Mike Newsome Receives the VAR Landowner Recognition Award

Transcription

1 Vol. XX No. 2 Spring 2007 Chairman's Column As I started to write this column, news reached me of the untimely passing of Ron Simmons while he was on a dive in Allen Mill Pond Spring in Florida on February 14, By the time this reaches print, a lot of you will know of his unfortunate death. He was the inventor of the Simmons Roller, a certified cave diver and an expedition caver, who had caved around the world. Ron will be missed by the Region and the extended caving community around the world. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Since the Fall VAR meeting a lot has been going on. The gate was installed at Mount Aetna Cave in Maryland. This came about after a year of negotiations between the Mallot Mine and Jerry Bowen of Tri-State Grotto. With the help of a dozen volunteers, the gate was installed in one Saturday of work. In January, with the help of 31 volunteers, the gate at Rapps Cave in West Virginia was completed for the West Virginia Cave Conservancy. There is still time to volunteer for the VAR Conservation Easter Restoration Weekend at Grand Caverns. Contact Andy Reeder or Meredith Hall Johnson for more information. A good time will be had by all. Mark your calendar for the Spring VAR meeting being hosted by Front Royal Grotto. They say it will be a good time in an area that the VAR has not been to for a while. Come out and shake off those winter blues. Craig Mike Newsome Receives the VAR Landowner Recognition Award by Sandy Knapp The VAR Landowner Recognition Award has been presented to the Bat Ranch, et. al, and was accepted by Mike Newsome, current owner of Links Cave in Giles County, Virginia. The award is presented to cave owners who have been particularly friendly and/or supportive of cavers over the years. It was presented at the VPI Grotto s annual banquet on February 17 with over 100 people attending, including several local landowners. Mike also owns the Bat Ranch on the same property, which has always been a friendly haven for cavers from around the region as well as the country and the world. During the Award ceremony there was a presentation on the history of the Bat Ranch from Jim Washington s stewardship in the 1980s until Mike purchased it in the early 1990s. Mike Newsome received the VAR Landowner Recognition Award from Sandy Knapp during the VPI Grotto s banquet on February 17, (Photo by Philip Balister).

2 Apr. 6-8 Grand Caverns Easter Restoration Camp. See flier in the issue. Apr Spring VAR meeting in Durbin, West Virginia. Hosted by Front Royal Grotto. See more information in this issue. May 5 Spring meeting of the West Virginia Speleological Survey at the old CCC cabin on Shavers Mountain. Contact: George Dasher at or wvcaver@juno.com. June 15 Deadline for submitting material for the Summer issue of the Region Record. July 23-27, 2007 NSS convention in Marengo, Indiana. The Region Record The Region Record is the quarterly publication of the Virginia Region of the National Speleological Society. Any articles, announcements, or other materials of general interest to cavers in the Region are welcome. Send all material to Bob Hoke (6304 Kaybro St., Laurel, MD (301) , editor@varegion.org). Electronic submissions ( or disk) are encouraged, but any form of input is welcome. Non-copyrighted material contained in the Region Record may be reprinted by organizations that are affiliated with the VAR or the NSS, provided that proper credit is given to the Record and the author. The opinions expressed herein are those of the individual author, and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the VAR, the NSS, or their internal organizations. VAR Officers & Committee Chairs Chairman: Craig Hindman, 7600 Pindell School Rd., Fulton, MD (410) H, chair@varegion.org Vice Chairman: Judy Fisher, (304) H, vicechair@varegion.org Secretary Carol Tiderman, (410) H, secretary@varegion.org Treasurer John Fox, (540) W, treasurer@varegion.org Conservation: Andy Reeder, 840 Twin Lakes Rd., Green Bay, VA 23492, (434) H, (434) W conservation@varegion.org Landowner Awards: Janet Tinkham, 360 Kings Dr., Fort Valley, VA janete@shentel.net Region Record Staff Editors: Bob Hoke (editor@varegion.org), Pauline Apling, Barry Chute Proofreader Meredith Hall Johnson Circulation Manager: Meredith Hall Johnson, 8061 Kittiwake Ct., Springfield, VA (703) H, circulation@varegion.org Region Record Subscriptions New NSS members in the Region receive two complimentary copies of the Region Record. Current NSS members moving into the Region from elsewhere receive two complimentary copies. Current NSS members who move within the Region get no freebies. When a subscription is going to expire the last issue will be stamped Time to Renew. No renewal notice is sent. When a person attends a VAR meeting he/she is automatically added to the list to receive the next four issues. If he/she is already on the list, four additional issues are added to the subscription. When multiple people live at the same address only one copy of each issue will be sent to the address unless a box requesting individual issues is checked on the VAR registration form or a request is sent to the Circulation Manager Virginia Region of the NSS Regional Calendar Oct Fall VAR-MAR meeting at the OTR site (near Elkins, WV) co-hosted by the Philadelphia Grotto and the Triangle Troglodytes. More info later. List Your Event Here If you have a caving event that is of regional interest please send information to the Editors listed above so it can be included in the calendar.

