Flint River Grotto Meeting. September 25, We discussed the plaque to put in Glory Hole cave for Arista Gainous.

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2 The MiddleGeorgiaGrotto Library Notes from Tom Moltz The MGG library has a lot of cool stuff. We have had some nice donations from people like Bill Henne. It is not in order. It is in boxes and a mess. There is a lot there though. Someone could do something really nice with it if they wanted to organize it all. Just another idea for discussion. The MGG library/archives also has an SCCi Neversink T-shirt. Brand new. It may bworth discussion as to whether to keep it or make some mulla off of it. I kind of like keeping it in the archives but then again...$$$. We got this T-shirt many years ago for a generous donation MGG made to the SCCi specifically for the Neversink purchase. We own a piece of the pit. The MGG library/archives has a nice SCCi Snail Shell Cave T-shirt. Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area fall deer Hunt Dates The caves of Pigeon Mountain (Ellisons, Pettyjohns, Ulla, etc.) will be CLOSED to use on the following dates: October (the weekend after TAG) November December 8-11 The Georgia WNS plan has allowed caving to continue except for these dates so please respect (Continued from previous column) these legal closures for deer season and spread the word to others. Feel free to widely circulate. Safe cavin, clean cavin, Allen Padgett Flint River Grotto Meeting September 25, (EXCERT).. We discussed the plaque to put in Glory Hole cave for Arista Gainous. It was agreed to go with the 8"x5" bronze plaque with bronze letters & brown background. (see below). It will cost $248 plus shipping. We will need some donations to help pay for it. I will talk with the Middle Georgia grotto at TAG. From Allen Mosler New Land Owner on Look Out Mountain By:Guy Yates I signed the papers on my land the first week in June. My land is on top of lookout Mt.,just a few miles from the TAG Cave-in site. My place has a rhee - acre pond across the street at the bottom of my lot and a FIRE HYDRANT. It also has a small stream starting at the top, but will most likely dry up in dry weather. I can t wait to get back up there. I will not be making TAG this year. We made plans to take a cruise before I realized what weekend it would be. Tell everyone I said " HEY " Hopefully I will see yaw soon. Guy A Report From South Georgia By Guy Yates I met with Matt Koch, Stan Tew, his buddy and a crew from Dogwood city Grotto at Glory Hole Cave earlier this year. We had a little confusion about the gate key and I helped them get in. They had a good time cleaning and took a few pictures. Matt, a friend of his and I went to climax in early summer. After digging for a really long time we got to second dig. I bowed out on the rest of the trip (I was tired). but they said they had a good time. In midsummer I took another trip to Climax Cave with Rachel Moye,her husband, her brother-in-law and mother-in law. The wet entrance under the waterfall has deteriorated to where you have like three 5-foot step downs. We made it through the crawls with very little digging. Everyone but Rachel was new to caving. When everyone said they had enough of the tight stuff, we went back to the barrel room. We spent a few hours exploring around the front of the cave. We had a good time. They want to do more caving, just something not as tight next time. Letter from the Editor My assistant and I are asking for articles and trip reports to go into the newsletter. If you have any other information you would like printed, SEND IT IN! To: Minter Goodson (Editor) 1748 Clarendon Avenue Lakeland, Fl to: goodson_m@tampabay.rr.com Credits Please do not use any articles, artwork, or photos in this newsletter without the author's, artist's, or photographer's permission (With the exception of NSS internal organizations.) All rights reserved. All Artwork and Articles are credited. All without credits are the work of Andrea & Minter Goodson, Ed Pratt or Tom Moltz. Front Cover: A collage of photos from Paradise Hill taken by Ed Pratt.

