and managed by the NSS for
almost 25 years.
We are excited to invite cavers to come and visit nearby McFails Cave. This wet, vertical cave has been surveyed
to over seven miles in length, and is actually the very first cave owned by the NSS. McFails was donated to the
NSS in 1967, 51 years ago, and exploration still continues today.
The preserve has limited amount of space, and we require all participants to RSVP so we can best plan
for accommodating everyone who wishes to join us.
This event is inspired by the Louisville Grotto’s NSS Members Free Camping Weekend that several cavers from
the Northeast attended in 2017. We encourage more grottos to host similar events in their own regions.
Website: http://caves.org/grotto/ccg/nssmembersweekend/ Email: info@ctcavers.org
Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1624109097682412/ Phone: Steven Millett - 203-640-6703
11The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 BATS HARBOR GENE SWIPED FROM EBOLA-LIKE VIRUS July 2018
BATS HARBOR A GENE SWIPED FROM AN ANCIENT EBOLA-LIKE VIRUS
― HERE’S HOW THEY MAY BE USING IT ―
Charlotte Hsu
Study suggests that a gene encoding a viral protein
has been carefully preserved in Myotis bats for mil-
lions of years...
Some 18 million years ago, an ancestor of mouse-eared
bats “stole” genetic material from an ancient virus related
to Ebola.
The swiped genetic sequence — a gene called VP35 —
has remained largely intact in the bats despite the passage
of time, with few changes since it was co-opted, a new
study finds. The research also sheds light on the gene’s
possible function in bats, suggesting that it may play a
role in regulating the immune system’s response to
threats.
“We’re using a multidisciplinary approach to understand
the evolution, structure and function of a viral gene co- The Ebola virus, captured by a CDC microbiologist in a color-
opted by a mammal,” says Derek J. Taylor, PhD, an evo- ized transmission electron microscope image. A study co-led by
lutionary biologist at the University at Buffalo. “From an UB biologist Derek Taylor explores the evolutionary history and
function of a gene “stolen” from an ancient, Ebola-like virus by
evolutionary standpoint, it’s rare that you can actually see an ancestor of modern bats. Photo courtesy of the Centers for
a viral gene sequence like this that has remained intact in Disease Control and Prevention/Frederick A. Murphy.
a mammalian host. Most of these things are eroded over
time — they get chopped up and shuffled around. “Our study explores VP35 function, but further research
is needed to determine the specific evolutionary benefit,”
“But VP35 is highly conserved. It’s similar in all the bats Taylor says. “Why has this gene been conserved for so
we looked at, and the bat versions remain very close to long? We don’t quite know the answer, and it’s possible
what you see in modern Ebola and Marburg viruses. This that VP35 has some other function in bats that we haven’t
conservation suggests that the gene has been preserved yet discovered.”
for an important purpose.”
The study was published in the journal Cell Reports on
In Ebola and Marburg viruses today, the VP35 gene car- July 24, with Megan R. Edwards, PhD, of Georgia State
ries instructions for building a protein that blocks the im- University as first author. The project was led by Christo-
mune response of infected animals, enabling disease to pher F. Basler, PhD, of Georgia State; Daisy W. Leung,
take hold. When scientists used artificial synthesis to cre- PhD, of the Washington University School of Medicine;
ate bat VP35 proteins in the lab, these proteins also acted and Taylor, a professor of biological sciences in the UB
as immune suppressors, but they were less potent than College of Arts and Sciences.
viral VP35s.
Similarities — and Differences — in Bats and in
The study answers some important questions, but many Deadly Viruses
mysteries remain. For example: Is the VP35 gene active To understand VP35’s evolutionary history, the team
in mouse-eared bats? Do mouse-eared bats produce any compared VP35 sequences in 15 bat species from the ge-
VP35 proteins? If the bats do make VP35 proteins, why is nus Myotis (the mouse-eared bats), and used these se-
this beneficial? quences to reconstruct the archaic version of the gene that
12The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 BATS HARBOR GENE SWIPED FROM EBOLA-LIKE VIRUS July 2018
was first acquired by the bats’ forebear some 18 million The new project builds on this work by exploring VP35’s
years ago. modern function and showing that the gene has been me-
ticulously conserved through evolution in mouse-eared
This analysis showed that VP35 was strikingly similar bats.
across all 15 modern bats, modern Ebola and Marburg
viruses, and the reconstructed ancestral gene. In other “NIRVs can tell you something about the timescale of vi-
words: VP35 has changed very little in viruses and mouse- rus-host interactions, and they can tell you something
eared bats in the last 18 million years. Bolstering this con- about what types of hosts are being affected by a virus,”
clusion, researchers discovered that the structure of a My- Taylor says. “Now we’re using them in this present study
otis VP35 protein and an Ebola VP35 protein were alike to inform functional studies. NIRVs are a fairly new area
in many ways. of study, and it’s exciting to see what else we can learn
from them.”
