Jim Jacobs
Can you believe it? The Near Normal Grotto, stuck square in the middle of the “great corn desert” (thanks, Steve) is ten years old! Whooda thunkit? Updating the grotto history (which I had not done since 1995) really gave me a chance to reflect on all that has taken place over this span of years. This group is such an important part of my life, that I can’t imagine being without it. In this group, I’ve been privileged to be associated with some of the most interesting and multi-talented people I’ve ever known, a lot of folks who’ve earned my most profound respect. Thank you all for just being you. And for being NNG. Even those who’ve come, stayed for a while and gone again. There have been great times, wonderful times, and I hope, more to come.
An important address has been changed. Much of the correspondence to the NSS goes through the Internal Organizations representative, Evelyn Bradshaw. Her new address is 5713 Castlebridge Rd. Apt. 226, Fredericksburg VA 22407. Phone (540) 785-5361. Her email is unchanged at ebradshw@staffnet.com
The National Cave and Karst Research Institute invites you to view and use their new web site at http://www2.nature.nps.gov/nckri
Announcement of this site has been long delayed due to software and server problems related to assigning a shortened web address to the site (http://www.nckri.nps.gov), which will work eventually. For now, however, you may bookmark the above address.
At the October meeting, the following people were nominated from the floor for the NNG Board of Directors for the coming year:
President: Troy Simpson
Vice President: John Schirle
Secretary: Jim Jacobs
Treasurer: Dave Carson
Board member-at-large: Marc Tiritilli
The vote will take place at the November meeting. A ballot will be published in this issue for absentee voters. If you wish to mail your ballot, it must be received by the day of the meeting, and your name and signature must be on it. You may write in a candidate if you wish.
A huge vote of thanks is due outgoing president Julie Angel. Our first lady president did a fine job, even though she had to cope with some rather time-consuming ongoing personal issues at the same time. Not only did she do a fine job as president, she has also served the grotto well in other capacities, such as treasurer and vice president. To ensure that we continuously have new blood and ideas, the NNG long ago placed a limit of two consecutive one-year terms for presidents. Julie served us well for those two years, and she has declined to run for any office this time around. Time for a rest, eh? Thanks again!
We’d really like to make this a special meeting and a good time. If you haven’t come out to a meeting lately, please make this one. We miss you! And I think that a ten-year anniversary for a group like ours is a big thing. See you there!
TEN YEARS OF CAVING AND FRIENDSHIP
By Jim Jacobs
I must admit that when I got home from work that fateful day, I was a bit rushed. I had just enough time to throw down a sandwich, change clothes and get to wherever it was that I was rushing off to (probably to a bowling alley). Marty mentioned that we had a phone call from someone named John Walther, who had found our names in the NNS Members Manual. He wanted to know if we were interested in starting a grotto? I thought, "Nice idea, but there can't be enough people around HERE who are interested in caving to make it work." Marty and I were enthusiastic novices who hardly knew a cave from a hole in the ground. I so doubted that the idea had any merit, I didn't get around to answering John's call till a few days later. However, after my first dubious reaction, I realized that I did know one person who caved, Clay Johnson, and I had also heard of another, Dr. Ted Century. John and I made arrangements to meet for coffee in a few days; in the meantime, we would keep prospecting for members. The call I made to Clay Johnson was golden! Not only was he interested, he also gave me the names and numbers of the friends that he caved with; Kevin Rasmus, Walt Rudy, and Tim Mikesell. They were all interested, but only Kevin was able to make it to our planning meetings. Ted Century also indicated his willingness to help. At our first planning meeting, October 21, we decided to have the organizational meeting on November 18 at the Normal Public Library, and we split up the publicity duties. I volunteered to do a newsletter (little did I know...) and draft a Constitution and By-laws. We held one more meeting on November 11th to iron out those last-minute details.
Marty and I had seen the newspaper article on Don Coons' upcoming trip to China. Finding his phone number in the Members Manual, we decided to take a chance and give him a call. He thought that the idea of starting a new grotto in central Illinois was a great one! Not only that, but he would put on a slide show. Further, he had met Jeannie and Bob Lawrence, whom he thought would also be interested. This was getting better and better! Little did we know.......
Following is a brief history of the NNG, gleaned from the pages of the NNN.
The first issue's cover featured some original computer art(?) by yours truly. The events leading up to the forming of the grotto were recounted and the November 18th meeting that marked the founding of the NNG was described. The founding members were: John Walther, Jim Jacobs, Marty Jacobs, Ted Century, Don Coons, Clay Johnson, David Korn, Tom Korn, Greg Kwasny, Bob Lawrence, Jeannie Lawrence, Kevin Rasmus, and Debra Smith. Since we had to be out of the Library by 9:00, Marty and I hosted the after-meeting get-together. Don presented a slide show covering his trip to Chicobul Cave in Belize. The first grotto trip was planned. Kevin Rasmus would lead a trip to Wayne's Lost, in Indiana.
The cover of the second NNN (February, 1992) featured more computer art, (bats flying over a town), but the picture was borrowed from a clip-art program. The NNG's official designation by the NSS as grotto #363 was celebrated. New member T.J. Forman was welcomed. I wrote a report about our first trip to Illinois Caverns, and a return trip was planned for February 22. Three French exchange students, cavers all, visited the February 10th meeting. Jeannie Lawrence first advanced the idea of a grotto logo arm patch.
The April 1992 issue was also adorned with Jim's computer cave art. New members Tim Mikesell, Jim Rogers, Tim Sickbert, Saad El-Zanati and John Marquart were welcomed. Not only was the February trip to Illinois Caverns well attended, but a reporter and photographer from the Pantagraph went with us. We earned a page and a half story in the Sunday paper, complete with pictures. Kevin Rasmus reported on a March 14 trip to Doghill/Donahue. At the last meeting, Kevin and Walt Rudy gave a demonstration of their ascending gear.
Another computer art picture, this time a lady caver demonstrating the "frog" ascending system graced the cover of the May, 1992 issue. New members: Dale Walker, Larry Avery. Jeannie Lawrence and Marty Jacobs passed the rappelling class at ISU. Since all meetings since the first one had been held at Jim and Marty's house, Deb Smith volunteered to offer her house for alternate meetings. Don Coons reported that he had made initial inquiries for access to the Blackball Mine for a survey project. Jeannie attended the MVOR and wrote a trip report on Mystery Cave. Another trip to Illinois Caverns, this time with a reporter from the Peoria Journal Star. The Memorial day weekend trip to Cave River Valley, and another trip to Wayne's Lost were announced.
