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The REGION RECORD

o Monongahela

o WVACS, Inc.

o Triangle Universities

Wingate

THE FIFTEEN HEMBER ORGANIZATIONS OF THE VIRGINIA R1i.:GION

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1970 THE REGION RECORD

1. TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 .. THE CHAIR SPEAKS Tom Vigour

,l. EDITOR'S COLUMN R. E. Whittemore

6. THE LONG CAVES OF VIRGINIA John R • • Holsinger

10 .. VIRGINIA REGION ANNUAL FALL MEETING Janet Pickens

12. GATING PROJECT Phil Lucas

14. CAVE OWNER LIABILITY R. E. Whittemore

15. SPRING B.O.G. MEETING

16. THE GALLOWS phil Lucas

18. CARTOON Lucas?

19. GROTTO NEWS I'l»1S:

A)nerican Universi ty Grotto Janet Pickens

Holston Valley Grotto It. E. Whittemore

VPI Grotto Mike Frieders

"THE REGION RECORD" is the official quarterly publication of the Virginia Region of the National Speleological Society. SUbscription rates are $3.00 per year. SUbscription money and exchange publications should be sent to the following address:

THE REGION RECORD Box 3585 C.R.S. Johnson City, Tennessee 37601

Articles for the next issue should also be sent to the above address. The editors of this publication are:

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R. E. Whittemore Kim Smith Tom WilliaJns

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The Chair Speaks ...

Let me start out by saying lim snowed to be the first Chairman to Hrite the first Chairmanls coltnnn for the. first Region Record. Thatls a mess of firsts, isnlt it? I think we all owe Whitt, Kim, and Tom one tremendous vote of confidence for pushing this thing through. If you have a bent for "Triting, for goodness sakes, write something!

lid like to reiterate my plea for all non-grotto members of the Region to send me their name and NSS number so they can be represented at the Congress of Grottos meeting during the convention this summer. This is your chance to have a little say in what goes on in the Society, so keep those cards and letters coming in to me at:

Box 702 Hazard, Kentucky 41701

before July 10, 1970.

The Spring Region project is tentavely set for Memorial Day week­end (Hay 29-30). Roger Baroody, director of the west Virginia Cave SUrvey, plans to have some good caving lined up, aJrl Vice-chairman Lucas and-I· hope to have some cheap steaks and -beans lined up for Saturday nieht (bring your own washer-downers, be they coke, chocolate milk, water, etc.) 0

The Speleo-a-go-go is scheduled for the weekend of July 10-13 at Aqua Campground; just north of Williamsville, Virginia, (Highland County) on Route 67S(?). Let1s hope we donlt haYe a repeat of last year1s rain. The Go-Go is an opportunity for cavers to meet each other, talk shop, tube

the rapids, sing, and once in a \"hile, even go caving. Grab your friends and show up; the more the merrier. I close.

Peace,

Thomas B. Vigour, Chairman, Virginia Region

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1970 THE REGION RECORD

EDITOR'S COLUMN

All uri ters want to be widely read, and therefore strive to perfect an attractive writing style, or seek channels 1-1hich offer wide distribution. Such devices are often painful and closed to all but a fe,v; however, there is a third device which renders all others unnecessary - simply 1-lrite the things that people want to read. It is the purpose of this column to, 1-lhenever possible, fulfill that need wherever it arises.

Therefore it seems appropriate to begin this column by ansHering a question of paramount importance in the Virginia Region - \-Tho is R. E. Hhittemore? Hhen 1-Te have satisfied our curiosity with regard to this matter ( and I feel most qualified to do so ) , we will move on to some of the less pressing subjects.

Lany people think that I began caving with the VPI Grotto, but my career as a spelunker actually began years earlier on a family surrmer vacation when we visited Luray Caverns. I VIas quite awe-struck by the cave, and stood spellbound with the other visitors as the guide explained h01-T the caverns 1-Tere carved out of solid rock by huge rivers 1-Thich coursed their way through the mountains during the Great Ice Age. Being an impressionable youth, I naturally believed it allo But when we reached the louest part of the cave, our attention 1-laS called to a deep pool below the walkw . The guide explained that if one were to throw a coin into the pool and make a wish, the wish would come true. This I did not believe, but I obliged the guide by tossing a penny into the water. As years l,.Tent by, however, I learned that everything else the. guide told us was false; but what he said about the pool was indeed true after all. You see, 1-Then I threw that penny into the water, I made a 1.Jish that someday I would be the 1,]orld I s greatest cave explorer.

