The National Speleological Society will be having it’s 2020 National Convention in Elkins, WV this year from July 27th -31st! This is likely the closest the convention will be for a few years, as next year’s event is on the west coast.

Keep up with upcoming news at their announcements page, and register for the event. The 2020 convention facebook page is also linked here for ease of access.

Pre-Registration is $225 for NSS members, and $275 for non-NSS members.
After June 30, 2020 you will need to register on site.

However, you can register for the NSS for a year for only $40, with a $10 one time fee and save $ all year. Registering at the event is $50 extra on those prices, so go join the NSS! There’s more information about all of the events on the registration page.

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The address posted for the 2020 NSS convention is:

100 Kennedy Dr,
Elkins, WV 26241

Hello VAR/MAR cavers. 
This years Spring VAR/MAR will be hosted by Charlottesville and Seven Valley’s Grotto’s at Grand Caverns Park in Grottoes, Virginia. Campers are welcome (sorry boondocking only, no hookups). Very easy to get to, only 7 miles from I-81 in the Shenandoah Valley. 

VAR/MAR 2020 dates are: May 1st-3rd, 2020

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Price is $33 for adults and $25 for children, $5 higher if you register on-site.

Snail mail ONLY and pre-registrations must be postmarked by April 15, 2020.

The registration form is now up on the VAR website:

Please pre-register to be guaranteed a dinner on Sat. evening.

If you have any questions you can email Scott Davis or Anne Moses

Hey everyone, the gear swap for JUNE 2020 is up and live!!!! So head on over to the main navigation bar or click here to be taken to the page. There is a linked Google Sheet that will allow anyone to add to it, please do so as you can. The meeting time and date is in the link, you’ll not find it here.

We look forward to seeing everyone and what you’re keen to swap around! All proceeds go to the Triangle Troglodytes Grotto Treasury, so your after-meeting food won’t be paid for by gear sales. Remember that bringing unused gear for others may enable cavers to go further safely, and since you’re not caving alone (RIGHT?!) you need more caving partners!

I’m flattered you’re still here, but you missed the link.

-Elise S.

(Dues-paying) Grotto members:

On August 25 we will visit a cave in Lee County, VA. We will have an affordable nearby campground reserved for the nights of August 24 and 25. Some brief details about the cave follow. Please complete the signup survey linked below [Removed].

This will be a horizontal trip; no vertical gear needed. I always recommend knee pads. There are some long, low crawls, but they can be bypassed. Much of the cave offers walking passage. How wet you get will depend on recent rainfall and whether you reach the stream passage. Wetsuits aren’t needed, but you will appreciate waterproof boots.

This cave is appropriate for all skill levels. Attractions include waterfalls, gypsum, salamanders, weird formations, mountains of breakdown.

If you want to go on this trip and you haven’t already signed up, please send me an email (chair@tritrogs.org).

Thanks!

Emily

The 2016 officers have been elected. The Contact Us page on the website has been updated accordingly if you need to reach out to the officers this year.

Chair: Ken Walsh
Vice Chair: Robert Harris
Webmaster: Carlin Kartchner
Secretary: Emily Graham
Treasurer: Joel Johnson