the region record - Virginia Region of the NSS

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THE
REGION
RECORD
VIRGINIA REGION, NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Autumn, 1970
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THE
REGION
RECORD
!
Vol. 1, No. 2
Autumn, 1970
./I.,
1le1lfJr
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24
THE CHAIR SPEAKS ...............Tom Vigour
·25
LIKEWISE, THE EDITOR ...........Kim Smith
27
MINUTES OF THE SPRING MEET. Janet Pickens
28
A HAPPENING AT FRANKLIN ..Anne Whittemore
36
CAVES OF WAR ...................Peter Hauer
41
CARTOON ......................
42
SPELEO PHOTO SCENE ......The Whittemores
44
ON DINING AT THE BIRD ...........Tom Vigour
45
YOU BET YOUR LIFE ...Robert L. Huffman and
An onymous
Phil Lucas
THE REGION RECORD is the offiCial quarterly publication of the
Region
of
the
National
Sp eleological
should
Society.
be
Subscription
Virginia
rate is $3.0 0
per
year. All correspondence
Box
3585 C.RS., Johnson City, Tennessee 37061. Managing Editor of THE
sent to: THE REGION RECORD,
REGION RECORD is R E. Whittemore. Associate Editors are Tom Williams
and Kim Smith. Contributions for publication should be submitted one month
pri0r to the publication dates of January, April,
No. 2, Autumn 1970
July and October.
23
end was, I'm sure, the absence of rain
and the distribution of the first issue
the
of
REGION
RECORD.
the
But
gathering was also highlighted by lots
of cavers doing lots of caving--7000
feet
plus
surveyed.
several I e a d s
checked and verified. But all this ac­
tivity ceased in time for lots of fellow­
ship and partying to happen both Friday
and Saturday evenings. My only com­
ment is Wow!
Congratulations
Bill
are
in
order
to
Biggers and wife, Sue. Although
Bill still has his ups and downs (he's
head elevator jockey at the Washington
phallic symbol), I guess he's decided
to calm down somewhat and stop freak­
ing out residents of Tucson, Lawrence
(Kansas), and Jenny Lake Campground.
But alas and alack, another institution
this
Greetings again, dear Virginia Region
has
fallen
perennial
summer also.
Yes,
man,
John
dirty
old
cavers and subscribers to the REGION
the
RECORD. I guess Whitt has made his
point to the world regarding the cap­
acity of the Region to produce a pub­
H olsinger got sidetracked to the alter,
lication. I hope the skeptics in Balti­
more realize this and get off their
that Carol and Annie Whittemore are
cooking something up for Thanksgiving
in Pennington Gap.
backsides and subscribe.
As you
know.
the
VPI Grotto, with
and now has a sidekick for his devilry,
his sweet wife , Carol. Rumor has it
Oh yes, the Virginia Region i s now
the NSS Safety and Tech­
assistance from the Region. is hosting
represented
the 1971 NSS Convention in Blacksburg
niques Committee by Bob Thrun of PSC.
us involved kept
If you have any complaints, suggestions
or information for that committee. see
next
June.
All of
our eyes open at Watoga and State
College looking for things that could
be improved upon next year. '71 Con­
on
Bob and he'll pass it along.
vention chairman is Jim "Moose" Daw­
Enough o f t his. Continue reading t h e
son and he would appreciate any sug­
you might have that would
Virginia Region's best publication (and
gestions
rather than loan your copy to a friend,
facilitate next
speak up!
make the bum subcribe!).
year's convention,
so
peace,
Our Spring Project at Moncove Lake
back in May saw a fantastic turnout of
cavers. The twin highlight of the week­
24
r,
Tom Vl
Chairmau
THE REGION RECORD Vol. 1
could
say
that the entire region was
caught in a time warp and that spring
and summer simply did not occur here,
but
suspect no
I
people
three
more
w0u1d
than two
buy
that
or
tale.
Actually, it was in the winter of 1970
when the last issue was put together,
but
due
to
a
time
warp
of
another
to editorialize about, but the note at­
(and more commonplace) type, it wasn't
printed until this summer. Someone
tached to the manila envelope did say
just
"do an editorial". Really, I have no axes
here's
to
than get off on the wrong foot by being
Darned if I know what I'm supposed
publicly grind;
I can't
think of a
single hard-hitting c o m m e n t which
would suddenly bring light to any par­
ticular darkness. And Lord knows the
standard "editorials-for-the-sake-of­
filling-space" subjects like Mother­
forgot
three
to
change
the date.
So
what we're gonna do. Rather
issues late before we ever get
started, we'd like you to take out your
copy of Vol. 1, No. 1 and mark out
the
"Winter"
date slug. Then write
"Summer". Now! We're all up to date
hood and Apple Pie have been done to
(how's that for getting out of an awk­
death (besides they could start a dang­
ward situation?).
erous crossfire from the women's lib
element).
talk about myself,
Now that I think about it, that means
but Whitt's shameless memoirs in the
we'll now have to either limit Volume 1
last issue caused me to t h i n k twice
about that approach. Couldn't I just
content myself with jumping into our
to just two issues, or wait until next
author '
I
could
well-ordered
b'ains of
thought
and
with
hard-won
ill-timed
and
irreverent editor's (Ed. You mean like
this?)
summer to begin Volume 2. Oh well,
we'll worry about that le.ter (as Scarlett
said, "Tomorrow is another day", to
which Rhett replied: "My dear, I don't
give a damn'')
.
notes?
the
softest
editor's job I'd ever fal­
Now to this issue. Anne Whittemore
remarks somewhere in the pages ahead
that Virginia Region cavers are the
len
into (I didn't even know the first
"best cavers and partiers in the East",
issue existed until I got it in the mail)
a fact no Region member would dare
deny. However, I'm wondering w hat
1
was just congratulating myself on
when Annie Whittemore, after coming
within a fingernail of running over my
those people outside the Region think
drinking hand with the Bronco during
after
the Fall Council Meeting, accosted me
Region's official publication. That we
with the aforementioned m a n i 1 a en­
know how to have one hell of a good
time is amply documented, but there
is precious little evidence to indicate
velope. It contained assorted sundry
writings, a cartoon, some maps and a
bunch
of
pictures. The attached note
from Whitt
that
(who
weekend)
HAD
all that stuff and
Vol.
