Past Boston Grotto Caving Trips

• 22-nov-1998: Chrissy Bandon led a trip to upstate NY.
• 25-29-nov-1998: Kevin Harris led a trip to West Virginia, to Scott Hollow, Buckeye Creek, and Snedegars.
• 13-dec-1998: Chrissy Bandon led a trip to Morris Cave in Rutland, Vermont.
• 6-mar-1999: Chrissy Bandon is leading a trip to Scoharie Caverns.
• 10-mar-1999: Particle Accelerator tour.
• 27-mar-1999: Vertical practice, site TBA.
• 17-19-apr-1999: Kevin Harris is leading a trip to central Pennsylvania, to include Alexander Cave.
• 1-apr-1999: Andrew Boardman is leading a McFails-Howe through trip, via Asia Dome. Beginners welcome. Bring lunch.
• 22-may-1999: Day trip, destination TBD. (Chrissy Bandon)
• 5-6-jun-1999: Cave Photography seminar/outing (Gary Lau)
• 5-6-jun-1999: NCRC training weekend
• 19-jun-1999: Camden in 2002 NSS Convention planning meeting
• 12-16-jul-1999: 1999 NSS Convention
• 17-jul-1999: Gage's. (Kevin Flanagan)
• 24-jul-1999: Day trip, destination TBD. (Chrissy Bandon)
• 28-aug-1999: Scout trip (Tim Wortley)
• 19-sep-1999: Buster Miller is leading a trip to various caves on the Knox preserve from the Fall NRO. Vertical skills and equipment required for this trip. (Many other general NRO trips will also be made; see the web page for more info.)
• 19-nov-1999: Morris Cave (near Rutland, Vermont) Contact Buster Miller. An advanced horizontal cave. Nearby vertical work may follow. (Note that this is a Friday.)
• 1-apr-2000: Dinner in Clarksville.
• 5-apr-2000: Boston Grotto monthly meeting. Yucatan caving film "The Most Dangerous Science".
• 12-14-may-2000: Spring NRO, Cobleskill, NY. See the online announcement for details.
• 17-18-jun-2000: Knox Cave day trip (one of these two days), organized by Kevin Flanagan.
• 26-30-jun-2000: 2000 NSS Convention.
• tentative 7-8-oct-2000: Knox Cave day trip (one of these two days), organized by Dan Hoyt.
• tentative October 2000: Vertical practice in the Boston area, organized by Dan Hoyt. (some weekend day in October)
• 7-feb-2001: Boston Grotto monthly meeting
• feb-2001: Sinnett-Thorn trip
• 7-mar-2001: Boston Grotto monthly meeting
• 8-apr-2001: Vertical practice, College Rock. leader: Kevin Flanagan
• 14-16-apr-2001: Pennsylvania trip cancelled. Daily trips to NY instead, including a Saturday dig. Leader: Kevin Flanagan
• 21-apr-2001: Morris Cave trip, Rutland, Vermont. Leader: Jim MaVrelion (603.382.6863)
• 3-may-2001: Boston Grotto monthly meeting (presentation TBA)
• 12-13-may-2001: Spring NRO, Cobleskill, NY. There is NO NCRC training this weekend; a previous listing to that effect was in error. (See 9-10 June.)
• ?-may-2001: Kevin Harris presents the Art of Surveying. (date TBD)
• 6-june-2001: Boston Grotto monthly meeting (presentation TBA)
• 9-10-jun-2001: Cave Rescue Orientation Training, Scoharie, NY. Introduction to the problems encountered in cave rescue, designed for both cavers and local agencies (fire, police, EMS). Contact: Emily Davis (518.295.7978)
• 23-27-jul-2001: 2001 NSS Convention, Mount Vernon, Kentucky
• 11-aug-2001: New cave dig, somewhere in New York. Leader: Buster Miller
• 12-aug-2001: Vertical Practice & Training, College Rocks, Hopkinton, Mass. Leader: Steve Stokowski
• 18-aug-2001: Amazing Caves greeters needed, Museum of Science. Stand around and look funny in your caving equipment, answer questions, promote membership in our club. Some free movie passes available. Contact: Karen Potter
• 19-aug-2001: Blowing (Sea) Cave, exploration and mapping trip, Kennebunkport, Maine. Leader: Steve Stokowski
• 24-aug-2001: Moira Cave, near Quebec. Leader: James Keary
• 25-aug-2001: Boy Scout Trip, Onesquethaw Cave, NY. Leaders: Kevin Flanagan and Chris Taylor. May be full already!
• 9-sep-2001: Boston Grotto monthly meeting. Grotto Auction! (Lots of neat stuff, and in a good cause!)
• 1-3-sep-2001: Cave exploration and mapping in Grafton Notch State Park, Maine. No mapping experience needed! Leader: Steve Stokowski
• 14-15-sep-2001: Fall NRO meeting, in Arlington, Maine.
• 15-sep-2001: Morris Cave, Vermont. Beginner trip to one of Vermonts longest caves. May include a stop at the NRO. Leader: C. Hannon.
• 29-30-sep-2001: Grafton Notch, Maine. (Virgin cave!) Also Moose Cave and The Valley of a Thousand Caves. Leader: Steve Stokowski
• 30-sep-2001: Vertical practice at Hammond Pond, Brookline/Newton. BYOG. Leader: Buster Miller
• 13-oct-2001: Cancelled:McFails Cave, central New York. Requires wetsuit and vertical equipment. Estimated duration, 8-10 hours. Leader: Buster Miller
• 13-oct-2001: Jeff Bigler Cider Party (12 to 12), with a trip to Nahant's sea cave at 2:30 PM (low tide). Bring an entree. Contact for caving trip: Steve Stokowski
• 14-oct-2001: Knox Cave, central New York. (Last trip of the year!) Trip will go through the Gun Barrel, and may reach the Alabaster Room and beyond, some of which requires rigging a cable ladder. Leader: Kevin Flanagan
• 20-21-oct-2001: Sea Caves of Acadia National Park, Maine. Trip to visit coastal and emerged sea caves in the park. Leader: Steve Stokowski
• 21-26-oct-2001: More Sea Caves of Acadia National Park, Maine. Trip to visit coastal and emerged sea caves in the park during the week. Trip is primarily to investigate the feasibility of kayak trips during the 2002 NSS Convention. Contact: Steve Hulbert
• 20-oct-2001: Weston Boy Scout troop 153 trip, NY, CANCELLED. Contact Chris Taylor if you want to schedule a different trip on this day, and want it announced on the web site and via e-mail.
• 28-oct-2001: Boston Grotto Fall/Halloween Party, Westport Mass., lots of food and good cavers. BYOB, drinks. Possible trip to RI sea caves at 11 AM (low tide), depending upon the weather. Contacts: Steve Stokowski or Joanne Pacheco
• 3-nov-2001: NSS Convention 2002 Planning Session, at Kevin & Betty's house in Nashua, NH. Contact: Kevin Harris
• 5-nov-2001, evening: Friends of the Karst meeting in conjunction with the Geological Society of America Meeting. Location TBD on Sunday, will be near the Hynes Convention Center. Contact: Steve Stokowski
• 15-dec (Saturday): Wrentham, Mass. "I Forget The Name" Cave. Long hike in, short cave. But fun. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 16-dec (Sunday): Hermit Cave, Irving Mass. Another long walk in the woods, another short cave, and another day of fun, especially considering as there's a Boston Grotto party as well, starting at 2pm at Kevin's house. Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 2-jan-2002: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; John Hannon shows cave diving video from Mexico! MIT 36-155, 7:30pm.
• 8-jan-2002: IMAX Presentation Meeting, to put together a presentation (for the 2002 NSS Convention) on the Boston Grotto's involvement in the Amazing Caves film at the Museum of Science. At the house of, and coordinated by, Steve Stokowski. Please let Steve know if you have input for this and can't make the meeting.
• 12-jan-2002: Howe Caverns Cleanup Day. Annual cave cleanup and Grotto meeting; meet at Howe Caverns at 17:00 in the restaurant for dinner and a brief meeting, with cave work to follow (~19:00-21:30).
• 12-jan-2002 and ongoing: Benson's Cave dig. Come help remove the mud plug that stands between us and hundreds, if not thousands, of feet of new passage. (Entrance is vertical; the cave is currently very dry.) Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 17-jan-2002: Caves of Maine presentation at the NE Association of Engineering Geologists meeting at Hanscom Field. May be closed. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 19-jan-2002: NSS 2002 Convention planning meeting; meet at noon at Speleobooks. Some committee positions are still available! Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 20-jan-2002: Post-convention-planning Grotto caving trip. Somewhere near Speleobooks. (Caboose? Scoharie?)
• 22-jan-2002: Boston Grotto History meeting, 6pm at Morrie Gasser's house in Hopkinton. Meet to review old newsletters, minutes, et cetera, with an aim of preparing a new History of the Boston Grotto, with coverage through 2002, our 50th anniversary.
• 6-feb-2002: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation TBA. MIT 36-155, 7:30pm.
• 8-9-feb-2002: Benson's dig, Scoharie, New York. During this trip, cavers will enlarge one part of the cave and fill in the part behind them in hopes of extending the length of the cave without blocking the only way out. Requires skill in picking up and moving rocks and remembering the direction of the exit. Vertical entrance, but mostly easy caving, not counting the digging. During this trip, you will get to see Holub's Heap, evidently a rare historical example of endangered feces. Contact Buster Miller for more information, or for information on future dig trips to Benson's.
• 17-feb-2002: Jamestown Island (sea) Cave, Beaver Tail, RI. Steve Stokowski will lead this trip to check out a famous sea cave referenced in historic accounts of Rhode Island.
• 22-24-feb-2002: West Virginia caving trip. Sinnitt-Thorn and Cave Mountain. No SRT required. Contact: Steve Stokowski. (Dates of 16-18 February were previously discussed for this trip, but it will almost certainly be 22-24 February, departing the Boston area on the evening of 21 February.)
• 2-mar-2002: Morris Cave, near Rutland, Vermony. Novice to easy intermediate trip with lots of belly & hands-and-knees crawling, with a little bit of climbing and chimneying. This 4 - 6 hour underground trip will visit the main room bat-scat hibernaculum, the lake room, and the sump, time permitting, and will tire you out for sure. Bat-o-phobes, claustrophobes, and couch potatoes welcome, but we warned you. Leader: Kevin Flanagan.
• 2-3-mar-2002: NSS 2002 Convention planning meeting, "I forget where" NJ, about 4 hours from Boston. Contact Kevin Harris.
• 6-mar-2002: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; Grotto elections! Also, a presentation: 'The History of Vertical Caving'. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 10-mar-2002: Caves of Wrentham State Forest. Near Boston, a nice hike with some small but interesting Caves. Leader: Steve Stokowski.
• 16-mar-2002: Digging trip to Benson's Cave. Requires skill in picking up and moving rocks and remembering the direction of the exit. Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 24-mar-2002: Onesquethaw and/or Clarksville Caves. Suitable for beginners! Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 24-mar-2002: Conrad's Cave, and other Sea Caves of Rhode Island. Meet at 40 Steps before 9:00am! (Low tide is at 09:37.) Leader: Steve Stokowski.