July, 1992 featured our first photographic cover, a Steve Smedley photo of Armon Krueger leaning on the "Take nothing but pictures...etc." sign outside of Illinois Caverns. Don Coons wrote an article detailing our progress to date at Blackball, along with a description of the mine and the techniques used to excavate it. Our first grotto equipment purchase was okayed, two B & B headlights for guests. Kevin gave a slide presentation on cave mapping techniques. The trip to Cave River Valley was described, which featured visits to Endless, Lamplighter (Sleazy, Greasy crawlway) and Flowstone caves. Jim also reported on the trip to Wayne's Lost. This was Ted Century's last meeting before he retired and moved to Idaho. New member, Tim Shaffer.
Fittingly, the cover of the November, 1992 issue was a birthday cake with one blazing candle. Kevin announced that he would lead a vertical trip to Freeman's Pit and Shaft Cave (Indiana). (Note: Only Kevin and I went. We never did find the pit. We got separated while looking for it, and I got lost in the woods for over an hour. We did have a great time doing Shaft, though.) New member, Bruce Anderson submitted a trip report on a week at Mammoth Cave National Park with a group of 20 teenage girls from their church group. Marty and I attended our first MVOR. When the computer line plots came back from our Blackball survey, Don and I discovered that my headlight bracket had been deflecting the compass whenever I was on instrument. We had to go back and re-shoot about 40 readings. The November meeting was our first in the community room of the First of America Bank. We just got too big for home meetings. Don Coons resumes his world travels, this time to China and Mexico.
The January 1993 NNN signaled the beginning of a new era. New member Brian Braye did the cover on his MAC, scanning in a picture he had taken of Bruce Anderson silhouetted in the entrance of Hamilton Cave, MO. The rest of the issue was done on Jim's old PC and Newsmaster program, but this was to be the last use of the old gear. Starting with the next issue, the entire NNN would be produced on the MAC. New members from November included Brian, Valerie Winston, Jason Forman, Ben Smith and David Carson. Brian has some ideas for a grotto logo, and agrees to head the committee to explore getting patches produced. We learn that the cat track that we had found in Blackball was identified by the Smithsonian as being that of a cougar! A number of members purchased copies of the plaster cast of the track. Brian Braye contributes his first trip report, of caves in Meramec State Park, MO. This issue also featured two Buckner's trip reports. The first was mine, detailing my first wild cave trip a few years ago. Val Winston wrote the second. Buckner's was also her first wild cave. Her article communicated beautifully the awe and wonder most of us felt on our first trip, the one that "hooked" us.
March 1993, the first issue produced entirely on the MAC. Brian Braye becomes Co-editor of the NNN. The cover was a photo of my brother, Larry, covered with mud after exiting Buckner's, the only time I've been there that the crawlway was wet. The NNN's first advertising appears. It's from Mad Dog's Cave Supply, and features a super buy on pre-moistened carbide. New members; Van Furrh, and Norm Rogers. The "frozen" trip to Wayne's Lost was described. Brian Braye's grotto logo design is voted the best. He, Bruce and Jim form a committee to check out production costs for patches or T-shirts. Norm Rogers reported on a previous trip he had taken to Wayne's, and Brian described our recent trip there, emphasizing three words; fatigue, fatigue, and fatigue. (I would have chosen br-r-r-r-r) Kevin began a series of articles on vertical caving. Alan Winston is finally shamed into going caving and writing a trip report. He liked it! A real milestone is reached when the NNG runs two trips on the same day, one having 15 participants, the other, 14.
May 1993. A scanned photo of Micki Voorhees in Wayne's Lost. The trip to Mystery Cave was finally planned. Jim reported on the MVOR, and how unsuccessful he and Marty were in trying to "run the gauntlet" at vendor's row. Bob gets me every time. Norm Rogers, who runs the weeklong NSS Field Camp at Mammoth Cave every summer, renewed his invitation to NNG'rs to take part. He also reported on a trip to Keller cave. New members; Dan Vorhees, Dean Hastings, Mary Denicus, Mike Goodwin.
The cover of the July 1993 issue had three photos of Berome Cave, MO. The Executive Committee approved a $50.00 repayment to John Marquart for the purchase of recording thermometers for the Blackball project. Donations from members made up the difference. To this date we had made $67.28 on the sale of grotto logo T-shirts. Jim wrote two trip reports, one to Teufelshohle, a German commercial cave, the other of the long-awaited trip to Mystery Cave. John Marquart and Jim announce a trip to Buddha Cave (IN) in July. Kevin presented part two of his Vertical series. Brian reported that he and Bruce Anderson had led their church's young men's group on a caving, canoeing, rappelling and camping trip to Missouri.
The September 1993 issue was dominated by an historic occasion, the rescue in Floyd Collins' Crystal Cave, Kentucky. This was certainly the BIG news of the year, and seldom, if ever has a cave rescue been so thoroughly documented, both in writing and by photographs. I have finally put my photo album in order. Combining my pictures with John's and Brian's, I have a complete photo record of the week in Kentucky, and of the rescue, from beginning to end. It will be on display at the upcoming meeting. The trip to Buddha was chronicled by John Marquart, complete with pictures. New member Sara Goeking reported on our trip to Monroe County, IL caves, including Lemonade Cave. New members; Sara, Eli Rodemaker, Chad Carter, Reid Siebert.
The cover of the November, 1993 issue featured two views of the large shaft, which connects the two levels of the Blackball Mine. Inside, Tim Shaffer reported on his participation in a weekend restoration camp at Mammoth Cave. Our grotto meetings were moved from Monday evenings to Fridays, to the great relief of our out-of-town contingent, which comprises the largest portion of our membership. John Marquart, who would become the NNN's Science Editor, published a treatise on the chemistry of carbide in the NNN, which would be reprinted in many other venues, as far away as England. It garnered much praise, and provoked a lot of discussion. There was an update on the Blackball Mine project, and Dave Mahon provided a log of the Mark Twain Grotto's activities for the year.
