The Triangle Troglodytes met at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on July 28, 2026. The meeting was in Explore on Four, and the secretary was last to arrive.
For introductions, attendees were asked when they went on their first grotto trip, and there were various answers going back to the 1970’s. Joining in-person were Taylor T (leading the meeting), Matthew W, Jacob G, Cat C, Emily G, Ken W, Mark D, Taylor O, Stephan F, Peter H, Christopher T, Melanie D, Matthew B, Abra, Blake F, Aunica, David, Ray, Theo, and Zeke. Joining online were Mike B, Lisa L, Alan O, Michael C, Mark M, John B, and Mike Y.
Trip Reports:
NSS Convention in Corydon, IN – Lisa & Mike went to Mammoth Cave, and so did Peter. Mark & Peter talked about Hidden River and Wyandote.
Melanie told us about going to Rattling Cave (TN) on July 6, and said it was an amazing cave.
Chris T led a trip on July 11 to Maxwelton Sink. Matthew B, Piotr, and a bunch of people from Boston Grotto were there. There was mention of Lost World and Middle Earth.
Over July 18, Melanie was at Surprise, Paint Rock River, & Unterstein.
Matthew B, Mike Y, John B talked about going to Clover Hollow & Pig Hole on June 27 & July 18.
Matthew and John went to Tawney’s on the 19th.
Also on July 19, Emily was at Ellison’s, and described it as “Incredible to Fantastic”.
Jacob talked about Low Moor on July 25. It was a strenuous trip uncharacteristic of a normal trip there. They split up briefly and Jacob sent people the wrong way.
For the evening’s presentation, Mark M joined us remotely to tell us about the caves we would be visiting on our trip in September. A few of them are at the Water Sinks Cave Preserve. Owl Cave has a dig in the back, and the cave is partly on top of Subway. Water Sinks Cave is also on top of Subway, and is described as “Swiss cheese with built in platforms and ladders”. Helictite Cave could require a guide (like Amos). It’s complex, has some climbs, is a sporty cave, and has helictites. The Subway has changed recently. It’s mostly not technical, and not as confusing as Helictite.
We might be able to go to Butler Cave. It has lots of borehole passage. Wishing Well is a crawly, intermediate cave, and Amos is set to lead a trip there.
We finished up by talking about upcoming trips:
Aug 15 Tawney’s and Link’s for beginners
Aug 22 BCCS open house to correspond with locals
Aug 21-23 NCRC orientation in PA
Aug 29 ACC (Perkins) work weekend
Labor Day weekend OTR in PA & CaveFest in TN
Sept 12 ACC (Perkins) work weekend
Sept 18-20 Annual Grotto Trip
Sept 19 ACC (Perkins) Open House
Sept 25-27 Fall VAR at Hungry Mother SP VA