3 Rapps Cave Gate Completed By Bob Handley Controlling access into caves isn't what the West Virginia Cave Conservancy normally does. We believe in keeping caves OPEN. But Rapps has special features that need protection. That's primarily why we lease the cave. Since 1999 WVCC has discussed means of access control. We were told early on by archeologists not to disturb the entrance or the surrounding surface. Considering this the idea of a cave gate was set aside and a sectional chain-link fence was placed around the entrance. This fence has no set posts so its installation caused a minimum of disturbance to the area. The fence proved very successful as there has been no evidence of any intruders. However; with the completion of an archeological study of the cave and the impending release of a final report, WVCC was advised that more protection was needed. The petroglyphs, just inside the entrance, turned out to be the most northern and most eastern known examples of that particular type of cave art (other sites have been found in the TAG area). Also the remains of a reed torch, located further back in the cave, were C-14 dated to AD. At this point a gate design was envisioned and Craig Hindman (our Master Cave Gate Builder) was called in to verify that the proposed design was doable. Craig also provided a rough sketch and a list of materials (and other things). It was still summer and Craig wanted to start building BUT our plans had to be approved. The property owners (our lessors) approved summarily; the lead archeologists (Drs. Kim McBride and Sarah Sherwood) finally approved (Sarah was, for a while, on an overseas project); and then the WV Department of Culture and History - State Historic Preservation Office said "Go for it". With these steps accomplished the proposal was run by the Hauling one of many steel pieces to the cave. The use of slings make hauling much easier and less dangerous than trying to move the pieces by directly carrying them. (Photo by Anya K. Crane). WVCC board in November and the project was ready to move. We wanted it to move but now Craig had other commitments. He gave us a January 20, 2007 date to build. John Pearson jumped on the material order and the steel was delivered to the site before Turkey Day - also before the fields became mushy. Actually, with the exception of a few cold snaps in December, the weather was unusually warm until January 19th when it finally turned cold. Welding parts of the Rapps Cave gate prior to hauling the steel to the cave entrance. The tent in the background served as the project's headquarters (and a warming tent). (Photo by Janet Tinkham). Response to the short article in the winter edition of the Region Record (and other media) was astonishing - 41 people either ed or called to say they wanted to participate. The 33 who made it were: Don Anderson, Jay and Melanie Balakirsky, Pete Bracken, Robin Brikey, Ivan Cales, Tony Canike, Anya Crane, Vonny Droms, Ellie Florance, John Fox, J.C. And Judy- Fisher, Vic Garg, Paul Haggard, Bob Handley, Craig Hindman, Mike Kistler, Josh Lepman, Mark Manor, Carolyn McCain, Greg Mc- Coy, Mark Minton, Kevin Mulligan, Twila Neeld, Scott Olson, John Pearson, Carl Pierce, Lauren Rexford, Carol Tiderman, Janet Tinkham. Chuck Waller, and Harry Sowers (I'm terribly sorry if I've left anyone out who showed up). 3