3 MGG Grotto Meeting Held during the TAG Fall Cave-In Sunday October 9, 2009 His Extreme Genius and High Grandness, The Big Kahuna Dr. Cave Crabs Klayer called the meeting to order at 10:30 am eastern. Attendees: Kim Chatfield, John Klayer, Roger Gainer, Joe Goodroe, Minter Goodson, Travis Guy, Carol Moltz, Tom Moltz, Allen Mosler, Ed Pratt Varie Rustin, Guy Yates Tom was a little late so Minter took the beginning minutes until he arrived. Welcome new members: Joe Goodroe Allen Mosler Webmaster report by Ed Pratt: 1. No trip reports have been provided for upload. 2. Remaining Available space on site is GB. 3. Statistics as of 20 Sep 09: Total page views Hologram display: John Klayer set up an amazing hologram display on vendor row. It was noticed by many and recognized as outstanding and was applauded. Treasurer Report: In the treasurers absence Ed gave the treasurer report: (Kim wants the minutes to read that the secretary was late to the meeting so the treasurer had to leave early to make up for it.) Ed reported that at the current rate of expenditures the grotto is spending more than it is taking in and we will run out of money. Either dues need to be increased or expenditures cut. Tom made a motion to do an electronic newsletter. Much discussion ensued. Beginning balance $ Dues collected $ Cash paid for newsletter $60.00 Balance $ The motion passed with the addition that hard copies would still be sent as required by the NSS, or organizations we share newsletters with, or as necessary. Bylaws: Ed made mention that there may be an issue with the bylaws since we are not having two meetings a years as they state. There was no follow through on this. Donations by MGG: Ed suggested that the officers should discuss grotto donation options on the Saturday before the annual grotto meeting. Tom made a motion that it be done. John seconded the motion which passed. Tom reported that the grotto received a case of "The Hidden World of Caves" from the NSS at a bargain price of $10 (shipping was the only cost). Most of the books have now been distributed to members. Tom still has a few if you need one. This is an information booklet on caving from the NSS. Brass plaque for Glory Hole: Allen Mosler reported he is working on a brass plaque to honor Arista Gainous. Tom came up with the quote, "Cavers is what keeps me alive." The plaque will be put in Hall of High Hopes in Glory Hole. The Door prize was a SCCI white polo shirt that the grotto had from a donation to the SCCi several years ago. Varie won the door prize. Tom brought that shirt and two others from the grotto library to show the group. One of the other shirts was a SCCi tee shirt with Snail Shell cave on it. MGG Meeting 2009 TAG (Back row standing, left to right) Tom Moltz, Guy Yates Ed Pratt, Joe Goodroe, (Middle row standing, left to right) Carol Moltz, Varie Rustin, John Klayer, Allen Mosler (Around the Banner, left to right) Roger Gainer, Travis Guy, Minter Goodson. More Pictures From Tag can be viewed at this link The other was the famous Never sink tee shirt. Both of these. Both of these were for previous donations to the SCCi. Elections: Minter made a motion to keep officers the same. The motion was seconded and passed. Chairman: John Klayer Vice Chairman: Ed Pratt Treasurer: Kim Chatfield Secretary: Tom Moltz Trip Coordinator: Roger Gainer Newsletter editor (not a voted on position): Minter Goodson The meeting was adjourned and a group photo taken.

4 Treasurer s Report for the Middle Georgia Grotto We have a balance of $ We have been receiving about $90-$100 in deposits each year. We will have to buy new checks this year and that is the only expense I'm aware of except one hard copy of the newsletter. We still have to send one hard copy to the NSS so I'll need an estimate from Minter on that. I think we should keep a minimum balance of about $100-$150. The checks will be about $25. For $6 more we can get a logo such as a guy climbing a rope: (I couldn't find a bat- the treasurer may have volunteered to buy the logo as well). Our current checks are good until next May but because the bank changed they also changed our account number and sent a note that we'll need new checks after next May. So, assuming we collect $100 and spend $30 we'll have about $280. To maintain a $150 min balance that leaves us with $130 to play with. I believe Mr. Moltz has proposed a plan to spend the money. We'll need to decide Saturday at the cave in as we discussed last year. If someone feels strongly about a cause or amount then they should let people who will be there Saturday know their thoughts and feelings. >From last years minutes: "Donations by MGG: Ed suggested that the officers should discuss grotto donation options on the Saturday before the annual grotto meeting. Tom made a motion that it be done. John seconded the motion which passed." V/R, Ed Pratt NSS Vice Chairman (and secretary for the treasurer) Miggle Georgia Grotto