Despite these resemblances, bat and viral forms of VP35
differ in function. Lab tests showed that bat VP35 helps to The new research was a collaboration between researchers
suppress production of an infection-fighting immune pro- from UB, Georgia State University, Washington Universi-
tein called interferon beta, but less effectively than Ebola ty School of Medicine, Cornell College, the Hauptman-
and Marburg VP35s. Woodward Medical Research Institute, the Friedrich-
Loeffler-Institute, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount
“How could a bat use a viral gene that normally suppress- Sinai, the American Type Culture Collection, and the Uni-
es interferon? While we don’t know the exact answer, in- versity of California, Santa Cruz.
terferon is associated with inflammation, and it turns out
that turning off the inflammation response is an important
aspect of immune system function — prolonged inflam- In this study, researchers studied the VP35 gene in cells
mation can be harmful in mammals,” Taylor says. “So one derived from Myotis bats, also known as mouse-eared
possibility is that bats recruited a viral anti-inflammation bats.
gene to enhance control of inflammation.” “We found that the version in the bats is attenuated
Genetic Theft: How it Happens and Why it Matters (weakened) in its ability to inhibit the immune response.
So, the Ebola VP35 is very potent, and this one is very
The new study was inspired in part by Taylor’s prior work attenuated,” said Dr. Megan Edwards, first author of the
on VP35 and other “stolen” viral genes. Known as non- study and a postdoctoral researcher in the Institute for
Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State. “And it doesn't
retroviral integrated RNA viral sequences (NIRVs), these have several of the other functions that are attributed to
co-opted genetic snippets are accidentally inserted into the Ebola VP35. However, the structure of the protein is
genomes of infected hosts when a virus like Ebola or Mar- strikingly similar, nearly identical, to the Ebola VP35. So,
burg hijacks a host’s genetic machinery to replicate. it hasn't conserved the potent function, but it has evolu-
tionarily conserved the structure.”
NIRVs are a gold mine of information. Taylor, one of the
“We think it [the gene] has evolved to have maybe a
first scientists to study them, calls them “scars of infec- related, but somewhat different function than what it
tion” and likens them to a “viral fossil record”: You can does in the virus,” said Christopher Basler, a professor
investigate them to learn many fascinating things about in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State,
the co-evolution of viruses and hosts. director of the university's Center for Microbial Patho-
genesis, and a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent
Scholar in Microbial Pathogenesis. “In Myotis bats, the
In prior research, Taylor and colleagues used NIRVs to gene is still able to block immune responses at some
show that filoviruses — the family housing Ebola and level, but it does it less efficiently than the virus. The
Marburg — are ancient. The scientists also discovered that goal of this gene in the virus is to completely shut off
several mammals harbor the VP35 NIRV, which was orig- the immune system, so that allows it to grow unimped-
inally acquired from archaic filoviruses that shared a com- ed. But the host wants to keep its immune system in-
tact, so one idea is maybe this gene serves to regulate
mon ancestor with Ebola and Marburg. Species that have the immune system. However, it's also possible that it
this NIRV range from bats to hamsters, voles and walla- does other things that we don't yet understand.”
bies.
13The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 PROTECTING PUBLIC LANDS IN CONECTICUT July 2018
You and CFPA have been working hard to protect public
PROTECTING PUBLIC LANDS IN lands in Connecticut for years, so to be clear, I’m not ask-
CONNECTICUT ing you to support CFPA (though if you’re currently a
― Eric Hammerling ― CFPA supporter, I of course hope your support will con-
tinue).
Dear Friend of Protecting Public Lands in Connecticut, I am asking you today to give a special contribution to
support the Protect CT Public Lands Coalition, Inc., a
There are only 102 days to go before voters go the polls
new 501c4 organization and state Referendum Committee
on November 6th to hopefully vote “YES” on the ballot
that is focused on raising money and awareness for the
question to protect your public lands in the state constitu-
urgent need to protect public lands with the passage of
tion.
this ballot measure. You can support the Coalition as an
Your help now is absolutely essential to success on the organization, as an individual, or both.
ballot in November.
The Protect CT Public Lands Coalition, Inc. has raised
You know that your public lands are vulnerable every some initial support from partnering organizations like
year to being sold, swapped, or given away by the Gen- CFPA, the CT Land Conservation Council, the Trust for
eral Assembly, and you know that the most dangerous Public Land, the National Wildlife Federation, interested
time for your public lands is at the end of each Legisla- board members, organizational members, generous indi-
tive session when a “rat” is added to a public lands viduals, and hopefully you too.