4 Kevin Mulligan (left) and Craig Hindman level the steel angle iron that forms the base of the Rapps Cave gate. Bob Handley is visible on the right. This was the heaviest piece of the gate and weighed 392 pounds. (Photo by Anya K. Crane). They came even with a major snow storm forecast for the area. Not much will stop a determined caver! Some were quite worried when Craig and Carol didn't show up at the job site at 9 AM on Friday morning. They finally came in much later in the morning after a wrong turn gave them an extended "tourist" trip into Pocahontas snow country -- pulling a loaded trailer. To start, I cleared much of the area inside the fence of weeds, grapevines, blackberries, rose bushes, and autumn olive with a big weed eater (it was a jungle inside the fence). Craig was the Chief Welder with Kevin Mulligan and Scott Olson as the primary welding assistants (there were other welders available). These guys unloaded and set up the welding equipment at the cave and at the steel drop site 300 feet away. The first piece of steel was the heaviest one (392 pounds) - a 6" x 6" x ½" angle 20 feet long. It was the base plate and it took eight people to carry it to the cave. A few of the vertical angles were cut and welded in place before darkness set in. Craig's work lights extended the working time a little. Saturday morning dawned clear and cold - about 20 degrees F, but we had a full crew on hand on the windy hill top at 9 AM - ready to work. The morning was very busy with the gate construction, setting up John Pearson's large shelter, tables, chairs, and then preparation for a hot lunch. For a while there were three generators running to supply electricity for all the activity. As the need for numbers of people slacked off in the afternoon trips were made into the entrance area to view the petroglyphs, the prismatic joints, and other features of the room. Later, Vonny Droms led a trip deep into the cave to see the large dome pit in the neat walking passage and also the white formations near the present end of the main cave. Those on this trip were Vonny, Anya Crane, Jay Balakinsky, Greg McCoy, Carl Pierce, Mark Minton, and one other I don't have a name for -- sorry. Twenty-one hundred pounds of steel now reside in the cave entrance to provide very effective protection for the cave. One inch diameter steel bars were driven into holes drilled into the entrance walls and ceiling. The entire gate structure was welded into these bars. The entrance floor was not disturbed. The chain-link fence, with its locked gate, will remain in place. A total of approximately 170 hours of work went into the project this weekend. It was paid for with a generous grant from Cave Conservancy of the Virginias and also a generous donation from the lead archeologists. Kudos to WVACS for the use of their Field Station. All this helped made the gating of Rapps Cave possible. To wrap it up: The cave gate was locked, all the welding equipment was packed up and loaded; Pearson's shelter was taken down; tables, chairs, food service articles, cords, etc. were all loaded and carried off. Even the porta-potty that Pearson had arranged for at the Buckeye Road parking area was silent. Sunday morning, in the midst of a snow storm, Craig Hindman, John Pearson, Mark Minton, Ellie Florance, and Vic Garg went back to the steel drop site to move the leftover steel to John's barn. WVCC wishes a very big THANK YOU to all who braved the cold, windy weather on Friday and Saturday and then the snow going home Sunday. The report is that everyone made it home safely. A great weekend. More on the Rapps Cave Gate by Carol Tiderman A few people took Friday off and drove down Thursday night. Some stayed at the WVACS Field Station and others at John Pearson's farm. The plan was to set up Friday and set some of the steel, like the base plate and uprights and start welding on some of the clips. The people who followed Craig's instructions on how to get to the cave, or field house, found both 4

5 without any problems. Craig, on the other hand, did not follow his directions and, in typical fashion asked for directions and a map only after driving out of the way for 60 miles on snowy, icy roads pulling a loaded trailer. I feel now I know what my parents meant by "do as I say, not as I do". We arrived at the cave around 1:00, a little late of the 9:00 start time. All helped in unloading the trailer and starting building the gate. While we worked at installing the base plate, uprights and clips, others erected the warming tent, and Craig Hindman preparing to weld on the Rapps Cave gate. At this point the gate is almost completed. (Photo by Janet Tinkham). began weed eating the briars and brambles inside the fence surrounding the cave entrance. We stopped before dark and were treated to dinner at John's. The plans were laid for the push to finish the gate on Saturday. A start time of 9:00 (for real this time) was set. There was a sigh of relief when we awoke to sunshine, it was 14 degrees and rising and there was no wind. By the way Craig turned left instead of right and was there on time. A few words on safety were spoken, assignments were made and the sound of welders and generators filled the air. At the bottom of the hill, steel was being cut to length, welded and people carried the prefabricated pieces to the cave entrance to be installed. None of the 31 people who volunteered got to stand around much. A few people got to try their hands at welding and cutting and a few hearty souls tried out the hammer drill. One lady even asked about what attachments the drill came with because it was one item going on her Christmas wish list. After lunch was served and everyone was fat and happy, a few trips went into Rapps to get a look at what the gate was to protect. The gate was finished up around sunset and the lock was installed. Clean up started, the warming tent came down, the trailer was reloaded and off to dinner the happy campers went. It was good to know that those who spent the night could get an early start for the trip home Sunday morning. There was just one more thing left to do. We would load the last four pieces of steel on John's hay wagon Sunday morning. The steel will be stored at John's to be used on a future gate. When we got up Sunday morning it had started to snow with a mix of freezing rain. Now this was a good thing because when you put a hay wagon behind a pickup with not so perfect alignment, the wagon 5 tracks a little to one side and then the other side, a little being four to five feet each side of the pickup. Now you know why snow and freezing rain is a good thing, cause you are the only vehicle on the road and you are taking up all the road on US-219 between two ditches. Good-bye's were said and people started the trip home, all thinking once you got to I-64 the road crews would have had a chance to start to plow and the expressways would be cleared. Our mistake, it seems that the different states DOT crews see no reason to plow or salt since, after all, it's Sunday and most people are off and at home. So there is no reason to clear the roads on weekends. So it was a slow trip across I-64 at about 35 mph. But this gave you time to look at all the cars and trucks on their sides, roofs or just parked here and there around the trees. In West Virginia they put up orange signs telling you about accidents ahead. In Virginia they string orange plastic tape around the cars and trucks. On I-81 they took a different approach, we parked and sat without moving. We finally got off to try Rt. 11; I was surprised that more people didn't try this. It was not fast but you were moving around 25 mph, then our prayers were answered as a snow plough made a U-turn in front of me and I got to follow The completed Rapps Cave gate. (Photo by Bob Handley)