1,
2
go
fishing
indicated that I should
whip it into
take
No.
to
of
this sterling
pub­
they've
read
this
issue
of the
that we ever set foot into a ca ve.
Come on, youse guys, let's let these
doubters know that the Virginia Region
has
the
best
cavers not
only in the
lication. Swell. So much for the cushy
East, but in the United States as well
(today the country-t 0 m 0 r r o w the
job.
world)! The best way
of
doing that,
astute reader will have noticed
short of getting dirty, is putting your
exploits on paper. The editors of THE
by now that this Vol. 1, No. 2 is
dated "Autumn 1970", whereas Vol. 1
REGION RECORD (all three of us) are
dying to get some mileage out of our
No.
blue
The
1
was
dated
"Winter
No. 2, Autumn 1970
1970".
I
pencils!
{By
the
w a y, T o m
25
Williams,
it's your turn to write the
next editorial.)
Letters I heard several topics being discussed
at the fall meeting which would make
AND ASSORTED RECRIMINATIONS
excellent subjects for dissertations in
these
pages.
project
What about
suggested
Virginia's
for
the
one
gating
of West
most beautiful caves
now
endangered by vandalism (although that
Deal Editol-San,
might well wait until AFTER the gate
has been installed!), or another gating
project which was mentioned. How about
a history of the CRCN?
Everyone is
waiting to hear something about the
progress of the West Virginia Cave
Survey (something besides "we're still
working
or for
Will folgive this one time, as obvious
ignolance. But do waIn that one mole
at all on West
use of lacist telm "yellow" will lesult
Virginia caves and cavers? The po­
tential for good stories is limitless.
There are some excellent writers (who
in bad scene fol bigot usel. Will pulsue
lound eyed usel of complomising B.S.
about
it"),
One small complaint, howevel. Yellow
covel have lacist tendency.
that matter
how
on
Conglatulations on Numbel One Issue.
anything
wi th
much vigoul.
by some happy coincidence happen to
be excellent cavers) within the Region.
Humble Thanks,
Now,
don't
try to
/s/F.L. Wong
we've
seen
some of your work! How
about letting us
deny it,
because
Baltimole Judo and
all in on it?
Anti Defamation League
Before I cease these aimless ramb­
lings, it must be said that this issue,
(Dear Foot Long: No one complained
about the black ink. Ed.)
with the shiny new format, would not
have been possible without the tireless
efforts
of
W. Va.
Tech
Bruce
Bannerman
of the
Outing Club. He has put
as much time into giving birth to this
issue as anyone, which of course, he
was under no obligation whatsoever to
do. What did he do? Suffice it to say
that Bruce is a printing major at
Tech. Get the picture? Thanks, Bruce
Baby!
Anytime,
MINUTES OF THE SPRING COUNCIL ME ETING OF THE VIRGINIA REGION April
4,
1970, Washington
D. C. (American University Grotto Hosting) OFFICERS: Tom Vigour,
Chairman;
Phil Lucas, Vice Chairman; Janet Pickens, Secre­
tary-Treasurer Kim, just
ask.- Bannerman
REPRESENTATIVES: D.C.-Pat
Triangle
Moretti,
George
University-Ed
Corbett; Palczewski; PSC -John Moore, Bob Thrun; U. Va.­
75.
!
DQ.
/L
26
Roger Baroody; Holsten Valley -Jim Beck, RE. Whittemore; WVACS-Jim Hixson,
Lynn
Vinzant;
A. U. -Kendall Free, Lanny Lehto; VPI-Jim Dawson, Pete
Schnaars;
Shenandoah
Valley­
ED Bauer, Gorden Kerby; W.Va. Tech THE REGION RECORD Vol. 1
Outing Club-Bill Holmes, Bill Rawol­
lions; B lu e R i d g e-John Tichenor,
Craig Peters; George Washington U.­
Paul Broughton
Fieldhouse must be kept clean when be­
ing used by visitors during the conven­
tion. It was suggested that an article
to
the
NEWS would
inform potential
guests of the problems surrounding the
The
Chairman,
Tom Vigour, called
the meeting to order at 2:00 pm. The
list of representatives present was
read. Minutes of the Nineteenth Annual
Virginia Region Fall Meeting and the
Treasurer's Report were read and ap­
proved.
Lynn Vinzant read and discussed the
Closed Caves List, which was distrib­
uted to the representatives present, and
had previously been sent to the Region
members with the notice of the meeting.
Phil Lucas reported that the gating
of Porter's Cave was successful. Only
NSS members are being allowed into
Porter's by the owner.
Fieldhouse and would make them aware
of the need to remain civilized while
in that area.
John Holsinger moved that the Bylaws
of
the
Region
interested
be
groups
Kentucky and Ohio.
changed
in
the
to admit
states
of
The motion was
defeated unanimously.
John then moved that the Region en­
courage the NSS to acquire a national
headquarters. The motion was passed
unanimously. The Congress of Grottos
is expected to discuss this problem at
its next meeting.
The Twentieth Annual Fall Meeting of
Tom Vigour expressed the hope that
the Region will be held October 3 at
the lodge of Massanutten Caverns, north
the Region would have a better repre­
sentation at the next meeting of the
of Harrisonburg, and will be hosted by
the Shenandoah Valley Grotto.
Congress of Grottos during the August
NSS Convention.
Tom also recommended the weekend
"Whitt" Whittemore announced that
the Region publication will be published
quarterly.