An excellent multi-flash photo of Illinois Caverns by Brian Braye adorned the January, 1994 issue. Elected officers were: Norm Rogers, president; John Marquart, vice-president; Brian Braye, secretary; Jim Jacobs, treasurer; Don Coons, member-at-large. An article about caving on the internet by John Marquart led off the issue. Kevin Rasmus provided part three of his series on vertical caving. Jim Jacobs reported on a trip to Illinois Caverns that he led for a group of Boy Scouts and dads. Bruce Anderson described a "dads and daughters" trip, with photos by Brian Braye.
The cover of the March issue was a close-up of the glowing face of Vladimir Polevoy in Camp's Gulf Cave, taken by Eli Rodemaker. New members Julie Angel and Dave Mahon were welcomed. Julie immediately felt the excruciating pain of having her arm twisted by the editor, and provided a fine report of our trip to Hunter's Cave. Whew! It's a good thing that nobody warns new members that this is part of the initiation ceremony! Nobody would join! Don Coons was part of a group, which traveled to Hawaii, and rappelled into an extinct volcano, which established a new record for a United States deep pit, nearly 900 feet. Norm Rogers described a trip to Roppel Cave, KY.
On the cover of the May issue was a white crawdad that Norm photographed in Roppel Cave. John Marquart gave a talk to the Peoria Sierra Club, which was well received. Oral reports were delivered at the meeting to Mushroom Cave, Fisher Cave, Running Bull Cave, Mystery Cave, Grapevine Cave and Tom Moore cave. John Marquart speculated on the possibility of caves on other planets. Dave Mahon provided information on the Telephone Information Briefing Service, which can be accessed before entering a flood-prone cave. Jim Jacobs described the problems involved putting together a basic first aid kit to carry into a cave. Norm Rogers examines his motives for caving in his article, "Why Cave?”
Mammoth Cave Park Historian, Bob Ward was shown on the July issue supervising cavers busily removing graffiti from the walls at Mammoth Cave. (Note: It was later deemed a waste of time to remove writing from the walls in the passage from the Historic Entrance to the Rotunda. Since tourists wander unsupervised through that area, blank spaces on the wall are filled in nearly as fast as you can clean them off). Dave Mahon wrote about the Mark Twain Grotto's project to survey caves and springs threatened by a planned expansion of highway 61 in northeast Missouri. Tim Shaffer described his survey trip to Linefork Cave, KY with friends from the Pine Mountain Survey. Jim Jacobs reported on a weekend, which included a trip through Keller Cave, IL, and vertical practice down at Cove Hollow.
The September cover showed Jim Jacobs negotiating the "Turtle Hurdles" in the B-Crawl in the historic area of Mammoth Cave. Brian Braye reported on the NSS Restoration Camp at Mammoth Cave, noting that the Snowball Room looked really great after last year's cleaning. John Marquart authored a report on the endangered Indiana Bat, which received many reprint requests from other grottos. The U.S.A long cave list was reprinted. It was noted that Foglepole/Lemonade/Keller is #38, Illinois Caverns #97. Julie Angel detailed her first trip to Wayne's Lost. Jim Jacobs reported on this year's NSS Field Camp and Mammoth Cave, and on his 9 1/2 hr. trip through historic areas of the cave. Tim Shaffer recounted his trip through Keller Cave.
A photo of Tim Shaffer "on rope" at Cove Hollow graced the November cover. New members Brian and Mark Valentine, Rich and Chris Bell, and Pat and Kathy O'Connell were welcomed to the NNG. The membership voted to allow a grotto president to serve two consecutive terms in office rather than being limited to one. John Marquart summarized our progress at Blackball Mine. Tim Shaffer talked about looking for caves in Perry County, and also reported on the fall MVOR. Mark Valentine described our vertical training trip to Cove Hollow. Norm Rogers told the story of how he and a group of cavers found Lucy Cox's lost dam in Great Onyx Cave in 1991. Julie Angel and Tonja Horn described the "rookie trip" to Illinois Caverns.
Pat O'Connell peered through the mist of Crystal Showcase Cave, IN, on the January, 1995 cover. He also appeared within the pages, with his report of our trip to Buddha Cave and Crystal Showcase. Norm Rogers checked in with "Great Onyx Cave pt. 2". Dave Mahon tells us how to repair split boot toes with Shoe Goo, if they have been down too many crawlways, and Jim Jacobs wonders, "Why Do I Cave?"
An ecstatic Lara Storm shows how she negotiates the Buckner's Cave crawlway for March 1995. The editor's column described how the February meeting had been enlivened by a homemade cave designed by Bruce Anderson, which ended with D.C. Young's notorious "portable" crawlway. (As in,"anything's portable if you're strong enough"). The column also included a description of the grotto trip to Buckner's Cave. New member, Tonja Fraser described the trip through Buckner's from a rookie caver's point of view. John Marquart described his meetings with Bat Conservation International, and Norm Rogers and Jim Jacobs debated the pros and cons of Beanie-Weenies in crawlways.
The May issue showed Tonja crouching by a waterfall deep in Smittle Cave. Rescue reports in Trapdoor and Salamander Caves, IN were related by Anmar Mirza and Bruce Bowman. Jim Jacobs described the marvelous weekend that many of us shared with the Mark Twain Grotto at Smittle Cave.
Julie Angel and Jim Jacobs tended to an "injured" Chris House on the July cover, as part of the Nation Cave Rescue Commission training weekend at Illinois Caverns. John Marquart reported on his participation as our representative to the newly formed Illinois Speleological Survey.
On the cover of the September issue were NNG'rs Carol Rogers, Julie Angel, and Beth Reinke at the bottom of a pit in Indian Cave, KY. Norm Rogers and Jim Jacobs related the events at the NNS Field Camp and Mammoth Cave, and Jim wrote about the great weekend we had in Missouri with the Mark Twain Grotto. Caving, camping and canoeing, and a good time was had by all.
This history was published in the November 1995 issue, which featured a photo of officials from the Illinois Department of Conservation, Unimin Mine Corp., and Bat Conservation International who were checking out an entrance to the BlackBall Mine. John Marquart contributed an article outlining efforts to put together a coalition of organizations to install bat gates at the mine in 1996. John also reported on the progress of the establishment of the Illinois Speleological Survey. John was our first ISS representative. There were trip reports to Greene, Smittle, Wayne’s Lost and Click’s Cave.