6 him, but this prayer didn't last long enough, only 10 miles or so. Then the plow truck made another U- turn and headed back down the other side. We worked our way back to I-81 and there was no northbound traffic, whatever blocked the road, did a very good job. Back up to speed, 45 mph, we were flying now. Ah this was short lived, as we slowed to a crawl and stopped once again. This went on until after dark. When we reached the Maryland line, we found roads that had more than one lane to travel on. From all accounts, everyone made it home safe and sound. Just one person had mechanical problems, as her clutch went out. The Spring VAR Meeting is Coming by Bob Hoke There is a flier and registration form in this issue for the Spring VAR meeting. However, if you are a new caver, or new to this area you may not know what a VAR meeting is. The Virginia Region is an umbrella organization for caving clubs in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and small parts of Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Different VAR clubs host meeting each spring and fall at different locations in the Region. They are informal gatherings, usually with about 250 cavers in attendance. There are frequently speleovendors present to help satisfy your urge to get the latest caving gear. Friday night is devoted to setting up camp and swapping caving lies. During the day on Saturday there are lots of trips to local caves, either led or self guided. Saturday evening features a dinner of some sort followed by a party and more caving lies. There is a business meeting on Sunday to satisfy the speleo-politicians, but most folks just pack up and head for home. VAR meetings are a great way to meet other cavers and see some new caves. Put this spring's meeting on your calendar and plan on attending. I think you will enjoy the weekend. Help Wanted for Cave Hollow Farm Sinkhole Cleanup by John Pearson There will be a sinkhole cleanup at Cave Hollow Farm on May 26, 2007 (Memorial Day Weekend). It is located in the megalopolis of Unus, West Virginia, and the work will start at 9 AM. The Central Connecticut Grotto has volunteered to come down and work on this trash filled sink located on Bill Balfour's property. They will be bringing cutting torches to help with the removal of a vehicle. There will also be a backhoe and a dump truck for the removal of larger items. There will be plenty of camping and bunks available at local cavers homes and WVACS. Food and drink will be provided to all workers. So, come on down and make a difference. Contact John Pearson at jpearson@rcc.com or call Obituary Ronald Wayne Simmons NSS Ron Simmons died in a Florida cave-diving accident on February 14, Ron was a legendary caver and cave diver. He was awarded a Fellow of the National Speleological Society award in 1985 and the Lew Bicking Award in He was the inventor of the Simmons Roller (which is used with Ropewalker ascending systems), and was the principal supplier of aluminum doubletank backmount plates for cave diving. He was both a cave photographer and cartographer. His pictures have been published in several national magazines and were a mainstay at the NSS Conventions' Slide Salons, and he won four Medals at the Salon for his "live action" shots. His maps also won awards in the Cartography Salon. He was truly a cave explorer of international stature. Ron was born on September 14, 1953, and grew up in Virginia s Shenandoah Valley. As a child, he talked his parents into taking him to some of the commercial caves in the area, and he explored some of the smaller caves with a friend when he got older. Once in college, he was surprised to learn there was a national caving organization. He joined the University of Virginia Student Grotto and started caving with Ward Foeller, Steve Perry, and Dave Bunnell. Trips were to local Virginia caves, as well as to West Virginia caves such as Sinnett, Carpenter-Swago, Sites, Hellhole, Snedegars, and Crookshank, and to TAG, southern Indiana, and Kentucky. The foursome surveyed Williams Cave in Virginia, resulting in a map that won the Cartography Medal Award at the 1979 NSS Convention. 6