“conveyance bill” in the dark of night and is then quickly
passed without a public hearing or opportunity for input. To provide support, you can donate online here and en-
You also know that the ONLY way to protect public courage others in your sphere of influence to do so as
lands from the annual shenanigans of the General Assem- well. You can also visit and share the new landing page
bly is through amending the state constitution. For more for the Protect CT Public Lands Coalition, Inc. that just
information on why this issue is so important, go here. went live yesterday and offers basic information, a place
to sign-up, and a donation page.
If you want your public lands to be protected from these
dangerous annual assaults, it will take considerable $$ Thank you for your support!
and outreach given the “noise” surrounding this year’s All the best,
election―e.g., a competitive gubernatorial race, lots of
voter engagement, outrage about national politics, etc. Eric
Keep in mind that this is the first environmental issue to Eric Hammerling, Executive Director, Connecticut Forest
ever appear on the statewide ballot in Connecticut, and if & Park Association (CFPA) & (in my spare time) I also
you also care about building momentum for future envi- serve as Treasurer, Protect CT Public Lands Coalition,
ronmental initiatives, failure is simply not an option. Inc.
14The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 IN THE NEWS July 2018
IN THE NEWS
Thailand Cave Rescue
Cartoons that Portrayed Perils of Thai Cave Rescue
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/13/takes-the-edge-off-the-cute-cartoons-that-portrayed-perils-of-thai-cave-rescue
Thai Navy Seals Pay Tribute to Diver Who Died in Cave Rescue
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/06/thai-navy-seals-pay-tribute-diver-died-cave-rescue
Elon Musk 'Can Stick His Submarine Where It Hurts,' Says Diver in Thai Cave Rescue
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-apos-stick-submarine-162938880.html
Thailand Cave Rescue to be Made into a Film
https://www.yahoo.com/news/thailand-cave-rescue-made-film-090900969.html
British Diver Describes 'Electric' Feeling After Rescuing Trapped Thai Boys From Cave
https://www.yahoo.com/news/british-diver-describes-apos-electric-193000534.html
Elon Musk Calls British Diver from Thai Cave Rescue a 'Pedo Guy' After he said Elon 'Can Stick His Submarine Where it Hurts'
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/elon-musk-calls-british-diver-161141366.html
Elon Musk Lashes Out at Thai Cave Rescuer, Baselessly Calls Him a 'Pedo Guy'
https://www.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-lashes-thai-cave-175229265.html
Just What Was the Point of Elon Musk's 'Non-Practical' Submarine Rescue Effort in Thailand?
http://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-thai-cave-soccer-boys-team-rescue-2018-7?utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=referral
Thai Soccer Team Planned to be Inside the Cave for Only an Hour
https://www.yahoo.com/news/thai-soccer-team-planned-inside-cave-only-hour-070518977--sow.html
After a Successful Cave Rescue, Thailand's Navy SEALs Will Add Cave-Diving to Their Training
https://www.yahoo.com/news/successful-cave-rescue-thailand-apos-081547088.html
Thai Cave Rescue Poses a Spiritual Danger, According to Mythology
https://www.yahoo.com/news/thai-cave-rescue-poses-spiritual-001700998.html
Thai Cave Boys Mourn Death of Navy Seal as British Divers Reveal Authorities Were Out of Their Depth
https://www.yahoo.com/news/thai-cave-boys-mourn-death-140404519.html
‘Ja Sam’ to be Memorialised at Proposed Cave Art Centre, Also Seen as a Tourist Attraction
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30350124
British Divers Who Found Thai Children No Stranger to Rescues
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30349276
Thai Cave Rescue Divers Given Diplomatic Immunity: Report
https://www.yahoo.com/news/thai-cave-rescue-divers-given-diplomatic-immunity-report-041515880.html
The British Diver From the Thai Cave Rescue Whom Elon Musk Called a 'Pedo' is Considering Suing the Billionaire
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/british-diver-thai-cave-rescue-070323583.html
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-cant-own-advice-143217064.html