The
first issue should be
of May 30 as the date of the Region's
Spring Project, being held at Moncove
Lake in Greenbrier County, West Vir­
out within two weeks. More subscrip­
tions were solicited.
ginia. A steak roast may be planned.
John Holsinger moved that the site of
Moncove Lake be accepted. Passed.
Jim Dawsonmoved that the Region co­
host the 1971 convention with VPI, The
motion was passed unanimously. VPI
Bob Thrun announced
that he is in
charge of the data processing section
of the August convention. Papers should
be submitted to him.
Lanny Lehto said that Bill Biggers is
looking for volunteers to lead cave trips
for the convention.
Don
Cournoyer
mentioned
that
the
Board of Governors will be holding its
first annual retreat during the conven­
handed out copies of the tentative pro­
posal for the convention, which sets the
date around the middle of June.
John
Holsinger
suggested
that the
official history of the Region be up_·
dated. Ed Bauer was appointed chair­
man of the committee to write the
recent history (suggested name: Com­
mi ttee for Action on the Virginia Reg­
ion's Evolution, or CAVRE). A report
of the committee will be submitted at
the next meeting.
tion. John Cooper will MC the banquet,
and Jim Comstock will be the speaker.
Ed Bauer
requested a status report
on the CRCN. John Tichenor will try to
John Moore
announced that t h e PSC
No. 2, Autumn 1970
(continued on page 41)
27
and register
"Step right up I folks
here. Sign the book, NSS number, num­
ber of OTR's attended.... " "Including
this one?" "Sure thing; home group,
registration $2.00, banquet $2.00" "Can
I pay later for the banquet?" "If there
are any tickets left." "Who are you?"
"I'm HIM!" "Where are you camping?"
"Thorn Spring." "That'll be $1.00/
tent/night.'" 'Grumble."
'Display this
orange tag where it can be seen from
the road on your tent." "What's going
•
on today?"
"It's in the program."
"Where's that?" "End of the table."
"Do I get one of these bumper stick­
ers?" "Twenty-five cents each." "Who
are you?' , , 'I'm HIM! "
"The ladies
room is out of paper." "Grumble."
"How many stars do we get?" "When's
the banquet?" "Read the program."
Such was the scene Saturday morning,
September
5 at McCoy's Mill, where
the 21st annual Old Timers Reunion
was being held. Chairman for this year:
R. E. Whittemore (and next year too!).
Officially the Old Timers Reunion be­
gins Friday night at 6:00, so you can
imagine our surprise when we pulled
in Thursday night at midnight and
found twenty cars. Some people had
been there since Wednesday! After
socializing a bit and throwing a poor
landed Tuna fish back into the pond,
we trooped off to bed on the porch of
So soothing to listen to
the Mill.
rain on a tin roof.
Friday
morning a
strong
wind was
blowing down the valley; pink and gray
clouds
scudded
across
the
lower
breeze. We were anxious about the
forecast, having experienced such love­
ly weather at State College, Pa. First
on the agenda was to fix the steps to
the porch. With the aid of a small
hand saw, Alan Armstrong (who came
all the way from Nassau especially
for OTR) and Whitt made three run­
ners and six planks for steps. A lot
of people s t o o d around to watch.
The steps done and railings in place,
the Mill was ready for the horde;
that is, if the porch floor didn't cave
28
THE REGION RECORD Vol. 1
in.
Friday evening we set up registration
to get the "early" arrivals. Some of
the famous ca vers which flowed over
my grandmother's Paisely shawl were
Tom Vigour, the famed banjo-slinging
HOVACS man; David Funsten, complete
with bongos and maracas; Harold Ham­
ilton
and
Cleveland
family;
t h a t tantilizing
Frank L.
M. C.
and veteran
Childs
of
0
f
20 OTR's;
p i nk F o r d
fellow,
Mielcarek from Pitt!Sburgh;
M i k e Kelley, D. C. Grotto; D a v e
DeArmond, Met Grotto; a charming
young
femme
of
York and
Reading
Grottos, residing as an upstanding cit­
izen in Franklin, Bobbi Nagy; Bob
Lutz,
PSC
and
19
OTR's;
Wilmer
McCavit of Cleveland; and of course,
that
old
VPI
man,
Steven
R.
Kark.
What a fan-tas-tic basis for the best
Old Timers yetI
Here we are Saturday morning. Bright
and early at 9:00 registration began; at
noon the Olympics. We had the same
contests as always but with fewer con­
testants. While rigging the large tree
for the vertical contests, Gene Harrison
accidentally
snatch
dropped
block on
Fortunately,
no
a
thirty-pound
Dale Parrott's foot.
injuries
were
sus­
tained, though Dale took several hours
to extricate himself from the manmade
cave. And Karl Berge, judge for the
cave crawl contest, was battered and
somewhat bruised when he exited Mc­
Coy's
Mill
through
the window after
taking in the tickets contestants were
to pick up later. We understand, too,
that Stanley Leo Carts, Jr. was injur­
ed when well-wishers surrounded him
in the Franklin liquor store. They were
just trying to get "something for every­
one.' ,
But on to better things, like some of
the other cavers who showed up for
the Happening. Ah yes, Bev and Jerry
Frederick, a n amiable p a i r from
Virginia whose door is always open to
the weary caver; that reckless maniac
Karl Hamm; the sweetest all-night lush
No.
2, Autumn 1970
29
the ever­
thank the enterprising soul(s) who rig­
popular Elves, Dee Snell and Jette
Feduska; Dick Bishop, a corruptor of
is understood that a photographer from
in
the
world,
Kim
Smith;
young children; Dr. Cato Holler; those
groovy two from South Carolina, David
and Sandy Irving; VPI #112 and York
#1l2--wonder if they know each other?;
Halph Nader: John Tichenor (Stanley's
ged the trolley line over the pond. It
a TV or movie studio took pictures of
someone going down the trolley line.
Would
love
to
see
his movie.
