Southern California Grotto

The Explorer Catalog 2000-2009

2001

January

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 601st Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Superheroes, Spatial Analysis of an Ancient Cave Site, The Bat (poem).

Actun Tunichil Muknal, Belize, Central America. Photo by Holley Moyes.

February

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 602nd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Recent Trip and Events, Journey Into Amazing Caves, 2001: The IMAX Odyssey.

Margie and Vance Nelson ponder the way ahead during a recent grotto trip to visit the Zanja. Photo by Bern Szukalski.

March

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 603rd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, 604th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Recent Trip and Events, Belize 2000 Part 1, Last Call For Dues.

Handprints in Handprint Cave, Belize, C.A. Photo by David Larson.

April

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 605th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Stupendous Pit, Belize 2000 Part 2, Journey Into Amazing Caves – A Review.

Martha Miller at the top of 700+ foot deep Stupendous Pit in the Sierras. Photo by John Woods.

May

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 606th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, New Discoveries in Mojave National Preserve, Mosquito Morgue map, Belize 2000 Part 3.

Tom Gilleland at the entrance to the newly discovered Mosquito Morgue Cave, Mojave National Preserve. Photo by Bern Szukalski.

June

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 607th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, La Pesca de la Sardina – 2001, Belize 2000 Part 4.

A Zoque villager holds a basket of cave-adapted fish, harvested during La Pesca De La Sardina at Cueva de Villa Luz. Photo by Louise Hose.

July

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 608th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, In Memory Of Lillian Casler, Just A Casual Trip in Blue Spring Cave.

Anita Pugh poses alongside a stalagmite in Tennessee’s Blue Spring Cave. Photo by Bern Szukalski.

August

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 2001 Southern California Grotto Membership and Mailing List.

Cover: Range of Light, Realms of Darkness. Original artwork by John Woods.

September

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 609th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, 610th Executive Committee Meeting MinutesNews/Notes/Announcements, A Survivor Story – My Perspective From Blue Spring Cave, The Survey of Mahiehie Cave and Other Finds, Mahiehie Cave Map.

Bern Szukalski pops out of one of the caves in the Holey Lands. Photo by Bob Richards.

October

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 611th Executive Committee Meeting MinutesNews/Notes/Announcements, A Journey to the True Karst, The Grotto, The Grotto Map, Hidden Canyon Cave Map, When to Call for a Cave Rescue.

Predjama Castle and Predjama Cave, one of the premier show caves in Slovenia. Photo by Bern Szukalski.

November

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 612th Executive Committee Meeting MinutesNews/Notes/Announcements, C13 North Cave, Pisgah, C13 North Cave Map, Toni Rowe’s Cave, Toni Rowe’s Cave Map.

Dell Quick peers into one of the entrances to Toni Rowe’s Cave, a newly mapped cave in San Bernardino County. Photo by Bern Szukalski.

December

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 613th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News, Notes, Announcements, The Search for Redrock Canyon – A Lost Shangri-La, From The Explorer Archives – Devil’s Hole, Oh Where Is Kokoweef’s Gold?, 2002 Dues Form.

The ultimate holiday gift for that favorite caver. Original artwork by John Woods.

2002

January

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 614th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Night Ride To Kartchner Caverns, 2002 Executive Committee, Dues Renewal Form.

Pete Neely (foreground) operates a radio while William R. Halliday descends the first shaft on the initial exploration of Cave of the Winding Stair, April, 1949. Photo: William R. Halliday Collection

February

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 615th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, White Chief Cave – August 2001, Sequoia Caving, Cave Conservation Defined, When To Call For A Rescue – Addendum, My First Cave Trip, My First Caving Adventure, Dues Renewal Form.

Mark Bockenhauer cautiously negotiates a tight spot in a cave in Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Park. Photo: Bern Szukalski.

March

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 616th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Computer Generated Maps – What You Need to Set Up and Be Successful, Painted Cave map, NCRC Orientation to Cave Rescue Course, Dues Renewal Form.