Tesla Falls 2% After British Diver Mulls Legal Action Over Elon Musk's Baseless 'Pedo Guy' Claim
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/thai-rescue-mission-diver-mulls-111600119.html
Elon Musk's Latest Outburst Raises Doubts on Leadership
https://www.yahoo.com/news/elon-musks-latest-outburst-raises-doubts-leadership-011517976.html
Elon Musk Apologizes to Cave Rescuer for 'Pedo' Tweet
https://money.cnn.com/2018/07/18/technology/elon-musk-apology-thai-cave-diver/index.html
Divers Reveal Terrifying Details of Thai Cave Rescue
https://nypost.com/2018/07/17/divers-reveal-terrifying-details-of-thai-cave-rescue/
15The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 IN THE NEWS July 2018
Students Use Recycled Materials to Create Model of Thai Cave
https://www.gaffneyledger.com/articles/students-use-recycled-materials-to-create-model-of-thai-cave/
Divers Reveal Terrifying Details of Thai Cave Rescue
https://nypost.com/2018/07/17/divers-reveal-terrifying-details-of-thai-cave-rescue/
Thais Turn to Art, T-Shirts to Mark Cave Rescue of 'Lucky' 13
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-accident-cave-memorabilia/thais-turn-to-art-t-shirts-to-mark-cave-rescue-of-lucky-13-
idUSKBN1KA1JZ
Thai Cave Boys Begin Ceremony to Become Buddhist Novices
http://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2018/07/25/candles-and-chanting-thai-cave-boys-begin-ceremony-to-become-buddhist-
novices.html
Thailand to Mark Boy Soccer Team's Cave Rescue with Museum
http://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2018/08/03/thailand-to-mark-boy-soccer-teams-cave-rescue-with-museum.html
Cavers, Caves, and Caving
Spelunking in Malaysia
https://www.malaymail.com/s/1652130/spelunking-in-malaysia
East Tennessee Expert Shares Cave Exploration Tips After Thailand Rescue
https://www.wate.com/news/as-seen-on-wate/east-tenn-expert-shares-cave-exploration-tips-after-thailand-rescue/1301751685
Cave Art and Cave-Related Paleoanthropology
'Exceptional' 560,000-Year-Old Child's Milk Tooth Found in French Cave Could Reveal the Secrets of Our Ancestors
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5988161/Exceptional-560-000-year-old-childs-milk-tooth-unearthed-French-cave.html
Treasure of Mayan Cave Paintings Discovered in Southeast Mexico
http://aldianews.com/articles/culture/treasure-mayan-cave-paintings-discovered-southeast-mexico/53427
White-Nose Syndrome and Bat Conservation
Pushing Bats Off Their Holy Roosts
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/pushing-bats-off-their-holy-roosts/article24541406.ece
Translocation of Roosting Bats in India Ruled Out
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/translocation-of-roosting-bats-near-hc-ruled-out/article24484723.ece
White-Nose Syndrome is Quietly Killing Millions of Bats Editor’s Note: In light of certain demonstra-
https://www.earth.com/news/white-nose-syndrome-bats/ tions and discussion around the campfire on Sat-
urday evening during the CCG Schoharie Caving
Ohio, Local Area Rich with Caves to Visit Weekend, I thought some links to the fascinating
http://www.sanduskyregister.com/story/201807200027 tale of Phineas Gage would be appropriate.
Public’s Help Needed in Tracking Bat Activity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phineas_Gage
https://www.vicnews.com/news/publics-help-needed-in-tracking-bat-activity/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/phineas
-gage-neurosciences-most-famous-patient-
Bats - Natural History 11390067/
Do Telomeres Increase Bats’ Longevity?
http://now.northropgrumman.com/do-telomeres-increase-bats-longevity/ Editor’s Note: The Impact of White-Nose Syn-
Fuzzy Yellow Bats Reveal Evolutionary Relationships in Kenya drome on Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Bats as
https://phys.org/news/2018-07-fuzzy-yellow-reveal-evolutionary-relationships.html Mosquito Hunters - Myth or Marvel. Information
on the topic of bats as consumers of large quanti-
By Listening to Bats, Biologists Shed New Light on Them ties of mosquitoes can be found in the February
http://wildlife.org/by-listening-to-bats-biologists-shed-new-light-on-them/ 2016 issue of The Underground Movement (see
http://www.caves.org/grotto/ccg/um/2016_02_
Bats Respond Differently to Abandoned Mine Gates um.pdf).