The bright orange cover of the January, 1996 issue found Larry Matiz comin’ round the corner of a Roppel Cave crawlway. We installed our new officers. John Marquart became president, Beth Reinke, vice-president, Jim Jacobs, secretary, and Julie Angel, treasurer. Ex-president Norm Rogers became Board member at-large. John Marquart contributed an article on the population trends of the Indiana Bat. Part one of this series had been published in 1994. Also included were some articles from the internet, a growing trend.
The cover of the March 1996 NNN continued the trend of colorful covers. This one was chartreuse! Brian Braye was comin’ at ya from a crawl in Indian Cave, KY. Our website hit the internet, designed by Brian Valentine. We reprinted a letter from Bat Conservation International thanking us for our ongoing efforts at the BlackBall Mine. The plans for the gating project continue, made possible by John Marquart’s coalition building between various state and national organizations.
The May 1996 cover can only be described as HOT pink! A great picture of a smiling first-time caver (Kelly Perkins) graced this cover. Around this time, we retired the old cigar box, and actually established a grotto bank account. [sigh!] Really going big time, eh?
The July cover can best be described as “cool blue”. The smiling caver popping out of a hole was Lara Storm. The BlackBall gating project was a raging success! A letter of thanks and congratulations from Bill Glass of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources was reprinted. Norm Rogers and Tonja Frazer contributed related articles, and we published a photo spread of pictures taken by John Marquart of the work as it progressed. Lara Storm and John also wrote articles about the exploration of a very small cave nearby that she dubbed “Bird’s Eye Cave”. Also included in this issue was a portion of Frank Reid’s internet discussion of LED caving lights. This reminded me of how friendly and knowledgeable Frank was. Unfortunately, he passed away of a heart attack not very long after this. Fittingly, he was just finishing his final caving trip, near the entrance to the cave. He was an instructor for cave rescue workshops, and gladly gave of his time and expertise. Many of our grotto members had been fortunate enough to know him. Cave on, Frank!
In September, we reran the cover from our fifth issue (July 1992) in honor of “The Spirit of Illinois Caverns”, Armin Krueger, who passed away in August. Everybody loved Armin. He had more friends than he would ever know. We were fortunate to be allowed to print Larry Cohen’s tribute to Armin, which was also scheduled to be printed in the October NSS NEWS. For our efforts in the BlackBall Mine conservation project, the Near Normal Grotto received “The Outstanding Volunteer Award for 1996” from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. A plaque commemorating this honor was presented to John Marquart at the Illinois State Fair. John also announced that the North American Bat Research Symposium would be held in Bloomington, IL in October. The Near Normal Grotto would be mentioned many times at this Symposium, since our project was featured. Dan Taylor’s presentation was entitled, “The North American Bats and Mines Project: New Industry Partnerships Create Habitat for Mine-Roosting Bats.” This issue also included reports on trips to Roppel, Fogelpole, and Wayne’s Lost Caves, as well as an article on the Mammoth Cave Field Camp.
The November issue was filled with reports and photos of the Bat Symposium, which featured a trip to BlackBall Mine afterwards to see our handiwork! The project was given the “seal of approval” from “Mr. Bat” himself, Merlin Tuttle, who appears on the cover. Don Coons made another connection in Kentucky, this time connecting Jackpot cave to Whigpistle. This was ironic, because even though this was his first visit to Jackpot, he had been one of the principle explorers of Whigpistle.
The January 1997meeting featured a presentation by Dr. Tom Griffiths of Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL. He is a well-known expert on bats, and organized the Symposium. The NNN published a line map of BlackBall along with other statistics. Julie Angel reported on a water-sampling trip that she had taken with state geologist Sam Panno. The cover was an entrance shot of Greene Cave, MO.
The cover of the March 1997 issue was again chartreuse, and featured Brian Braye’s daughter, Brandy. Julie Angel contributed another article on water sampling, this time to Illinois Caverns.
The May cover showed the smiles of a group of youthful first-time cavers who had just explored Illinois Caverns. Brett Bennett joins the NNG. Everybody else quits in protest! (Just kidding, Brett). He started out right, by contributing an article for the NEWS on his first wild cave trip, to Buckner’s. Talk about warming an old editor’s heart! Marty Jacobs reported on the Mammoth Cave clean-up weekend. Dave Mahon, president of the Mark Twain Grotto announced that Burton Cave was to be gated, and that NNG members were invited to participate. Julie Angel discovers that giving presentations about caves to groups is very rewarding, especially when the group is elementary school kids.
July brought a grotto field trip to Brookfield Zoo. The cover showed a zoo employee cuddling a bat while the NNG looked on. The issue was dominated by various internet articles on a rescue at McBride’s Cave.
The September cover showed Brett Bennett enjoying the “pleasures” of the Wayne’s Lost crawlway. (I think the smile was faked.) John Marquart was invited to give a presentation to the Midwest Bat Conservation and Management Workshop. His article in this issue is a “must read.” Norm Rogers reported on the Mammoth Cave Restoration Field Camp. Almost unnoticed among all of these long articles, was a very small article, which gave a new member’s account of his first Near Normal Grotto meeting in July. He had moved to our area from “down south”, and immediately felt right at home with the NNG. Welcome aboard, Steve Taylor!
The marker placed at Illinois Caverns honoring Armin Krueger was the November cover picture. Inside, there were articles about two rappelling deaths, and trips to Burton Cave and Mystery Cave by Julie Angel and Angi Bennett respectively. Steve Taylor (a newsletter editor’s dream) chipped in with a tall tale about an MVOR without rain. Yeah, yeah! And the check’s in the mail, right!
Outgoing president, John Marquart posed with his cave cake for the cover of the January, 1998 issue. It was a token of thanks from the grotto for a job well done during his two-year term. Brian Braye was elected our new president, with Julie Angel as vice-president. Tonja Fraser was elected secretary, but Jim Jacobs resumed those duties when she moved. Beth Reinke became treasurer. Rich Bell included information about the upcoming vertical training course, which he had volunteered to coordinate.