Alan Rice negotiates the infamous Shirt Button Crawl in Glove Cave in the Pisgah Lava Tubes. Photo: James Rice.

April

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 617th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News, Notes, Announcements, Scooping Deep Booty in the High Sierra, Before… After…

Going river passage in Hidden River Cave, Horse Cave Kentucky. The original print earned a Blue Ribbon at the 2000 NSS Convention Photo Salon. Photo: Bern Szukalski.

May

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 618th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Mines of Los Angeles County, Have You Been Missing Out?

Mine enthusiast Hugh Blanchard stands next to Charlie Vincent’s old cabin. Photo: Hugh Blanchard Collection.

June

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 619th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Rocky Peak Caves – Three New Caves Discovered in Local Mountains, Temple Caves In Thailand – A 2002 Pilgrimage.

The hottest new caving area in So Cal? An aerial photograph of the Santa Susanna Mountains and Hope Ranch.

July

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 620th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, The Belize Diaries – Work and Exploration in 2001, Porterville Preview.

A large formation in Crystal Sequoia Cave, Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Park. Photo: Bern Szukalski.

August

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 621st Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Southern California Grotto 2002 Membership and Mailing List.

Digital image by Bern Szukalski.

September

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 622nd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Crystal 67 Revisited, Crystal 67 maps and photos, Crystal 67 – A Memorable Alpine Classic.

Ed Schultz admires drapery in Crystal 67 Cave. Photo: Dave Bunnell.

October

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 623rd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Cave Racing in Costa Rica, Thunder On the Mountain: A Crystal Sequoia Adventure, The Animal Planet Project, Big Bear Rope Climbing Practice.

Boy, that Kodachrome really brings out the colors. Digital image: Bern Szukalski.

November

This Issue: An Introduction to Bermuda’s Caves and the BeCKIS Project, Adventure Hikes in Death Valley.

Images from the Bermuda Cave and Karst Information System (BeCKIS) Project. Digital composition: Bern Szukalski, Background photo by Tom Iliffe, GIS maps by Bern Szukalski, BeCKIS logo by Bob Richards.

December

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 625th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Thanks So Cal, California Solutional Caves Above 9000 Feet, Southern California Grotto Newsletter Cover Awards, Elpee Hole – One of California’s Highest, Elpee Hole Map.

Sandy Stephens peers into the entrance of Elpee Hole, a recent find and one of the highest solutional caves in California. Photo: Bern Szukalski.

2003

January

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 626th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, 2003 Executive Committee, Kokoweef Cave – The Enduring Legend, A Pseudo Mystery Solved, You Know You’re a California Caver If…, Pahihi Gulch Cave – One of Maui’s Oldest?, Pahihi Gulch Cave Map.

Bern Szukalski and Bob Richards in Pahihi Gulch Cave. Photo: Rob Ratkowski.

February

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 627th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Secrecy: An Alternative and Successful Model for Cave Exploration.

Good looking cave leads in marble cliffs in the Sierras. Photo: Bern Szukalski.

March

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 628th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, East Coast Caving, Lilburn Survey.

A USGS geologist in Trout Cave, West Virginia. Photo: Frank McDonough.

April

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 629th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, An Explorer Exclusive, Getting Too Old to Cave with the Big Boys?, Caving Theme Chosen for State Quarter, Shopping and Caving in Southern Arizona. Back Cover: Rice Bros. Sekrit Kave Map.

Is the So Cal Grotto’s Martha Miller the mother of the Bat Boy? Cover: John Woods.

May

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 630th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Rainbow Talc Mine, Rainbow Talc Mine maps, The Well Dressed Caver, Southern California Grotto Equipment List. Back Cover: Ted Weasma at Rainbow Talc Mine.

The Stalactite Cave of San Gabriel Canyon. Submitted by: Jake Brouwer.

June

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 631st Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Ode To Gregg, Bucket Cave, Bucket Cave Map, 10 Tips For New Grotto Members. Back Cover: Gregg Oelker emerges from a lead in the Mojave National Preserve.