We heard that Bobbi Nagey held a pre­
campaign manager): and of course, Phil
trailer-warming-party
Lucas, the MUSIC MAN. But wait. We
trailer. Actually she spent most of the
can't leave out Ted Wachter (a friendly
day
roving electrician): Granny Hester and
Sods
for
Uncle Jerry Nettles: that funny looking
about
a
kid from Baltimore with dark glasses
seems
and
big nose,
Chris:
with
his lovely wife,
Ackie and Betty Loyd, who've
attended 21 and 19 OTR's: such GGG
favorites as Dave Harvey, Dave Newson
and
Jerry Waters; Cricket! Haygood:
party
at
her
gathering huckleberries at Dolly
his
pies
at
the banquet. Heard
drowning at Shangri-La.
It
that Ackie Loyd was teaching
pet frog how to handle a gin and
tonic
when the poor thing fell in
the
glass and bashed his head on an ice­
cube. And we all heard how Uncle
Ham
was
floating
peacefully on
his
Ken Free and Dave Street, members of
yellow air mattress when Betty Loyd
the
and Marguerite Klein decided to ... well ,
newly-formed Sligo Grotto; Dirty
Jim; Pablo: that fair-haired lad from
Altoona, Jack Speece: the vertical fam­
ily from Huntsville, Miriam and Bill
never mind.
Cuddington; Don Cournoyer (the whis­
Meanwhile, back to the Olympics. We
were hoping a lot of ladies would par­
tle-blOWing
kid)
ticipate so
Attila.
to
Not
and
his
side-kick,
be forgotten are Brad
Cobb, owner of Massanutten Caverns:
Ed
Palczewski;
Warren
Wheelchair Titcomb:
P. Brown (the Doc); Roswell
Jones (famous
bread baker): Charlie
lib
prize,
we could give a women's
but
most preferred
to go
four-wheeling with Hixson. But people
were doing their things and coming up
with good times.
Even coming up with
short tempers and added determination.
Schwab without his wife: John Piccininni
Judges of the lamp assembly, bowline
all
tie and pack contests got awfully bored,
but once each hour someone would bop
the
way from Windy City Grotto:
a tent seller, Steve Cadle: smiling, but
fearless
Dave
Collins: the Crawlway
Kid, Jay Herbein; Linda's master, Jim
over to take their test.
Keeps things
interesting!
Hixson; that lovable ole souse, George
Harding; and dear,
Over at the registration desk, I was
unforgettable Mike Houpt. Do you rea­
registering late arrivals and giving out
Corbett;
Grayson
lize we registered 364 people! That's
paper
a record! Last year it was only 345.
Maybe we'll hit 400 next year, Frieders
fun contest-"The Baby Hall of Fame."
We
(heavens,
Region and MAR as well as Old Tim­
I hope not!)
for the cave quiz and our new
asked
notables
of
the
Virginia
ers to contribute pictures of themselves
Ah
yes, back to the cave Olympics.
as babies or young children. We mount­
The contests-quiz, 100 foot rope climb
ed
(knots and mechanical) , lamp assembly,
grand matching quiz. The person who
them on boards with names for a
bowline tie (in the future you will be
named the most babies correctly and
blindfolded), cave crawl, ladder climb,
the person selected by contestants as
cave pack, and prusik-rappel-prusik­
ran for six hours on Saturday. Most
people preferred caving, Climbing, or
lounging at Shangri-La or dipping their
the cutest baby were to receive prizes.
toes into the pond behind the Mill. We
caused.
30
Although only 28 persons took the qUiZ,
we felt the display was a success be­
cause of the fun and merriment it
The
contest's
winner, Jerry
THE REGION RECORD Vol. 1
Frederick, and the second place man,
Ackie Loyd, both had their wives helpjng
them. Tsk, tsk!
A lot of people just
couldn't believe some babies actually
looked the same when adults.
One
young lady was overheard to say of
Bud Rutherford: "I can't believe it.
He still has the same grl,lmpy expres­
sion!" Another young matron who rack­
ed up with 19 right, messed up all the
gals, but got most of the guys right.
With the exception of Bev Frederick,
whom everyone named correctly (she
was the only female on a male board!)
Jim Hixson was most often named cor­
rectly.
Roger Baroody (the kid in the
sandpile) was icientified 18 times, and
Bill Stephenson, 17. Charlie Schwab
(the kid wjthout a face) got the booby­
prize. He was named correctly twice-­
by himself and by an Elf! Correct
answers were posted Sunday afternoon.
all-night partiers, like Kim Smith and
Ed Loud, barely able to stand. As soon
as the sun peeped over the rim of the
ridge, tents began to stir and walk
away. I found my cousin Rick vainly
grubbing for ox tails and watercress
back of the Mill and offered him an
egg, a donut and
speedily accepted.
coffee,
which
he
Saturday night saw one of those grand
branewpardies that Old Timers is fam­
ous for. Phil Lucas provided the music
from the kitchen and we danced until
2:00 am, when the Mill was closed and
locked as tight as a drum.
Sunday was a repeat of Saturday:
more four-wheeling, drinking, swim­
ming, caving, climbing, registering and
contests. Also, the charming and talen­
ted ladies of the VPI Grotto, with the
strong - arm help of Glen D a v i s, Al
A r m s t r o n g, T. S. Roehr, G l e n Tal­
madge a n d a 11 the h o t - a i r m e n who
blew up the balloons, decorated the
dance hall for the BRANEWPARDY.
It was a great job; the twinkling lights
were a sensational touch. But next
year we need more, More, MORE Bal­
loons! Big ones, little ones, tall ones,
short ones, kidney-shaped ones, hot
dog- shaped ones, whistle-shaped ones,
balls, diamonds, hearts, aces, spades,
LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of BAL­
LOONS!