Earl Neller provided a photo of Fittons Cave, Arkansas for the March, 1998 issue. Trip reports were provided by Donna Simms, Earl Neller and Nathan Horton (Illinois Caverns), and Jim and Marty Jacobs (Mammoth Cave weekend). Julie Angel reported on a presentation that she gave to an elementary school.
The May issue featured another cover photo by Earl Neller. This time, a great passage shot of Carrol Cave, MO. The vertical training will take place June 6 at Pere Marquette State Park, just north of Alton. Brett Bennett contributed four solo articles, and collaborated on another with his wife, Angi. Steve Taylor also favored us with two articles. Troy R. Simpson joins the grotto. Little did we know…
The cover of the July issue was an entrance photo by Steve Taylor. Inside, were four articles by Steve, two by Troy Simpson and only one by Brett Bennett. (I think he had to work or something.) Tim Sickbert and Julie Angel also contributed. Tim did an NCRC rescue weekend, and Julie visited Fogelpole. The vertical training went very well.
John Vargo uses the “stump-puller” he invented to get bridge pilings out of the Echo River mud on the September cover. The issue inside is dominated by the information related to the listing of the Illinois Cave Amphipod as an endangered species.
The November cover is a photo of formations in Great Onyx Cave. Inside were articles by Steve Taylor, Troy Simpson, and further information on the Illinois Cave Amphipod.
Four Cavers waist-deep in Illinois Caverns river passage highlight the January, 1999 cover. The highlight of the inner pages is the report of the historic agreement reached by the NSS and the National Park Service to continue the Mammoth Cave Restoration project. This agreement formalized the philosophy of the project and the work to be done. It will be co-directed by Karen Dennis and the NNG’s Norm Rogers. Norm has led the project for the last eight years. The agreement also will result in funding for the project. Lara Storm wrote about caving in Hawaii. Steve Taylor and Troy Simpson continued their contributions.
Marc Tiritilli (wearing his ‘personalized’ hard hat) admires some formations in Cedar Ridge Crystal Cave on the March cover. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced new hours and regulations for Illinois Caverns. John Vargo joins the NNG.
Suzanna Walaszek is on rope on our May issue. The Near Normal Grotto annual report to the ISS (by John Marquart) is published. Jim Jacobs reported on our weekend outing in Missouri with folks from the Iowa Grotto, the Mark Twain Grotto, and the Meramec Valley Grotto. Suzanna Walaszek wrote about the High Guads Restoration Project.
In the July 1999 issue, it was noted that we were on our way to being incorporated. Marc Tiritilli demonstrated some LED caving lights that he had put together. Steve Taylor and Brett Bennett would enter into this new area in a big way. Articles by Marc and Steve and published in the September 2000 issue would later be selected for inclusion in the SpeleoDigest. Steve also wrote about his continuing love/hate relationship with the MVOR. Personally, I think that he goes just to have something to complain about. ;-)
The big news reported in September 1999 was our incorporation. The rewritten by-laws were published for comment/revision. Thanks to Julie Angel and Beth Reinke who spearheaded this project. Dennis Campbell inquired about the certificates of completion from last year’s vertical training course. (The certificates were, believe it or not, distributed at the August 2001 meeting! Three years after the event!)
The November issue presented the proposed slate of officers who would be later be voted in. Julie Angel became our first lady president, Steve Taylor agreed to run for vice-president. Dave Carson became treasurer, and John Marquart the board member-at-large. Troy Simpson’s photo of young cavers making their way through a narrow canyon passage graced the cover. Earl Neller contributed four articles, and Troy Simpson one, bailing out a panicky editor.
The new century opened with a great cover shot of Beth Reinke exiting a crawlway. Brian Roebuck launches a series of humorous articles “Dr. Beaner”, who is the caver’s answer to “Dear Abby”. He continues the spirit of “Dr. Biner”, which had been published on the internet by the originator, Mark Richardson. Mark had away from the TAG area, and no longer wrote caving parody. A series of entertaining photos of the grotto members trying out the squeeze box at the meeting really told a tale. Some of us bowed out after the first time through, but a few toughies fought it out to the lowest setting. Troy Simpson put us all to shame, not only getting through when no one else could, but also going through the same height with his hands tied together in front of him. He also successfully put himself through a coat hanger.
The March 2000 cover is my all-time favorite. The “King of Cute” himself, Matthew Carlson, in his Dad’s helmet and clutching a mini-mag flashlight is ready to go caving. He even contributed (with a little help from Dad) an article about his first caving trip. Steve Taylor contributed articles on caves that he had recently explored including the high-quality maps that he had created. A trip to Wayne’s Lost, organized by Lara Storm was announced. The issue concluded with a unique article on their New Year’s caving trip to the Guadelupe Mountains co-authored by Marc Tiritilli and Steve Taylor.
Dave Carson (Matthew’s Dad) – before and after Wayne’s Lost Cave was the tale told by the two photos on the cover of the May issue. Your editor contributes an article describing his uncomfortable discovery that it’s time that he limits himself to caves a bit less challenging than Wayne’s Lost. Grotto member Larry Bird became BlackBall Mine Site Interpreter, and Project Director for the LaSalle County Historical Society. Lara Storm prepares to leave us to head out east for Graduate School. [sigh!] Articles from this issue tabbed for inclusion in the SpeleoDigest included Troy Simpson’s gear review of the Camelback Hydration system and Steve Taylor’s articles and maps of small caves.
Dennis Campbell “drops into the depths” on the July cover. Another NNG member is named a Fellow of the NSS. The honor this time was bestowed on Norm Rogers, primarily for his work over the years as the coordinator of the Mammoth Cave Restoration Field Camp project. Of course, the first NNG’rs to receive this honor was Don Coons. Our first grotto picnic/meeting will take place on the 28th of this month. John Schirle and Brett Bennett agreed to team up to replace John Marquart, who is stepping down as our Illinois Speleological Survey representative. John published his final report on grotto activities that he had just submitted to the ISS. Lara Storm’s article covered a lot of caving time, including how she got started as a 14-yr old by writing a letter to the NNG (and other grottos) asking for information on caving. I feel honored that she kept my letter that I sent back to her, and she asked that I publish it as part of her article. Shortly after, she and her father, Leonard Storm attended a meeting and became valued members of the grotto. Lara progressed from a 14-yr old beginner to a trip organizer and underground leader. Troy Simpson described how he is developing a PowerPoint presentation as an introduction to caving.