• 3-apr-2002: Boston Grotto monthly meeting. Presentation TBA. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 7-apr-2002: Beavertail, Rhode Island Sea Caves. Meet at 11:30 AM at the lighthouse in Beavertail. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 13-apr-2002: More Rhode Island Sea Caves. Another trip to Beavertail or adjacent areas. Bring vertical gear if you have it (optional). A few of the caves may require rappelling from above for entry. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 20-apr-2002: Roadside Geology of Massachusetts Field Trip. Led by noted Weston Observatory geologies James Skehan, and hosted by the Association of Engineering Geologists, this trip will visit many of the road cuts along the Mass. turnpike. You will learn about the remants of three supercontinents, dikes, igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic rocks, and glacial features. If you pay attention, you may even learn something about the best places to look for caves in Massachusetts. For more information, contact Steve Stokowski.
• 20-27-apr-2002: Florida Cave Diving Trip. (Cave diving certification required.) Contact: John Hannon.
• 21-apr-2002: Sea Caves of Nahant, MA. Meet at noon in Nahant. This trip will visit the eastern-most limestone solutional caves and features in the United States. Contact Steve Stokowski in advance to arrange for special parking access at East Point, near the sea caves.
• 26-apr-2002: Start of a mult-iday Kentucky caving trip? Tentative. Contact: Peggy Renwick.
• 27-apr-2002: NSS Convention 2002 Planning Meeting. With only 2 months to go, we need your help! Contact: Karen Potter.
• 1-may-2002: Boston Grotto monthly meeting. Presentation TBA. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 7-may-2002: James Skehan, author of Roadside Geology of Massachusetts, will present at the Boston Mineral Club. Contact George at 617-507-8410 for more information (see also April 20 event with James Skehan).
• 17-19-may-2002: Spring NRO meeting, Twin Oaks campground near Scoharie NY.
• 25-26-may-2002: Pre-NSS Convention meeting in Camden ME. Activities will include stuffing envelopes with convention material and (yes) some caving. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 1-jun-2002: Kaving for Kids (and adults), Tory Cave, CT. We welcome children ages 7 or so and up, each preferably accompanied by an adult, on this trip to short but fun Tory Cave, located in Western CT near the MA border. The goal of this trip to a VERY EASY cave is to give everyone just a taste of caving, but with no major physical challenges and no risks. We will not insist on the usual three sources of light and other equipment paraphernalia for the youngsters, but we recommend that the children wear rubber boots or workshoes instead of sneakers if possible. BG can supply helmets and lamps. Will depart from the Boston area around 9 AM, arrive at the cave just before noon, and spend 1-2 hours in the cave. Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 16-jun-2002: TENTATIVE: Vertical Technique Practice at Lynn tower. Contact: Hubert Shen.
• 5-jun-2002: Boston Grotto monthly meeting. Caves of Maine, plus last-minute NSS Convention preparations. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 15-jun-2002: NOTE DATE CHANGE: Vertical Technique Practice at our new location in Shrewsbury, Mass. Leader: Steve Stokowski
• NSS Convention 2002 activities, including pre- and post-convention camps:
  • 17-23-jun-2002: Pre-convention camping available at the NSS Convention site, Camden, Maine.
  • 21-23-jun-2002: Pre-Convention Caving Camp, Vermont Caving Association, Emerald Lake State Park. See NSS News April 2002 for details about the caves in the area. Contacts: John Keough and Rick Pingree.
  • 22-23-jun-2002: Pre-Convention Camp in Quebec. Activities will include canyoning at the Jean-Larose Falls and a visit to the karst and Grotte de Boischatel, the largest open-air cave in Eastern Canada. Contact: Marc Tremblay.
  • 24-28-jun-2002: NSS 2002 Convention, Camden, Maine. Where the lobster meets the limestone! Contact: Steve Stokowski.
  • 26-jun-2002: Boston Grotto 50th Aniversary Party, Camden, Maine. Contact: Steve Stokowski
  • 26-jun-2002: Speleolympics 2002, 3-7 PM. Volunteers needed to help set up and run the event. Obstacles include the Lobstertrap Crawlway, Sea-Urchin Lurchin' and Starfish Splish-Splash, all designed by speleo-sadists. If you intend to participate, please wear full protective caving gear. Contact: Caversteve@aol.com.
  • 29-jun-2002: Post-Convention trip to Enchanted Cave, ME. This trip to Maine's longest known limestone cave will depart from the Camden NSS Convention campsite at 9 AM. Trip will require about a 3-hour drive and 1.5 - 2 hour hike. The cave is only a few hundred feet long and may disappoint those expecting Kentucky-style trunk passage, but we expect to have fun finding it.
  • 29-30-jun-2002: Post-Convention Caving Camp, Vermont Caving Association, Emerald Lake State Park. Contacts: John Keough and Rick Pingree. (See also the pre-convention camp at the same site.)
  • 29-jun-1-jul-2002: NSS Upstate NY Properties Post-Camp, Scoharie, New York. Saturday evening cookout and camping at Speleobooks, followed the next day with visits to Barton Hill Cave, Scoharie, and McFails Cave Preserves. Contact: Mike Warner.
  • 29-jun-1-jul-2002: Post-Convention Caving Camp in the Adirondacks. Glen Hudson Campsite, Warrensburg, on the banks of the whitewater part of the Hudson River. Camping is $7 per night, otherwise no registration fee. Contact: Chuck Porter.
• 3-jul-2002: Boston Grotto monthly meeting. Alan Burdreau speaks on the Boston Grotto's McFails Sump Dive. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 3-7-jul-2002: This trip has been postponed; a new date will hopefully be announced soon. Armchair Caving Antidote Trip. Cass Cave (vertical) and Bone-Norman (horizontal, but long), in West Virginia. Intermediate. Requires vertical equipment and experience, ability to squeeze through an 8.5 inch high pinch, confidence and ability to move rapidly through a long cave, and willingness to spend 10 hours or longer underground. Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 14-jul-2002: RESCHEDULED TO SUNDAY: Vertical Practice, Quincy Quarries. Bring harness and vertical gear, or borrow from someone at the quarry. Climbing or caving helmet mandatory. If time, experience, interest, and equipment allow, practice will include pickoffs, rigging, and the Z-rig, all important for safe vertical caving. Leader: Steve Stokowski.
• 13-20-jul-2002: NCRC Rescue Training, Scoharie, New York. Contact: John Evans.
• 20-jul-2002: Berkshire Hiking & Caving Trip. Hike to the cave, approximately 1.5 miles, followed by a 2 hour trip underground. During the return, we will look for other cave openings. Will meet at 8:45 AM off of the Mass. turnpike just west of I-495. Contact: ctaylor@gis.net.
• 27 or 28-jul-2002 (depending on tides and weather forecast): Rhode Island Sea Caving & Kayaking, Middletown, RI. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 2-4-aug-2002: Mystery Cave and Ellenville Ice Caves, NY. Mystery may require vertical equipment for entry. Trip departs on the evening of Friday, 2 August. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 7-aug-2002: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; Steve H. will present a presentation on vertical Caving. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 11-aug-2002: Novice Trip to Knox Cave, NY, with lots and lots of crawling to get to some interesting sections of the cave. Contact: Peggy Renwick.
• 16-18-aug-2002: Acadia Maine hiking and sea caving. Will depart Friday evening, return Sunday. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 24-aug-2002: Boy Scout Troop 424 trip to Gage Caverns. Leaders: Rich Holub, Chris Taylor. Other BG cavers welcome if willing to run as a separate group should total exceed 10. Contact: ctaylor@gis.net.
• 25-aug-2002: Vertical Training & Practice, College Rocks (Hopkinton, Mass.), 9:30 AM. Contact: Steve Hulbert.
• 29-aug-3-sep: Old Timers Reunion, Daly, WVa. Lots of partying and carrying on, maybe a little caving.
• 4-sep-2002: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation TBA. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 7-sep-2002, 2pm: September NCC meeting. All are welcome. Five Rivers Environmental Center Delmar, New York.
• 7-8-sep-2002: Surprise (Mystery) Cave and Ellenville Ice Caves, New York. Don't miss this last chance to see this cave before it is closed for the year to protect bats. Mystery requires a cable ladder or short rappel for entry, and has over a mile of passage, including some nicely decorated sections. This is a controlled access cave, and everyone must sign a waiver in advance before going on the trip, so do not delay, contact: Contact Steve Stokowski.
• 13-15-sep-2002: Fall NRO, Rosendale, New York. Camping at the Snyder Estate and enjoying area caves, mines and other forgotten places. Don't miss the Saturday Evening Feast followed by a Grand Cinema Spectacular inside the Widow Jane Mine! Contact: Scott Sala.
• 21-sep-2002: Easton Mass. Eagle Scout Venture Trip. We will go to Morris Cave for a challenging beginner trip. BSA policy limits participants to 10 and trip probably will fill up, but Rich Holub is interested in forming an independent BG group. Contact: Chris Taylor. (For either trip.)
• 22-sep-2002: Vertical Practice and BBQ. Meet at 2 PM at James Keary's house in Andover, Mass. The group will visit Den Rocks, a 5 minute hike from James' house, and then return later in the afternoon for a barbeque. Please contact James and let him know that you plan to attend, and he will send you directions and let you know what you need to bring (e.g. rappel rack, beef ribs, etc.).
• 28-29-sep-2002: If you want to lead a trip and have something in mind, contact us! (What, a free weekend??!)
• 2-oct-2002: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation TBA. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 5-oct-2002: Berkshire hiking and potential caving, West Stockbridge, Mass.. We will check out a some marble cliffs and a promising marble boulder pile that we think hides a small cave. Will also do an actual for-real cave, if the potential one does not pan out and anyone is interested. Forty-five minute to one hour hike to cave from the cars required, but over easy terrain and well marked trails. Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 5-6-oct-2002: Benson's Preserve Clean-Up. Join MET Grotto in Scoharie, New York, at the Benson's Preserve, for a weekend of Conservation and Beautification.
• 6-oct-2002 or13-oct-2002: McFails trip to Asia Dome. This trip will require wetsuits, rappelling and ascending the 80 foot entrance drop, and 15-24 hours of rigorous caving, so armchair cavers need not apply. Contact: Buster "bust-ass" Miller.
• 10-13-oct-2002: TAG (Tennessee Alabama Georgia) Fall Cave-In, Sequoia Caverns Campsite, Valley Head, Alabama. May feature trips to Valhalla and other formerly closed caves. Contact: joeabbott@mindspring.com
• 11-13-oct-2002: Commander Cody Cave Club Fall Sprawl, Cass, West Virginia. Bill Schultz has invited BG to join the Fall Sprawl, which usually has between forty and fifty people show up. Not everybody caves, but they have will have about 6 or 7 different trips going out from the campground over the course of the weekend. The trips range from novice horizontal to intermediate vertical. There will be a pot luck dinner Saturday night, a fifty-fifty raffle, and trips on the Cass Scenic Railroad. The only catch is you have to join the Commander Cody Cave Club, but this costs only $5. Bill guarantees a good time (I have it in writing). WV contact: Bill Schultz. For carpooling information from Boston, contact James Keary.
