Please report White Nose bats!

Something is causing significant bat mortality in the Northeast, seemingly associated with White Nose Syndrome, which has led to precautionary cave closures in West Virginia. Click here for lots more information.  Cavers need to be aware of this problem and their role in preventing its spread.

DCG Cave Gear Auction

See the PDF-overview, and the detailed catalog with links to pictures. Bidding is from Sept. 1 thru 8, and items were on display at the Sept. 4 meeting.

2008 Upcoming Meetings

Sept 16 (Tue):   EC meeting, chez Viner.

Sept 19-21:   Fall VAR   (Sept. 2 was pre-registration deadline.)

Oct 2 (Thu), 7:30pm:
The next informal meeting is at the Hard Times Cafe in Bethesda, MD.
Click: here for info and directions.   If you choose to have dinner, you should probably arrive early (say 6:30) to order, eat, and socialize, before the main focus of the meeting.

Nov 6 (Thu), 7:30pm:
The next general meeting is at the Chevy Chase Community Center in DC.
Click: here for info and directions.   Program: to be finalized.

An optional pre-meeting dinner will be at Mandarin Palace, 5540 Conn. Av. (a half-block south of the meeting and on the opp. side of the Av).  Arrive about 6-6:30 if you want dinner; later is fine if you just want a beverage.

On-Line Caving Calendar

You can always get current information about Grotto meetings or other DC and Baltimore caving activities with the on-line caving calendar.  To access the calendar, click on:  www.cavingclub.org/info/calendar.  And, when prompted, enter User: calend and Password: gocave.  This calendar page also links to PDF versions of fliers for many trips and events listed in the calendar.

Trout Rock Bat Counts

Click here to see the results of the annual bat counts in Trout, Hamilton, and New Trout caves in Pendleton County, W.V.