http://wildlife.org/jwm-bats-respond-differently-to-abandoned-mine-gates/
A Batty Idea? Orange County (Florida) Commissioner Proposes Using Bats to Control Mosquitoes (see Editor’s Note above)
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orange/os-bats-mosquitos-emily-bonilla-20180803-story.html
16The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 IN THE NEWS July 2018
Moths Evade Bats with Slight of Wing
https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/moths-evade-bats-with-slight-of-wing/
It’s the Time of Year When Bats Like to Hang Out in Attics
https://5newsonline.com/2018/07/22/its-the-time-of-year-when-bats-like-to-hang-out-in-attics/
Night-Hiking with the San Luis Valley's Bachelor Bats
https://www.ecowatch.com/san-luis-valleys-bachelor-bats-2589251667.html
Two New Yellow-Bellied Bats May Have Been Found in Kenya
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-new-yellow-bellied-bats-may-have-been-found-kenya-180969623/
Using Baby Bats as Bait: Cairns Council Tries New Tactic to Lure Flying Fox Colony out of Central Business District
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-26/using-baby-bats-as-bait-to-lure-colony-away-from-cbd/10032864
Bat DNA Hosts Stolen Ebola Genes
https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/bat-dna-hosts-stolen-ebola-genes
360-DEGREE LIVES: Bats May Seem Scary, but They Actually Look Quite Cute
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201807270008.html
Increased Bat Activity Normal for this Time of Year, Says Biologist
https://globalnews.ca/news/4355690/increased-bat-activity-normal-for-this-time-of-year-says-biologist/
Bats - Public Health
Dozens of Bats Nest in Yorktown Woman's Attic
https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/weird/dozens-of-bats-nest-in-yorktown-womans-attic/291-573618442
Rabies Vaccine Maker Ordered to Stop Production Amid Issues of Falsified Data in China’s Latest Drug Safety Scandal
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2155520/chinese-drug-watchdog-orders-rabies-vaccine-maker-stop-output
https://www.caixinglobal.com/2018-07-16/rabies-vaccine-producer-ordered-to-halt-production-101304579.html
https://www.fiercepharma.com/vaccines/top-chinese-rabies-vaccine-maker-ordered-to-stop-production-over-forged-data
https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/fake-rabies-vaccine-maker-also-lost-usd300-million-financial-products
https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/rabies-vaccine-faker-expects-revenue-halve-year
https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d674e7759544f78457a6333566d54/share_p.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-vaccine-scandal-rabies-drug-safety-children-babies-changsheng-biotechnology-
a8460131.html
https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/hong-kong/article/2156626/more-few-flies-rabies-vaccine-scandal-reveals
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/15-detained-in-china-rabies-vaccine-scandal/2018/07/25/92aa9e6a-8fef-11e8-ae59-
01880eac5f1d_story.html?utm_term=.101f8068c0d2
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-07/28/c_137352772.htm
Seventeen of Nineteen People Infected with Nipah Virus May Have Contracted Disease From First Victim
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/17-picked-nipah-virus-from-first-victim-finds-kerala-govt-study/article24428589.ece
Greensboro Woman Says Bats Are Invading Her Apartment
https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/2-wants-to-know/greensboro-woman-says-bats-are-invading-her-apartment/83-
577706158
New Ebola Virus Found in Bats in Sierra Leone; Too Soon to Tell if it Spreads to Humans
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/07/27/world/science-health-world/new-ebola-virus-found-bats-sierra-leone-soon-tell-spreads-
humans/#.W1tgkcJumUk
https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/science-ticker/new-ebola-virus-species-bats-sierra-leone
17The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 IN THE NEWS July 2018
1
Woman Finds Rabid Bat Clinging to Her Arm in Hillsborough County, Florida
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/woman-finds-rabid-bat-clinging-to-her-arm-in-hillsborough-county
https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/Rabid-bat-clings-to-woman-s-arm-in-Sun-City-Center-parking-lot_170141836
1
Editor’s Note: Coincidentally, the initial discovery that insectivorous bats could harbor rabies virus was made in Hills-
borough County, Florida. On June 23, 1953 at 10:30 a.m., a seven-year-old boy in Hillsborough County (Tampa), Florida, was bitten
by a lactating Florida yellow bat (Lasiurus intermedius) while looking for a ball lost in some shrubbery. The yellow bat is an insectivo-
rous, solitary species, roosting in shrubs and moss. The bat flew out at the boy in an apparently unprovoked attack and remained firm-
ly attached to his chest until knocked off by the child's mother. The owner of the ranch where the boy's father was employed was fa-
miliar with the reports of rabies in vampire bats (Haupt and Rehaag, 1921). Predominantly at his urging, the bat was sent to the Tam-
pa Regional Laboratory of the Florida Board of Health, where it was confirmed as rabid. Post-exposure rabies prophylaxis was admin-
istered. Despite grave concern over developing shock, no signs of rabies developed and the boy recovered. This finding was the first
reported case of rabies in an insectivorous bat in the United States (Scatterday, 1954; Venters et al., 1954). It also appears to have
been the first bat submitted for rabies testing in this country.