• 13-oct-2002: Sunderland Cave / Crevasse, Sunderland Mass. Trip will also visit Natural Bridge State Park near North Adams. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 27-oct-2002: Clarksville Cave, a joint trip with NUHOC. Lots of room, sign up anytime. Contact: Kevin Flanagan.o
• November 2002? TENTATIVE: Caver Steve's Fall DRIVE-and-CAVE-A-THON to West Virginia, featuring return visits to Sinnitt-Thorn Mountain and Cave Mountain caves to view funky red clay deposits, endangered bats and engendered fossils. This trip will also feature dining at Thompson's famous vegetableless restaurant. Bring your Tums. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 2-3-nov-2002: Nothing scheduled! Contact us if you want to lead a trip, or need volunteers for something interesting related to caving.
• 6-nov-2002: Boston Grotto monthly meeting. Trip reports, trip planning, and a screening of the recent Nova production about caving. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 9-nov-2002: Caving in Wrentham, Mass. Hatch, Overhang, Devil's Den, Boulder Mash (Upper and Lower), and others. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 17-nov-2002: Northeast Cave Conservancy Executive Committee Meeting, noon, at Joe Levinson's house in New York.
• 23- or 24-nov-2002: Mt. Toby Trip. Mt. Toby is located near Sunderland and Leverett, Mass., and features some small conglomerate caves. Later in the afternoon, the group may visit Farley Ledges, site of Barn Door Cave, a small cave in granite. Contact: Steve Hulbert.
• 30-nov-2002: Sea Caves of Rhode Island. Hike along the low-tide line below the cliffs in Beavertail (Jamestown) RI, an area known to have several small sea caves. Afterward, the group hopes to go to Sakonnet Point for a short boat trip to look for additional sea caves there. Group will meet at the Newport (Rhode Island) Creamery at 9:00 AM. Low tide is around 9:50 AM. Contact: Steve Stokowski
• 4-dec-2002: Boston Grotto monthly meeting, with secret suprise presentation! MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 7-dec-2002, afternoon: Northeast Cave Conservancy Meeting and annual Mexican-Chocolate Cook-off Festivity, Schoharie, New York. Bring a chocolate or Mexican dish, or a chocolate-Mexican dish. Contact: Emily.
• 8-dec-2002: Northeast Cave Conservancy Board Meeting, 10am, Howe Caverns Restaurant.
• 8-dec-2002: Maugus Cave, Wellesley, Mass. Short, 1 - 2 hr. trip. This cave is the larger of only two caves in the state rock, the Roxbury Puddingstone. No, the Puddingstone is not a single large stone, it is a type of conglomerate deposit that occurs in the Boston area. The cave is variously called Maugus' Cave, The Devil's Den, or Nehoiden's Cave. It is a shallow rock shelter in the Barker's Glen section of the Hemlock Gorge Reservation. We will meet at the main parking lot at 11:00 AM. Directions are below. Be prepared for a scenic winter hike in 1 - 3" snow in hemlock woods. Hemlock George Reservation is located on the Charles River Between Newton and Upper Falls and Needham. To get there take Route 128 (I-95) to Route 9 East and get off at the first exit (Newton Upper Falls). Turn right at stop sign onto Ellis St. and right again at next stop sign onto Chestnut St. Turn right at first traffic light onto Elliot St. (Central Ave. in Needham). Parking is off of Hamilton Place (first right after crossing river). MBTA access is via the Green Line's Eliot Station then a 15 minute walk westbound along Rt. 9. Then, another 15 minute road hike to the parking area above. If you have any problems connecting with us, call Steve's cell phone: 508.259.3536. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 13-15-dec-2002: Exploration, Mapping, and Digging trip to West Virginia. This trip will visit caves more than three feet deep! Kevin Flanagan will lead a trip to Germany Valley to try to open a probable cave in a sinkhole. Kevin especially needs thin cavers for this trip, and would like people with vertical experience. However, vertically and dimensionally challenged cavers can probably make themselves useful too, particulary for alternate caves Kevin may have in the works. Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 22-dec-2002: Dinosaur Rock Cave, Rhode Island. Hank Walther will lead this trip to a very big rock that has a small cave underneath it. Helmet and lamp suggested. Bring your vertical equipment if you want to practice rappelling and ascending on the side of the rock. Contact: Hank Walther.
• 28-dec-2002: Shay's Horse Cave, Amherst area. Trip includes a hike to this shelter cave in Holyoke Range. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 4-jan-2003, 16:00: Boston Grotto monthly meeting. Morrie Gasser's house, Hopkinton, MA. Arrive at 2 PM for a short hike around the scenic pond. After the meeting, we will move the Grotto Library to its new location in Morrie's house, and we will order pizza. This is your chance to browse through the historical crusty and moldy club archives and learn about forgotten caves, some of them measureless to man. For directions, visit www.thegassers.com , or contact Morrie.
• 18-jan-2003: Overhang Cave and Hike, Wrentham State Forest, Mass. May require snowshoes, depending on depth of snow. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 19-jan-2003: Sabrina Lake, Needham, Mass. Trip will visit Victorian Cellar, a man-made cave, and Devil's Den, a talus / shelter (?) cave. If lake is frozen and safe, best route to the caves is over the ice. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 25-jan-2003: Beginner Trip, Clarksville Cave. Cave is located about 3 hours from Boston, so trip will leave early. Grotto-approved helmets and lamps available if arrangements made with trip leader at least 24 hours in advance. Contact: Anne Fletcher (trip leader) or via Steve Stokowski.
• 1-feb-2003: Cross Country Skiing Trip, Great Brook Farm State Park, Carlisle, Mass. Group will look for caves, although nobody really expects to find any, and will enjoy the snow. Rental equipment available at the park, but you will have to arrive early to guarantee availability. Leader will cancel trip or schedule an alternate activity if snow cover is not adequate. Contact: Karen Potter.
• 5-feb-2003: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation TBA. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 7-9-feb-2003: Germany Valley, West Virginia. Join Kevin Flangan and James Keary for a trip to this famous caving area. May involve vertical. Trip will depart from the Boston area at noon on Friday. Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 9-feb-2003: Sunday, Cross Country Ski Trip, Great Brook Farm State Park. Group will look keep an eye out for caves, although nobody expects to find any. Main goal is to enjoy the snow. Rental equipment available at the park, but you will have to arrive early (9 AM) to guarantee availability. Leader will cancel trip or schedule an alternate activity if snow cover is not adequate. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 16-feb-2003: Sunderland Ice Cave. Trip will involve hiking, skiing, or snowshowing to the cave, actually more of an open-air crevasse, depending on conditions. Contact: John Evans.
• 21-23-feb-2003: Sinnitt-Thorn & Cave Mountain Caves, WVa. Visit these extensive caves in northern Pendleton County, WVa, and learn about cave gates, lost keys, geology, red stuff, rare bats, 400 million year old sea critters, prehistoric caving bears, falling rocks, continental uplift, seashore deposition, spastic clastics, highway boondogles, environmental depredation, politics, poverty in the farm belt, closed winter roads, fishing on the ice, mud, and the best and worst restaurant in Franklin. Written permission required from cave manager in advance, so contact Steve Stokowski as soon as possible.
• 15-16-mar-2003: Beginner / novice trip to Clarksville Cave, New York. This is a joint trip with the Northeastern University Outdoor Club (NUHOC). Main trip will leave early Saturday, return same day. Second day is still up in the air, but will be optional. Contacts: Chris Taylor, James Keary, Kevin Flanagan
• 30-mar-2003: April Fools Formal Dinner in Clarksville Cave. Put your tux or dress on under your coveralls for dinner in the main room. Contact: Steve Stokowski
• 2-apr-2003: Boston Grotto monthly meeting. Grotto Auction! MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 6 April 2003: Sunday AM, Caving In Ashland. OK, this is hardly more than a few feet of cave, but the geology (granite. glacial) makes it interesting. Will require a short hike in the woods. Ask to see Steve's carbide lamp collection (the best ones are hidden in the basement), his rock saw, drilling rig, and stereo petrology microscope. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 10 April 2003: Tom Dooley Screen Play Meeting. Now is your chance to put the final polish on those cave yarns in an attempt to get written into the next screenplay to feature a Hollywood Cave. Meeting at Morrie's house in Hopkinton, 7 PM. Contacts: Tom or Morrie Gasser.
• 12 April 2003: Saturday, Caves of Lanesboro. This Berkshire trip will visit Baker's Quarry Cave and several others. These small marble caves do not take long to explore, but are well worth a visit. Scenic hike to caves will explore solutional topography for overlooked openings. Contact: "Caver Steve" Stokowski.
• 12-13 April 2003: Trip to Shovel in Germany Valley (WVa). Kevin Flanagan has another dig in mind, and some caving. He will depart at Friday noon. Contact: Kevin Flangan.
• 19-20 April 2003: Easter Weekend Canadian Bunny Trip. James Keary will lead a trip to West Virginia to meet up with members of a Toronto caving group. Contact: James Keary.
• 26-27 April 2003: Open! Suggest something!
• 7-may-2003: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation TBA. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 9-11-may-2003: SPRING 2002 VAR MEETING, Old Timers Campground, Dailey, West Virginia. $15 or $18 at site.
• 10 May 2003: Schoharie Cave. Beginner / Novice level. Contact: Rich Lester.
• 16-18 May 2003: Spring NRO, Cobleskill, New York.
• 23-26 May 2003: Kentucky Speleofest. One of the classic gatherings. Lots and lots of big caves, all you have to do is get your butt to Fort Knox, Kentucky.
• 24-25-may-2003: Trip to Germany Valley WVa for digging and caving. Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• June 2003: Kevin Harris will teach a surveying class! Class will meet one evening on the week of 9-13 June. See the official announcement for details.
• 4-jun-2003: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation: The Caves of Viet Nam. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 7-8-jun-2003: Sunderland Reconaissance, Caving, Vertical & Survey Training Trip. This sounds ambitious to me, but the main goal of the trip is to check out the campsite and a couple of the local caves and interesting sites that we will feature in the upcoming fall NRO, hosted by us, the Boston Grotto.
• 10-jun-2003: Survey Training, Nashua, New Hampshire. Contact: Kevin Harris. 1-6-jul-2003: Wild Cave Man Party Trip to Southern and Central West Virginia. This trip is named after a roman candle of the same name that almost got us kicked out of Greenbrier State Forest two years ago. Despite the word "party" in the title, we plan to do some serious caving, consisting of one or two challenging, 8 - 10 hour underground trips, and some short and easy photo and tourist trips. Caves under consideration include some of West Virginia's longest, deepest, and most interesting caves in Greenbrier and Pendleton counties, and of course, the infamous Sinks of Gandy, where you either Sinks or you Swims. At least part of one day will be devoted to looking for caves unfamiliar to the Boston Grotto for possible return visits. Preliminary plan is to depart Tuesday July 1, early evening, visit four caves on Wednesday through Saturday, then return on Sunday, July 6. Contact Chris Taylor for more information and to help plan which caves to visit.