Sunday morning brought a few early
risers meeting several bleary-eyed
Whitt had to figure out the scores so
he could give prizes to the most deserv­
Hal and Whitt thought perhaps they
could find another garbage dump by the
side of a side road, but decided they
would check at the first house before
dumping. (The Franklin jail can be
disturbing.) Well, as luck would have
it. the owner had a key to the dump.
Joyfully, they grabbed it and tried to
turn the rig around. No d ic e. They
were forced to drive all the way back
to Franklin. Finally they were able to
empty the pile of garbage, and were
off to the Mill when Whitt remembered
he had gone to the dump for peace and
quiet. Remember that slightly blacken­
ed figure atop the abandoned chimney?
That was Whitt figuring up the points
and prizes.
ing after the banquet. In order to have
a lot of peace and quiet for this time­
consuming job, he and Hal Gibson
(Nazrat's partner) decided to visit the
Franklin dump and take the accumulated
trash out at the same time. Now, the
Franklin dump can be seen from the
highway, as the smoke and foul fumes
rise toward that big garbage dump in
the sky. Just before reaching Franklin
you take the low water bridge and follow
the paved road to a dirt side road. And
farther up the ridge is another side
road which leads to the dump. The
gate to the dump was locked with a
h u g e padlock and there was a sign
attached, saying: "DUMP CLOSED ON
LABOR DAY WEEKEND". Well, they
had never heard of a dump being closed
on Labor Day weekend, so with tears
in their eyes they backed up for 200
feet and turned the Bronco with the
seven by four foot U-Haul trailer at­
tached (brought especially from Ten­
nessee to take garbage to the Franklin
dump.)
32
Oh boy, the banquet. John lost his
ticket; Doris lost her ticket. Don't
worry; we'll get you in. Yummy-bar­
becued chicken, smacky potato salad,
baked beans, melting ice cream sand­
wich, garden tomatoes, rolls and butter,
and gallons of tea and coffee (unless
you brought your own). Mighty tasty,
and all for only $2.00. And now for the
awards.
There are always shouts for the
"times" of the winners, so included
herewith is a chart with last year's
and this year's "times" for first and
second place.
The first grand prize, a cable ladder
and two locking 'biners went to Bruce
Bannerman, NSS 11485 of West Virginia
Tech and WV ACS. Second grand prize'
went to Bill Corley, NSS 11486· of .
Palmyra, Va. Bill received 150 feet of
spankin' . brand new Goldline. Third
grand prize, in the form of a one quart
s t ee I
thermos bottle, w e n t to Jack
Speece, NSS 8338. NSS 5669, Tom
Vigour, received fourth grand prize:
an Optimus 8R stove and a pint fuel
bottle. And lastly, but not least Norbert
R i e k i, Nat. Cap. Grotto, received a
covered sleeping bag pad for placing
fifth. It is interesting to note that
neither Speece nor Vigour placed first.
THE REGION RECORD Vol. 1
or
second in any contest, yet walked
away with grand prizes!
present. T h e Life-of-the-Party award,
a beer mug, went to Phil Lucas for the
won derful
First place winners of the cave olym­
pics
are as follows: cave pack - Jack
Speece;
100
m usic
he
provides at
branewpardies. And Harold Hamilton,
fondly known as Ham, received the Lit­
lamp
assembly - Bannerman;
tle Brown Jug award-a little brown jug
rope
climb with knots - Bill
awash with T e n nes s e e ' s best sour
foot
Cuddington; 100 foot rope climb, mech­
mash,
anical - Steve Hall; l a d d e r - C o r l e y.
sented David Irving with the Carnegie
Jette
Feduska
received
the women's
Jack-in-the-Black!
H a m pre­
Museum annual award, a fabulous book
lib prize for having beat out two other
on
females. The cave quiz is not one for
Sara Byrd helped with the drawing of
which
tickets.
a
prize
is
given, but
it does
fossils.
And
Among
then the door prizes;
the
winn ers we re
enter into a person's total score. Pete
Binker Glock, Steve Emery and Car­
Hauer,
olyn Emery, Ri c h a r d
of
saltpetre
fame
and York
S c h r i e b e r,
Grotto, won with 97 points scorep. An
Margie
interesting part
Jim Hixson. Congratulations to you all!
third
was
of
the
quiz was the
question, asking "In what state
the
NSS
convention
held in
the
O'Brien,
Marvin
Childs, and
But .. .let's get back to the Mill for the
BRANEWPARDYI ! ! ! ! !
following years: .... ". The answers for
1970 (Pennsylvania) and 1964 (Texas)
Sunday
night
branewpardies are the
were given. Contestants had to fill in the
very best! The decorations were superb
intervening years. Only six persons out
and
of 33 which took the quiz named all five
keep still. Wheee! I danced and danced.
the music made it impossible to
correctly. Points were racked up on the
Jim Hixson
1969
wearing only his boots and a big white
and
Missouri
1968
were
sites;
named
Wyoming
correctly
and
25
diaper, with
made a GRAND entrance
an OTR bumper sticker
times. 1967 and 1966 didn't fare so well.
Twelve persons named Alabama right,
but others suggested Missouri, Florida,
Virginia
and New York.
Thirteen got
California right, but twelve declined to
answer. Other answers were Virginia,
West Virginia and Bolivia. As for 1965,
there were sixteen no answers and nine
for Indiana. Of course, the Old Timers
is really attended by more new timers
than old.
Then, the special prizes! The b a b y
contest: Jerry Frederick won and Jim
Hixson
was selected the cutest baby!
Both received adult baby bottles-wine­
skins!
The Granny-of-the-Year award
went to Hester Nettles of PSC-a sun­
bonnet, what else! During the past year
Charlie Schwab, D.C. Grotto,has shown
a peculiar p r o p e n s i t y for pooping at
parties-thus the Party-Pooper-of-the­
Year award, complete with a poop pot.