Three months later (6:00 p.m. on September 29), a 39-year-old woman watching her husband feed waterfowl along a lake in Boiling
Springs, Pennsylvania, was suddenly attacked by what is believed to have been a hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus). The bat landed on
her left arm and bit her without any apparent provocation. It clung to her arm tenaciously, until she pulled it off and hurled it against a
fence. Before its death, the bat was retained by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, where it was observed to be in the throes of
what appeared to be a form of furious rabies, repeatedly slamming itself against its cage (Kough, 1954). The bat was sent to the la-
boratory of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Animal Industry, where it was confirmed as rabid. The woman was given routine post-
exposure rabies prophylaxis and suffered only local symptoms from the bite itself (Witte, 1954).
These early reports of rabies in insectivorous bats pointed to a potential viral reservoir heretofore unrecognized. The significance of
rabies in bats was unknown and early investigators began survey studies in attempts to define the extent of the disease among bat
populations. On January 4, 1956, a 38-year-old entomologist with the Texas State Health Department died; rabies was confirmed as the
cause of death (Irons et al., 1957). He had been part of the state's rabies investigative team. In the course of his job, he handled thousands
of bats. In particular, he worked extensively with Mexican free-tailed bats in Texas caves. It has generally been accepted (although by no
means confirmed) that this individual was infected by exposure to aerosolized rabies virus in one of the Texas free-tailed maternity caves.
On August 2, 1958, a 53-year-old woman in Magalia Butte County, California, was bitten on the finger by an apparently injured silver-
haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) while trying to pick it up. The bat was later confirmed as rabid. Post-exposure rabies prophylax-
is was administered from September 2 until September 26, but the woman died on November 4. This is considered by many to be the
first fully documented human death due to bat-inflicted rabies in the United States (Martin, 1959; Humphrey et al., 1960; Lennette et
al., 1960).
Although the presence of rabies in insectivorous bats was undiagnosed in the United States prior to 1953, the recognition of infection
in bats prompted the realization that human exposure may have occurred previously. Sulkin and Greve (1954) reported the case of a
woman who was bitten on the arm by a sick bat she had picked up along a road in Dallas County, Texas, in October, 1951. Sixte en
days later, she became ill and had pain in the bitten arm. This was followed by paralysis of the arm, inability to swallow, coma, and
death. Microscopic examination of her brain revealed changes consistent with rabies. Although the bat was not available for examina-
tion, a retrospective diagnosis of bat-transmitted rabies was made.
Haupt, H. and H. Rehaag (1921). Durch fledermause verbreitete seuchenhafte Tollwut unter Viehbestanden in Santa Catharina (Sud-
Brasilien). Ztschr. f. Infecktionskr. Haustiere. 22: 76. English translation courtesy of Dr. Volker Moenig.
Humphrey, G. L., Kemp, G. E., and E. G. Wood (1960). A fatal case of rabies in a woman bitten by an insectivorous bat. Public Health
Reports. 75(4): 317
Irons, J. V., Eads, R. B., Grimes, J. E., and A. Conklin (1957). The public health importance of bats. Texas Reports on Biology and Medi-
cine. 15: 292
Kough, R. H. (1954). Attack on a human being by a rabid insectivorous bat. Journal of the American Medical Association. 155(5): 441
Lennette, E. H., Soave, O. A., Kakamura, K., and G. H. Kellogg, Jr. (1960). A fatal human case of rabies following the bite of a rabid
bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans). Isolation and identification of the virus from vector and victim. Journal of Laboratory and Clinical
Medicine. 55(1): 89
Martin, R. L. (1959). A history of chiropteran rabies with special reference to occurrence and importance in the United States. Wildlife
Diseases. (No. 3): 1
Scatterday, J. E. (1954). Bat rabies in Florida. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 12: 125
Sulkin, S. E. and M. J. Greve (1954). Human rabies caused by bat bite. Texas State Journal of Medicine. 50: 620
Venters, H. D., Hoffert, W. R., Scatterday, J. E., and A. V. Hardy (1954). Rabies in bats in Florida. American Journal of Public Health.
44: 182
Witte, E. J. (1954). Bat rabies in Pennsylvania. American Journal of Public Health. 44: 186
18blage of bats in the Amazon rainforests, most species re-
main poorly studied. In large measure, this is related to
difficulties in reliable field identification.
Following a brief introduction to the natural history of
bats, and select information on the nine families of bats
found in the Amazon, the bulk of the text consists of two
highly illustrated identification keys to 160 bat species in
the Amazon: 1) a morphological key and 2) an acoustic
key. These are based on previously published keys and
have been extensively revised based on the authors’ years
of field experience in the Brazilian Amazon, primarily as
part of the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Pro-
ject.