• 14-15-jun-2003: GVKS survey training, Germany Valley, WV. Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 20-21-jun-2003: Central Indiana Grotto hosts the 50th Annual Cave Capers at Delaney Park, Indiana. (Just north of Salem.) Local caves are a blast if you enjoy wet walking passage with ladder climbs (Middle and Waterfall caves) and rafting (River cave), pit and multidrop caving from 60' to 125' (try Jug Hole, most scenic), Birthday Plunge (most fun multidrop) or Hell hole, locally the deepest.
• 21-25-jun-2003: Morrie's Friendly Family Caving Trip to Greenbrier & Monroe Counties, West Virginia. Morrie knows the locations of some obscure and extremely well-decorated caves, most of which he keeps a secret, some of which he may take you to see on this trip if you ply him with enough beer. Contact: Morrie Gasser.
• 21-28-jun-2003: National Cave Rescue Commission of the NSS will offer its annual Cave Rescue Seminar at Camp Washington Ranch, Carlsbad New Mexico. The seminar consists of classroom and fieldwork in cave rescue including underground environment, vertical rescue, hauling systems, extrication techniques, medical management, communication systems, and organization and management. Register by May 12 to avoid late fee. For a detailed course description, fees, meal and lodging arrangements, and registration form, visit the seminar web site. For possible rental-car sharing or additional information contact John Evans.
• 28-29-jun-2003: Volunteers needed to take several newspaper reporters caving in Maine. Steve Stokowksi suggests taking them to the Table Rock / Grafton Notch area. If you are familiar with the "slab" caves in this area and want to volunteer, contact Steve Stokowski.
• 1-6-jul-2003: Wild Cave Man Party Trip to West Virginia. Despite the word "party" in the title, we plan to do some serious caving: one or two challenging 8 - 10 hour underground trips, and some short and easy photo and tourist trips, including the infamous Sinks of Gandy, where you either Sinks or you Swims. Preliminary plan is to depart Tuesday July 1, cave on Wednesday through Saturday, then return on Sunday, July 6. Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 2-jul-2003: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation on caving in Italy. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 4-6-jul-2003: Trip to Isleboro Maine to look for marble sea and land caves. Isleboro is a large island in Penobscot Bay. It is largely composed of marble, but has not been explored by cavers. We are likely to find karst features and probably caves. Our exploration would be first from the sea and then on the land. This is a sea kayak exploration and a ground exploration trip. The kayaking would occur during low tide; the ground exploration would occur after, although those who do not kayak should start sooner. The plan is to take the ferry across with a vehicle loaded with boats, launch and retrieve the boats in Isleboro in the morning, and then drive and walk around in the afternoon. Contact: Steve Stokowski. (Contact Steve ASAP if you're interested so reservations can be made.)
• 12-13-jul-2003: NRO Exploration Trip. In preparation for the Fall NRO, we will explore Barn Door, Wildcat Den, UPQ Cave, and Rose Ledge in Western Massachusetts. These are mostly short slab & talus caves in granite. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 13-jul-2003: NRO Guidebook Trip. Dan Hoyt and Sybille Rex will drive out to Western Mass to locate and meet owners of the caves that we will include in the Fall NRO Guidebook to get permission. Contact: Dan Hoyt.
• 18-20-jul-2003: 2003 Karst-O-Rama at the Great Saltpetre Cave Preserve in Mount Vernon, Kentucky. (Sign up early for significant discounts.)
• 20-jul-2003: Isleboro, Maine: Join us for a boating & hiking trip to this marble/limestone island, which undoubtedly host some sea caves and karst features. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 27-jul-2003: Mapping Trip to Sunderland Ice Cave, actually a deep crevasse. Contacts: Sybille Rex and Dan Hoyt.
• POSTPONED (was 1-2-aug-2003): Lanesborough, Massachusetts Cave Trip. The trip is partly to prepare for the Fall NRO, when we will need people who've been in the caves to lead others. These caves are typically only a few hundred feet long, in marble, but these are REAL CAVES, not simple depressions in the rocks. Trip probably will depart Friday night, August 1. Contact: Dan Hoyt.
• 4-8-aug-2003: NSS Convention 2003, Porterville, California.
• 6-aug-2003: Boston Grotto monthly meeting and Knot Night! MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 15-20-aug-2003: Trip to Huntsville Alabama for pits & vertical & horizontal excitement. Contact: Chrissy Frotten.
• 16-aug-2003: Catamount Hills, Colrain, Mass, to attempt to rediscover some noted solutional and tectonic caves. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 17-aug-2003: Northeast Cave Conservancy EC meeting, Addis/Hay house in Cohoes, New York. The meeting will begin at 10:30 am and all are welcome. This will innclude an NCC BBQ for all members starting at 1:00. Bob will provide the meat and vegetarian bbq alternative and requests that people bring a dish to pass around. Bob also has trees that for vertical practice. Contact: Christa Hay.
• 17-aug-2003: Where in the World is Ovens Den Cave?? We have lost this famous landmark Massachusetts cave, and the club has volunteered Steve Stokowski to try to find it before the start of the Fall NRO. (See below.) Details are tentative at this moment, but contact Steve Stokowski if you would like to wander around in the woods with a professional geologist looking under every rock for a hole in the ground.
• 23-aug-2003: Troop 11 / 424 Boy Scout Trip. If interested in joining us for a beginner trip featuring tight crawlways and some wet passages, contact Chris Taylor.
• 24-aug-2003: Mount Adams Subway. Morrie will lead a strenuous 2 hour hike to the talus caves of mount Adams. This somewhat steep uphill hike will provide plenty of scenery even if you don't care much for caves consisting of piles of giant rocks, although these particular ones are quite impressive for talus caves. Contact: Morrie Gasser.
• 27-aug-2003: NRO Planning Meeting. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map) Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 28-aug-1-sep-2003: Old Timers Reunion, Dailey, West Virginia, just south of Elkins.
• 3-sep-2003: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation TBA. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 5-7-sep-2003: Fall NRO, Barton Cove Campground, Gill, Mass. Come for caving, canoeing on the Connecticut River, hiking, and more good times. Hosted by us, the Boston Grotto!
• 12-14-sep-2003: Trip to Germany Valley, West Virginia. Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 21-sep-2003: Vertical practice at College Rock; 10:00. You must contact Steve Hulbert or Margaret Renwick beforehand.
• 27-sep-2003: Trip to Southwest Maine to look for a rumored cave. May also visit nearby Isle of Shoals to look for sea caves. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 1-oct-2003: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation TBA. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 9-12-oct-2003: Fall TAG Area Cave-In, Alabama. Ex-local contact: Chrissy Frotten.
• 11-13-oct-2003: Columbus Day weekend Downeast Caving Trip. Trip to emerged sea caves in Acadia National Park, Maine. Depart Friday night and drive to Bangor to motel. Camp out Saturday and Sunday nights. Hike to many emerged sea caves in Acadia National Park. Requires minimal gear (helmet, lamp, kneepads, pack, sturdy boots, love of lobster. Return Monday, or whenever. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 13-oct-2003: Columbus Day (Monday), BEGINNER TRIP to Knox Cave. This trip will visit the infamous GUN BARREL, not to be missed by the dimensionally challenged! Contact: Rich Lester.
• 18-oct-2003: 10 AM, Amherst Mass., dedication ceremony for a sculpture in memorial to former Kevin Brown, former BG member. Contact: Heather Halsey.
• 18-oct-2003: Cider party at Bigler's in Little Nahant. Caving trip to sea caves Swallows Cave, Devils Mouth Cave, Devils Chin Cave, etc., Arrive early so that you can get to the caves in time for the 11:28am low tide. Bring helmet, lamp, sturdy boots, a potluck dish. Possible remap of Swallows Cave. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 18-19-oct-2003: NCRC Cave Rescue Seminar. This is a basic orientation to cave rescue and is designed to give students a basic understanding of the skills and techniques required to successfully participate in an actual rescue. It will also give them an opportunity to interact with local fire and police agencies.
• 5-nov-2003: Boston Grotto monthly meeting, featuring presentation roulette! MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 22-nov-203 (Saturday): Beginner level caving trip to Upton, Mass., seeking Whistling Cave and the Indian cave on Peppercorn Hill. (Peppercorn Hill also contains a southern New England acidic basin fen that is unusual for the area.) Bring your compass, hiking boots, cave light, and prepare to bushwhack on Peppercorn Hill. Whistling Cave is on a well-marked trail, however. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 26-30-nov-2003: West Virginia Caving Trip over the Thanksgiving holiday. Trip to a variety of caves in West Virginia, possibly Scott Hollow, Friar's Hole, Norman, and/or Porter's in the Lewisburg, West Virginia area. Degree of difficulty and variety depends up the interests and capabilities of the participants. The trip leader hopes to stay in a motel, but might be persuaded to camp if you know of a winter campground with hot showers. The departure date and the return dates are flexible, however, the trip leader has lots of comp time that he wants to use. One possible plan is to leave on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and return on Sunday. If you can keep him in WV for a month, he'll still get paid, and might be happy, except for the marital strife. Contact: James Keary.
• 3-dec-2003: Boston Grotto monthly meeting. A slide show of the best of the 2002 photo salon will be presented. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 6-dec-2003: beginner trip to Morris Cave in Vermont. This trip will visit the longest cave in New England (335 caver lengths). The outside might be very scenic if it has snowed or has been below freezing for a few days. Contact: Rich Lester.
• Autumn 2003: Grafton Notch (Maine) Talus / Slab Caves. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• Autumn 2003: Gypsum Caves of New Brunswick. If interested, contact the Grotto or Dan Hoyt.
• October(?) 2003: Mystic Cave, West Virginia. (Near Franklin.) Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 13-dec-2003: Weybridge Cave in Vermont. This trip will explore one of the more notable wild caves in Vermont. The last part of the cave requires advanced equipment and vertical training (cable ladders, rope techniques), but this bit is optional. Contact: Rich Jay Loubris.
• 31-dec-2003: Don't Ignore the Grotto Library Day, at Morrie Gasser's house. This year we will try to get over 50 years worth of rare and out of print newsletters, trip reports, scribbled notes and books put into some semblance of order so that we can figure out what nearby caves measureless to man may have vanished into the dim forgotten reaches of history (see Massachusetts Caves project, below). Come early in the afternoon for hiking and /or snowshoeing. You should bring some food and drink, and we will likely order pizza as well. Contact Morrie Gasser.
• 3-jan-2004: Trip to Castle Caves, Douglas, Mass. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 7-jan-2004: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; excellent slide show, plus discussion on the proposed new constitution and bylaws. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 10-jan-2004: Clarksville Cave, New York. Novice/beginner trip. Trip may be full. Contact: Doug Deyoe.
• 11-jan-2004: Steve's Cold & Snowy Castle Cave Conundrum, Douglas, Mass. Where are they? Join Steve Stokowski, BG Head Honcho & Rock Expert for a hike in the snowy subzero woods about 45 minutes SW of Boston. Castle Caves may stretch the definition of the word "cave," but Steve guarantees an adventurous hike. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 24-jan-2004: Snowshoe Escapade to Sunderland Ice Caves, Sunderland, Mass. (Near route 91 & Vermont border.) Steve plans more frigid fun during a snowshoe trip to this interesting crevasse/cave. Bring or borrow snowshoes or ask Steve if he has extras. Steve plans to cancel the trip if INSUFFICIENT snow. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 31-jan-2004: Don't Ignore the Grotto Library Day (Mark II?), at Morrie Gasser's house. This year we will try to get more than 50 years worth of rare and out of print newsletters, trip reports, scribbled notes and books put into some semblance of order so that we can figure out what nearby caves measureless to man may have vanished into the dim forgotten reaches of history (see Massachusetts Caves project, below). Come at noon or shortly thereafter for hiking and /or snowshoeing. Eating and organizing will run into the evening hours, possibly until 11. Morrie promises to show his famous Scott Hollow video to those that actually stick around and help with the library. You should bring some food and drink, and we will likely order pizza as well. Contact: Morrie Gasser.