Now that you know who your editor is, you are probably wondering how this publication received its name. It can all be blamed upon John Holsinger. I wanted to call it the REGION RATFINK, but he wouldn't let me. That name was too sophistocatedo He suggested REGION RECORD as an alternate, and it was accepted. Another name that was heavily considered was ARGO, but Argo was murdered in cold blood by John E. Cooper at the Huntsville BOG meeting, s the name was dropped.

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Glancing through the Table of contents, we have some rather contro­versial material in this issue. One article which is of great current interest is John Holsinger's "The Long Caves of Virginia". It captures the action in south,,)'estern Virginia; an area in ,,)'hich no big cave is sacred. As is the tendancy with any "now" type article, a few changes have occurred in the situation since its writing. Vicker's Cave has been surveyed to a length of 8000 feet and now qualifies for the "big cave" list. Fallen Rock Cave has been mapped to a length of 33,730 feet. It is still going, and is still number two. But anything can happen.

I would like very much to see a similar article written on the caves of west Virginia; or is that information still classified?

Now that I've ans,,)'ered a few questions, there is one that I would like to ask. It is this: what has happened to the member organizations that did not respond to either the initial questionnaire or a second plea for participation in the REGION RECORD? Have they gone defunct? Do they lack interested personnel? Or perhaps they vie,,)' the RECORD as a threat to their own newsletter. Not a valid fear! Examine the articles contained herein; they would most likely not have been written had it not been for the RECORD. Nonetheless, if anyone has any information as to why we have received no response from these clubs, please let me know. They are:

George Washington University Student Grotto Iron Hountain Student Grotto Potomac Speleological Club Triangle Universities Student Grotto University of Virginia Student Grotto

One of the prime objectives of the REGION RECORD is to promote communications among the fifteen member organizations of the Virginia Region. To implement this goal, we would like to eventually publish a schedule of all grotto meetings in the Region, complete with times and locations. Such a schedule would allow others to visit your meetings ,,)'hen they are in your area.

There should be ample opportunities for cavers to "gather" this spring. The Region Council meeting is coming up on April 4 (probably over with by the time this thing gets printed), and this will be foiloi-Ted by an NSS Board of Governors meeting in D.C. on May 2 (see details elsewhere in this issue). This is a chance for cavers in this, region to see how the NSS conducts business -­ don't miss it. As Vig mentions in the preceeding column, a Regional Spring project is scheduled for May 30. plans are still a bit indefinite at this writing, but a flier should be out well in advance.

Many grotto events are planned for this spring ­ VPI will be holding its annual picnic and float trip on May 9 and 23 respectively. This reporter hopes to be on hand for both events, although "the" social event of the year in Blacksburg has passed ­ the annual Banquet. The list of guests ree.r1 like a who'S who in eastern speleology; Jim

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1970 THE REGION RECORD

Hixson, Tom Vif,our, Bob Handley, Charlie Maus, Phil Lucas, Janet Pickens, Bill BiCl3ers, Roger Baroody, E. pie, not to r ention a host of VPI old timers. Bud Rutherford of WVACS, Inc., was the speaker for the evening, and Dr. David West hosted the after-party.

Speaxing of VPI, have you grooved in on this piece of eossip yet: "PI has subIni tted a veY'J stronp, bid for the 1971 Convention. If it is accepted, that Hill r.;i ve us hTO eastern conventions in a row, and one in the Virginia Region. The Holston Valley Grotto and several other factions have offered full support to VPI's bid. Ue are certain that they Hould Helcone whatever additional support they can muster, so if you havc not returned your form to Dave l'lcClurg, or if you have already submi t ted a neea ti ve reply, and you would 1 ike to see a na tiolk"l.l conven­tion in our RCGion, then send a letter to l/cClurG indicatinf, such.

So much for ReCional f,ossip. Now for a few words about the outlook of the RECO . First, the deadline for articles for the next issue is soon: June 1. Publication date \·Till follo\{ shortly. Grotto reports, items for a calendar of comine events, nd seneral interest articles are much needed start now I

A neH type of article ,.Jill appear in the ne:x:t R:CCR 1,.Thich ... T8 hope will becoJ.:e a continuing feature of tilis august journal. It "in be titled "Dear Caveboyll, and uill be modeled after Playboy's monthly letters colwnn. It will be seperate from letters to the editor, 8,nd in it ve 1Till atteml:t to answer any questions you have concernin RegionaJ. or NSS llcrsonalities, politics, and eventso Bere is an example:

Dear Caveboy; Is Don Cournoyer for real?