Luckily
for
Bob
Lutz,
Gwen
Foster
didn't show up this year, so Bob re­
ceived
DEPTHS OF THE EARTH for
having
the lowest NSS number-235L­
No. 2, Autumn 1970
33
plastered on his bare chest. The very
could get up bright and early to go home
cutest baby we've ever seen! Phil play­
on Monday.
ed some polkas which were bushels of
Dave Irving said the sun should not be
fun-like Dodge-ems at the carnival. I
thought everyone was supposed to polka
in
circle,
a
Paisley
over
my grandmother's
shawl.
allowed
Day.
to
He
rise
was
until
even
noon on Labor
angry
that we'd
allowed it to rise at all. Don't worry,
Dave, next year will be better. Under
I
remember
dancing
seeing
Bev
Frederick
most of the night w i t h Dick
S andy (editor of a camping magazine);
the fearsome horsewhip of Bruce Byrd,
the
entire
Jay Herbein and the Medvilles lurking
then
amongst
loads
the
drunks;
Jim
Kramer,
VPI Grotto pitched in and
cleaned up the mill, stem to stern, and
Whitt
of
and
Bill
Douty
took
two
garbage to the dump, which
Dave Brison and Phil Gettel supporting
was
one
cavers picked up their scattered gear
of
the walls; Bob Amundson and
Charlie Maus politicing;
Pete Hauer
closed
on Labor Day. Gradually
and nerves, took down their tents and
doing a jig on the porch; Chris Kramer
headed home. By midafternoon only a
and Bobbi Nagy dancing gleefully; and
few die-hards were left. Before leaving
a big VPI stag line taking up most of
for home, we paid a visit to the Frank­
t he chairs. In due time all the streamers
lin newspaper office to let the editor
were
torn
down
to
be
draped
over
know what had happened at the HAP­
sweating dancers, and the balloons were
PENING. And then we headed south­
popped. And still the music went on.
sore, groggy, slightly green from the
Several boozers met their end on the
smell
steps or in the bushes, and a few riff­
to
raff
two
looking
forward
Mo oses-Dave Collins and Jim Dawson.
Timers
Reunion.
We'd
to
When
last
had
the
to
be
glard
at
by
the
of
the
garbage that didn't make it
Franklin dump, but happy and
to
next
year's
Old
music finally did stop, the
of the partiers traipsed down to
like
thank
all the persons
the ladies' lounge to sing "100 bottles of
who assisted us: the judges-Dale Par­
beer on the wall", and drink and sleep.
rott, Bob Amundson, J e t t e Feduska,
Most everyone else went to bed so they
Karl Berge, Tuna Johnson, Gary Moss,
and Lynn Vinzant; the decorators-Boots
Good and Janet Queisser; Phil Lucas;
Ted Wachter, for the colored lights he
installed
behind the Mill-a little ro­
mantic touch! Also, Al Armstrong for
his help fixing the steps; the people who
collated the programs; Bev and Jerry
Frederick for the printing; all the con­
tributors to the baby picture contest;
the
Hal
guys who rigged the trolley line;
Gibson,
Douty
for
Tuna
going
Johnson
to
the
and Bill
dump;
Don
Cournoyer for blowing his whistle at
strategic moments; Stanely Leo Carts,
Jr.; and Gene and Suzanne Harrison who
rented
us space in their tent since I
forgot
the
poles
to
ours.
A
minor
oversight!
If you think this year was a happen­
ing,
just
wait
until next
year.
You
won't believe your eyes or nose!
34
THE REGION
RECORD Vol. 1
OFFICIAL TIMES-CAVE OLYMPICS
1969
1970
100 ft. rope climb: knots.
1. Della McGuffin
2. Andy Powers
3:33.2
Bill Cuddington
1:56.3
3:43.2
Norbert Rieke
3:39.5
0:41.2
Steve Hall
1:03.2
0:53.6
Bill Corley
1:16.5
100 ft. rope climb: mechanical.
1. Charles Gibbs
2. Joe Kappler
1. Jack Speece
6.25
(N ot blindfolded)
Ken Free
5.7
2. Cato Holler
6.40
Dave Newson
5.8
Bowline Tie
(Blindfolded)
Lamp Assembly
1. Jack Speece
1 :04.4
Bruce Bannerman
53.8
2. Bruce Bannerman
1 :04.5
Jim Dawson
55.5
Prusik-Rappel-Prusik
1. Andy Powers
2. Charles Gibbs
Ladder Climb
1. Bill Corley
2. Bruce Bannerman
C ave Crawl
1. Jim Haas
2. Bruce Bannerman
No. 2, Autumn 1970
3:43.2
Bruce Bannerman
6:32.3
5:14.6
Bill Corley
6:49.0
18.2
Bill Corley
16.7
20.2
Bruce Bannerman
18.7
1:40.0
Bruce Bannerman
1:39.4
1:51.2
Jim Haas
1:48.1
35
CAVES OF WAR
The nitrate-rich earth of many of the caves of the Virginias
played an important role in the South's war effort during
the Civil War. Some caves were mined even earlier.
Here are brief descriptions of two such caves found
in the Virginia Region.
PETER HAUER
SALTPETRE CAVE, Mineral County,
West Virginia
LOCATION-39°16'20"N; 78()57'56"W
Keyser Quadrangle.
ARBEGAS T SALTPETRE CAVE, High­
land County, Virginia
DESCRIPTION-The William D a v i e s
description (CAVERNS OF WEST VIR­
GINIA, p. 162) should be modified to
note that there are several maze areas
and short walking passages in the mid­
dle sections, connecting the two en­
trance passageways.
815 feet of pas­
sages were actually mapped, but short
parallel loops of the small mazes would
possibly douole that figure.
LOCATION-38" 25' 37"W; 79025'15"N
McDowell Quadrangle.
HISTORY-The entire c a v e was heav­
ily mined for saltpetre. There are
several neat walls of sift stones. Fagots
are numerous and a miner's scraper
(paddle) was found at the deepest point
penetrated. The leaching and b 0 iii n g
site appears to be an earth mound on
Cave Run, at the bottom of the steep
slope leading up to the entrances. The
oldest wall date noted by Davies was
1842, but nothing older than 1878 could
be deciphered in 1970. A third cave en­
trance, blocked after 20 feet may have
been dug by miners. A blast of air
indicates that it could be connected with
the main cave.