• 4-feb-2004: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation TBA. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 13-16-feb-2004: Friday evening through Monday trip to West Virginia, Franklin & Seneca Rocks. Novice/intermediate level, two really big, nice wild caves and one smaller fun cave. Learn about caver bears, red deposits, endangered long-eared furry bats, endangered vegetables, and how to find your way through a long, wet cave with just a crude sketch map and a broken compass. Does this sound like fun or what? Waiver required several days in advance, so don't delay, contact Steve Stokowski right away.
• 12-feb-2004: Bill Stone's Oaxaca Middle Karst/Cheve Expedition will be leaving from Austin on February 12. More info is here, with the live National Geographic expedition site here.
• 21-feb-2004: Snowshoe Adventure to Sunderland Ice Caves, Sunderland, Mass. (near route 91 & VT border). Steve plans more frigid fun during a snowshoe trip to this interesting crevasse/cave. Bring or borrow snowshoes or ask Steve if he has extras. Steve plans to cancel the trip if there is insufficient snow. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 22-feb-2004: Onesquethaw Cave, NY. Join Rich Lester and a bunch of gung-ho Boston Grotto folks for this challenging walking, hands-and-knees, then belly crawling and stooping cave. Be prepared for some sloshing around in some muck. Cave can flood, so trip will divert to another cave if rain is in the forecast. Contact: Rich Lester.
• 28-feb-2004: Sunderland Ice Caves, Sunderland, Mass. (near route 91 & VT border). Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 29-feb-2004: Baker Estate Victorian "Cave," Needham, Mass. Join Caver Steve and lots of BG trekkers for this hike to a man-made "cave," actually part of a cellar decorated years ago to resemble a Victorian notion of a cave. Trip requires crossing a frozen lake, so warm conditions may require alternate plans. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 3-mar-2004: Boston Grotto monthly meeting elections, and Steinernes Meer photos. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 7-mar-2004: Purgatory Chasm, Rhode Island. (Not Massachusetts!) Everyone is welcome to join Steve on this visit to a small sea cave, but Steve warns that you will need vertical experience to rappel into the cave and climb back out. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 12-14-mar-2004: Kevin's Monthly Trip to West Virginia. (See Germany Valley, above.) Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 27-mar-2004: Schoharie Cave, New York. Steve will lead a trip to this interesting, fairly easy cave about 3 hours from Boston. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 7-apr-2004: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation on École Polytechnique's underground hot air balloon flight. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 9-apr-2004: Germany Valley trip. See above for general info. Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 18-apr-2004: Trip to Purgatory Chasm, Rhode Island. (not Massachusetts!) Everyone is welcome to join Steve on this visit to a small sea cave, but Steve warns that you will need vertical experience to rappel into the cave and climb back out. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 1-may-2004: Trip to Clarksville Cave, New York. This is a GREAT cave and a good beginner through intermediate trip if you have never been to the cave. Contact: Peggy Renwick.
• 8-may-2004: Trip to Clarksville Cave, New York. You are welcome to join Adam Dobson to explore one of NY's most popular (and still open) wild caves.
• 5-may-2004: Boston Grotto monthly meeting and annual auction. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 14-16 May 2004: Spring NRO 2004, Arlington, Vermont, on the banks of the Battenkill River. More info should eventually be here and on the NRO's event web site.
• 22-23-may-2004: "Caves & Quarries of NY" Field Trip. Join Caver Steve as he tromps around in the woods and examines weird rock formations with arcane Latin and historical geological names and expounds on the genesis of antidiluvian effluvium. This will be a dry run for the actual field trip that Steve will lead later in the year, unless it rains, in which case it will be a wet run. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 28-31-may-2004: Kentucky Speleofest 2004, Memorial Day Weekend. Carlson, Fort Knox-Meade County, Kentucky. Remarkable caves, camping & showers. Contact: Larry Martin (Kentucky), +1.502.533.1436. See the local grotto's web site for more info.
• 29-30-may-2004: Caver Steve has something interesting in mind for this weekend, but he couldn't explain it to us. It supposedly involves caves not to far from Boston. Contact Steve Stokowski if you have a yen to do some hiking, non-technical climbing, and possibly some local caving or poking around in small holes on this weekend.
• 2-jun-2004: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation is "The History of the Boston Grotto" by Steve Stokowski. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 12-jun-2004: Pioneer Cave, Rhode Island. Caver Steve is leading a hike to this short cave near Yagoo, Rhode Island. Bring coveralls or other clothing that you don't mind getting dirty. Cavers will meet at the Duncan Donuts in Wyoming, Rhode Island. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 16-26-Jun-2004: NCRC Cave Rescue Seminar, Indiana (in the state's prime caving area). Contact: John Evans.
• 27-jun-2004: Knox Cave, New York. If you make it through the Gun Barrel you get the "Order of the Gun Barrel" certificate. If not, you will get muddy in the cut-around and get called a wimp. Contact: Tom Kinsky.
• 1-5-jul-2004: Fourth of July Trip to West Virginia. We have a list of GREAT cave trips ranging from 16 hour bust-ass knockouts to 45 minute photo opportunities. Likely targets include Buckeye Creek, Scott Hollow, and other systems and caveletts in Greenbrier County. Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 7-jul-2004: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation is "Favorite Caves of Mexico" (about Mexican cave diving) by Lea Nichols. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 10-jul-2004: Moira Cave, Ontario. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 10-jul-2004: Paleontology Trip to Table Mtn / Grafton Notch, Maine. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 12-16-jul-2004: NSS 2004 Convention, Marquette, Michigan. Camping and parties at the Marquette County Fairgrounds, programming at Northern Michigan University, organized caving trips before, during, and after.
• 25-jul-2004: Bats Den Cave, Jug End Karst, Berkshires (Mass). Contact: Chris Taylor. Note corrected date.
• 24-25-jul-2004: Geological Society of Maine Field Trip, Lebanon Maine area. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 31-jul-2004: Trip to Germany Valley, WV. Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 4-aug-2004: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation TBA. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 7-aug-2004: Indian Caves, Upton, Massachusetts. Join Steve Stokowski for a pleasant hike to look for these small talus/shelter caves located in the Boston metro-west area. According to Steve, the caves have archeological significance. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 14-aug-2004 (tentative date): Caves of Tekoa Mountain, Woronoco Mass. Tom Kinsky and Chris Taylor will lead a trip to Tekoa mountain, just off the Massachusetts Turnpike west of Westfield, to look for talus, erosional, and solutional caves. Many leads can be seen from the road below, inky spots lurking under monsterous boulders and rock slabs. According to geologist James Skehan, the large rubble field below the steep ridge was formed from overthrusting and collapse along the charlemont fault. Rocks and minerals in the area include large books of mica, white pegmatites, quartzite, quartz schist, hawley amphibolites, and carbonaceous schists. Bring a rock hammer and be prepared for some challenging hiking over rough skree. Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 22-aug-2004: Sunderland Ice Caves. Join Steve Stokowski for this easy hike to visit this interesting vertical crevasse, which also has a horizontal entrance. Vertical equipment optional. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 28-aug-2004: The Snake Pit, Farley, Massachusetts. Steve Hulbert will lead a vertical training trip to this subsidence cave with a short 30-foot or so drop at the entrance. Bring vertical gear or borrow Steve's if you would like to learn how to rappel and ascend a standing rope. Although this cave is only a few hundred feet long, full caving gear is recommended unless you want to just bounce the entrance, in which case, helmet required. Contact: Steve Hulbert.
• 1-sep-2004: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation by Steve Stokowski on Project SIMMER, the Virginia Region's answer to the C-3 Expedition. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 12-sep-2004, 8:30-9:30 AM: NCC (Northeast Cave Conservancy) Meeting. Meet at Clarksville Cave at to discuss volunteering as a "steward." Stewards will watch the cave and help youth groups and cave-for-pay groups cave safely. A board meeting will be held later in the day.
• 17-19-sep-2004: Fall NRO in the Adirondacks. The NRO will be held at Natural Stone Bridge and Caves in Pottersville, New York. NRO activities will include: off-trail access to the caves at Natural Stone Bridge and Caves! Browns Cave, Lost Pond Caves, Hotwater Pond Cave System, and Eagle Caves! Hiking, biking and boating, Gore Mountain - Gondola Rides, Adirondack Museum, North Creek Adirondack Train Rides, and a visit to the Barton Hill Garnet Mine.
• 6-oct-2004: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation TBA. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 8-10-oct-2004: NE Intercollegiate Geological Conference, Salem, Massachusetts. Learn about Massachusetts and New Hampshire geology and participate in field trips. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 9-oct-2004: Berkshire Ridgewalking Trip. Chris Taylor will lead a in one of the marble areas of the Berkshires to look for undiscovered caves. Expected duration of hike is one to two hours. If we can obtain permission in advance, we will also visit one of the better-known marble caves in the region. Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 16-oct-2004: Cider Party, noon to midnight. Nancy Gilman and Jeff, Margaret and Laura Bigler invite you to their annual apple cider party. Pressing starts at 1:00 pm sharp!
• 23-24-oct-2004: NCRC Orientation for Cave Rescue, Pittsfield, Vermont. (Or perhaps "Pittsford"; reports vary, and the link below doesn't work at press time.) More info here. Contact: John Evans.