])ear Confused; No.

/s/ Confused

See how simple it is? Let I s tY'J one J'Lore eY,,�Jnple just to make sure we all understand what it is all about:

Dear Cave boy; Is John Holsinger a virgin?

])ear Wonderinf,; Yes.

/s/ Wonderinf,

See? So letts get busy and send in those questions. Your editor prob­ably knows all the answers, but, if in any event he does not, he will forward the question to an expert for answering. Incidentally, this whole diabolical idea can be blamed upon Bud Rutherford. Uell, thatts about it for this issue. Enjoy your REGION RECORD, Vol. I, no. 1; make it magazine.

R. E. Whitte ore, Managing Editor

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THE REGION RECORD

The Long Caves of Virginia

by John R. Holsinger Director of the Virginia Cave Survey

}';uch has been said recently about long caves, both on a state and national level. The majority of this current interest developed through the efforts of the Corrmission on the ',{orld I s Longest Caves to compile a list of the lone::; caves of the world. The Corrlnission met at the Inter­national Con,crress of S.oeleoloGY in stuttgart, Germany in september 1969, and a lost of the long caves of the united states, compiled by Dr. 1)illian B. Hhite, w!s sent to stuttgart via Nevin Davis. In order to qualify for lon: C:lve status, a cave must have a surveyed length of 2 km (6,561.6 feet ) or longer. In the list submitted to the International Congress, 173 caves from the United states were listed; 112 of these ex­ceedini 3 bn in length. In the future the lower cut-off length will probablY be u)ped to 3 lr (9,842.4 feet ) , but there seems to be some confusion about this at the moment. At any rate, for purposes of this article, 2 cm Hill 'ce considered minirnurn length for long cave status.

The most recent count of the long caves of Virginia stands at 25. For the Hest '!ir:-;inia half of the Virginia Region there 'vIere 32 long caves on the list submitted by White and apparently a feu more have beer added subsec:uently. li th these figures in mind, it is siGnificant to note that of t:1G total of 173 long caves on the first official U.S.A. li;,t, 53 or 30.6 r)ercent ,Jere wi thin the Virginia Region (21 in Virginia and 32 in west Virginia ) . The most up-to-date count indicates about 60 10n2' caves in t;',e hro states.

The follmving is an annotated list of the caves in Virginia with surveyed lengths of 2 /.n! or more. The footage given includes everything surveyed to date. In addition, the t;;rpe of survey is given, plus a few cor,:Tllents about 'vJhere the map is published or deposited. Plans are to publish all of the neH and revised maps on file with the Virginia Cave Survey in the forthcoming IISupplement to the Caves of Virginiall, so eventually all maps of the big caves will be readily availible.

1. BUTLER-SIl.JKING CREEK SYSTEt<, Bath Coo 71,200 ft. Brunton and tape. An earlier, modified map was published in Caves of pp. 136-137. A project, directed by Nevin W. Davis, is being conducted in this system and the total length of this cave vnll probably be revised upvrard in the near future.

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1970 THE REGION RECORD

2. FALLEN ROCK CAVE, Tazewell Co. 29,600 ft. Nap is being prepared by R. E. Whittemore. surveying continues.

Brunton and tape. l ore cave rerr.ains and

3. UNTHAN1\s CAVE, Lee Co. 26,050 ft. Brunton, range-finder, and tape. An older, incomplete map is in files of Va. Cave Survey, but a mapping project directed by J. R. Holsinger and Don Finley continues and a significant amount of Cave re!r.ains to be mapped.

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if. GILLEYS CAVE, Lee Co. 24,000 ft. Brunton and tape. A completed map, directed and drawn by Roger Baroody and Earl Geil, is on file "Ii th the Va. Cave Survey. A partial map was published in the Caves of pp. 292-293. Hote: the depth of this cave is 450 ft. below the entrance.

5. BrtEATHHJG CAVE, Bath Co. 22,720 ft. Brunton 8.nd tape. Survey complete. A map of this cave was published in the Caves of Va., p. 133 and in NSS Bulletin vol. 22, p. 33. About 720 feet of passage Here added by a recent survey by the Nittany Grotto of the NSS.

