Our grotto was established on the last day of 1989 by four founding members. The TriTrogs have had a website since 1996. Allegedly, we were the first grotto to communicate using a listserv, publish our trip reports on a website, or use an online calendar to plan trips. We’ve had the privilege of meeting at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences since 2001.
This history and timeline is being built. Any help assembling or verifying historical information is greatly appreciated, and you can send or tell anything to Zeke.
The Archive of old internal pages is at the bottom.
Timeline
National Speleological Society established
Raleigh and Durham cavers meet to discuss incorporation of a local grotto
Triangle Troglodytes of the National Speleological Society established
First Grotto Expedition
Vertical training at Shaw University in Raleigh
TriTrogs Debut
TriTrogs debut as Partridge Family
TriTrogs rank debutantes in N&O
1990 members noted:
Dorothy Allard, Barbara am Ende, Bill Berryhill, Scott Blaha, Harry Burgess, Bill Bussey, Allison Chambers, Andrew Dingfelder, Emily Douthit, Mitch Dyer, Frank Filz, Patti Gauche, Tony Glosson, Kent Goode, Dick Graham, Doris Haarr, Pete Hertl, Reid Hilton, Amy Johnson, Jon Littlefield, Tanya McLaughlin, Len Milich, Valerie Perez, John Plyler, Rick, Charlotte and Mark Richardsons, John Rodgers, Teresa Shuff, Mike Smith, Bob Underwood, Kelly Victory, Randy Villa, Ken Walsh, Melissa Weakly, Rod Willard, and Karen Willmes
Map Published
FOS-Speak to Me Cave map published
NSS Convention
"Troglodyte Blues" wins Cave Ballad Salon
VAR/MAR Hosting
TriTrogs sponsor VAR/MAR for the 1991 season.
1991 members noted:
Bruce Armstrong, Derek Barker, Keith Barnes, Paul Bergman, Barri Braddy, Marie Bowers, Susanna Clark, Dave Doolin, Mark Eisenbeis, Constance and J French, Steve Glymph, Dennis Hall, Dave and Mary Holtschneider, Catherine Kauffman, Michelle Matthews, George McAdams, Charles McEachern, Tom McKinney, Bill Schwabenton, Robin Smith, Steve Smith, Bob Spring, Rex Steele, Steve Benton, John Wichert, and Rod Willard
TriTrogs purchase cave gear for rental
Acme Mine #5 Trip
Ken leads a vertical caving trip to Acme Mine #5
Island Ford Cave Cleanup
TriTrogs sponsor Island Ford Cave Cleanup.
Buchanan Saltpeter length pushed during drought.
Re-mapping of Buchanan Saltpeter begins
1992 members noted:
Paul Andrews, Brent Bayles, Chris Brewer, Ilene Brown, Cynthia Childs, Edwin Clements, Pete James, Linda Johnson, Parthena Martin, Derek Puffer, Jon Turner, Terry Zornes
First original Troglodyte Tribune cartoon
”Get Down and Dirty” T-shirts are sold
Regular meeting place moved to EPA fortress
1993 Members Noted:
Laura Appelbaum, Alan Burnstine, Joe Burton, Rich Bruner, Jeff Carter, Linda Cornball (Andrews), Moe C., Todd Edwards, Nadi Findikli, Tony Huggins, Darren Jacobsen, Jay Jones, Jay Kennedy, Jeff Klinger, Bruce Ledet, Mark Little, Richard Mann, Bill Mattocks, Andy Miller, John Morris, Rolf Orsagh, TJ Smith, Keith Sonntag, Mike Steckly
”The Armchair Caver’s Painless Guide To Trip Planning” published
written by Jay Kennedy
TriTrog Library Opens
NSS Convention
”Get Down and Dirty” wins T-shirt salon, hosted by the Cavers of Texas, Event Program
Sump dive in Buchanan Saltpeter Cave
1994 Members Noted:
James and Sid Altum, Debra Cooke, Brad and Caroline Kerr, Fran (Zoey) Shepherd, Elizabeth Wagner
Construction of the Pleasure Dome
Troglodyte Tribune filled with reprints of other grottoes ’ April Fools issues
First TriTrog wedding (Douthit-Turner)
Pre-convention field camp in Smyth County
And Raffle for Cave Access Protection Fund
First TriTrog attempt at Squirrelly Maze Cave
1995 Members Noted:
Ken Aanderud, Brian and Gordon Bolt, Hayley Brinkman, Paul Coleman, Joel Dickson, Jon Edwards, Bills Gutknecht Sr. and Jr., Gene Hobbs, Shawna Little, Shannon Macon, Cathy Mancus, Mike McAllister, Alexis Moore, Eric Nedzi, Tom Rodgers, John Rue, Dan Straley, Paul Threatt
New River Cave survey trips began
First TriTrog Webpage developed
Grotto Cleanup Trip: Grindstaff Cave
Was this the inaugural grotto trip?