• Late October or Early November, Date TBD: Caves of Tekoa Mountain, Woronoco, Massachusetts. Tom Kinsky and Chris Taylor will lead a trip to Tekoa mountain, just off the Massachusetts Turnpike west of Westfield, to look for talus, erosional, and solutional(?) caves. Many leads can be seen from the road below, inky spots lurking under monstrous boulders and rock slabs. According to geologist James Skehan, the large rubble field below the steep ridge was formed from overthrusting and collapse along the Charlemont fault. Rocks and minerals in the area include large books of mica, white pegmatites, quartzite, quartz schist, hawley amphibolites, and carbonaceous schists. Bring a rock hammer and be prepared for some challenging hiking over rough skree. Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 3-nov-2004: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; video presentation on knot failure. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 6-nov-2004: Caves of Tekoa Mountain, Woronoco, Massachusetts. Tom Kinsky and Chris Taylor will lead a trip to Tekoa mountain, just off the Massachusetts Turnpike west of Westfield, to look for talus, erosional, and solutional(?) caves. Many leads can be seen from the road below, inky spots lurking under monsterous boulders and rock slabs. According to geologist James Skehan, the large rubble field below the steep ridge was formed from overthrusting and collapse along the Charlemont fault. Rocks and minerals in the area include large books of mica, white pegmatites, quartzite, quartz schist, hawley amphibolites, and carbonaceous schists. Bring a rock hammer and be prepared for some challenging hiking over rough skree. We will meet at the turnpike Exit 11 Park N' Ride immediately to the left of the toll booth at 9 AM. Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 9-nov-2004: Tuesday Evening. Caves of Maine Lecture, B.U. Geology Club, by Steve Stokowski. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 20-nov-2004: Caving in the Taconic Mountains. (Few caves are known in the Taconic Mountains.) Snow Hole and Williams Caves, formed from tectonic action in schist and phyllite. Both Snow Hole and Williams Cave are near the spot where Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts meet, and it is not at all clear which state either cave is in, although Williams is probably in Vermont. The Snow Hole formed in a small complex of gravity-slip blocks in slates and phyllites on the Taconic Crest of extreme eastern New York. (Or is that extreme western Massachusetts?) Come along and decide for yourself, and learn some new outdoor terminology to impress your friends. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 1-dec-2004: Boston Grotto monthly meeting, with a video presentation on cave diving in Hawaii. The meeting will be at MIT at 7:30pm, and will likely be in the usual room of 36-155. (Look for signs if we've moved.) (map)
• 5-dec-2004: Annual Blizzard Trip to Morris Cave. Rich Lester will lead this trip to Vermont's premier marble cave. In memory of last year's adventure, he has privately threatened to cancel the trip unless the weather forecast calls for at least six inches of fresh powder. If your chest size exceeds 44, you may have difficulty making it through the entrance crawl, but if you can drive in the snow and work a snow shovel, Rich invites you to participate. Contact: Rich Lester.
• 11-dec-2004: Onesquethaw Cave. Kevin Shaw will lead a trip to this popular New York cave. Trip will negotiate the barnyard, which usually requires getting a bit wet. Bring warm clothes to change into for the potentially sub-zero dash back to the cars!. Contact: Kevin Shaw.
• 19-dec-2004: Swallows Cave (and perhaps others) in Nahant, Mass. (Probably no swallows, but copious marine life and perhaps a witch.) Meet in Little Nahant at 11am. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 5-jan-2005: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation TBA. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 22-jan-2005: Venture Troop 110 Trip to Clarksville Cave. Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 29-jan-2005 (tentative date; postponement likely due to snow): Rhode Island Inland Cave Hunting Trip. Steve has identified 13 limestone and marble exposures in Rhode Island, will pick the most promising couple of these for caves, and lead a hiking trip to look for caves and karst. The only known solutional cave in RI is located in one of these deposits. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 2-feb-2005: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation TBA. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 5-feb-2005: Snowshoe To Sunderland Ice Cave, Mt. Toby, Massachusetts. Beg borrow or steal some snowshoes if necessary (Morrie Gasser has a few extra pairs if you ask him nicely) and join us for a fun day trip in the woods. We will snowshoe from the cars to Sunderland Ice Cave, actually a 300-foot long crevasse. Caving equipment optional, but you may want to bring a helmet and lamp for checking out the ice cave. Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 12-feb-2005: Annual Winter Fix The Library Party & Hike, Morrie's House, Hopkinton. 2pm-11pm. Bring something to drink, we will order some food. Directions at www.thegassers.com.
• 15-feb-2005, 18:30, Worcester State College Geology program: Have fun learning about what we hike on. Geology Professor James Lyons of Worcester State College speaks about the formation of mountain ranges, particularly in the New England states. Learn how our environment creates change and the time table of geologic history in this informative hour. This is a FREE program held at Worcester State College. Call 508-752-1045 ext:242 for details and directions.
• 18-22-feb-2005: Trip to north-central West Virginia, Franklin area. We have two great caves lined up, one for one for Sunday, one for Monday. The goal is to leave Friday after work (or earlier) and stop around Chambersburg (Pennsylvania) at a motel, then continue to West Virginia on Saturday morning. We may have time for a short cave trip on Saturday afternoon. We will return on Tuesday. Bring your cave camera. Contacts: Steve Stokowski, Chris Taylor.
• 2-mar-2005: Boston Grotto monthly meeting and elections; presentation on "Underground Radio Communications and Depth Measurement," your chance to learn about ELF (no, not the fairyland critters) and RF attenuation in limestone, plus how to build a practical cave radio from those old computer and TV parts in the gathering dust in Steve's basement. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• Ongoing - Caves of Massachusetts: Trips to locate and map caves in Massachusetts. If you want to try and find some stuff in eastern Massachusetts, contact Steve Stokowski for leads.
• Second weekend of every month: surveying, digging, and exploration in Germany Valley, West Virginia. Local contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 4-9-mar-2005: UAYCEF Puerto Rico Trip with an option to stay till the 13th. Participants will stay at the Casita overlooking the Tanama river, a short distance from the Aracebo Radio Telescope. Participants should arrive at San Juan airport Friday evening between 6 PM and Midnight. Contact: Chris Nicola.
• 12-13-mar-2005: Germany Valley, West Virginia. Trip to Memorial Day Cave, vertical experience required, or perhaps a dig trip to Shovel Eater Cave. Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 19-mar-2005: Onesquethaw Crawlathon, New York. Contact: Rich Lester.
• 26-mar-2005: Gage Cave. trip cancelled Evan Grove will lead a trip to this fun cave in New York. Trip will include the dry side of the cave, and if you have a wetsuit or sufficient warm clothes, it will include the wet side as well. Contact: Evan Grove. [cancelled]
• 26-mar-2005: Trip to Decorated Section of Cave Mountain Cave, West Virginia. Meet Bob Hoke and Tim McFougle at the field below and to the east of Cave Mountain, at the trailhead, at 10:30 AM. Contacts: Chris Taylor and Steve Stokowski.
• 6-apr-2005: Boston Grotto monthly meeting, featuring 3-D Cave slide show by Charles Kahn, a 3-D cave photographer. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 16-apr-2005: "Ridgewalking" trip to Rhode Island Marbles and Limestones. Caver Steve has dug through his musty and moldy geological documents, some of them over a century old, and with the help of expert squinty-eyed cartographers in the Boston Grotto, has put together detailed modern maps of the known carbonate deposits in the state of Rhode Island. One site contains the only known solutional cave in the state, found by Boston Grotto's own John Fisher in 1964. Another cave may also exist in another quarry, but is now buried under broken glass and municipal landfill. The 16 outcrops are located to the north and west of Providence. The sites are in the middle of the woods, in a state park, adjacent to a shopping center, next to a highway cloverleaf, and under housing developments. Join us for this historical and guaranteed hysterical trip to look at marble outcrops, some karst features, and maybe even a cave. Perhaps we will find Rhode Island's very own Mammoth Cave system, but I don't recommend betting on this at Foxwoods. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 23-apr-2005: Postponed: Video and Photo Trip to Schoharie Cave. (See below.)
• 23-apr-2005: Vertical Training Session, Crow Hill, near Leominister. Plan is to find a nice LONG FREE drop with a nasty overhang to simulate an actual CAVE. Bring helmet, gloves, vertical gear if you have any. Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 4-may-2005: Boston Grotto monthly meeting, without a DVD presentation on the history of vertical caving. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 7-may-2005: Caver Steve's wedding. No details available yet, but a contingent from the Grotto has threatened to crash the wedding in muddy helmets and coveralls if not invited.
• May-June sometime: Video and Photo Trip to Schoharie Cave. Leander Nichols will shoot a video to include sections of the cave past the sump, if possible. Lea needs help carrying scuba gear, cameras, and lights, and he needs photographers and walk-on actors to goof off for the cameras. Bring your red coveralls. A fun time is guaranteed for all. Contact: Leander Nichols.
• 13-16-may-2005: Trip To Germany Valley, West Virginia. Vertical, horizontal, digging, surveying, maybe some virgin cave. Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 14-may-2005: Video Trip to Schoharie Cave. Leander Nichols will shoot a video to include sections of the cave past the sump, if possible. Lea needs actors, help carrying scuba gear, cameras, and lights, and he needs photographers. A good time is guaranteed. Contact: Lea Nichols.
• 20-22-may-2005: Spring NRO. Near Port Jervis and Surprise Cave (NY). Hosted by the infamous and controversial Central Connecticut Grotto.
• 1-jun-2005: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation by Steve Stokowski: Sea Caves of Rhode Island. Please bring your kayak to the meeting. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 11-jun-2005: Westport, Mass. Event of the Year: the party celebrating the wedding of CaverSteve and MissusCaverSteve. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 10-12-jun-2005: Trip To Germany Valley, West Virginia. Vertical, horizontal, digging, surveying, maybe some virgin cave. Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 18-jun-2005: Search for King Philips Cave(s). Steve Stokowski will lead a trip to Norton, Sharon and vicinity in Eastern Massachusetts to search for this cave of historical interest, which seems to exist in several towns simultaneously. Steve warns that the cave, while perhaps interesting from a geological and historical perspective, is probably not much more than a shelter cave or small talus cave. However, the fun is the hunt, the hiking, and discovering curious landmarks and rock formations. Contact: Steve Stokowski, the man armed with Massachusetts historical records dating back to the age of the dinosaurs.
• 25-jun-2-jul-2005: NCRC Training Session, Somerville, Alabama. Cave rescue training, to be run in proximity to this year's NSS convention. Contact: John Evans.
• 4-8-jul-2005: NSS Convention 2005, Huntsville, Alabama, the headquarters of the NSS and the birthplace of US vertical caving.
• 5-9-jul-2005: Morrie's UN-Convention Trip to West Virginia. Three days of caving in the massive big cave limestone around Lewisburg. Morrie has lined up permission to visit several booming caves new to the Boston Grotto, many of which actually allow standing. Contact: Morrie Gasser.
• 13-jul-2005: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; possible presentation on the history of vertical caving. Note that this is not our usual first Monday of the month. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 24-jul-2005: Berkshire Caving Trip. Chris Taylor & Bill Schultz will lead this hiking & caving trip to one of several marble caves in the Berkshires, destination to depend on our ability to secure permission in advance. Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 3-aug-2005: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; entertainment provided by Steve Stokowski. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• sep-oct-2005 (date TBD, perhaps Labor Day weekend): Vertical Trip to West Virginia. McClung's via the Lightner entrance, SSS-Fuller's through trip, and more. Contact: Morrie Gasser. [old versin of trip]
• 21-28-aug-2005: International Congress of Speleology, Athens, Greece. The Hellenic Speleological Society and the Hellenic Federation of Speleology invite you to participate in the 14th UIS International Congress of Speleology (ICS). This event will include all types of scientific, exploratory, entertainment, and social activities. All people interested in caves and karst are welcome. There will be meetings, conferences, exhibitions, photo contests, leisure events, touristic visits, and many excursions to explore caves, archaeological sites and the beautiful Greek coastline. For more information go to or contact Manos Pothos at Emmanuel.Pothos@tufts.edu .
• 27-aug-14-sep-2005: UAYCEF Ukraine Caving Expedition. The first half of the trip will explore the horizontal giant gypsums of Western Ukraine. The remaining time will be spent visiting deep vertical limestone caves and shafts of the Crimea. Trip will include some sightseeing in Kiev, Yalta, Sevastopol, and the Black Sea (6-15-sep). Contact: Chris Nicola.
