Meeting attendants included Mark Little, Pete Hertl, Mark Daughtridge, Ken Walsh, Sam and Sharon Freeze, Howard Holgate, Rob Harris, Benjamin Espanoza, Steve and Grant Mollner, Preston Schofield, and Andrew Linsenmeier. Howard Holgate presided.
Dues are half price to Mark Little for the remainder of the year ($7.50). No web updates were shared from Mike Broome.
Bugfest had 35,000 people in attendance this year. Pete Hertl had solicited help from the TriTrogs with his orthoptera display and encourages more TriTrogs to volunteer next year. Ken had a great time introducing kids to the mole crickets.
Howard may be able to host the Holiday Party and plans to present a possible date at the next meeting.
Mark Daughtridge and Rob Harris described the trip they took with Dave Duguid and Ken Walsh to Lovers Leap Cave, Easy Way Down Dig, and Cotton Cave. Mark cited the good trip report on the web site and stated that the muddy climb was the highlight of the trip. His midway piece pulled off, and it turned out to be a free solo up 35 feet. He climbed a collection of boulders and mud that went up at an angle, and none of the holds were real. An ice axe would've helped him climb Raccoon Ridge and into the Smart Car Show Room, but fish flopping worked for Mark. Mark would rate Raccoon Ridge as a 5.10R climb but wouldn't expect the same climb twice. After exploring at the top, he rappelled back down to Ken and Dave.
At the other end of the room in Lovers Leap, Dave dropped down into a slot pit. He found a 1950s-era flashlight at the bottom.
Rob found that a very round, smooth pack will roll and open when dropped from a cliff. Dave rappeled down for Rob's gear.
The next day the team dug at Easy Way Down Dig but discovered no way into the cave. They also went into Cotton Cave but found no way to do the flowstone waterfall climb. It's too pretty to want to set permanent rigging.
Pete Hertl mentioned his trip to Old Timers Reunion as the only rep from the grotto. They had great weather and found it to be warm enough. Pete won his rope climbing contest, and attendance was around 1500 this year. He met Buddy Penley's relatives at a small meat stand outside Hillsborough on his drive home.
Ken discussed his 17.5-hour trip into Gap Cave beginning in Virginia and surveying in Kentucky. [ed. I did not take notes while giving a trip report].
Pete also described the Vermont Convention and odd events that occurred.
Sam Freeze shared a description of a commercial wild cave tour into Raccoon Mountain.
Preston and Steve Mollner talked about a trip to Oxbow Cave near the James River. The memorable feature was the birthing canal.
In terms of upcoming trips, we discussed the Fall VAR/MAR, TAG Fall Cave In, and the upcoming grotto conservation trip to Hancock Cave in Virginia.
After the break, Howard shared the promotional video from Glenwood Springs 2011 National Speleological Society Convention, but the sound was turned down too low.
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