In September, the article jointly authored by Marc Tiritilli and Steve Taylor on LED Headlamps appeared. This article, along with a humorous article by Troy Simpson entitled, “My Bid for the NSS 2003 Convention”, will appear in the SpeleoDigest. Troy appears on the cover.
The cover of the November issue is a hilarious picture of two cavers who are facing each other with a two-by-four balanced on their helmeted heads. It’s entitled “Board Meeting”. Officers were nominated for the next term. Current officers re-nominated were Julie Angel (president), Jim Jacobs (secretary), and Dave Carson, (treasurer). John Marquart declined to stand for re-election because the schedule of his speaking tour for the American Chemical Society was quite full, and he was going to be on the road a lot. Steve Taylor (although he did a fine job as vice-president) decided that he was allergic to speleo-politics, even the benign, non-violent form practiced in the NNG. John Schirle was nominated in his stead. There were two good articles about work at Mammoth Cave by Norm Rogers and Larry Reece. Troy Simpson, who is a teacher, wrote an article about giving presentations on caving to kids, complete with a list of ten very helpful hints for a successful presentation.
The January 2001 issue trumpeted the news of the first big change in our meeting status since we moved our meeting from individual homes to the bank. That was the move from the fourth Friday of each month to the second Friday. This meant that we would no long have to schedule meetings around Memorial Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. This effectively changed us from eleven meetings per year to twelve, since we always moved the November meeting into early December, and then didn’t meet again until January. Troy Simpson prepared and published in this issue an index to the NNN for the year 2000, sorted by author, subject and by issue. He has volunteered to produce a comprehensive index if he can get access to all of the back issues. (Be careful what you wish for…)
The cover photo for March was a nice multi-flash shot of a large Northern New Mexico lava tube borehole by Steve Taylor and Barb Capocy. Troy passed out copies of the NNN brochure that he created. He did a great job, and we’ll get it reproduced. A copy was included in the issue. Larry Bird reported that trespassers to the BlackBall Mine were getting arrested and fined. Ralph Sawyer wrote an article about a group of Scouts that he took to Sullivan Cave. Really, over the year, we have done a lot of work in educating the public about cave conservation. NNG members have done many presentations for youth groups, from schools to scouts to church groups, and for adult groups as well.
The May issue was dominated by the project that has become our main focus, the Mammoth Cave Restoration Project. The cover photo was a group shot of the gang at the August weeklong camp. Beyond that, there are two or three weekend camps, and those folks get plenty of work done, as well. This issue carried articles about both the week and the weekend camps. Jim Jacobs’ article about the weekend camp has been tabbed for reprinting in the SpeleoDigest. Troy did a gear report on his LED headlamp, which was built by Brett Bennett. Don Coons also contributed an article about discoveries a group he was part of made in the Great Crack System of the southwest flank of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii.
Steve Taylor provided another cover photo in July with an entrance shot of Sheep Cave, MO. The big new of the month is that we now have access as a group to the Illinois State University rappelling tower. We are allowed to reserve it for group vertical practice, instead of being forced to travel to southern Illinois. This issue was filled with Steve’s great photos of our first practice session, with accompanying story by Jim Jacobs. Steve also contributed three articles to the issue.
A Steve Taylor shot of Cindy Lee peeking out of a wall pocket at Crooked Creek Ice Cave adorned the September, 2001 cover. We had our second vertical practice at ISU. We made plans to celebrate our TENTH anniversary. Can you believe the NNG is ten years old? Troy is spearheading many of the plans to make the anniversary NNN issue a special one. It will feature caving biographies of many members, and an updated history of the grotto. (Which you are now reading). In August, we had our second grotto picnic. This time, we did not combine it with a grotto meeting. We just had fun! Fine trip report articles were submitted by Troy (River Cave) and by Ralph Sawyer (Sullivan Cave), as well as a tongue-in-cheek report on “Quimby Cave” by Troy. In honor of the Indiana Karst Conservancy’s purchase of Buddha Cave, we reprinted an article by John Marquart of a trip there, back in 1994.
You hold the November issue in your hand. We're now ten years old, going on eleven, and I find it hard to remember when there wasn't a Near Normal Grotto. There've been so many good times, that the previous pages just scratch the surface. We've made a lot of good friends, and seen some amazing sights. Here's to more of the same. (clink!)
NSS CONVENTION 2001 – TRIP LOG
Steve Taylor
18 July 2001(Wednesday)-Barb Capocy and I left Champaign/Urbana, Illinois, driving our trucks east and south towards Kentucky and NSS Convention 2001. We stayed that night south of Lexington, Kentucky.
19 July (Thursday)-Back on the road at crack of 10:00 am, we soon got to the NSS campground. There, we quickly setup our camp-getting fly up just as it started raining. Later, after the rain, one of the convention staff, Wayne Barton, and another guy took us on a walking tour of three cave entrances: Lloyd Mullins Cave, Crooked Creek Ice Cave, Hard Baker Cave. All of these were within walking distance of our campsite. We were also joined by two other guys named Mike, who seemed to a have a knack for enjoying life with chemical assistance.
Anyway, at Crooked Creek Ice Cave, the five of us went into the cave with a total of one pen light, three LED keychain lights, and no helmets or other caving gear. Wayne made a point of asking us not to let other people know about this. A short distance into the cave, we came to the top of a ladder leading down to a lower level. One guy (a Mike), lacking any light whatsoever, climbed down the ladder (perhaps 15-20 feet), soon to be enjoying life in a manner to which he had become accustomed. Wayne assured use that the odor was only the smell of burning cave crickets, but it reminded me of my high school pharmacological studies....
All along the hike, Wayne and the guy who's name we didn't quite catch, were arguing over the actual names of the caves, and placing bets with various quantities of beer. A really fun hike.
Later we did some kayaking at camp just before it started getting dark.
20 July (Friday)-Went to town to shop for food, came back, Moved our camp over to the quit camp area (being a little gun shy after the MVOR experience previously reported on). Walked about, helped unload the convention hot-tub and sauna, then went to town for dinner
21 July (Saturday)- The campground is really starting to fill up with cavers now, and opportunities for socializing abound. Went kayaking, enjoyed hot showers. I worked on my talk, naps for everyone. Later in the afternoon, Barb and I explored much of Great Saltpeter Cave – and easy cave but esthetically appealing and fun. That night, our friend Cindy Lee, a caver formerly of Carbondale, Illinois, now living in Austin, Texas, showed up.