7 Ron soon found himself sketching and drawing his own maps. He met Doug Medville in the mid-1970s and started caving at the Friars Hole Cave System. He went on some horrible digs, and was involved in much of the original exploration of the cave system. Later trips with Doug Medville and Roberta Swicegood included the exploration of the Elk River caves (Falling Springs Cave, Elk River Cave, and Left Tit Pit), and a lot of small caves and digs in Greenbrier, Randolph, Pocahontas, and Monroe Counties. He also (later in life) explored and surveyed in Destitute, Laneville Water, and Indian Draft Caves, and The Portal, all of which are tough, wet caves. Ron became interested in Mexico and Huautla in 1980, and made an immediate impression on the other expedition cavers and the local villagers. Ron was highly skilled technically and had a knack for making his own gear, including, in this case, an expedition pack that was fully two thirds of his body size, if not larger. Furthermore, it was bright red, and the result was an enormous flaming red bag moving down the street with an ant-like human beneath it. Ron had a high strength-to-weight ratio, and was a tough hombre for his size was an extraordinary year in Huautla one that everyone who was present probably remembers to this day. It was the year American cavers first broke -1,000 meters depth outside of Europe, in Li Nita. Ron was on the team that went to attempt, and make (in a 33-hour push trip), the connection from Li Nita to San Agustín. Ron began diving in 1982, and headed to Florida to start training as a cave diver after only eight open-water dives. Once back home, his first dives were in the resurgences for Friars Hole. He dove between two cenotes along Spring Creek and connected them, then he tried to go upstream in the largest cenote. The route Ron chose was a bedding plane about 4 feet high and 20 feet wide, with anastomoses on the ceiling and floor. They almost touched except for about five inches in the middle. To go forward, Ron had to keep flipping onto his side and squeezing between the projections. After about 40 or 50 feet, he discovered the passage was silted in behind him, and that his dive line was swinging freely back and forth in the passage between the ceiling and floor anastomoses. He had no way of knowing which projections he had squeezed between on the way in, and the only thing that saved him (as he worked his way back to the entrance) was his calm resolve and the fact that he had plenty of air. Ron's later cave dives in West Virginia included Locust Creek Cave and Burns Cave #2, where he helped discover and explore large cave systems; Dream Lake, Matts Black Cave, the Cannon Hole, Clyde Cochrane, and Circulating Cenote, which are all a part of the Culverson Creek and Friars Hole Cave Systems; downstream Simmons-Mingo Cave, where Ron went upstream in the underwater Dry Branch; Scherr Spring in Grant County, which is a small, dangerous hole with great potential and terrible visibility that soon ended; Mott Hole and Scott Hollow Cave in Monroe County; Arbys Spring and Marthas Cave in Pocahontas County; and Zotters Folly Cave on the Renick Peninsula, where he cracked two sumps to break into big cave beyond. Ron also cave dove in Florida for 25 years. His favorite rivers (where he explored caves) included the Suwanne, Withalachochee, and Santa Fe. He dove in Blacksmoke and Hart Springs, and his and Wes Skiles discovery in Black Lagoon led to 22,000 feet of new passage that is arguably Florida's finest cave. He was mapping two spring systems, Ruth and Allan Millpond Springs, in north-central Florida, when he died. Ron was one of the key players on the 1984 Cass and the 1989 My Cave body recoveries. He was a powerhouse in Cass, and one of only three people to descend into the Big Room to move the body to the Belay Loft Drop. In My Cave, he was one of a group who were able to complete a very difficult recovery that the more traditional rescue people were unable to do. Ron was active in Kentucky s Roppel Cave, where he went on many survey trips and dove the Logsdon River Sump. He also caved in New York, Indiana, Wyoming (where he dove in high-altitude caves with 34- degree water), Colorado, New Mexico, Hawaii, Florida, and throughout TAG, as well as outside the United States such as many return trips to Mexico (to both Huautla and Cheve), multiple trips to Norway, China, to the Gunung Buda area of Borneo, the Tak and Sa Keow Provinces of Thailand, and Vietnam. Ron was a major player in the Virginia Speleological Survey, for whom he produced many cave maps. He participated in the original exploration of the Chestnut Ridge System, was one of the most active participants in the Omega Cave project, and (early in his caving career) helped survey in Butler- Sinking Creek Cave. Other projects Ron worked on include: Sugar Run, Dulaneys, Barberry, Burns, Bobcat, Bloomer, Raspberry Holly, Spider Web, Gulley, Mossy Blowhole, Hairy Hole, and Corkscrew. In addition, Ron dove in most of Virginia s major karst springs, including Sugar Run (both upstream and downstream), Barberry, Bane Dome, the two Lost Mill caves, Wabash Spring, Cathedral, Aqua (where he dove to a depth of over 240 feet), Powell River, and Boiling Spring. Ron graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in electrical engineering. He was employed by the University's Department of Psychology, where he was an instrument maker. He was 53 years 7