The acoustic key provides details of pulse parameters and
a relevant spectrogram of most species. Its use assumes a
prior understanding of echolocation-related acoustics. The
morphological key incorporates easily understood de-
scriptive anatomy, full-color photographs of salient ana-
tomical features, and relevant black-and-white illustra-
tions into a relatively user-friendly species key. The pho-
tographs and illustrations are thumbnail images. While
most are of excellent quality, a number of them appear to
have been printed on the dark side, making it somewhat
difficult―or in several instances almost impossible―to
visualize the anatomy meant to be illustrated. In most cas-
es, however, these details are visible in an accompanying
black-and-white line drawing. Additional illustrative ma-
terial provides general information on relevant anatomy
and landmark parameters for making measurements
where indicated in the key.
FIELD GUIDE TO THE BATS OF THE AMAZON 2nd
A set of references will direct readers to additional infor-
Edition (2018) by Adrià López-Baucells, Ricardo Rocha,
mation on morphological features; acoustic features; and
Paulo Bobrowiec, Enrico Bernard, Jorge Palmeirim, and
relevant details of specific families, genera, and species.
Christoph F. J. Meyer. Pelagic Publishing, UK. Paper-
An appendix of thumbnail photographs provides a nice,
back, 167 pages, 6" x 9" format, ISBN 978-1-78427-165-
facial portrait of 155 Amazonian bats.
7. Available for $39.34. Reviewed by Danny A. Brass.
This is a well-written and nicely produced text that will
The rainforests of the Amazon Basin constitute the largest be of interest to anyone studying the natural history and
and most diverse such ecosystem in the world. In accord biodiversity of bats. But it will primarily serve as an in-
with the general trend of increasing biodiversity closer to valuable reference work for field biologists studying bats
the equator, it is little wonder that the Amazon contains in the Amazon Basin.
the world’s greatest diversity of bats, with approximately
one in ten of the 1300+ known species of bats being rep-
resented.
Understanding the natural history of bat communities in
the Amazon Basin is an integral aspect of ongoing con-
servation efforts. However, despite the diverse assem-
19The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 THE CREATIVE CORNER July 2018
THE CREATIVE CORNER BROWN NOSE WHITE NOSE, I GOES WHERE CAVE
GOES suggests defiant caving―a bit long, perhaps.
ERGOR’S CAVING BUMPER
TURN ON DELIGHT would be an in-joke to cavers, but
STICKERS AND T-SHIRTS sexy to those in the dark.
― Ergor Rubreck —
DO IT IN CAVES might receive a rating of R for sexual
In the 1930s, when the Commonwealth of Kentucky content and violence.
bought Mammoth Cave, state employees would rush out
and tie a green cardboard MAMMOTH CAVE sign to DESCEND SLOWLY carries a safety message.
their front bumper. It was many years before FREE
FLOYD COLLINS bumper stickers appeared. Floyd was I BOUNCE de PITS identifies you as a TAG caver.
trapped in Sand Cave in 1925, and the attmpeted rescue
and his subsequent death were sensational news at the I (heart) HART COUNTY identifies you as a Fisher Ridge
time. The bumper sticker aped FREE ANGELA DAVIS caver.
bumper stickers that were prominent at the time of the
Weather Underground. Sold as a duplicate pair on front and back bumpers, SEE
OTHER END bumper stickers will cause frantic racing
Bat stickers, black bat on a yellow background, are avail- back and forth by curious cavers.
able in various sizes and generally signal that the auto is
owned by a caver. They most often appear on auto rear MY CAVE IS MT suggests a cave without speleothems.
windows.
GOO CAVING shows a bias toward the muddy ones.
One that made me scratch my head was I AM A CEIL-
ING FAN OF CAVING. Cave-conservation themed Beanie Weenie eaters could deploy an I PASS GAS bump-
bumper stickers could fight cave trashing. SAVE UN- er sticker.
DERGROUND RIVERS could raise questions, as would
SAVE THE CAVES. BATS EAT BUGS is a truism NOT ALL WHO’RE LOST ARE FOUND comes close to
many do not appreciate. J.R.R. Tolkein-esque blather, but you need a wide bumper
for that one.
CARTA VALLEY SUCKS is an obscure caver bumper
sticker. Nobody but me knows that Carta Valley is 32 CAVING: THOROUGHLY TOUGH BUT THOROUGH-
miles southwest of Rocksprings, TX, and the caves truly LY THROUGH celebrates the activities of hard-core sys-
do suck. Bumper stickers have gone the way of the bump- tematic cavers.
er itself on modern cars. But cavers still display them on
trucks and caving vehicles. If you are a cave history nut I (heart) E. A. MARTEL, the
father of speleology.