22 July (Sunday) - Barb and I kayaked again in Crooked Creek, paddling the entire length of the campground - including a trip past the hot tub, where modesty was not the word of the day. Later, Cindy, Barb and I went to Crooked Creek Ice Cave, where we took lots of photos in the cave and generally avoided the heat. In the evening, Cindy visited Saltpeter Cave and found entertainment at the hot tub.
23 July (Monday) - Convention is now in full swing. We wandered around vendors at the school, watched vertical contests, and generally enjoyed a huge dose of cave mania. Cindy napped. Later in the afternoon, Cindy, Barb and I returned to camp and did a photography trip into nearby Lloyd Mullins Cave. In the evening, we went to the ‘Howdy Party’ (arriving in a large load of happy cavers towed by a tractor), the party moved into Great Saltpeter Cave, where the beer was flowing and the cavers were accumulating. That night, three more showed up from Carbondale Illinois - Ginny Adams, Kelly Smith, Linda Roman. They, of course, needed assistance getting started at the party in Great Saltpeter Cave, so we went back over to the Howdy Party with the newbies.
24 July (Tuesday) - Got up late, ate, in to sessions in time for helping Ginny set up for biology session and luncheon. I spent afternoon in biology session (w/ Cindy, Ginny), whilst Barb went to moldy antique shops. Kelly and Linda returned to Illinois right after the Biology Session (where they gave talks). Ginny and Cindy went hunting for fish in some surface streams.
Barb went to dinner with various Indiana Cavers, while I attended a JCKS Board meeting/dinner. Later that evening at the campground, there was a “60th Anniversary of the NSS Party” - free cake!
25 July (Wednesday) - In the morning, Ginny and Cindy went to Saltpeter Cave, and hung out at camp, then came into town did some shopping at speleovendors, then Ginny left for Carbondale. Barb and I went into town and saw International Session talks (Saudi Arabian caving was cool!). Then Cindy, Barb and I went for a drive, not finding what we were looking for - a kayak run. Wednesday night was “Meet the NSScon Staff Pizza Party” with 100 pizzas - we all pigged out. Barb and I went to sleep early in anticipation of a long road trip the next day to go find some natural bridges. Cindy and her friends Iris Huetler, Chuck Lee (no relation to Cindy), Chuck Chavdarian and James Wilson (all of Diablo Grotto, California) went to the “Wednesday Night Party” in Great Salt Peter Cave. Seems like a party every night!
That evening, things got interesting. Much of the following is transcribed from Cindy’s view of things, as she later dictated them to me (over a Denny’s Grand Slam breakfast):
Wednesday night, at the party in Great Saltpeter Cave, Cindy was hanging out with her friend Iris and companions (the two Chucks and James). While sitting down, talking to the others, Cindy felt right side of her body start to go numb, and she started feeling disoriented. She lost all strength in her right leg. She motioned for Iris to come close and said “Something is really wrong, get me out of here.” Iris told Chuck Lee go get medical help - he bolted immediately. Staff arrived first - some band member with a guitar started checking vital signs. No one - staff or medical ever identified themselves to Cindy, which she found very disconcerting. Many people were sticking their faces in her face, she just kept saying "get me out of here, get me out of here." Someone came over (just out of the crowd) and said, “I'm a paramedic, would you like me to assist?” A golf cart came, a medical bag came, though they forgot oxygen, but brought a blood pressure cuff. Cindy kept saying "get me out of here" and "I can't move my leg!"
They picked her up out of her chair, leg dragging behind, and put her in the golf kart (don’t forget, we’re still IN the cave). Iris got in cart with her- and they zoomed off to the medical tent, where oxygen was provided. Iris went off to get Cindy’s stuff (wallet and such). The Medics decided not to call an ambulance, and took a JSS van (JSS=Junior Speleological Society – a regular thing at NSS Convention, for younger cavers with some parental supervision). They drove the van very fast on the long winding road to town, discovering en route that the gas gauge was on empty because someone had forgotten to refill the rental van. But they made the trip without running out completely.
Meanwhile, Iris and the others had, with some difficulty, awakened Barb and I, and were explaining what was up - it took us a while to wake up, but soon we were getting going and we were only a few minutes behind the van, which had already begun the shuttle of Cindy up to the hospital in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky. In the van were Cindy, a security guy, a paramedic (Ethan Franz?), and Iris. The driver of van did not know where hospital was, but the paramedic, who was also caring for Cindy, was giving directions. They arrived at hospital, passing one car and blowing a stop sign along the way.
The emergency room doctor - a hot looking blond- showed up as soon as they brought Cindy. The doctor asked Cindy a few questions (still not identifying herself as the doctor, but she was cute and wearing scrubs so it was OK). They took Cindy back into the hospital to do various tests (CT scan, EKG, bloodwork [including electrolyte levels]). They gave her an aspirin. Barb and I arrived a short time later at the emergency room - we had no trouble finding it because we had taken note the location earlier in the week as we drove through town. When we got there, we were met by Iris - she gave us a brief update on Cindy's status. We waited around in the waiting room. Eventually, the two Chucks and James showed up. I got to go back and visit Cindy, who seemed to be doing well.
With occasional exception of Iris, who kept going back to keep Cindy company, and to monitor what the hospital was doing, we all sat around waited for test results - for about two hours. We had time to talk about caves in our respective home areas, and to speculate on what the causes, and consequences of everything would be. Finally, Iris came out and said we were all going home.
The doctor said that Cindy had had a minor stroke (a TIA), but was doing very well, and that there was no reason to keep her overnight in the hospital. As a precaution, Cindy stayed in town with the two Chucks and Iris at a motel. James road back to the campground with Barb and I. When the three of us got back to camp at 2am, we stopped at the medical tent (which was vacant) and left a note detailing the happenings. Then to bed.
26 July (Thursday) - The next morning, the California cavers drove Cindy back to camp, and then Barb and I set Cindy up in a lawn chair in the wooden pavilion to rest for the day - within sight of the medical tent. We were all happy to find Cindy doing very well, walking around and talking like she always has.