• 1-5-sep-2005: 56th Annual Old Timers Reunion (OTR)
• 3-sep-2005: CANCELLED:Steve Stokowski will lead a kayak trip to Beavertail Island, Jamestown Rhode Island to examine some sea caves. Trip will meet at Fort Whetherell. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 7-sep-2005: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; video presentation titled Journey into Amazing Caves. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 16-18-sep-2005: Fall NRO, Hancock, Mass. Featured are: led cave tours, kids playground, hiking trails, waterfall, sauna, karst area at camp, slide shows, NCC auction, cave guidebook by Larry Botto (partial reprint with some new stuff), underground bunker and tunnel, pond for swimming, pistol range, bonfire, vendors, et cetera, but no dogs.
• 23-15-sep-2005: Fall VAR, Bath County, Virginia. Great caving!
• 24-sep-2005: Vertical Practice, College Rocks, Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Meet at 9 AM at the rocks. Contact: Morrie Gasser.
• 24-sep2005: Beginner & Gung-Ho Novice to Intermediate Trip to Clarksville Cave, New York. The Boston Grotto certifies that this is a A REAL CAVE. Trip will enter via one of the nastiest crawlways in the cave. If you survive this, then the leader will drag you by the scruff of the neck through the stream passage to Brinley's sump where you can practice breathing through a straw. Those unable, unwilling or too sane to brave zero ceiling heights over water can opt for a drier exit, but will suffer verbal abuse. Bring your kneepads, straws and cave shark repellent. Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 25-sep-2005: Subterranean Radio Location Trial, Sturbridge Massachusetts. During this trip, George Hovarka and participants will test a low frequency transmitter and receiver between the surface and the interior of a graphite mine. Meet at 10 AM in Sturbridge. Contact: George Hovarka.
• 5-oct-2005: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation may be a video, Journey into Amazing Caves. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 6-10-oct-2005: Horizontal Trip to West Virginia. The main trip will go in Leightner's entrance of McClungs. Other possible cave trips include Scott Hollow Tourist Loop to the Omega Pit and a B-N through-trip, pending permission and how we feel when we get there after another ridiculous marathon drive. Contact: Morrie Gasser or Chris Taylor.
• 6-9-oct-2005: 28th Annual TAG Fall Cave-In, atop Lookout Mountain, Georgia. Pre-registration will be accepted from June 1 to September 1, 2005. (The first 300 pre-registrants will receive a free Cave-In ID holder lanyard!)
• 8-oct-2005: Trip to Knox Cave, New York. Trip will feature lots of tight stuff and climbing to get to the back of the cave. Contact: Kevin Shaw.
• 15-16-oct-2005: NCRC Orientation to Cave Rescue Techniques, Knox Cave, New York. Contact: John Evans.
• 22-oct-2005: NEAEG (Geology) Field Trip to the Rockslide at Sunderland Ice Cave, Sunderland, Massachusetts. Meet at the trailhead at 10 AM. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 31-oct-4-nov-2005: 2005 NKCMS, Albany, New York.
• oct-nov-2005 (date TBD): Video Trip to Schoharie Cave. Leander Nichols will shoot a video to include sections of the cave past the sump, if possible. Lea needs actors, help carrying scuba gear, cameras, and lights, and he needs photographers. A good time is guaranteed. Contact: Lea Nichols.
• oct-nov-2005 (date TBD): Subterranean Radio Location Trial, Sturbridge, Massachusetts. During this trip, George Hovarka and participants will test a low frequency transmitter and receiver between the surface and the interior of a graphite mine. Meet at 10 AM in Sturbridge. Contact: George Hovarka.
• 2-nov-2005: Boston Grotto monthly meeting, with a video presentation on Culverson Creek Cave in West Virginia. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 4-5-nov-2005: Beginner & Gung-Ho Novice Trip to Clarksville Cave, Clarksville, New York. Rocks, water, mud: what more could you want? Contact: Adam Dobson. Trip is full, but contact Adam if you have interest in similar trips in the future.
• 4-6-nov-2005: NSS Board of Governors Meeting, Albany, New York. Come and meet the Board!
• 19-nov-2005: Novice Trip to Clarksville Cave, New Yorg. Contact: Rich Lester. In addition to Rich's trip, Chris Taylor is leading a BSA trip to the cave the same day. If you know the cave, Chris may have a slot open if you are willing to tag along with a bunch of 14 year olds.
• ??-nov-2005: Cave Diving in Mexico. If you are a certified cave diver and interested, contact John Hannon.
• 7-dec-2005: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation on the caves of Greece. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 15-dec-2005: AEG Meeting & Presentation, "Eclectic Speleology: A quest for the unusual in caves and cave history." Ernst Kastning will present at the Association of Engineering Geologists meeting. You should try to get there around 6 PM. The abstract is here. Pre-registration for this dinner talk is $32; you get your choice of veggie pasta or mediterranean chicken. Both are pretty good. The meeting is at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Woburn, Mass.
• 4-jan-2006: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; slide show party plus whatever twists Steve comes up with. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 21-jan-2006: Annual Cleanup of Howe's Caverns, Howe's Cave, New York. Pot luck supper and meeting 5-6:30pm and in the cave 7-9pm. Come help NE cavers in this terrific partnership with Howe Caverns, a huge supporter of NE caving, karst preservation and the Northeastern Cave Conservancy.
• 22-jan-2006: Snowshoe Trip to Historic Shay's Horse Cave, near Amherst. Will meet at turnpike Exit 10A. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 28-jan-2006: Boston Grotto Winter "Organize the Library" Party. This year's party at Morrie Gasser's in Hopkinton will run from 12 noon to 1 AM. Party will feature a hike, pizza, and a little bit of work on organizing and listing the contents of old club newsletters. Ay me maties, their be caves in them thar newsletters. Bring food, beverages, and snowshoes or hiking boots. For directions, contact Morrie.
• 1-feb-2006: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation TBA. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 12-feb-2006: NCC Meeting, Kerhonkson, New York. See their web site or email Christa Hay for details.
• 12-feb-2006: Novice Trip to Morris Cave, Vermont. Contact: Micahel Cunningham, 207-368-5881.
• 23-26-feb-2006 (NOTE NEW DATE): Boston Grotto Quasi-Annual Winter Cave Quest 2006. The 54th quasi-annual winter trip (not counting the years we missed) will be held in Franklin, West Virginia, and will include a hike up scenic Cave Mountain, plus some return visits to one or two caves to penetrate some of the farther reaches. Contact Caver Steve to get in on what should be another great trip.
• 1-mar-2006: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; grotto elections! Also historical (hysterical?) pictures from the Grotto's past. MIT room 36-155, 7:30pm. (map)
• 9-mar-2006: Vertical Practice, Cambridge MA. Rich Lester will host a Thursday evening session from the rafters of his apartment in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Anyone who wants to is welcome to come early at 6:30 PM for a fabulous dinner consisting of hot dogs and hamburgers.
• 11-mar-2006: Salem Witch Caves, Ashland, Mass. Pointy black hats and black candles optional. Contact: Steve Stokowski.
• 12-mar-2006: Everetts Cave Cleanup with the NCC, Vermont. Contact: Christa Hay.
• 30-mar-2-apr-2006: 9th Annual YTR (Young Timers' Reunion), Blue Bend National Recreation Area (Blue Meadow Campground, near White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia). This event, designed exclusively for university and college students in student grotto and caving or outdoors clubs, includes a vertical workshop hosted by VPI and a vertical cave trip on Saturday. Please contact Chris Michie for more information on the vertical workshop. For more on Blue Bend click here. For additional information about YTR or to volunteer, e-mail Jeff Bray. (Links to email these people are at the event URL above.)
• 1-apr-2006: April Fool's Day Formal Dinner in Clarskville Cave (Saturday). Yes, you get to wear a suit or tux under your coveralls, haul a bunch of china and hot food into the cave, and astound cavers as they stumble on the Boston Grotto eating a formal dinner just above the stream. Contact: Tom Kinsky.
• 5-apr-2006: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; Michael Cunningham speaks on "Off trail in Sonora Caverns and Cave Without A Name". MIT room 32-1xx, 7:30pm. (Check 36-155 if the former is occupied.) (map)
• 22-apr-2006: Single Rope Technique / Rappelling & Ascending Practice, Crow Hill. Join Rich Lester for a fun day of hanging out with the rocks. Rich urges you to participate if you plan to go on the Guadalupe Mountain trip in October.
• 23-apr-2006: Morris Cave, Vermont. This is a great marble cave for novices without too much girth, with an entrance crawl that always generates groans and chuckles. Contact: Mike Cunningham.
• 3-may-2006: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation by David Loeffler on Cambridge University Caving Club's Austria expeditions; "30 Years Under The Alps". MIT room 32-124, 7:30pm. (Check 36-155 if the former is occupied.) (map)
• 13-may-2006: Forty "Caves", Berlin, Massachusetts. Join Caver Steve for another hiking and geology adventure to look for Eastern Massachusetts' nearest equivalent to Mammoth-Flint Ridge. Warning: Don't expect big or long caves, but bring a helmet and headlamp if you feel adventurous. Trip may also visit a local raiload tunnel. Contact: Caver Steve.
• 19-21-may-2006: Spring NRO 2006. Spring NRO will be held at the Natural Stone Bridge and Caves, Pottersville, New York, hosted by the VCA, and will feature Adirondack caving. Camp at NSB&C or stay at nearby motels, and join us for a Saturday evening BBQ dinner. Contact Ken Moore via email (or at 802-635-9369) to volunteer or for further information.
• 19-21-may-2006: Spring NRO 2006. Spring NRO will be held at the Natural Stone Bridge and Caves, Pottersville, New York, hosted by the VCA, and will feature Adirondack caving. Camp at NSB&C or stay at nearby motels, and join us for a Saturday evening BBQ dinner. Contact: Ken Moore (via email or at +1.802.635.9369) to volunteer or for further information.
• 26-28-may-2006: 35th Annual Kentucky Speleofest 2006. Hart County Fairgrounds, Munfordville, Kentucky. Hosted by The Louisville Grotto.
• 31-may-2006: Vertical practice, Wednesday evening, at the Quincy Quarries down in Quincy. Let's meet at the quarry at 6:30 p.m. Bring food if you're going to be hungry! Contact: Rich Lester.
• 3-jun-2006: Trip to Gage Cave, New York. Trip to the dry side of the cave, optional trip to the wet side. Bring a wetsuit if you have one. Contact: Rich Lester.
• 7-jun-2006: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; exciting presentation by Daniel Schott on Caves of Guatemala. MIT room 32-124, 7:30pm. (Check 36-144 if the former is occupied.) (map)
• 10-11-jun-2006: Morris Cave, Vermont. Leander Nichols plans to film a short video of dimensionally challenged cavers struggling to get through tight places in the infamous entrance crawlway. Photogenic wannabee hollywood caver stars and stunt doubles needed. Contact: Leander Nichols.