Map of Harmon Cave published by Linda Andrews
Hurricane Fran destroys Joel Dickson ’s house
Chuck E. Cheese Birthday Party for Tanya
Survey of Hancock Cave begins
1997 TriTrog Calendar is published
1996 Noted Members:
Suzanne Bolt, Pam Halton, Todd Holt, Doug Leapley, John Matthews, Eric Powell, Linda & Chris McGhee, Renee Westerfield
Survey length of Hancock Cave tops 1 mile
TriTrog Grotto meeting held at Vertical Edge
2nd Annual Grotto Trip: Acme Mines
Fieldhouse Murder Mystery II
1997 Noted Members:
Charles and Linda Hackenbrock, Matt Jenkins, Rhonda Little, Kathy Potter, Mark Wolinsky
Gordon Bolt speed-descends cable ladder
Bat exhibit at Durham Museum of Life and Science
First Emergency cache placed in Hancock Cave
OTR Weekend at Bernie’s
First Place in OTR’s Grotto Participation Competition
TriTrog Caving Carols first performed
1998 Noted Members:
Steve Benton, Todd Cates, Ernie Ensley, Janice Kerber, Tom Merz, Kevin and Julie Puckett, Sylvie Rodriguez, Barbi Bailey-Smith, Linda Waters, Nick Zegre
Regular meeting place changed to Durham YMCA
Hancock Cave surveyed over two miles
Susanna and John Plyler stranded at Sinks The Windy Run Project
1999 Noted Members:
John Archer, Misty Buchanan, Bob Gray, David Hawkes (Gore), Rob Jackson, Christian Lindquist, Gary Ostler, Diane Owens, Ethan Scarl, Andrew Stahl
Grand opening of current NC Museum of Natural Sciences building
First survey trip in Breathing Cave
Tanya McLaughlin assumes role as VSS Smyth County Director
Grotto Cleanup Trip: Bone Cave
2000 Noted Members:
Robert James, Chris Moses, Steve Simmons, Julia Song, Ken Stone
Survey of Hogs Hole Cave begins
Smyth County Geology Field Trip
Grotto Trip: Tub Cave & Roadside Pit
TriTrogs begin meeting at NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh
(figure out date)
Yoda makes his first appearance at OTR
Begin survey of Flat Ridge Cave
(Sugar Grove Cave #9)
2001 Noted Members:
Peter and Barbara Arnold, Elizabeth Cantrill, Lucio D’Alberto, Joe Deppe, Jake Hester, Ericka Hoffmann, Catherine Holden, Caroline Lo Ré, Natalia Roques, Kris Singleton, Cara Stackpoole, Lisa Wilson
Tanya McLaughlin moves to Marion
Ill-fated speleocanoeing on Holston River
Captain Slick at OTR
Annual Grotto Trip: Norman Cave
McMullins Cave map published
2002 Noted Members:
Paul Apostolidis, Don Becker, Mike Broome, Todd Christenson, Jennifer Garland, Christine Graham, Russell Harrison, Carl and Julie Kisely, Lisa Lorenzin, Lisa Lowrance, Robert Martin, Pam Mullins, Chris Price, Scott Razzino, Jason Richards
Ten TriTrogs visit New River Cave
2004 TriTrog Calendars published
2003 Noted Members:
Diana Gietl, Rob Phelps, Pete Waller, Carrie Walker
TriTrogs begin Grand Caverns survey trips
Annual Grotto Trip: Organ Cave
Spence and Seabolt Caves connected
2004 Noted Members:
Dave Duguid, Janell Lovelace
Garfield Cave map published
Caving Demonstration at Exploris Museum
15th Anniversary Celebration
Annual Grotto Trip
Greenville Saltpeter on Sat., Rehobeth Church on Sun., camping at Moncove Lake SP
Annual Grotto Trip
James Cave, camping at Claytor Lake SP, then Tawney's on Sunday (date approx.)
Lovers Leap Survey begins
Hancock Cave Cleanup
NSS Convention
"MayaCon", Lewisburg, WV - State Fairgrounds
Annual Grotto Trip
Friars Hole, Paxton, Snedegars Saltpeter, Crookshank
Annual Grotto Trip
Union Cave large-group tank-haul on Saturday, Rehobeth Church Cave on Sunday, plus history lesson
Annual Grotto Trip: Norman Cave
Annual Grotto Trip
Porters, Blowing Cave, Island Ford Cave
Annual Grotto Trip: Gilley Cave
Stayed at the park in Pennington Gap, there was a rodeo going on
Annual Grotto Trip
Boxwork Crystal, Dead Air, Duttons, Big Sink (other locations, date not set)
Mike and Lisa host meeting at their home
An historic outdoor meeting in Durham, first in-person since early 2020, and first hybrid, in-person + online meeting
Annual Grotto Trip
Stayed at RASS, multiple caves?
Annual Grotto Trip: Culverson Creek I
Culverson Creek Cave, Wildcat entrance, three groups, camped at Blue Meadow
Annual Grotto Trip: Culverson Creek II
Four groups went to three entrances (Fuller, SSS, Wildcat) at Culverson Creek Cave, camped at Blue Meadow
Archive
Old version of tritrogs.org from before August 2015
Old list of grottos that members had formerly belonged to
Old Tritrogs Trip Reports Blog (tritrogs.blogspot.com) – all posts were imported to here.
Old Tritrogs Secretary’s Blog (tritrogsecy.blogspot.com) – all posts were imported to here.