Gregg Oelker emerges from an Arizona Cave. Photo: John Woods.

July

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 632nd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Sump Diving in the Sonoran Desert, You Know You Are In Porterville in the Summer When…, Cave Mine Cave (Arizona) Map, DO-RE-ME.

Tom Gilleland emerges from a sump dive in search of virgin cave in Arizona. Photo: Tom Gilleland collection.

August

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 633rd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Knots to Practice, Western Regional Meeting Announcment.

Sandy Stephens admires gypsum stalactites in a New Mexico cave. Photo: Bob Richards.

September

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 634th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Southern California Grotto 2003 membership list.

Ted Carlson of the San Joaquin Grotto emerging from a Tulare County cave. This photo appeared on the cover of the October, 1956, issue of the NSS News. Photo: William R. Halliday.

October

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 635th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Southern California Grotto at Convention 2003, NSS 2003 Convention – A View from a Worker Bee.

Photo collage from the NSS 2003 Convention in Porterville, California. Photos: Lynn Fielding, Bart Rowlett, Rich Collier, Scott Schmitz, and John Woods.

November

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 636th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, 55th Aniversary party announcement, Mapping the Bighorn, (Map) Big Horn Mine.

A sketch map of the Big Horn Mine drawn by Gregg Oelker and originally published in the March, 1986, issue of The Explorer.

December

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 637th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, 2003 Western Regional, Photos from Western Regional, Holiday Party announcement, Kokoweef Cave – Sworn Statement of E.P. Dorr.

“Last One Down,” James Rice reaches the bottom of the last drop in Cave of the Winding Stair. Photo: James Rice.

2004

January

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 638th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, 2004 Executive Committee, Hard Rock Gold Mining in Los Angeles County, Dante’s Descent, Dante’s Descent photos, Celebrating the 55th Aniversary.

Rich Collier in Arizona’s Dante’s Descent. Photo: Dave Campen.

February

This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 639th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Pisgah January 2004, The Bat Cave, Do-Re-Mi Rockshelter, Do-Re-Mi Rockshelter Map, Bigfoot Cave and Secrecy as a Tool for Cave Conservation.

Amy Cooper ready to enter one of California’s vertical caves. Photo: John Cooper.

March

Cover: “The Hand”, Arkadas Ozakin reaches through a tight passage in California’s Boney Ridge Cave. Photo: Scott Schmitz. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 640th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Boney Mountain Cave Trip, Jan Kramer Cave Map, Mines of Pine Canyon, Surprise Mine Map.

April

Cover: Formations in California Caverns, also the front cover of a new book on California Caves. Photo: Peter and Ann Bosted. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 641st Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Old Dad Cave – Gem Of The Mojave, Old Dad Cave Map, Gems Of The Golden State Book Review, Martha Miller Obituary.

May

Cover: Sandy Stephens stands atop the Puka #1 entrance to the Chain Of Pukas System, Hawaii. Photo: Bernie Szukalski. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 642nd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, The Chain Of Pukas System – Still Going After All These Years, Once A Puka Twice A Cave Map, No Happy Trail In Desert Tale, Cave Rescue Course Announcement.

June

Cover: Ted Weasma and Bernie Szukalski look at a bat in Warner’s Cave. Photo: James Rice. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 643rd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Hail Warner’s, A Fatal Error, Knot Tying Workshop, Crystal Cave Restoration Announcement.

July

Cover: A caver explorers the fantastically sculpted granite passages found in California’s Millerton Lakes Cave. Photo: Dave Bunnell. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 644th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Millerton Lakes Caves Alert, A Quick Trip, Buckle Up For Safety, New Grotto Meeting Location.

August

Cover: The Batmobile in front of Bat Cave, also known as Bronson Cave, used in the Batman TV series. Photo: Modified from the original by Eric Van Eyke originally appearing in Westways magazine. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, News/Notes/Announcements, Mapping The Dawn, Dawn Mine Map, Mines Of Las Flores Canyon, Maps Of Las Flores Canyon Mines #1, #2, #3, #4, Mount Gleason Mine.