36
DESCRIPTION-Also known as Cave
Mountain Cave, Arbegast Saltpetre is
given a good physical description by
Henry H. Douglas (CAVES OF VIR­
GINIA, p. 268). The vertical dr0t> men­
tioned is a maximum of 21 feet.
HISTORY-Much of the cave f i l l was
removed by Civil War saltpetre miners,
who left inscriptions on the walls,
dating 1863 and 1864. In removing the
dirt, they left pick marks, mattock
marks, clay ball deposits from sifted
earth, a 10 foot climbing pole, a scraper
( paddle) found in 1967, and many tally
marks of the following design: t:>kI The
21 foot drop had a ladder, now a ghostly
impreSSion staining a clay bank , and
this leads to the only drinking water
in the cave. A tin drinking cup found
there may date back to the Civil War.
Many fagots are found throughout the
cave, particularly at the bottom of the
drop.
•
THE REGION RECORD Vol. 1
z
o
entrance
{ft!
>­
c
E"
:3
::l
I-'
-.::J
o
-ili,
/
r9-
c'
r
Saltpetre Cave
MINERAL COUNTY,
WEST VIRGINIA
3/29/70, 5/1/70
D.
-<ID
I
5
floor
Brison, M. Houpt,
C. Hybner
D. Ibberson, P. Hauer
Drawn by P. Hauer
York Grotto
-
_
..
Seal e
-
­
in feet
r
®
C;:)
-.::J
..
U
Q
saltpetre scraper
found here
"
.
w1ndo/D
to room
__•
Q
50
-
\
]-0r::;,
'-c. -
NBS
25
o
..
entrance 'lfl
GRADE
maae-=crawl
7"
•
entrance #2
6
G-
entrance #1
-
G1
Arhegast Saltpetre Cave HIGHLAND COUNTY,
to
top
VIRGINIA
CRG GRADES 3
July 19,
- 5
1970 M. Houpt, C. Hybner, J. Jacobs,
P. Hauer Drawn by
P. Hauer 40
20
o
-
-
& relics
-
-
Scale in feet;
10'
I
-D
D-
E-
F-
drop-po1e-
9
f
-
E1
pick marks
-
F1
sifted
,
clay
,
I
" ,h'
"
.
d ead end
crawls
No. 2, Autumn 1970
tally marks
39
MINUTES (continued from page 27)
get the existing material from "Doc"
Brown and will report at the next meet­
ing.
·
.
(��
)
Pat Moretti announced that the D.C.
Grotto will be hosting the next Board
of Governors meeting at A. U. on May 2.
The meeting will begin at 1 pm. A
banquet and party will be held after­
wards.
The meeting was brought to a close
upon a vote for adjournment.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet B. Pickens
Secretary,Treasurer
Attachment to minutes:
MOVED:
That the Virginia Region of the NSS
encourage the National Society to move
with expediency in formulating its plans
to procure a national headquarters,
whereby many of the presently de­
centralized activities can be concen ...
trated at a central location, thereby
serving the membership of the Society
more efficiently.
Respectfully submitted,
John Holsinger
subscribe,
dammit!
"Nothing serious, fellas...
just a little chat with the
cave owner!"
No. 2, Autumn 1970
only $3
41
GOING PLACES WITH THE VIRGINIA
1970
with
for
the
the
Virginia Region began
spring
meeting
April 4
at
American University w i t h t h e A.U.
Grotto hosting. With Vig Vigour in the
chairman's
seat, very little business
was discussed, and the group gladly
adjourned to a small pub several blocks
from the campus. Ahappy cocktail hour
ensued, thoroughly enjoyed by all, with
such old favorites as Don Cournoyer,
John Holsinger,
Ed Bauer, and Mike
Houpt making life difficult for the wait­
ress. Dinner was held at Bill Biggers'
plantation with an old-fashioned south­
ern
style pig roast in his side yard.
Dave Harvey provided music with his
in-the-car tape, and everyone bundled
close to the fire trying to remember
that spring was coming.
At the Board of Governors meeting in
my
backwards!I'
Bob Amundson
and Jim Dawson at the spring
BOG presenting the
1971
convention slides
D.C. May 2, the VPI Grotto presented
a slide show in their bid for the 1971
NSS Convention. As it turned out, VPI
will host the convention and the Vir­
ginia Region will lend a helping hand.
Many of the region personnel turned
out
for
the
meeting
and enjoyed
a
spectacular after-party at George Cor­
bett's place.
May 1-3 saw many Region members at
Moncove Lake, West Virginia, under the
tutelage
of Roger
Baroody. Mapping
trips were the thing, and the project
was considered a success. Jim Hixson,
with the help of dedicated people, even
managed
to find three
caves
in the
vicinity of Windy Mouth. Sunday morn­
ing
a
few
brave
and
daring
souls
suit!
It is rumored that while
attacked the Lake. though one did sport
a
dry
THE SPELEO PHCTO SCENE
REGION"
stumbling around Saturday night looking
for the proper place to relieve them­
selves, two cavers chose a small pup
tent, mistaking it for the lake's re­
taining dam.
Actual
summer
regional
activities
terminated with the Speleo-Go-Go held
July 10-12 at Aqua Campground, High­
land County, Virginia.
This is not to
say that many Region members did not
attend the NSS convention and the Old
Tiners'
force.
Reunion;
We're
we did, and in full
the b e s t c a v e r s and
partiers in the East!!!
An
irate
northern caver r e c e n t 1 Y
pointed out to me that Highland County
is
a
dry
county,
and that we should
move the Go-Go so he can get booze.
Tsk,
tsk.
How
have we managed all
these years?
