Past CCG Activities in 2008
These are some of the Past Trips and meeting. Some contact information has been removed and replaced with "<snip>" The usual meeting details of time and place are usually removed to save space.
Sept 27-28, 2008: NCRC Weekend Orientation to Cave Rescue Seminar The Albany-Schoharie Cave Rescue Team in conjunction with Scho-Wright Ambulance and Gallupville Fire Company will sponsor an NCRC Weekend Orientation to Cave Rescue Seminar in Schoharie County New York on September 27-28, 2008. For those not familiar with the National Cave Rescue Commission weekend seminar, the goal is to give EMS, fire dept., (paid or volunteer), rescue squad, police, (state or local), county sheriff and emergency management personnel, as well as local cavers, an overview of and some limited hands-on experience with cave rescue operations, management and requirements. More info: http://speleobooks.com/OCR/
Sept 12-14, 2008:
2008 Fall NRO
Fall meeting of the NRO (Northeastern Regional Organization)
hosted by the Helderberg-Hudson Grotto at Hide-Away Campsites (http://www.hide-a-waycampsites.com/)
in Central Bridge, Schoharie County NY. For more info:
Fall
NRO.
Aug 10, 2008 Sunday Surprise (Mystery) Cave near Westbrookville, NY. This is one of the largest and most interesting caves in the Northeast. Contact: Amy and Aaron at <snip> and include your name and phone number.
Summer 2008 Karst Field Studies Program A series of week-long field classes during June, focusing on cave and karst science, and caving. http://caveandkarst.wku.edu/
July 27, 2008 Surprise (Mystery) Cave near Westbrookville, NY. This is one of the largest and most interesting caves in the Northeast. Lots of mazy passages, nice formations, large (and small) passages, streams, waterfalls, and more. This will be an intermediate level trip - some experience is highly recommended. The trip will involve some climbing, chimneying, vertical work (personal vertical gear is not required), and sqeezing thru tight areas. Contact: info@ctcavers.org
July 26-27, 2008 MET Grotto caving weekend Met Grotto (of NYC) has the Schoharie Cabin for the weekend, so come one, come all. Enjoy all kinds of caves, from beginner to hard core. Exact trips still to be determined. Clarksville for certain. Other ideas and leaders welcome. BBQ likely. Contact: Ayzha Wolf at <snip>.
Sunday June 22 between 3pm and 6pm:
Tory's Cave
This is a beginner level trip to Connecticut's only cave open to the
public. It's in New Milford, CT and about a 2 minute walk from the parking
area. Basic caving gear is required, and most spend about an hour exploring
the cave. There are some tight areas and some ledges that you will need
to climb down and up. The cave is damp and sometimes wet from dripping
water. Arrive between 3 pm and 5 pm, go to the cave entrance (but not
in), and I or a co-leader will assist as needed. The CCG trip is over
at 6 pm. First time cavers are encouraged to come. The CCG has some
sets of loaner helmets and lights that I will bring. If you want to
use these, please bring 4 new AA batteries, alkaline type preferred.
For directions, ride-sharing, and answers to other questions, call Norm
Berg <snip> or email info@ctcavers.org
and put Tory's Cave in the subject line.
May 16-18, 2008 Spring meeting of the NRO (Northeastern Regional Organization) hosted by the NNJG in Rosendale NY.
May 3-10, 2008 Cave Rescue Operations and Management Seminar at Mentone, Alabama. Presented by the NCRC of the NSS. This seminar consists of extensive classroom instruction and fieldwork in all phases of cave rescue including underground environment, vertical rescue, hauling systems, extrication techniques, medical management, communication systems, and the organization and management of cave rescue operations. Basic and advanced course material is presented for students who typically include cavers, emergency services personnel, and emergency managers. http://www.caves.org/io/ncrc/2008Seminar/seminar2008.htm
April 26, 27, 2008 McFail's Preserve Cleanup (2nd day if needed) with a rain date of 5/3 & 5/4, (2nd day if needed). Clear trails and sinks of any debris; remove any garbage from parking area, sinks, trails; repost/sign sinkholes as necessary; repair Hall's Hole entrance as required; cleanout catchment basin; replace kiosk with an informational kiosk like at Clarksville; remove old wire fencing. Please bring wire cutters, vice grips, fencing tools!! Please contact Tom Rider at <snip> or email at <snip> if you can help out.