September

Cover: Annual Membership Issue. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 2004 Southern California Grotto Membership List.

October

Cover: Allen Hager admires some of the many formation found in an Arizona Cave. Photo: Rich Collier. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 645th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, 646th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Onyx Cave and Cave Of The Bells Trip, A Memmo For New Grotto Members, The Horseshoe: An Unreported And Nearly Forgotten Mine.

November

Cover: Charles Nelson negotiates a tight passage in Meander Cave. Photo: Scott Schmitz. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 647th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Meander Cave Trip, Norm Herman Memorial, 20 Years Ago In The Explorer, 20 Years Ago In The California Caver, On Three! CD Announcement.

December

Cover: In search of caves and marble in the high country of the eastern Sierra. Photo: Bern Szukalski. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 648th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, 649th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Brownstone Cave: A New Inyo County Find, Brownstone Cave Map, Calaveras Caving: A Trip To The Motherlode Country, The Underground World Of Sequoia National Park Video.

2005

January

Cover: Mark Bockenhauer peers from the entrance of a pseudokarst cave in the Mojave Desert. Photo: Bern Szukalski. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 650th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, A Cave Inventory of the Mojave National Preserve, Southern California, Three MOJA Shelter Caves, Slot Cave map, Stark Shelter map, Rat’s Nest map.

February

Cover: The picture that answers the question: What gear do you need to go caving in the high Sierra. Photo: Rich Collier. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 651st Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, White Chief Cave Revisited,Crystal Stanislaus by Boat.

March

Cover: Daniel Veelik peers from the entrance of the Gold Ridge Mine. Photo: David Bowman. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 652nd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, Gold Ridge Mine Exploratory, The Attic Archives, Ord Mountains Speleological Recon, Southern California Grotto Information Sheet.

April

Cover: Charles Nelson negotiates the sump connection between Rawen’s Cave and Cacupangan Cave, Pangusinan Province, Republic of the Phillipines. Photo: Charles Nelson. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 653rd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Cacupangan Cave, Speleo Ed 2005 registration and information.

May

Cover: Dr. Annie Glasspool sihouetted in Church Cave, Bermuda. Photo: Bern Szukalski. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 654th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Woot! Cave – A New Discovery, Tunnels in the Glen, Two Old Unreported Gold Mines near Mt. Baldy Village, Bermuda Caves Workshop, New Cave Finds in MOJA.

June

Cover: A 1949 Southern California Grotto outing to look for caves in the southern Sierra. Photo: William R. Halliday collection. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 655th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Mines of the Soledad, Another Look at Three So Cal Caves, Bodfish Cave map, Harrington Cave map, Cave Quiz.

July

Cover: Sandy Stephens in Long Cave in Maui’s Haleakala Crater. Photo: Bern Szukalski. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 656th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Long Cave Survey, Haleakala Crater, Maui, Long Cave Map, Simi Valley’s Lost Expectations, Local Reading. Cave Quiz.

August

Cover: Original artwork by Ursula Vernon from her graphic novel Digger. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, News/Notes/Announcements, Move Over Randy Rogers, There’s a New Caving Comic in Town,2005 Southern California Grotto Membership List.

September

Cover: The descent from the first level in Crystal Kokoweef Cave, November, 1948. Photo: William R. Halliday collection. This Issue: Kokoweef Caves Special Issue, Carbide Calendar, 657th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, 658th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes,Cave Quiz, Legend of Kokoweef Cave, The Kokoweef Caves, The Kokoweef Caper, The Survey of Crystal Cave and a Visit to Kokoweef Cave, Crystal Cave Map.

October

Cover: Jaime Lintemoot enjoys the caves and karst of the high country of Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Park during a recent grotto trip. Photo: Rich Collier. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 659th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, Local Gold Mines We Will Never See.