5 Joe Goodroe's lead By Tom Moltz July Sunday Joe Goodroe, Roger Gainer, and I went on a local cave hunting trip. Joe had access to a large tract of land east of Missing Klayer Section cave. If you don't know where that is then I am sorry for you. It is not far from the Houston County dump and this area really has some limestone. I'll also give you this pointer: Missing Klayer Section has a good lead in the back. Everyone has been whimping on it. I'm fin ta scoop it. Joe had a family member that knew where a cave was on this large tract. He was not available so we did the best we could. Joe had located a drop that looked to possibly open up on the bottom. Roger brought the vertical gear and went down first. The drop was 15 feet. It was an old well. Roger found a hog skull at the bottom. The lead quickly went down to a very narrow horizontal slot. Joe went down next and checked it out. Joe opted out on the vertical gear and had no problem hand climbing out. After this we ridge walked looking for the reported cave. We found one good lead. It was at the head of a gully in a wall with much dirt erroded into it. It had a layer of limstone above it and a stream coming out of a hole in the dirt near the bottom of the wall. This would be worth a dig. It was good to do something in middle Georgia again. Thanks Joe Joe Goodroe in the Well (photo Tom Moltz) Tom Moltz rigging and entering Dusk Pit

6 Dusk Pit By Tom Moltz November, 2009 Roger Gainer and I were doing some ridge walking on the east side of Lookout Mountain in McLemore Cove. The massive flooding earlier in the year has caused a lot of landslides and serious erosion in gullies. We came upon one nice contact layer with several sinks and leads. Roger found one that looked good and took a pretty good rock fall. We dug on it as best we could with only a small pry bar. It was getting late so we decided to head home and come back the next morning with more suitable tools. On the way down the mountain, and just about dark, we came across an open pit next to a gully. The gully had been eroded down to bedrock. The pit was partially hidden by trees that had fallen over it. We went back the next day to explore the pit and dig on the lead. The entrance is dirt for several feet down but soon turns to bedrock. The pit depth is 40 feet with another 10 feet going steeply down slope to a drain and narrow slot. From here we dug on the previous days dig. It went to a slot too narrow to keep our interest even though rocks falling suggested it opened up below. Dusk Pit Roger in the dig near Dusk Pit (Photos on Previous page by Roger Gainer) November 2009