April 20 2008 Sunday:
Vertical Practice
A vertical practice this Sunday at 10 AM at a popular climbing spot
by in Central Conn. If you don't have your own gear, that's no problem
it can be provided to you. If it turns out to be cold and rainy, then
the practice will be canceled. Contact Alisa at info@ctcavers.org
Late Dec 2008 - Early Jan 2009: TAG area Caving A more advanced trip with emphasis on vertical caving. Contact Steve Millett at <snip> and put "TAG Caving" in the subject line.
Late Dec 2008 - Early Jan 2009: West Virginia Caving The Central Connecticut Grotto has scheduled another New Years' trip to West Virginia. Our friends at the West Virginia Association For Cave Studies (WVACS) have offered us the use of their field station again in Renick, which has bunk rooms, kitchens, hot showers, wood stoves, and serious caver ambience. We will be in the heart of caving country. There will be both vertical and horizontal trips, and we always try to accommodate all skill levels. For more info contact the CCG at info@ctcavers.org and include "West Virginia Caving" in the subject line.
Saturday Nov 29, 2008: Clarksville Cave (aka Ward Gregory) in Clarksville NY. This is a beginner level trip. The CCG has a some helmets and headlamps available with advance reservations. For info contact the trip leader: Bob Simmons at <snip> and <snip>. Please put "Clarksville Cave" in the subject line, and include your full name and a phone number. Clarksville Cave info: Clarksville Cave
Sunday Nov 16, 2008: Hasbrouck Mine. In Kingston, NY. A beginner level trip. The CCG has some helmets and lights that beginners can borrow. For more info: info@ctcavers.org and put "Hasbrouck Mine" in the subject line.
Saturday Nov 15, 2008 at 1 pm: Beauty and Rescue in Lechugilla A presentation by Emily Davis at the White Memorial Conservation Center near Litchfield, CT. Advanced registration and payment required. www.whitememorialcc.org
Sunday Nov 15, 2008 at 11 am: Talk on the Leatherman Dan DeLuca will discusses his research and book about the Old Leather Man at the Southington Library. There are a few "Leatherman caves" in Connecticut. Library: 860-628-0947
Sunday Nov 9 2008:
Vertical Practice in Mansfield
A vertical practice, which is rope climbing as done in caves, at a cliff
in Mansfield (near UConn). If you don't have your own gear, that's no
problem as we have gear to lend. Contact Steve Millett at <snip>
and put "CCG Climbing" in the subject line.
Sunday Oct 5, 2008
Bats Den Caves in Egremont, Mass.
There are four 'major' caves in the group, the largest being Bats Den
which has several hundred feet of passages. Two others are fairly tight
crawls (Growling Bear and Pothole) of 100 to 150 feet. The last is a
short but well decorated section with a 'walk in' entrance, the Crystal
Pool. In addition to these, there are sinks, aborted digs, fissures,
slots and karst to walk around on and check out. Trip starts around
noon in Cannan Connecticut. Contact Bob Simmons at <snip>.
Saturday Oct 4, 2008
Tory's Cave - from 3 PM to 5 PM.
This is a beginner level trip to Connecticut's only cave open to the
public. It's in New Milford and about a 2 minute walk from the parking
area. Basic caving gear is required. There are some tight areas and
some ledges that you will need to climb down and up. The cave is damp
and sometimes wet from dripping water. Plan on spending about an hour
exploring the cave. I will be in or near the cave between 3 pm and 5
pm. When you arrive go to the cave entrance, and I or another CCG member
will assist as needed. If you don't see anyone from the CCG at the entrance,
crawl in a little (stay within the light coming from the entrance) and
give a friendly yell and someone will come to met you. The CCG trip
is over at 5 pm, so if you go in the cave after 5 pm you are on your
own. First time cavers are encouraged to come. The CCG has some sets
of loaner helmets and lights that I will bring. If you want to use these,
please bring 4 new AA alkaline batteries. For directions, ride-sharing,
and answers to other questions, call Norm Berg 860-621-2080 or email
info@ctcavers.org and put Tory's
Cave in the subject line.