November

Cover: Marc Heins emerging from the top of the entrance pit to a Kern County cave. Photo: Bern Szukalski. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 660th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Cave Quiz, Local Gold Mines We Will Never See – Second Installment, Baldwin Mine Site Map, Gold Dollar Site Map, The Original Hyper-Bar.

December

Cover: Sandy Stephens admires gypsum chandeliers in a New Mexico cave. Photo: Bern Szukalski. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 661st Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, 2006 Grotto Membership Form, Peggy 5 Cave and a Few More for Mojave Cave Survey, Box Flap Shelter Map, Dune View Shelter Cave Map, Three Holer Cave Map, Lost and Found Cave Map, Peggy 5 Cave Map.

2006

January

Cover: Daniel Veelik emerges from a cave a northern California Cave. Photo: Jeff Long. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 662nd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Climbing Practice at Stoney Point, Looking for my Endless Caverns, Southern California Grotto Information Sheet, For Our Junior Cavers.

February

Cover: Brittany Long, age 11, begins the 165-foot rappel in Moaning Caverns. Photo: Jeff Long. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 663rd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Thunder Canyon, Cave Quiz, For Our Junior Cavers.

March

Cover: Jamie and Aimee Dickman check out the entrance column in California’s Packsaddle Cave. Photo: Scott Schmitz. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 664th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Membership Committee message to Grotto Members, Death Valley, Cave Quiz, For Our Junior Cavers.

April

Cover: Rich Collier takes a breather during a recent Grotto trip to Mecca Hills. Photo: Scott Schmitz. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 665th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Always Be Prepared, Silent Auction, Submitting Photos to the Grotto, Recent Rediscovery and Exploration of Gold Mines, Black Cargo Mine Map, Lucky Strike Mine Map, Cave Quiz.

May

Cover: An interesting formation deep in Arizona’s Onyx Cave. Photo: Rich Collier. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 666th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Speleo-Ed 2006, Rumbling Falls Cave, Medicinal Plants.

June

Cover: Grotto members enjoying a trip in Packsaddle Cave. Photo: Scott Schmitz. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 667th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, The Kelsey Mine, Kelsey Mine Map, Wild Edible Plants, Cave Quiz, For Our Junior Cavers.

July

Cover: East River in California’s Lilburn Cave. Photo: Rich Collier. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 668th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Knot Tying and Climbing Practice, Cave Quiz, For Our Junior Cavers.

August

Cover: Bacon becomes curtain, Mercer Caverns, 2006 Speleo-Ed Seminar. Photo: Scott Schmitz. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 669th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Zeroey Anniversaries Are Here and Around the Corner, The Garda Hitch, For Our Junior Cavers.

September

Cover: Black Chasm Cave. Photo: Dave Bunnell. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 670th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, 2006 Grott Membership List, Images from the 2006 NSS Convention in Bellingham, Washington.

October

Cover: Ash Cave, Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio. Photo: Courtesy of www.gorzow.mm.pl/~bebelebe/ This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 671st Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Sunny San Berdoo’s Silver Shadows, Silver Shadow Cave map, Leaf Nosed Bat artwork by Ursula Vernon.

November

Cover: Marble Hall in Crystal Sequoia Cave. Photo: Jeff Long. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 672nd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Western Region News, Caving in the Philippines.

December

Cover: Waterfall and pool at Devil’s Punchbowl. Photo: Scott Schmitz. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 673rd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Grotto Elections, Grotto Election Ballot.

2007

January

Cover: Formations in Hidden Cave, New Mexico. Photo: Frank McDonough. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 674th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Curing the Auto-Focus Blues, Grotto Information Sheet, For Our Junior Cavers, Southern California Grotto Dues Renewal Form.

February

Cover: Carlsbad Caverns. Photo: Rich Collier. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 675th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Whipple Wash Cave – A Strange One, Whipple Wash Cave map, For Our Junior Cavers, Dues Renewal Form.

March

Cover: One of the many side areas in the maze of passages in Cave Of The Bells. Photo: Rich Collier. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 676th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, For Our Junior Cavers, Dues Renewal Form.