6. PAXTOl1S CAV3, Alleghany Co. 17,000 ft. Brunton and tape. A complete map of this cave by R. Baroody is in files of the Va. Cave Survey.

7. NEWBERIW-BANE CAVE, Bland Co. 14,000 ft. Brunton and tape. The original edition of the map of this cave Has published in the Caves of pp. 176-177. There have been a fe,,, recent additions by the V.P . I. Gro t to of the :JSS.

8. SURGKIER-GALLOHAN SYSTE:t-'!, Lee Co. 13,850 ft. Brunton and tape. A corr.plete map by J. R. Holsinger d D. Finley is in files of Va. Cave Survey.

9. Lm.Jl-IOOR CAVE, Alleghany Co. 13,395 ft. Brunton and tape. A complete map by Phil Lucas and R. Baroody is in files of the Va. Cave Survey. An earlier, partial map of this cave was publishedin Caves of p. 93.

10. FILLERS COVE CAVE, Roanoke Co. 13,200 ft. Brunton and tape. A complete map by R. E. \'/hittemore and Sam Dunavay is in files of Va. Cave SUrvey.

1'1. .NEH RIVER CAVE, Giles Co. 10,500 ft. Brunton and tape. A com­pleted map by Hilliam Grenoble is in files of Va. Cave Survey. An earlier, partial map of this cave \ffiS published in Caves of Va., p. 231.

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12. CROSSROADS CAVE, Bath Co. 10,600 ft. Brunton and tape. A nearly complete map of this cave was published in Caves of pp. 154-155. About 600 ft. of additional cave have been mapped recently.

13. CLARKS CAVE, Bath Co. 10,000 ft. Brunton and tape. Most up-to­date map was published in the Ca.ves of pp. 150-151. All of the known passage in this cave has not been surveyed, however.

14. BANES SPRING CAVE, Bland Co. 9,000 ft. Brunton and tape. A com­pleted map by R. E. Whittemore is in files of Va. Cave Survey.

1 5. PORTERS CAVE, Ba.th Co. 8, 500 ft. Brunton and tape. The mo st re­cent map of this cave was published in Caves of Va., pp. 166-167.

16. PERKINS CAVE, Washington Co. 8,448 ft. Brunton and tape. A Illap of this cave is now being drafted b,y Tom Roehr for the files of the Va. Cave Survey.

17. CUDJOS CAVE, Lee Co. 8,200 ft. Brunton and tape. The mapping project being directed by Dave Irving is not complete, but he es timated total length of this cave will be between 9,000 and 9,500 ft. lvlap being prpared for files' of Va. Cave Survey.

18. BLAIR-COLLINS CAVE, Scott Co. 8,100 ft. Brunton and tape. Surve.J

complete. A final draft of the Iilap of this cave is being prepared for the Va. Cave Survey by Paul Broughton and Tom Vigour.

19. JESSIE CAVE, Russell Co. 8,000 ft. Brunton and tape. Survey complete. A final draft of the map of this cave is being prepared for the Va. Cave Survey by Edward F. Morgan.

20. JANES CAVE, Pulaski Co. 7,200 ft. Brunton and tape. Survey com­pleted. A final draft of the map of this cave is being prepared for the Va. Cave Survey by E. F. Morgan.

21. FRITZ BREATHING CAVE, Washington Co. 7,133 ft. Sunto compass, clinometer, and tape. Survey completed. Map b,y Ed Palczewski and

the Wingate Outing Club Grotto of the NSS is in file of Va. Cave Survey.

22. HAIRY HOLE CAVE, Wise Co. 7,053 ft. Brunton and tape. Surv.ey complete and map by Phil Lucas is in files of Va. Cave Survey,

23. STONLEYS CAVE, Tazewell Co. 7,000 ft. Brunton and pace. Survey complete. Map published in Caves of pp. 524-525.

24. BUCHANAN SALTPETER CAVE, Smyth Co. 6,700 ft. Brunton and tape. Survey complete. Map published in Caves of Va. , pp. 494-495.

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25. m-IDLESS CAVERNS, Rockinghrun Co. 6,600 ft. Brunton and tape.

Survey complete and map by Robert Blackburn aM. J. Holsinger ih

files of Va. Cave Survey.