Here are a some sites about Tory's Cave:
http://www.berkshirehiking.com/hikes/torys_cave.html
and http://weantinoge.org/
Past Meetings
Dec 16, 2008 Tuesday 6:30pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting with Elections and
Holiday Party
At HRP Associates, 197 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington, CT 06032. Details
on this meeting are here December
Meeting
Nov 18, 2008 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
Slideshow (real slides) and talk about southeast caves. At HRP Associates
Oct 21, 2008 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
At HRP Associates, 197 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington, CT 06032.
Sept 16, 2008 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
Slideshow and talk about a recently discovered cave in the Northeast.
At HRP Associates,
Aug 23, 2008 Saturday:
Monthly Grotto Meeting and More
Note change in date and location. An afternoon meeting and recreation
(kayaking, boating) at a members home on Long Island Sound in Gilford,
CT. Detailed info will be send to members. Non-members, please email
info@ctcavers.org .Rain date
is Aug 24.
July 15, 2008 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting with programs on
WV caving and on local new cave discoveries
This meeting is at the summer location in Southington. Meeting opens
at 6 pm, with the formal meeting at 8 pm.
June 17, 2008 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
This meeting is at the summer location in Southington.
May 20, 2008 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
This meeting is at the summer location in Southington.
April 15, 2008 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting with program on deep
pit caving in Mexico
At HRP Associates
March 18, 2008 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
At HRP Associates
Feb 19, 2008 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
At HRP Associates
Jan 15, 2008 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
At HRP Associates
Past CCG Activities in 2009
These are some of the Past Trips and meeting. Some contact information has been removed and replaced with "<snip>" The usual meeting details of time and place are usually removed to save space.
Nov 22, 2009 Sunday: Clarksville Cave (aka Ward Gregory) in Clarksville NY. This is a beginner level trip. The CCG has a some helmets and headlamps available with advance reservations. For info contact the trip leader: Lee DelValle at info@ctcavers.org. Please put "Clarksville Cave" in the subject line, and include your full name and a phone number. Clarksville Cave info: Clarksville Cave.
Nov 14, 2009 Saturday: Red Mountain Pit in southern VT. This is an advanced vertical trip. The cave is basically a 174ft dead bottom pit. The entire time on rope, you will be exposed to very cold water raining down on you. You must have experience, strength and the right equipment for this trip. There is also one bolt / rebelay that must be passed. If you meet all of the requirements, its an awesome, rarely visited marble cave (you rappel through 5 layers of marble.) I want to keep the trip small, 1-2 cars, so please let me know if you are interest. Its about a 2.5 hour drive from Hartford. -- Contact Steve Millett. Please put "Red Mountain Pit" in the subject line.
Oct 3, 2009 Saturday: Bentley's Cave in Rensselaer County, NY. The CCG has a some helmets and headlamps available with advance reservations. For info contact the trip leader: Lori Autorino at info@ctcavers.org and 860-742-0047. Please put "Bentley's Cave" in the subject line, and include your full name and a phone number.
Sept 11-13, 2009: The 2009 Fall NRO
The fall meeting of the NRO (Northeastern Regional Organization)
will be held in Pittsfield Mass. Much more info is at
Fall 2009 NRO.
July 19-26, 2009: 2009 NSS Convention To be held in conjunction with the 15th International Congress of Speleology in Kerrville, Texas. ICS2009
July 31 - Aug 2, 2009:
Caving in the Adirondacks
The Touchy Sword of Damocles, TSOD, used to be considered the
world's largest talus cave, but they changed the definitions a few years
ago and it's now considered a system of smaller caves. It sits under
the 1000 foot cliff of Wallface and is basically a pile of overgrown
house sized boulders with passages and rooms between and underneath.
There's likely to be ice in the depths for most of the summer. Interested?
Contact Jeff MacDonald at <snip> and put "Caving in the ADK" in the
subject line.
July 12, 2009: Small mine in Connecticut Assistance wanted with mapping and photography. Contact Bob Simmons at <snip> and 860-738-1176.
Sunday June 21, 2009: Onesquethaw Cave Contact Chris Goodman via info@ctcavers.org and put "Onesquethaw Cave" in the subject line.
May 15-17, 2009:
2009 Spring NRO
Spring meeting of the NRO (Northeastern Regional Organization)
hosted by the Vermont Cavers Association and held in Leicester, Vermont
at Country Village Campground. For more info:
Spring NRO.