April

Cover: Doug Billings surveying in the Haunted Forest in an unmapped cave in Belize during the 2007 XMET Expedition. Photo: James Rice. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 677th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Discovery Hierarchy, CRF Mojave Announcement, A Template for Explorer Article, MAD – Motorized Ascending Device, For Our Junior Cavers, Death Valley 4×4 Trip 2006, Dues Renewal Form.

May

Cover: The Royal Pool in Arroyo Seco Canyon, as seen during a recent Hike of The Month. Photo: Scott Schmitz. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 678th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, 2007 Executive Committee Members. Basic Recommended Equipment List for Vertical Caving.

June

Cover: Don Smith and Brian Pease at the upper entrance to Haunted Forest Cave, Belize. Photo: James Rice. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 679th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Initial Survey of Haunted Forest Cave, Belize, Haunted Forest Cave map, For Our Junior Cavers.

July

Cover: Eric Bull at a Grotto climbing practice. Photo: Ryan Baker. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 680th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Some Observations About GPS, Haunted Forest Cave map, Climbing Practice at Stoney Point, For Our Junior Cavers.

August

Cover: Charles Nelson in Dripping Cave during a recent Hike of The Month. Photo: Scott Schmitz. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 681st Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, For Our Junior Cavers.

September

Cover: Gua Telinga (Ear Cave), Malaysia. Photo: Scott Schmitz. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 682nd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, XMET 2007, Grotto Membership List.

October

Cover: Sandy Stephens in Sunny Green Cave. Photo: Bern Szukalski. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 683rd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, The 1855 Below Relay Junction – 2006 Update, Reflections on the Dawn Mine – September 15th.

November

Cover: Fall, 2007, Guads trip. Photo: Rich Collier. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 684th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Southern California Climbing Locations.

December

Cover: Totem Pole, Fall, 2007, Guads trip. Photo: Scott Schmitz. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 685th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, For Our Junior Cavers.

2008

January

Cover: Charles Nelson descends the entrance pit of Helens Cave. Photo: Frank McDonough. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 686th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, 2008 Grotto Information Sheet, News/Notes/Announcements, Trip Report Round-Up, The Speleothem Salon, The Underground Epicurean, Dues Renewal Form.

February

Cover: Russ Harter looks through a window in a cave at Pisgah. Photo: Scott Schmitz. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 687th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Trip Report Round-Up: Caves of Wood Canyon, Trailside Cave map, Dripping Cave map, Pisgah Exploration, The Guana Galleria, From the Archives, Dues Renewal Form.

March

Cover: Ryan Baker in Cave of the Winding Stair, checking to see if there will be six more weeks of winter. Photo: Kyle Baker. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 688th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, 60th Anniversary Celebration Announcement, News/Notes/Announcements, Trip Report Round-Up: Death Valley 4×4 Trip. Cave of the Winding Stair, Photos Please! A Caver Survival Kit, Dues Renewal Form.

April

Cover: Definitive proof of a cave dwelling yeti. Photo: Kyle Baker. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 688th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, More From The Grotto Newswire, Cave Lighting Project, Knot Knowledge, Bob & Bob Coveralls.

May

Cover: Daniel Veelik in Packsaddle Cave. Photo: Ryan Baker. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 689th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Caving Area Threatened – And Urgent Request For Help, Celebrating 60 Years, 2008 Grotto Executive Committee.

June

Cover: Daniel Veelik negotiating a squeeze in Thunder Canyon Cave. Photo: Kyle Baker. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 691st Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News/Notes/Announcements, Where is Cagayan Valley and Penablanca? Caving in the Phillipines, Gneiss Cave: A Misnamed Ancient Lava Tube Cave in Death Valley National Park, Gneiss Cave map and photos, Thunder Canyon trip report and photos.