One other cave ,·rill probably be added to the above list in the near future, this being Vickers Cave in ""ashington County. This cave

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is over 2 km long but surveying has not yet caught up with distance, thus it could not be included on the present list. Perhaps one or hvo other caves will make the list when mapping projects are completed, but the big emphasis nov! is on the race betvJeen Fallen Rock and Unthanl<s for second place. These caves remain I'neck and neck" for this coveted po­sition. At the time of this 'driting, Fallen Rock Cave is in second place, but just t,vo weeks ago, before the most recent mapping trip into Fallen :a.OC;(, Unthanks Cave was in second place. Another mappinG trip is planned for Unthanks Cave on the ,,,eekend of January 2l.th, and, un­doubtedly, after that is over, Unthanks \-lill be bac:( in second place (but for how long, nobody really knov]s). loth of these caves are major and both could easily go over six or seven miles in total lencth. l:1ho knov:s, the ,,,ay things have been going recently, even mir;hty Butler Cave might end up in second place before the end of 19701

A close look at the above list reveals the foJ.lmling distribution of long caves by county: Bath Co., 5; Lee Co., I; Alleghany, Bland, Taze\.Je11, and Hashington Counties, 2 each; and 1 each in Giles, Pulasld, Roanoke, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Smyth, and Wise Counties. The dis­tribution of long caves by geologic age of limestone formation is: Cen­bria..Yl-Ordovician, 15; Silurian-Devonian, 8; and j.;ississippian, 2. Finally, the total length of all 25 long caves is 368,049 feet (69.7 miles), and the average long cave is 14,000 feet (2.79 miles).

JRH

s J THE REGION RECORD Box 3585 C.R.S. Johnson City, Tennessee 37601

(make checks payable to: THE REGION RECORD)

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Virginia

Annual Region

Fall Meeting October Z5, 1969

by Janet Pickens Secretary-Treasurer, Virginia Region, NSS

Whitt asked me to wr1 te a SUlIDII81"1' ot the e:vents at the last Virginia Region Meeting. Talk about leaving yourself' wide opeliJ But then he said he trusted my judgement implicitly - maybe he didn't realize how that wu1d restrict w.hat I includedl At aI13 rate, there must be a tew events CYt that weekend that can be put into pr'int •••

The program was well attended by some eighty members and fellow trav­elers of the Region. Easter Pig started off the festivities with a re­sounding "Oinktl, and by the end o:f the party that evening I was ready to join him in those sentiments. The opening remarks were :folloved by the first lecturer, Jim Groseclose, who reminded everyone that this was a cavers' gathering by whetting our appetites with slides of Vicker'S Cave, Virginia. Though I haven't had a chance to ste Vicker's in person, Jim certainly made me put this one on my "must" list ot caves in the Region.

Jim was followed by Big Bad John Cooper, who showed slides revealing the living habitat and habits of that strange species, the speleo-biolo­gist. The main environment shown, since these were Coop's slides, was Shelta Cave, natch. I've been convinced that the NSS did the right thing in saving Shelta, and I suspect that the others who saw the biological wonders found in Shelta agree with me.

John Holsinger described the status of the supplement which will be published listing known caves in Virginia. The total number is now near 2300, which puts us neck and neok with Missouri. Deadline tor cave in­tormation to be included in this book was December 3, 1969.

Work on the supplement to the CAVERNS OF WEST VIRGINIA is now get­ting o:f:f the gJ:"ound with Roger Baroody at its head. Volunteers aren't exactly beating a path to Roger's door -- maybe you need to get more pub­licity to the grottos in West Virginia, Roger?

John Tichenor warned that Porter's Cave, Virginia, is in danger of being closed. The owner, Mr. Anderson, has the cave gated and locked but has always been very friendly to NSS members. Same speleo-illogical (as opposed to speleo-Iogical) sabateur has removed the lock and/or gate a

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number of times,and John had a trip to Porter's on November 22 to in­stall a "permanent" gate for the cave. Let's hope this one viII last a yhile.

The business meeting involved representatives from eleven of the grottos and affiliated organizations of the Region. The Wingate Outing Club is now officially a part of the Region -­ they seem to be a good group of serious cavers, and I wish them good luck in their future as a part of the NSS.

Among the old business was final approval of this publication. If all articles measure up to the high literary quality of this one, how can we fail? (Hey, Whitt, can I take back my $3? )

The AUG finally achieved one of its great goals, that of being host to a Region Meeting. Extent of preparations is going to rank with plan­ning for a National Convention. Everyone circle April 2 on your calendar (the meeting will be on the 4th,but the circle should remind you of the big event far enough in advance that you'll be able to make it to D.C.).