June 2009: NCRC Cave Rescue Training in Indiana www.ncrc.info
Sunday May 10, 2009:
Park River Kayak-Canoe
See a portion of the underground section of the Park River in
Hartford. Access is from the East Hartford side of the Connecticut River.
Must be able to handle fast water and boat wake.
For details please contact Alisa at
info@ctcavers.org and put "Park
River" in the subject line and include your full name and a phone number.
Saturday March 28, 2009: Clarksville Cave (aka Ward Gregory) in Clarksville NY. This is a beginner level trip. The CCG has a some helmets and headlamps available with advance reservations. For info contact the trip leader: Norm Berg at info@ctcavers.org and 860-621-2080. Please put "Clarksville Cave" in the subject line, and include your full name and a phone number. Clarksville Cave info: Clarksville Cave
Saturday Feb 7, 2009: Caving in Albany County This is a beginner level trip. The CCG has a some helmets and headlamps available with advance reservations. For details please contact Alisa at <snip> and include "Caving in Albany County" in the subject line.
Past Meetings
All 2009 CCG Meetings: Jan 20, Feb 17, March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16, July 21, Aug 15, Sept 15, Oct 20, Nov 18, Dec 15.
Feb 16, 2010 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
At HRP Associates, 197 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington, CT 06032. For a
view of HRP from Google Earth see
HRP. For direction
related info call 860-674-9570 (days) and ask for Bob Simmons.
Jan 19, 2010 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
At HRP Associates, 197 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington, CT 06032. For a
view of HRP from Google Earth see
HRP. For direction
related info call 860-674-9570 (days) and ask for Bob Simmons.
Dec 15, 2009 Tuesday 6:30pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting with Elections and
Holiday Party
At HRP Associates, 197 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington, CT 06032. Details
on this meeting are here December
Meeting
Nov 18, 2009 Wednesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
Note change of day. At HRP Associates,
197 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington, CT 06032. For a view of HRP from Google
Earth see HRP.
For direction related info call 860-674-9570 (days) and ask for Bob
Simmons.
Oct 20, 2009 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
At HRP Associates, 197 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington, CT 06032. For a
view of HRP from Google Earth see
HRP. For direction
related info call 860-674-9570 (days) and ask for Bob Simmons.
Sept 15, 2009 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
This meeting is held in Southington. We will critique the Fall NRO event,
discuss past and upcoming trips, and likely have an informal presentation
on recent cave exploration. Meeting details and directions will be emailed
to CCG members. Cavers and future cavers are welcome. For more info:
info@ctcavers.org and <snip>
August 15, 2009 Saturday:
Monthly Grotto Meeting and more
Note change in date and location. An afternoon meeting and recreation
(kayaking, boating) at a members home on Long Island Sound in Gilford,
CT. Detailed info will be send to members. Non-members, please email
info@ctcavers.org.
July 21, 2009 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
At HRP Associates, 197 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington, CT 06032. For a
view of HRP from Google Earth see
HRP. For direction
related info call 860-674-9570 (days) and ask for Bob Simmons.
June 16, 2009 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
This meeting is at the summer location in Southington. Details are sent
to members. Cavers and future cavers are welcome.
info@ctcavers.org and <snip>
May 19, 2009 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
At HRP Associates, 197 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington, CT 06032. For a
view of HRP from Google Earth see
HRP. For direction
related info call 860-674-9570 (days) and ask for Bob Simmons.
April 21, 2009 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
Note change in location for this meeting.
Held at the "Wrench in the Works Collective" 861 Main St in Willimantic,
CT 06226. www.wrenchintheworks.org/.
Presentation is "The Dark Side of the Park River" about the Park River
under Hartford, plus narratives and tall tales by those who claim to
have been there. The business meeting will include a discussion of the
recent cave closures and the upcoming Spring NRO. Questions? call 860-621-2080.
March 17, 2009 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
At HRP Associates, 197 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington, CT 06032.
Feb
17, 2009 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
Presentation on the recent CCG West Virginia caving
adventure. At HRP Associates, 197 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington,
CT 06032. For a view of HRP from Google Earth see
HRP. For direction
related info call 860-674-9570 (days) and ask for Bob Simmons.
Jan 20, 2009 Tuesday 7pm:
Monthly Grotto Meeting
At HRP Associates, 197 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington, CT 06032.