I have considered making my own stickers, including:
T-shirts offer more space for longer messages. I have seen
#ME CAVER might be an ostentatious way of bragging. one with part of Max Kaemper’s 1907 map of Mammoth
Cave. Portraits of Max and Ed Bishop, his guide, decorate
#ME ERGOR RUBRECK would be the epitome of self- the corners.
aggrandizement.
I myself created a drawing of the mouth of Big Cave, from
DIRTY CAVERS COME CLEAN suggests inside the book MA W S: It ate People by Erd Noswat. The draw-
knowledge. ing resembled the great white shark in Jaws.
NO CAVE LOCATIONS would impart a cave- I have seen a technical illustration on a T-shirt showing the
conservation attitude. elements of a rope-walking ascending system.
20The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 THE CREATIVE CORNER July 2018
Most speleo festivals create distinctive T-shirts, and the It is possible that some timid souls will be offended by
NSS conventions―with exotic locations in the tornado these perfectly realistic caving T-shirts. “Why don’t you
and hurricane belts of the country―offer a new T-shirt make T-shirts about cute, fluffy bats or adorable cave
every year. crickets?” some have asked. To be perfectly honest, I
don’t want to attract people to caving. The more people
To the distress of many of us, caver T-shirts are notori- stay out of caves, the more caves there are for me to dis-
ously tame, celebrating characteristics of caves such as cover and explore. If I can scare people away from caves
soft mud or wet waterfalls. I want to see more accurate and turn them on to hiking or some safe outdoor recrea-
depictions of real caving―no namby-pamby sissy stuff. tion, they will live longer, stay cleaner, and return to
loved ones more often. It’s for their own good.
THREE OF US WENT CAVING. ONLY I CAME
BACK. That seems suitable for an Ergor Rubreck, hard- If you find a cave bumper sticker you like, you can al-
core, take-no-prisoners trip, where risk of fatality is 99% ways have a T-shirt printed. And because there is plenty
certain. My photo and autograph would create big de- of space, you can include a long explanation of what it
mand for this shirt. Cavers would not know if the brown means to inform your non-caving friends.
smears were mud…or blood!
Shocking T-shirts are needed more than ever to wake up a
THAT POUNDING YOU HEAR? I LOCKED ‘EM IN moribund society that it’s a stygian jungle out there. Cav-
THE CAVE! would warn my caver companions to keep ing does not take place in a ‘nice’ world with ‘kind’ peo-
up with my blistering pace when they accompany me. ple. No, caving is dangerous…it will rip the flesh off your
bones, shred your sinews and sinuses, deface your sorry
UNDERGOUND MIRACLE! I SURVIVED ERGOR’S visage!
CAVE TRIP.
If you create a realistic, pull-no-punches cave T-shirt and
WHAT ROCK FORMATION IS THIS CAVE IN? IT’S your friends disavow you, your spouse divorces you, and
YOUR-ASS-ICK, SUCKER. your parents disown you, I assume no responsibility. It’s a
free-speech country, but the price can be very expensive.
I EAT CARBIDE. IT’S FIRE IN THE HOLE! You were warned by Ergor!
Caving-related bumper stickers on some of the vehicles of cavers
attending the Central Connecticut Grotto’s annual caving week-
end in Schoharie, New York (July 20 - 22). Photos by Danny
Brass.
21The Underground Movement
Volume 18, Number 7 CALENDAR OF EVENTS PHOTOGRAPH OF THE MONTH July 2018
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT GROTTO
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
August 14: Monthly Grotto Meeting. See the grotto website
(www.caves.org/grotto/ccg/) for additional details.
August 16 - 19: NSS Members Weekend at the Schoharie Cav-
erns Nature Preserve (Schoharie, New York). For additional
information, contact Steve Millett at info@ctcavers.org.
September 28 - 30: Fall MAR in McVeytown, Pennsylvania,
hosted by the Nittany Grotto. Please see http://caves.org/
region/mar/fieldmeets.htm and https://www.eventbrite.com/
e/nittany-grotto-fall-mar-2018-tickets-47570107472 for addi-
tional information.
Neighboring grottos in the Northeast may also sponsor various
activities or host annual events of interest to CCG members. Links
to homepages of other grottos can be found on the NSS website
(www.nssio.org/Find_Grotto.cfm).
Photograph of the Month - Nothing beats a campfire and a comfortable log after a hard day of caving. Photo by Dan Meldrim.
22You can also read