8 old and was one year from full retirement. His parents are both deceased, but he is survived by two brothers. Ron died while solo diving in Allan Millpond Cave, a restrictive and silty maze cave located in Lafayette County, west of Gainesville, Florida. He had made 43 dives into the cave system to survey it. He was about 300 feet inside the cave, beyond two constrictions, and it is believed that he may have had equipment problems and then ran out of air while exiting. Ron Simmons was a good friend to many cavers, and his company (and caving abilities) will be sorely missed. For all his accomplishments, he was modest, approachable, intelligent, and a consummate team player. He was an easy-going person with a devastatingly wicked sense of humor, and he had a kind heart and a keen sense of fairness, justice, and fun. He always gave 110% of whatever he was doing, and he was always willing to contribute a story, picture, cave article, or scientific fact. He was a rare individual, a cave photographer and cartographer, an inventor and supplier of cave equipment, and an exceptional cave explorer. And he was a friend. (George Dasher and Bill Stone) Minutes of the Fall VAR Region Meeting September 24, 2006 Glen Lyn, Virginia The meeting was called to order at 9:10 a.m. Reports Secretary - Carol Tiderman A motion was made by Bubble Cave to accept the minutes as published in the Region Record. VPI seconded. Motion passed. Treasurer - John Fox A financial report was presented. The domain name has been renewed - we are good for six years. A motion was made by Bubble Cave to accept the financial report, BATS seconded - Motion passed. Vice Chair - Judy Fisher Nothing to report. Chairman - Craig Hindman Reported on region members who received awards at the NSS Convention. He announced the Region was awarded the Certificate of Merit by the NSS at the Convention. Conservation Co-Chair - Meredith Hall Johnson The 2007 Easter weekend at Grand Caverns will be April 6-8. The Karst trail report is to be submitted. The Report from the 2006 Easter Weekend at Grand is to be submitted. Goodwins Cave Management - Al Stewart The cave is open for trips today. The gate was breached - the locks were burned off. The owner repaired the gate. There was no vandalism. VAR Outstanding Service Award - Meredith Hall Johnson Awards were presented to Karen Kastning, Dave Socky, and Mary Sue Socky. Nominations forms are on the Web. Landowner Recognition Award - Janet Tinkham There hve been three awards - the owners of Glade Cave, VPI nominated the Bat Ranch, WVCC nominated the owner of Lost World. There is a form online to use for submitting nominations. Landowner Legal Support Committee - Bob Hoke No report. Region Record - Bob Hoke No report. VAR List Server - Walt Pirie No report. VAR Web site - Jim McConkey No report. Cave Bucks - Judy Fisher Still going. VSS - Phil Lucas No report. The next meeting will be on October 7 at Phil s. WVASS - George Dasher No report. The Culverson Creek Bulletin is in progress. WVCC - Bob Handley Currently working on getting Mc- Clungs Historic Entrance. New Dixie - Al Stewart The map is almost complete. Cave Management Forum - Joey Fagan A tentative date for the sinkhole cleanout at Rufe Caldwell Cave is Oct. 21. Ogdens acquisition is on track. Grisby Cave in Scott County is gated. Educational materials are available from Carol Zokaites. WQ11 - cost sharing for sinkhole cleanups - up to $25K - the landowner must contribute 25% 8

9 but this can be in kind service (caver labor). Virginia Outdoors - Conservation Easement Bland and Tazwell Counties 4,300 acres of karst area with significant caves. SCCI - Walt Pirie Took to Lobelia Cave to evaluate preservation of saltpetre artifacts. Grand Caverns/Cave Hill - Jim McConkey Still in progress the first weekend of the month. Cave Board - Joey Fagan Effective September 13 there are three new appointees - Dave Socky, Jessie Richardson, Babs Melton (the Manager at Crystal Cave at Hupp's Hill in Strasburg, Virginia). Next newsletter will focus on landowners. There are two new committees: Education and Technical Next meeting the third or fourth weekend in February Wilderness - Bob Handley Preliminary proposal was released. Write to delegates stating you desire wilderness status for Dolly Sods, Otter Creek and Seneca Creek. Bob was awarded Wilderness Man of the Year. Virginia Karst Trail - Covered in conservation report. CCV - Janet Tinkham Elections in progress, scholarships have been given out, and Powell Mountain - gating project in progress. Quorum Committee Deferred to the next meeting. Host Report VPI - thanks for attending were registered - 12 trips were led - 87 people went caving plus those on self-led trips Old Business Front Royal Grotto will be hosting the Spring 2007 meeting the last weekend in April in the Marlinton area. No report on the Fall 2007 meeting. New Business Endless Caverns has been sold. The corporation has requested that VAR map the cave for them. They want ridge walking done and documentation of other caves on the hill. Bubble cave moves the Region is approved to get involved with the project. BATS seconded. Motion passed. Carol Tiderman offered to be the point of contact between the cave management and the cavers. Crystal Cave will be hosting activities every weekend during Virginia. Cave Week - topics will cover history, bats, and cave and karst preservation. Grant Requests: None received. Elections: Blue Ridge Grotto moved to reelect the current slate. BATS seconded. Motion passed. Announcements: Second National Cave & Karst Conservation Forum was held in Lewisburg. The Australian Speleological Federation is to receive a Karst Groundwater module. Their president was at the Forum. Mike Walsh from Texas Cave Conservancy extended an invitation to come to Texas and visit their headquarters - you have a home in Texas - and access to 150 caves. 9 Handley announced on October 20 there will be a special rappel off the New River Gorge Bridge - three generations of Handleys - his 14 year old granddaughter will be the youngest to rappel, his son, and Bob - who will be the oldest to rappel. Mt. Aetna Cave in Maryland is to be gated. The quarry is providing the steel and the Region is providing the labor. Fleece hats are for sale for $5. The field guide to Eastern Bats is available - free - while they last. Adjournment Bubble Cave moved to adjourn, VPI seconded. Meeting Adjourned 10:20. Respectfully submitted: Carol Tiderman VAR Limited Access Cave List Check the access status of VAR caves on-line at