7 2010 Florida Cave Cavort - An MGG Contingent March 5-7 was a cold weekend with temperatures in the low 30's at night. Guy Yates, Andrea, Minter, Evan and Sarah Goodson attended the Florida caving event. On Saturday, the quintet visited Dr. Dame's caves and Peace(rat hole) cave in the Withlacoochee State forest. Although cool, the walk to and from the caves in the clear bright Florida sunshine was a much needed departure from recent dark days of winter. The event was held as in 2006 at Love's Farm near Bushnell. Both Friday and Saturday night campers were treated to warm hard wood fires. On Saturday night, the crowd of people were treated to the sounds of the Clearwater band "151" after a classic American hamburger and hot dog cook out. As with most caving events, the chance to meet and catch up with old friends is the most rewarding part of the trip. Whether on a cave trip, around a warm fire or sharing a drink, it seems easy to fall back into that old familiar feeling of being among friends. On Sunday, there was breakfast provided for all. After packing up and saying good byes, folks headed off to their homes or to quick trips before returning home. Guy headed back to Georgia, as Andrea, Evan and Sarah visited the near by Dade Battle field state park. Minter was able to visit Dog Drop Cave with Steve Nemeth before meeting up with and Andrea and kids and heading home. (view pictures in the album with the same name) (Two videos were uploaded also.) Submitted by Minter Goodson (Top Picture) Andrea, Minter, Sarah and Evan in the entrance sink to the Dame s Caves.(Next photo from top) Guy Gates in front of Girlscout Cave.(Photo Above) Walking to the caves in the Withlacoochee State Forest. (Right and above) part time occupants of Iron Horse Cave.(left and below) Full time denizens of Iron Horse Cave. (Below) One of the many pits is central Florida. Iron Horse Cave Trip August 14, 2010 By Minter Goodson My brother Lief and his daughter Adeline were able to come and visit with my family on Pigeon Mountain. Since the heat was so oppressive we decided to visit Iron Horse Cave followed by a trip to the Blue Hole. Everyone promised to keep their feet dry and stay out of the water. This only lasted about 10ft. in to the tunnel. We saw many different cave formations that take millions of years to form on the tunnel wall. We also saw many frogs and salamanders. When came to the end of the tunnel, I anticipated seeing the ghouls that haunt the Iron Horse cave. We were fortunate to have missed them. I ve heard tales of their wicked deeds, but it is to close to Halloween to mention such things.

8 TAG 2009 HOLOGRAPHY SHOW First of all, I want to thank my MGG buddies for helping set up and the TAG organizers for giving me the space. I had doubts about how well my works would be received. As Ed said, I should have had a recorder picking up the comments from the people viewing. It was funny how many otherwise dirty words were used as terms of astonishment and admiration. What I had was six laser lit holograms that I made of cave formations set up in a canopy at the end of vendor s row. Unfortunately, one laser burned out so only five holograms were lit. I ll bring a couple of spare lasers if I ever do another show but it won t be at this year s TAG. Since last year I ve been quite busy trying to make some larger cave holograms but having less success than I did with the smaller ones. I noticed that the holograms made a few hours after powering up the laser turned out better so I thought that the laser was going goofy and needing a longer warm up time. Rather than sit around in the cave waiting on the laser to warm up, I got a brilliant idea to turn it on before rigging the rope and going in. I had it in a nice padded box to protect against bumps and drops. Yeah, real good idea. When I got in and opened the box the laser was hotter than a firecracker and not working. After saying a few magic words over it and letting it cool about an hour it came back to life. I won t be doing that again. Anyway, I think the laser isn t the problem, temperature stabilization is. My most successful shots were done during cooler weather when there wasn t much temperature change from outside to inside. Making larger holograms means larger equipment with the temperature caused expansion and contraction becoming more harmful. Hologram production requires absolute stability like I expect to get by leaving my apparatus in the cave for a couple of days over this TAG weekend. John Klayer John s favorite hologram in his both at TAG (above) John s hologram booth TAG 2009 Photos Ed Pratt John s Hologram Display TAG Photo Ed Pratt John setting up the hologram show. To see more TAG 2009 photos go to

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10 Sarah s Splendor Cave By Minter Goodson This being only the second cave I have ever found by myself, I was very excited to be able to open it and enter it in the same day. Although small by most standards it still has a twenty foot pit with some passage at the bottom. Like the other small cave I found, there was a fist size hole in a small depression on the surface. Tom tried to help me sketch the cave, but in the end he did the sketch. It is located on the north end of Pigeon. I can arrange access from the land owner if anyone would like to visit the cave. Minter in the entrance to the cave. Minter in Sarah s Splendor Cave. Photo TomMoltz Brian Williamson surveying in wet cold conditions. They way it was meant to be! Photo by Tom Moltz

11 Doing the Diamond Tommy Two leg dance at TAG Photo by Ed Pratt John must have had too much fun at Tag Photo By Ed Pratt MINTER GOODSON 1748 CLARENDON AVENUE «First Name» «Last Name» «Address Line 1»