Saturday, August 30, 2014

TriTrogs General Meeting Minutes, August 26, 2014

Emily G., Mark D., Mark L., Pete H., Rob H., Martin G., Ken W., and Ava P. were in attendance (either in the flesh or in the cybersphere). Because folks seem to know one another, Rob forewent/foregoed the introductions.

Mark D. began the meeting by describing one member’s imminent protests to a local municipality about his mosquito problem. Mark D. then told how this problem might be related to the lack of a drain under his shower and the impenetrable French drain beneath it. Somehow this led to a Happy Birthday song for Pete Hertl with the gift of a rubber ducky that shoots a laser from its mouth when it quacks.

Then we worked out the t-shirt and camping reimbursement issues with Rob. We only spent a few moments admiring Mark L. in the new T-shirt.

Mark D. then shared his vision for a beginners cave trip meetup. He plans to hold the information sharing meeting at Triangle Rock Club and then pick a cave to visit in late October or early November. He is looking for helping planning this, and Ken offered to share the slides he uses with scouts.

Doug Leapley is looking for someone to speak to a scout troop about caving. Ken will contact him unless someone else would like to.

Rob will fix the web site so that upcoming meeting dates are better displayed.  Mark L. shared the membership list and worked on getting updated on the membership list.

The next discussion was about problems with various LED headlamps and dealing with manufacturers when they break.

The TriTrogs are now looking for someone to host the 25th Anniversary Party in early December. The date will be based on the host’s schedule.

Trip reports followed. The grotto trip marked the first wild cave for 4.5-year old daughter of Mark’s girlfriend.  He related that they got a little bit lost in the maze in Paxton Cave. In a key junction Mark chose the wrong way 5 out of 6 tries. Several climbing attempts didn’t go well for Lisa.  She eventually climbed up with footholds in the webbing.  When they explored the room, they found that there was an easy way to skip the climb just a few feet away.

Salamanders marked Mark’s trip to Friars Hole Cave. Emily had a different experience by entering at the Snedegars Saltpeter Entrance and didn’t see salamanders as she slogged through the sump.

Pete related the story of the grotto vertical trip to the Crookshank Entrance—getting there was an adventure. They wandered for hours before consulting the topo map. Then they short-rigged the pit, and Mike went down first.  Pete enjoyed the crawl through an earthworm bed. They crawled along the surface and occasionally got mashed by the crawling cavers. They got close to the waterfall, and the first pool was the commitment point.  It wasn’t that bad, but only Pete and Mike made it all the way. They found spring salamanders and something like the Jefferson salamander.

Martin said that his team got lost in the Snedegars Saltpeter Maze [ed. I would’ve described it as thorough exploration of the maze].  The base of the waterfall was a good place to finish the trip. Martin forgot his camera card, but he would’ve gotten good pics there. His brother Doug was wide eyed at one point, amusing Martin.

Ken shared a description of his two survey trips to Saltville Quarry Cave, surveying in cold water up to his hips. The survey topped out at 1202 feet. Pete mentioned that this is the season for blow out sales on wet suits.

With regard to upcoming trips, see the list below:
August 28-Sept. 1 – Old Timers Reunion
September 13 – Carlin and Dave in Missed Opportunity
September 20 – Bugfest (contact Pete Hertl if you can help)
September 27 – New River Cave survey (Ken, Ava, and Pete)
October 10-12 – Fall VAR at Rich Mtn Battlefield
November 8 – Hancock Cave Bat Count (Ken)


After a long break, Mark D. shared a fast forward version of the Amazing Caves video and the Making of Amazing Caves.