Well, I thought the Go Go was a blast.
We
didn't
have the
annual
Saturday
night downpour to ruin singing and frol­
icking; Jack Stellmack didn't get down
to celebrate his 29th birthday; and that
young fool didn't jump from yonder
tall tree. A whole batch of cavers did
ford the raging Bullpasture river for a
good look into Marshall's Cave. There
were some work trips, somewhere; it
beats
me
where.
I
heard
tell
Vig
Vigour lazed around all day drinking.
Jerry
Frederick and Ackie Loyd en­
joyed their annual inner tube float trip
from the campground to Williamsville,
ten miles away.
Regioning with the Virginia Region this
fall will be fascinating. Stick with us;
we're the action.
THE BIRD
.
:
\
Good caving areas seem to generate
special spots for caver gatherings and
camaraderie. Swago Creek has the
Sugar Shack, Germany Valley has the
Fieldhouse, and WV ACS has the Court.
But there is one other such meeting
place within the confines of the Virginia
Region. Although it is located in a
caving area usually held in disdain and
laughed at by all excepting a small band
of intrepid speleologists, and although it
doesn't have the wind of the Sugar
Shack, the stove of the Fieldhouse, or
the excellent food of the Court, the
Flamingo Grill and Steakhouse holds
a warm spot in the heart of every
southwestern Virginia caver.
Located 0 n the outskirts 0 f Gate
City, Virginia, the Flamingo Grill and
Steakhouse, or "The Bird", as it is
affectionately known by the inn-crowd,
provides a pink neon haven for hungry
and thirsty cavers in the Gate City­
Rye Cove karst area of southwestern
Virginia.
The Bird offers the usual caver deli­
cacies in bountiful quantities and at
speleological prices. The beer flows
foamy at the Bird. Who can forget a
44
rib-eye
TOM VIGOUR
steak, the fantastic spaghetti
or the Polish sausage and sauerkraut
washed down with the creamy, golden
Bird beer?
After a wet day in Rye
Cove, or an exhausting trip into Hairy
Hole, the Bird's repasts bring saliva
to every caver's tongue.
The Bird's popularity, notoriety and
infamy stem not from the gourmet
dishes and golden foam alone however,
but also from the exhaustive collection
of spelean graffiti found on the walls
and door of the men's room. Yes,
fellow spelean-graffiti nuts, the Bird
collection is a classic. Found around
the corner from the sink, and just ad­
adjacent to the trough and the bank of
prophylactic dispensers, the throJle
room ramblings offer every speleo­
grafitti freak a welcome diversion from
the otherwise distasteful job of USing a
beer-joint john. Although not as short­
lived as the scribblings in the basement
bathroom of Owen's Dining Hall in
Blacksburg, the Bird's bathroom bal­
lads do lead a brief life, and one must
be regular to catch the goodies (Ed.
attend regularly or function often?).
Tomes
on
Dirty
Old
Men
of
the
THE REGION RECORD Vol. 1
Virginia Region, bombastic attacks on
one
Easter
Pig,
and
raging
battles
concerning the relative merits of sexy
teeny-boppers make up the bulk of the
Bird's toilet texts. But once in a while
feature articles, such as "Baroody and
God", <:E. Pig and Baroody", a n d
" L. Hixson's Virginity" (Ed. watch
it Vig, our libel insurance has lapsed)
appear to whet the appetite. Some say
that a certain balding, Arabian Porsch
camel jockey
even contributed some
karsty cartoons to the collection at one
time.
In the
Robert L. Huffman
'l
• YOU
BET
YOUR
LIFE
and
Phil Lucas
early days of the Holsinger­
Mauck six-day lightning attacks on the
southwestern Virginia karst area, most
When
you
are
caving
and
take a
contributions to the Bird's walls were
chance, break that common sense safety
in pencil, but the washability of graph­
rule, or ignore those rigging standards,
ite soon dissuaded most pencil users.
Now, contributions to the file of Fla­
Your Life."
mingo
you
play
a
game
entitled, "You Bet
favorites are in more durable
Flair-tip pen and Rapidograph.
The stakes are high and your playing
companions are ruthless. Each of your
The most interesting phenomenon of
the collection is that although the karst
area
cavers
are
few
(and
most of
these enjoy the septic-spotlight regu­
larly),
many
when
to you from a stacked deck by one of
four player .
nobody knows who contributes
the water closet comics. Much debate
and
short cuts and rule-bendings entitles
you to one hand of Draw Poker-dealt
heated
arguments crop up
the subject of authors arises.
But argue or not, all karst area cavers
The first player's name-CRIPPLER.
H 's a cruel one and loves to deal, but
his
companion
is
e q u a l ly
as
bad.
His name is PAIN, alias HEARTACHE,
look forward to Bird trips. They anx­
alias SUFFERING. A less likely com­
iously anticipate a head-swelling, ego­
panion is one which all of us seem to
trust quite a bit:
his name-PURE
LUCK-sometimes called NEAR-MISS.
building, mind-blowing moment of cli­
max when they discover that someone
cared enough to mention them in the
urinal-uberalles-the Trail of the Lone­
He seldom deals and when he does, we
don't even realize it. The last of your
some Pine's answer to the New York
gambling companions is the most vic­
Port Authority basement men's room.
ious
of all.
only
deals to each player once.
DEADLINE
for 1971 NSS convention
Guidebook material
December I, 1970
His name-DEATH.
He
There is not a man in the world in
his right mind who would deliberately
sit down and play with these four char­
acters, but each time we take that short
cut, or break that "dumb rule", we deal
ourselves
in on
a hand of "You Bet
Your Life", and believe me, the odds
are against you. For as we said, the
deck is stacked and it's hard to win.
YOU BET YOUR LIFE IT IS!
No.
2, Autumn 1970
45
,,'-'
THE
REGION
.
,,
.......
RECORD
Box 3585 CRS
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Johnson City, Tenn. 37601
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