Financial support of Tichenor's "Great Gating Project" (Porter's) was approved. It s decided that if Mr. Anderson didn't have to pay for the succession of new locks on the cave, there would be less likeli­hood of his closing Porter's. This is an important precedent and one which should be considered carefully. This -­ or the $1 leasing system -- may keep a few endangered caves open in the future.

The new Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Region were unanimously acclaimed ­ Tom Vigour and Phil Lucas. I feel more like Nixon, winning by the skin of my teeth. Maybe it'll make me work a little harder this next year to earn the support I got at the meeting.

There seemed to be no rest far the weary (and there were quite a few of those I), but at last the gavel pounded and a smorgasbord dinner was served which, I hear, was one of the best meals ever served at a Region Meeting. AU will have to ,,,ork to top that one. Then followed slides from various contributors, and the blackmail from the Convention was aired. Too bad more of the affected weren't around to defend them­selvesl

George Corbett says, "The evening vas nicely climaxed with an out­rageous party of musiC, dance, and dirty old men sitting in corners and letching away." Sounds like a description of a other old cave party to me. Actually, this one was different, at least from my point of view. Some of the revelers soon saw that the hotel swimming pool began collec­ting cave mud -- still attached to cavers -- and pushed the whole joke a little too far. The rest of the gathering collected in small groups and really didn't seem to mix very well. What happened? I've never seen such polarization at a caver's party before.

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The party slowly broke up though pockets of resistance moved to nearby motel rooms. Sometimes'these after party parties are the best part of the weekend gathering -- maybe because the details are never too well remembered the next day.

Janet

GATING

PROJECT

by Phil Lucas Vice Chairman, Virginia Region, NSS

At the 1969 Virginia Region Fall Meeting, it was unanimously decided to repair the gate at Porter's Cave in Bath Coun·t;y, Virginia. The old gate had been torn loose from its foundations and the entrance was changed during a record "9" rain when Ca:m.ille came through.

The Virginia Region and the NSS have been closely associated with the eave and the owner has always been most gracious in his relations with the NSS.

Saturda;.v, November 22, ten members of the Virginia Region met at Pbrter's Cave curiously escorted by a state trooper. Great feats of strength were displayed by cavers carrying bags of cememt, gravel, and sand up the steep bank to the cave, while John Tichenor marveled.

The sequence of events follows: the popping of tape, discussion of how to arrange the gate in the entrance, the popping of tape, discussion of how to arrange the rocks around the gate, breaking out more beer, the possibilities of blasting the damned entrance shut, a beer run, mixingof concrete, finding beer cans in the concrete, dropping a pail of con­crete on the guy down in the entrance, a hot dog roast followed by a banana roast, and somehow out of this madness a splendid, secure gateemerged.

Special thanks are extended to those people who helped with the project and to the Shenandoah Valley Grotto which donated the hot dogs and buns.

Phil

WINTER. 1970 THE REGION RECORD 13

GATE AT PROTER' S CAVE - BEFORE CONCRETE WAS POURED

INSIDE LOOKING OUT

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IS THE OWNER OF YOUR FAVORITE CAVE WORRIED

ABOUT LIABILITY 7

• • • if he is a resident of The Commonwealth of Virginia, he may be interested in seeing the letter printed below. It was witten to a concerned cave owner by his attorney, with a copy being forwarded to this editor. The information which it contains may be useful in dis­pelling the worries of owners who require a release form or who have closed their caves for reasons of liability. It should be noted that the attorney who wrote the letter was aware that some of the cavers in question yere minors.

If your favorite cave owner is not a Virginian, it may be worth your while to find out what the lav is in his state. This will, of course, re uire hiring an attorney. If any group in the Region decides to undertake this project, please keep the RECORD posted as to the re­sul ts. The information will be useful to all.

rev

Dear Senator Barringer:

. Robert E. wr ttemore called me by telephone the other day and asked if I would write to you with reference to your lia­bility for any injuries that might be sustained by persons entering the cave on your lands without any consideration passing from them to you and merely by permission.

The Attractive Nuisance Doctrine has been repudiated in Virginia. Washabaugh v. North Virginia Construction Company, 187 Va. 767. In such circumstances as I have referred to those entering the cave would be classified as licensees and the law \.,rriters say that mere licensees are about the least favored in law of men who are not actual wrongdoers. An owner or occupant owes one whom he permits to enter for the latter's convenience no duty except not to harm him willfully or wantonly, or set traps for him, or to expose him to danger recklessly or wantonly. 38 Am. Jur. , Negligence, Sec. 104, page 765.