Barb and I then went on a long drive to try to see some natural bridges, but you’d have thought our intent was to drive through every rain storm in Kentucky, the more intense the better. Red River Gorge was fairly unimpressive - not worth two hours (one way) of driving in the rain and to view things in the rain. It's probably a lot more impressive when you can see all the natural bridges, etc. We did see some wild turkeys. Drove back to the NSS Convention site in the pouring rain. In the evening, we went back to town, to see the very popular “Photo Salon” with 1200 of our closest caving buddies.
Later, back in the campground, heavy rain made some of the roads really bad, but did not flood the campsites. Some of us were up half the night listening to the sound of various vehicles getting stuck in the mud next to our tent.
27 July (Friday) – Barb and I were up early, breakfast at "Jean's Resaraunt" - western omelet wasn't so good and ‘over easy’ was closer to raw. But we were early enough to catch some morning sessions, then some shopping at vendors. After lunch with Cindy, we went back to camp, and packed up nearly all our stuff in preparation for leaving the NSS Convention in the morning. We again drove into town, but added variety by having to change routes due to a stream flooding over one road. There we got in the long line for the NSS Banquet. When we got to the food, it was very good. The banquet hall (a high school gymnasium) was full of balloons, and various balloon fun ensued. Then there were various awards for all sorts of things. Back to camp in a long train of vehicles in the night.
28 July (Saturday) - Up early to break camp. We discovered that some kind of bugs had chewed holes through the bottom of Barb's very expensive tent some time during the week. We drove into town with Cindy Lee for a "free" pancake breakfast (including 2nds, coffee, and OJ) hosted by the NSS Convention. Cindy left, to caravan with Austin folks on the long drive back to Texas.
Barb and I drove northwest towards Mammoth Cave. En route we stopped by Indian Cave to look at the (gated) entrance and photographed a Black Widow spider living nearby.
At Mammoth Cave, all tours, of course, were sold out because it was a summer weekend. The parking lot was packed with the usual assortment of tourists. We walked down to the cave's Historic Entrance and looked around before heading onwards. Our next stop was Sand Cave (where Floyd Collins died). We barely made it back to the trucks before yet another deluge came out of the sky. We drove on from there, crossing into Indiana south of Corydon, then continued up towards Bloomington, stopping along the way for pictures at Orangeville Rise (of the Lost River, owned by the Indiana Karst Conservancy). Then we drove on into Bloomington, where we spent the night with Erik Liebhaber, an Indiana caver, formerly from Chicagoland. He was off caving when we arrived, so we showered (first showers in a couple of days!). The rain came that evening yet again.
29 July (Sunday) – Home again after another fine NSS Convention.
September 14, 2001
Present: Julie Angel (president), Brian Braye, Phil VanDeBur and daughter Jennie, Ralph Simpson, Troy Simpson and Amy, Jim Jacobs (secretary), Dave Carson (tresurer), Steve Taylor
OFFICER’S REPORTS
Minutes of the previous meeting were read by Troy S. Approved.
The treasurer’s report was accepted. We have $295.43
OLD BUSINESS:
Troy talked about the biographies for the November NNN. We decided to bring cake and drinks.
The folks at the Mammoth Cave Field Camp removed 178 feet of bridge! Again, they had enough people to cover the entire tower so that they could just hand everything up. This was an all-time record, and was made possible by John Vargo’s “stump-puller”.
Steve Taylor reported on the second vertical practice, and said it was well done.
We discussed the grotto picnic. Fourteen people attended. We had a good time discovering Quimby Cave. (Actually a manhole cover for sewer overflow).
NEW BUSINESS:
“Project Underground”, which is a NSS project to get educational materials in the hands of people who are doing presentations on caving for schools, youth groups, etc. Julie and Brett Bennett signed up. Troy may sub for Julie, since she can’t go. They give you a really large kit of educational materials and a $50 stipend for attending.
Dave Carson proposed the grotto make a donation to the Red Cross in light of the tragedy in New York and Washington. We approved $25 from the treasury, and members present gave an additional $35 for a total of $60.
Jim Jacobs moved that the grotto donate $25 to the Indiana Karst Conservancy toward their purchase of Buddha Cave.
TRIP REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Troy and John Schirle went to Ava Cave. The Little Egypt Grotto has begun a cleanup there. There is lots of graffiti, sting and other trash. Steve Taylor attended the NSS conventon (see article, this issue). Steve also went down to Texas and scoped out some locations for his project on fire ants around cave entrances. Ralph Sawyer and his Boy Scout Troop will be going to Sullivan Cave in November. He discussed “Armstrong’s Folly”, a digging project in Sullivan. Armstrong tunneled through 150ft. of clay all by himself trying to find more cave. He finally gave up. Adjourned. Steve Taylor showed some really great slides. Pizza at Tobins.
Respectfully submitted,
Jim Jacobs, secretary
October 12, 2001
Called to order at 7:24 by president Julie Angel. Present, Jim Jacobs (secretary), Dave Carson (tresurer), Angie Carson, (with Matthew and Justin), Brian Braye, Troy Simpson, Jeff and Debbie Gosnell, Bill Morrow.
OFFICERS REPORTS:
Minutes of the September meeting were approved as read.
The treasurer’s report was approved as read. We have $249.00
OLD BUSINESS:
Planning for the 10-yr-anniversary meeting. Troy has received twelve bios for the newsletter so far. Please get them in soon. Julie proposed that we have a short meeting and use the rest of the time for socializing, presentations and fun. We have two possible programs available. Bring a favorite piece of caving gear.
It looks like no one will be able to attend the “Project Underground” workshop this time. Schedules are too jammed.
The Stemler Cave Cleanup is October 27.
We are still talking about a Sullivan Cave trip. Troy will see if he can get the information.
NEW BUSINESS:
We discussed the article in the NSS News about the industrial park which has been proposed to be located on six miles from Mammoth Cave. Art Palmer and others are prepared to fight.
November 3rd is the Mammoth Cave weekend camp.
Nomination of officers for the next year: The following people were nominated…
President: Troy Simpson
Vice President: John Schirle
Secretary: Jim Jacobs
Treasurer: Dave Carson
Board member-at-large: Marc Tiritilli