• 11-jun-2006: "Forty Caves" (note caves is in quotes), Berlin Massachusetts. Join Caver Steve for another hiking and geology adventure to look for Eastern Massachusetts' nearest equivalent to Mammoth-Flint Ridge. Warning: Don't expect big or long caves, but bring a helmet and headlamp if you feel adventurous and want to poke your head into holes that could have porcupines as occupants. Trip may also visit a local railway tunnel. Contact: Caver Steve.
• 19-jun-2006: Clarksville Cave, Clarksville New York. Trip likely full. Contact: Kevin Shaw.
• 23-25-jun-2006: 53rd Annual Cave Capers, Riverdale, Indiana.
• mid-late-jun-2006, exact date TBD: Novice Trip To Schoharie Cave, New York. Contact: Caver Steve.
• 5-jul-2006: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; discussion of Jim Mitchell recovery, aftermath, and media coverage, perhaps with a surprise slide show. MIT room 32-124, 7:30pm. (Check 36-144 if the former is occupied.) (map)
• 14-16-jul-2006: Karstorama 2006, Mount Vernon, Kentucky.
• mid-jul-2006, Exact date TBD: Novice Trip To Schoharie Cave, New York. Contact: Caver Steve.
• 29-jul-2006: McFails Cave. Vertical experience and wetsuit required. Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 2-aug-2006: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation on caves of the southwest US. MIT room 32-124, 7:30pm. (Check 36-144 if the former is occupied.) (map)
• 7-11-aug-2006: NSS 2006 Convention, Bellingham, Washington.
• 16-20-aug-2006: Big Caves of the Greenbrier Limestone. Chris Taylor is organizing a summer trip to Scott Hollow, Windy Mouth, and a couple of other BIG LIMESTONE CAVES in the Lewisburg area. At least one trip will be a photo trip, another an exploration trip, and still another will probably involve speleothem repair. Two of the three trips could exceed 10 hours underground, depending on enthusiasm of the participants. Depart from Boston area early Wednesday morning, return Sunday. Plan is to tent camp at Greenbrier SF, which has hot showers. Contact: Chris Taylor.
• 26-aug-2006: Clarksville Heritage Day, Clarksville, New York.
• aug-september-2006: Trip to Mt. Aeolus Bat Cave, Vermont. We are working on getting permission for a small trip to this cave, reputed to be the longest in Vermont. Exact date TBD. Contact: Chris Taylor. 30-aug-4-sep: Old Timer's Reunion (OTR), Daly West Virginia. Depart Wednesday, return Monday. Contact: Kevin Flanagan.
• 2-sep-2006: Novice Trip to Schoharie Cave, Scoharie, New York. If you are new to caving, or just want to hang out and have fun in an easy cave, contact Caver Steve for more information.
• 6-sep-2006: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation by Cybille Rex on lava flows, lava tubes and their formation. MIT room 32-124, 7:30pm. (Check 36-144 if the former is occupied.) (map)
• 8-sep-2006, 4-5pm: Presentation (non-BG) at Purgatory Chasm State Reservation, "Going Bats!"
• 9-sep-2006: Vertical Practice at Crow Hill. Contact: Keven Harris.
• 9-sep-2006: Roxbury Mine cleanup, Roxbury, Connecticut. The concervancy that owns the mine is allowing the Central Connecticut Grotto to organize a fun day of mine cleanup, including a bunch of vertical work (and training) and a digging project. Contacts: Bob Jacobs or Steve Millett, CCG.
• 15-17-sep-2006:Fall NRO, Oakland Valley Campground, Cuddebackville, New York. Lots of activities including gear auction, Mexican feast, and trips to one of New England's most popular wild caves.
• 16-sep-2006: McFails trip with Rick Pingree. (Tentative; contact Rick.)
• 18-sep-2006: Vertical practice, Quincy Quarries. Contact: Rich Lester.
• 20-22-sep-2006: National Cave Conservancies Forum in Lewisburg, West Virginia.
• 22-sep-2006, 4-5pm: Presentation (non-BG) at Purgatory Chasm State Reservation.
• 25-sep-2006: Vertical practice, Quincy Quarries. Contact: Rich Lester.
• September 30, Knox Cave NY. Experience the claustrophobia inducing Gunbarrel first hand and climb the The Great Divide if you dare. Contact Tom Kinsky at tdkinsky@verizon.net .
• 4-oct-2006: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; Chris Taylor will present on the Boston Grotto's August 2006 caving adventure in West Virginia, entitled "Caving in Monroe County, West Virginia". MIT room 32-124, 7:30pm. (Check 36-144 if the former is occupied.) (map)
• 7-11-oct-2006 (note date change): Trip to The Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico. We plan to visit several of the more spectacular wild caves located in the Capitain reef complex in the Carlsbad Caverns area -- US caving at its finest. Sign up early, this trip will require reservations with the Park Service for permission to enter the caves. Contact: Rich Lester.
• 7-oct-2006: Archeological Canoe Trip, Mansfield area. Contact: Caver Steve.
• 7-oct-2006: Jeff Bigler's Annual Apple Cider Party. Optional trip to see Swallows Cave, a sea cave. Low tide is at about 6 PM. Bring $6 million in cash and you can buy the cave and the property above it, which includes a modest seaside trophy home.
• 21-oct-2006: Clarksville Cave Novice Trip. Contact: Joanne Pacheco or Caver Steve.
• 28-29-oct-2006: OCR Rescue Course, Rutland, Vermont.
• 1-nov-2006: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; Sybille Rex will present the second part of her Summer trip report titled "Caves, Cracks and Other Hiding Places in Hawaii". MIT room 32-124, 7:30pm. (Check 36-144 if the former is occupied.) (map)
• 12-nov-2006 (Sunday!): Trip to Clarksville Cave. If you are new to caving or just want to hang out and have fun in a popular cave, contact Caver Steve for more information.
• 6-dec-2006: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; Chris Taylor will present on the recent BG caving trip to New Mexico, "Wild Caving in the Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico". MIT room 32-124, 7:30pm. (Check 36-144 if the former is occupied.) (map)
• 17-dec-2006:Onesquethaw Cave (Sunday!). Contact: Rich Lester.
• 30-dec-2006: Hike to Thoreau Cave, Concord, Massachusetts, a rock shelter cave located near Walden Pond just west of Boston, then the caves in West Roxbury that Hawthorn visited before writing "The Blithedale Romance", perhaps for a stop in between for hot drinks. Contact: Caver Steve.
• 3-jan-2007: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation by Dan Hoyt on Beijing Show Caves. MIT room 32-124, 7:30pm. (Check the blackboard outside or 144/123/155 if -124 is occupied.) (map)
• 13-jan-2007: Wrentham Shelter Caves (Saturday). Join caver Steve for a leisurely hike in the woods to inspect these small shelter caves. Bring the spouse or any significant others, who can shop at the local outlet stores if they would rather not join you for the hike. Contact: Caver Steve.
• January 27 - 29, Wilderness First Aid Course, Westport MA. Learn how to NOT treat snake bites and how to properly care for victims of minor injuries while hiking and caving. Contact caver Steve for the details, caversteve.aol.com.
• 3-feb-2007: Boston Grotto Winter Party, Hike, and "Work on the Library" Day, Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Pyromania at noon, hike at 2pm. Contact: Morrie Gasser.
• 7-feb-2007: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; Dr. Clifford J. Tabin, Professor and Chair of the Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, will talk on "The evolution of traits adapting fish to life in caves". Professor Tabin is a well known expert on the molecular biology of limb development and we are looking forward to the presentation and our members' participation. MIT room 32-124, 7:30pm. (Check the blackboard outside or 144/123/155 if -124 is occupied.) (map)
• 16-20-feb-2007: Boston Grotto Winter 2007 Extravanganza! This year, we will return to Franklin, West Virginia to mop up some missed routes in a couple of the nicer scenic and famous wild caves in the area. We will depart Friday evening, and stay at Thompsons Motel, which will run about $35 per person per night, excluding food. Wetsuit top, wool, polypro or other extra-warm chest layers recommended for one of the caves, a classic WV stream cave. Contact: Caver Steve and Chirs Taylor.
• 10-feb-2007: Trip to Bears Den, Fort Barton, Tiverton, Rhode Island. Meet at Stokowski residence in Westport, Mass. at noon. Any caves in Bears Den would be the easternmost caves in Rhode Island. Contact Caver Steve for directions and arrangements.
• 3-mar-2007: Trip to Clarksville Cave, New York with Venture Scouts from Weston. Contact Chris Taylor for arrangements. We need two more cavers!
• 3-mar-2007: Trip to Bensons Cave, New York. Vertical experience required. Contact Rich Lester for arrangements.
• 7-mar-2007: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation by Julie Shapiro on "Caving in Mammoth Cave National Park". MIT room 32-124, 7:30pm. (Check the blackboard outside or 144/123/155 if -124 is occupied.) (map)
• 1-apr-2007: April Fools Day Formal Dinner in Clarksville Cave, New York. The Boston Grotto tradition continues! Bring your favorite dish and suit or dress under your cave clothes. Actual caving before or after the dinner is entirely optional. Contact: Caver Steve.
• 12-may-2007: Vertical practice at Crow Hills, Leominster State Forest
• 18-20-may-2007: NRO in Central Bridge, NY
• 2-jun-2007: Caving in Rhode Island with Caver Steve
• 6-jun-2007: Boston Grotto monthly meeting; presentation by Caver Steve on "Caves of Rhode Island"
• 16-jun-2007: Trip to caves in Yawgook County, RI
• 18-jun-20007: Vertical practice and Quincy Quarries
• 22-26-jun-2007: Morrie's trip to Monroe County, WV
• 23-jun-2007: Non grotto trip to Gage Cave (dry side) and Schoharie Cave
• 21-jul-2007: Morris Cave, VT (Craig   Leander)
• 18-aug-2007: Survey Class
• 19-aug-2007: Trip to Morris Cave
• 25-aug-2007: Survey Class
• 25-aug-2007: Grotto Summer Party at Caver Steve's
• 9-sep-2007: NCC meeting in Kent, CT
• 29-sep-2007: Marble caves in Western MA
• 14-16-sep-2007: Fall NRO in Hancock, MA
• 20-oct-2007: Sea cave exploration around Little Nahand and the Bigler's Cider Party
• 22-oct-2007: Vertical practice at Quincy Quarries
• 10-nov-2007: Brandeis University trip to Clarkville Cave, lead by Taliser Avery
• 24-nov-2007: Steve led a trip to Ice Gulch in the Berkshires
• 8-dec-2007: Rich led a trip to Gage Caverns
• 6-jan-2008: Steve led a snowshoe trip to the Sunderland Ice Cave
• 19-jan-2008: Kevin Shaw led a trip to Morris Cave
• 26-jan-2008: Craig Joly and Katharine Lea lead a trip to Clarksville Cave for the Brown University Outing Club
• 10-may-2008: Mt. Greylock hike
• 16-18-may-2008: Spring NRO, Rosendale, NY
• 1-jun-2008: Beginning-of-Summer Party at Dan Hoyt's
• 12-jun-2008: Rich Lester and Katharine Lea organized a vertical practice at Quincy Quarries
• 15-jun-2008: Rich Lester lead a trip to Knox Cave
• 29-jun-2008: Kevin Shaw led a beginner trip to Clarksville Cave

Boston Grotto Caving Trip Calendar

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