I don't believe that under the law presently existing in Virginia there would be any liability on you for any injuries sustained by those entering your cave simply by permission and without consideration.

Sincerely yours, GILLESPIE Pu D CrIDffiERS

/s/ John W. Gillespie

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1970 THE REGION RECORD 15

B.O.G.

MEETING

zebra Boom • ••how to find the Spring Board of Governort s Meeting in

(good bar)

Meeting to be held May 2, 1970, 1:00 p.m. 'til 6:00 p.m.

Din-Din 6:15 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (cocktails)

Party will be at George Corbett's place -- location will be announced at meeting. (Note: Do NOT go to Bill

Bigger's housel)

"SPECIAL EVENTS"

At 3:00 p.m. D.C. Police vill arrest CUrl for using ladies roomJ

Cournoyer will post bond at 6:30 p.m. for CUrl.

Cooper will post Stellmack's bond at 7:00 p.m.

Annie Whittemore 'Will post bond for Cournoyer at 10:30 p.m.

All D.C. cavers to be arrested on SUnday for demonstration at White House. Bev says, "To Hell with itJ" Bev then takes kids to zoo to see Dixte Pig.

D.C., May 2, 1970.

DUpc:mt Circle: drugs for sale by narcotica.

agents

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Wisc. Ave.

Ward Circle

Eternal Flame -.0

pARKING

Mass. Ave.

THE REGION RECORD

The Gallows

by Phil Lucas

Have you got a new pair of ascenders, the kind that require tension on the rope from below? Do you want to perfect that chest harness or to get the length of the webbing just right? Perhaps you need a way of getting into shape for that trip to Mexico, etc.

The IIgallowsU may well be the perfect project for the caver with absolutely nothing else to do with his time.

A list of materials will include a 20-foot wooden pole, your caving rope, a couple of carabiners, a tent stake, an eye bolt, three boards, some nails or bolts, and a pulley having the width to acconnnodate two ropes. The pole should be set four or five feet in the ground with the earth tamped firmly around the pole. The boards are fastened to the pole to form a brace from which the pulley is suspended. As shown by the drawing, the rope is passed around the pole just the right number of turns to provide enough friction to hold your weight while prusiking, but still allow the rope to gradually slip with a heavy step or a slight bounce. If your rope does not have a uniform texture, a dif:rerent method of applying friction (brake bars, etc.) may prove more suitable. From the pole the rope is then passed through the pulley and down through the cara­biner fastened to the pole ldth a bent nail, and then it is passed over the pulley once again and allowed to hang straight down.

When prusiking, simply grasp both ropes in your bands even though the prusiks are attached to only one rope, the first loop. There you have it. Prusik to your hearts content (100 feet per 150 foot rope) and never get more than fifteen feet off the ground.

Of course, the real purpose behind all of this, as you may have guessed, is not to get that technique down pat, or to get into shape, but is a desperate attempt to rid yourself of that terrible urge to do vertical caves. Perhaps by hanging suspended by that nylon thread for a while in a safe place, this whole reckless mood will pass and ve ean

enj oy the more pleasurable aspects of lile - like marriage. On second thought, maybe there is something to vertical caving.

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WINTER. 1970 REGION 19

AMERICAN

Virginia.

VATJ!X

THE RECORD

Grotto News Items

UNIVERSITY GROTTO NEWS

The AUG this year has. consisted ot a small but relatively bard­oore group of cavers. Most of our caving has been in well-known and well-traveled caves, like Hensley and Hell Hole; however, we have added a tew new caves and some virgin passage in old caves to our credit.

Members of the Grotto have traveled tar and wide, trom the East to California, from Canada to Mexico, and from the Convention to Shel tao In the works are trips to Schoolhouse, Fantastic Pit, and the "Big ones" in Central America.

After a long fight ldth the University, we have finally managed to persuade the Inter-Club Council that a contribution (mapping) to a sci­entific organization (the NSS) is as worthwhile as sending ten members of the Bowling Club to a tournament in Missouri. The Grotto has been given the money to buy a Brunton compass 1 A program in January explain­ing the methods of mapping should put all our members in a posi tioh to make some real worthwhile maps, perhaps in time for the supplement to the Caverns of

A faculty advisor has been recruited at long last - the hangup was that oUl" members have never been required to sign releases for use in case, of accidents, and faculty members were slightly paniced b.Y the thought of taking the responsibility for a potentially dangerous club. We didn't solve that problem ­ we simply tound someone who wasn't quite so nervous.

