General Meeting Minutes from August 23, 2022

Introductions

In attendance: Zeke, Emily, Louis, Taylor O., Ken, Mike (new guy), Stephan, Martin (Zoom), Mark (Zoom), Peter (Zoom), Kyle Compare (Zoom)

Program

FSU PhD candidate Kyle Compare gave us an introduction to Karst Hydrogeology and told us about some of the research he’s been doing. Just like everything else, the stuff that water does is even crazier in Florida!

Business

  • Dues
  • Bugfest
  • Darwin Day

Trip Reports

Breathing Cave – There were five of us, and we all agree that the hike was all uphill the whole way to the cave and most of the way back. Stephan posted a trip report. He’ll be more suspicious of obstacle names now that he’s encountered the nutcracker. Turtle hiking?
Crossroads Cave – Ken duped Zeke into going down some passage. Again.
Blowing Cave – Mark, Jack, and Stephan went to Blowing Cave. Afterwards, Stephan found online a paper than included an actual surveyed map of the cave. Mark appreciated the tilting of the rock layers and the mud. He wants to push some high leads and find a lot of cave. “Lots of pretty stuff in there, especially if you like mud,” said someone.
Perkins Cave – Mike the New Guy went to the ACC open house and enjoyed the Ghost Town.
Sink hole near Lexington – After a recon mission to this ginormous sinkhole from hell, the VAR conservation committee will probably not recommend a full day of 40 people cleaning it up. Also, there’s no indication of underlying cave.

Upcoming Things

  • Survey trip to Perkins some time in the future
  • Sept 1-5 – CaveFest (TN)
  • Sept 17 Bugfest
  • Oct 21-23 Fall VAR at RASS Field Station
  • Nov 12 Darwin Day
  • June 26-30, 2023 – NSS Convention in Elkins, WV