10 Spring 2007 VAR MEETING AGENDA Sunday, April 29, :00 AM I. CALL TO ORDER II. DELEGATE REGISTRATION III. DISTRIBUTION OF AGENDA IV. CALL FOR INDEPENDENTS V. OFFICERS REPORTS: A. SECRETARY - CAROL TIDERMAN 1. Motion to accept Fall 2006 minutes 2. Other B. TREASURER - JOHN FOX 1. Current Financial Report 2. Other C. VICE-CHAIR - JUDY FISHER D. CHAIRMAN - CRAIG HINDMAN VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS A. CONSERVATION CHAIR - ANDY REEDER 1. Report on activities 2. Other B. GOODWIN'S CAVE MANAGEMENT - BLUE RIDGE GROTTO C. VAR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD - MEREDITH HALL JOHNSON D. LANDOWNER RECOGNITION AWARD - JANET TINKHAM E. LANDOWNER LEGAL SUPPORT COMMITTEE - BOB HOKE F. REGION RECORD - BOB HOKE, PAULINE APLING, BARRY CHUTE G. VAR LIST SERVER - WALT PIRIE H. VAR WEB SITE - JIM MCCONKEY I. CAVE BUCKS - J.C. FISHER J. VSS - PHIL LUCAS VII. K. WVASS - GEORGE DASHER L. WVCC - JEFF BRAY M. NEW DIXIE - BLUE RIDGE GROTTO N. VIRGINIA KARST PROGRAM - JOEY FAGAN O. SCCI - WALT PIRIE P. GRAND CAVERNS/CAVE HILL - JIM MCCONKEY Q. VIRGINIA CAVE BOARD R. WILDERNESS PROPOSAL S. VIRGINIA KARST TRAIL - REEDER T. CCV U. QUORUM COMMITTEE V. OTHER HOST GROTTO REPORT - Front Royal Grotto VIII. OLD BUSINESS A. CO-HOST GROTTO FOR THE FALL 2007 MEETING - TRIANGLE TROGS B OTHER IX. NEW BUSINESS A. HOST GROTTO FOR THE SPRING 2008 MEETING B. HOST GROTTO FOR THE FALL 2008 MEETING C. OTHER X. GRANT REQUESTS - SUBMITTED TO CHAIR XI. ANNOUNCEMENTS XII. ADJOURNMENT

11 18 th Annual Grand Caverns Easter Restoration Camp April 6 th -8 th, 2007 Hop on down to the GRAND CAVERNS EASTER RESTORATION CAMP, sponsored by the Virginia Region of the National Speleological Society on April 6 th - 8 th (Friday Sunday), If you enjoy the aroma of melting chocolate eggs and napalm, join us for our annual gravel hauling express through beautiful Grand Caverns, and our equally exciting sinus plugging, epoxy FILLED escapades in NEARBY Fountain Cave!. Repair broken formations. Eradicate moss. Improve caveowner relations, wrestle with WILD rabbits in the Wesson-oil PIT, and a whole lot more! A great way to kick those Old Man Winter Blues and it beats making license plates! Primitive camping, socializing with convicted felons, and food and beverage provided for Saturday lunch and dinner! Easter egg hunt for the kids on Sunday morning (depending upon number of kids)! And, best of all it s all FREE (okay, donations are accepted)! If arriving at night, check the left-hand gate, it is usually left with the hasp in-place so that it appears locked to the uninitiated. Directions to Grand Caverns: From I-81, take Exit 235 to SR 256, [turn left if traveling South on I-81, and right if traveling North on I-81, toward Grottoes] Travel East on SR 256 for 7 miles to Grottoes. At the intersection of Dogwood Avenue, turn South [Right] on Dogwood. Travel South on Dogwood Ave. for 1,000 ft. Turn Right into the Entrance of Grand Caverns [Grand Caverns Drive]. Phone (888) For more information contact VAR Conservation Co-Chairs: Andy Reeder, 840 Twin Lakes Rd., Green Bay, VA , (W) / (H) or at: cavecon@earthlink.net; and Meredith Hall Johnson, 8061 Kittiwake Court, Springfield, VA 22153, or at: merecaver@yahoo.com