Dedicated members of the Grotto manage to attend most of the region­al functions (and area parties). Other, less dedicated, members simply go caving • • •

Janet Pickens

HOLSTON GROTTO NEWS

The Helaton Valley Grotto has been quite active over the past year in spite of its few members. Besides several well-attended Grotto trips to nearby caves, RiG members have participated in the mapping of some extensive cave systems in southwestern Virginia. Vicker's Cave, near Bristol, now has 1.52 miles mapped, and Fallen Rock has 6.38 miles. Neither ot these eaves has shown any sign of quitting. Don ''MUd" Finley ramrodded the mapping of extensive new sections in Unthank's Cave which were discovered on an HVG Grotto trip.

During the summer, EVG members worked closely ldth John Holsinger, Director of the Virginia Cave Survey. Big Entrance Crawl Cave, in Scott County, was discovered along with several other significant caves.

FROM

THE REGION RECORD

The most ambitious undertaking b.Y the HVG s hosting the Fall Region Meeting in Kingsport. Many testimonials indicate that the arrangements met with the approval of most. Jim (E. Pig) Beck deserves the lion's share of the credit for this event.

The future of the Grotto looks even brighter. A glimpse into the crystal. ball discloses a publication to be know as liThe Guano Gazette", and a project to compile detailed information on caves of East Tennessee. With this outlook, and with local colleges beating down our door to affiliate with us, the signs are favorable.

R. E. Whittemore

NEWS VPI

The VPI Grotto enters its 28th year with a number of proj ects under­way. Most of these projects are surveys in nearby caves.

One of the most active projects now under way is the exploration and mapping of Paul Penley's Cave in Bland County near Big Walker Hou ntain. Recent trips into the cave have found a 1181 pit and a new room 2 501 x 100' x 50'. Ed Morgan, 'Who is heading up the proj ect, reports that the deepest point in the cave is reached by doing a series of drops: 301--11'8' - 50' - 20'. The cave has a number of other 20 and 30 foot pits and a 160' drop. Mapped length no'W stands at about 1IJOO feet, with- about a dozen leads still unchecked. Nearby Buddy Penley1s Cave has been com­pleted and has about 6000 feet of passage.

VEl Grotto members have also been very active in the exploration of Windy Mouth (Greenbrier Co., W. Va.) and Fallen Rock (Tazewell Co., Va.) Caves. windy Mouth now has close to 9 miles of passage. Fallen Rock recently became number two in Virginia with over 30,000 mapped feet. Fallen Rock is still going with no end in sight as yet.

A favor! te with VPI Cavers for seventeen years is Ne1-1berry-Bane I s Ca.ve in Bland County. It is being remapped, and VPI's Pete Schnaars reports 7200 feet mapped in Newberry's alone, with a possibility of two more miles in the system. A number of different connections between Newberry1s and Bane1s have been mapped. Another interesting development in this cave is the fact that it bas been made completely horizontal. Through various chimneys in the Straddle Pit area, all ropes have been done a'W1!JY with. New figures on "Bill's Rapeli Pit" and the "Triple Wells" place these drops at 162' and 202', respectively.

VPI's caving has not been entirely in the Virginias. :tine Frieders led a group of VPI cavers (Winston Harmon, Fred Hines, Rick Weber) on a J-week caving trip through the Southwest. This trip included caves in Texas (Devil's Sinkhole), New Mexico (GUadalupes), and Arizona (Huachuca Mountains).

WINTER. 19'70 THE REGION RECORD 21

The Grotto I s training program bas been profitable once again in bringing in about 15 new cavers to the Grotto. An article on grotto training 'Will appear in the current "Tech Troglodyte". The art icle, by Bob Barlow, will be expanded upon in the form of a new training bulletin.

Of interest to old and new Blacksburg area cavers is a discovery of over 1000 feet of virgin passage upstream in Smokehole Cave. This area of the cave can be entered only in times of extreme drought.

Grotto meetings are held every Friday at 7 p.m. in the Smyth Hall

Auditorium on the VPI Campus. All cavers are welcome.

Mike Frieders

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