12 Spring 2007 VAR Meeting General Information (Updates will be posted to the website at The Spring 2007 VAR Meeting, hosted by the Front Royal Grotto, will be held at East Fork Campground in Durbin, WV, on April 27-29, (See for more campground information). Pre-registration: Deadline April 1, Dogs: are welcome if on leash and picked up after. Water: Drinking water is available with many spigots located throughout the campground. Bathrooms: There is a small bathhouse at the campground, one side for men, the other for women. Each side has 1 toilet and 1 shower. There will be additional porta potties throughout the campground and possibly extra showers hooked up by spring. Food: A mouth-watering barbeque chicken dinner with vegetarian option will be provided Saturday evening. Pre-registration guarantees a meal. Without pre-registration you risk not having a meal ticket available. Vendors: We ve heard from Howies Harnesses, Cavers Connection and Inner Mountain Outfitters. Schedule of Events Friday: Registration begins at 12PM. Cave trips, socialize Saturday: Registration Many led and self-guided cave trips Ex: Poor Farm Cave, Billy Clay Pit, Cassell, Tub, Sharps, Roadside Pit, Carpenter Swago, and others Non-caving activities such as beautiful hiking trails, National Radio Astronomy Observatory Evening meal Presentation-by Tom Tucker History of Allen s Cave Bonfire, music, squeezebox Sunday: Front Royal Grotto traditional pancake breakfast - $ 4.00 VAR business meeting Directions: Map and additional directions From Richmond, VA area I-64 West to I-81 North to Staunton. West on US 250 approx. 70 miles to Durbin. From Baltimore-Washington, DC area From the DC beltway, West on I-66 to I-81 South to Hwy 55 West at Strasburg. At Petersburg take Route 28 South to US 250. Continue on US250 West approximately 8 miles to Durbin. From North Carolina I-77 North to Virginia I-81 North. Take I-64 East to White Sulphur Springs, WV. Exit on US60 to Route 92. Continue on Route 92 for 70 miles to Durbin. ***Once you reach the quaint town of Durbin, look for VAR signs next to the train station ***

13 Spring VAR 2007 April 27, 28, and 29 East Fork Campground Durbin, WV Hosted by Front Royal Grotto Pre-Registration Form Please print this form out and mail it with your check (payable Front Royal Grotto with Spring VAR on memo line) to: Front Royal Grotto c/o Eric W. Berge Marsteller Drive Nokesville, VA Use pre-registration prices only if your form is postmarked on or before April 1, 2007 Name Others you are paying for Address City State Zip Phone Number VAR FEES: Adult (18+ years): $26.00 X = $ Children (4-17 years): $22.00 X = $ Vegetarian Meal YES/NO (circle one) How Many Vegetarian Meals = Babies 3 and under: Free Special 2007 Spring VAR T-shirt: $10.00 Size S M L XL XXL Total Number of T-shirts X $10.00 = $ Total amount enclosed: $ Cost after April 2, 2007: Add $3.00 per person.

14 National Speleological Society 6304 Kaybro St. Laurel, MD Address Service Requested Non Profit Org U.S. Postage P A I D Annapolis Jct, MD Permit #2530 Spring 2007 Regional News If you want to continue receiving the Region Record, please read this... If this page is marked TIME TO RENEW it means that your Region Record subscription has run out and this is the last issue you will receive. Subscriptions are automatically extended when you attend a Spring or Fall VAR meeting, or you can subscribe to the Region Record. The last issue you will receive (Volume-Number) is indicated on the top line of your mailing label. More detailed information about subscriptions is listed in the box on page 2. If you wish to renew your subscription, please copy or send this entire page. The address label contains information we need to expedite processing. Also, please print legibly. Thanks. I want to continue receiving the Region Record. Enclosed, to maintain my subscription, are dues in the amount of: (please circle one) $3.00 for one year $6.00 for two years $9.00 for three years Name Address City State ZIP Grotto (or other caving organization that I claim as my primary caving affiliation) Please make checks payable to VAR and send to: Meredith Hall Johnson, 8061 Kittiwake Ct., Springfield VA 22153