July

Cover: Stephany Malady in SPJ Cave. Photo: Luca Chiarabini. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 692nd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News & Announcements, Packsaddle Cave, April 13 2008, Twenty Years of Mud Cave Madness, From the Archives: Nuts to Knots, Western Region Meeting Announcement. Back Cover: Hugh Blanchard in a cave. Photo: Kyle Baker.

August

Cover: Jerry Nickelsburg shows off the latest in caver fashion. Photo: John Woods. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 693rd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News & Announcements, Death Valley National Park Emergency Permit Public Notice, Sticks and Stones Cave: Another Couple of Leads Checked Off the List, Sticks and Stones Cave map, Western Region Meeting Announcement. Back Cover: Sanjana studies a sleek, slippery salamander. Big Santa Anita Canyon. Photo: Kyle Baker.

September

Cover: Betty Farfan masters the cable ladder. Photo: Charles Nelson. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 694th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News & Announcements, Death Valley National Park Emergency Permit Public Notice, Sticks and Stones Cave: Another Couple of Leads Checked Off the List, Sticks and Stones Cave map, Western Region Meeting Announcement. 2008 Grotto Membership List, Current Status of Big Horn Mine Area, Welk and Cahuilla Bust, Tribute to William “Bill” Stewart. Back Cover: Shelby Wong cuts Betty Farfan loose in rope strength test. Photo: Charles Nelson.

October

Cover: Sarah Jones sports the latest in summer caver fashion at the entrance to Owl Canyon Cave. Photo: Bern Szukalski. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 695th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News & Announcements, Caves in Rainbow Basin, Hidden Canyon Cave map, Quick Pit map, Owl Canyon Cave map, Rainbow Canyon Cave map, The Big Horn Convention, Tribute to Martin N. “Marty” Sara. Back Cover: Descending from the upper entrance of the Big Horn Mine. Photo: David Monroe.

November

Cover: Cavers for life Garret Smith and Sanjana Paul act smug and laugh in the face of hardcore caving!.Photo: Kyle Baker. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 696th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News & Announcements, Tribute to Stanley R. “Stan” Ulfeldt, 2008 Western Region Meeting reports, The Sublime Popcorn, Dragon’s Wing Cave, Confidential Cave – For Top Eyes Only, Western Region Meeting in 3D. Back Cover: Cave successfully explored, hijinks and maniacal laughter ensue. Photo: Kelley Smith.

December

Cover: Marc Heins next to the flow stone wall in Flow Stone Wall Pit.Photo: Bern Szukalski. This Issue: Carbide Calendar, 697th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, News & Announcements, Some Recent Mine and Cave Adventures, Western Regional Caving Report: Harrington’s Cave and Held’s Hole, Eastern Nevada Caving Trip 2008: Leviathon Cave, Flowstone Wall Pit Cave, Flowstone Wall Pit Cave map. Back Cover: Karl Domangue, Will Heltsley, and Fofo Gonzales looking rugged in Held’s Hole. Photo: Jerry Nickelsburg.

2009

January

Cover: Hugh Blanchard at the Western Region Meeting. Photo: Jenny Kuo. This Issue: Carbide Calendar; 698th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; Hugh Blanchard Memorial Issue, 1929-2008 (various); Adventure of the Gold Ridge Mine (Daniel Veelik); Re-opening the McNally Mine – Hugh’s A-Team (Betty Veelik); Photos of Hugh Blanchard; 2009 So Cal Grotto Membership Application.

February

Cover: James Rice can hotwire anything in two minutes flat. Photo: Carol Vesely. This Issue: Carbide Calendar; 699th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; News and Announcements; Welcome to the Southern California Grotto (Scott Schmitz); Eastern Nevada Caving Trip 2008 Part II (Scott Schmitz); 2008 Crystal Sequoia Cave Restoration (James Rice); 2009 So Cal Grotto Membership Application.

March

Cover: Sanjana Paul, Ryan Baker, and Scott Schmitz caught in the act (of caving) in Elsie Cave. Photo: Kyle Baker. This Issue: Carbide Calendar; 700th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; News and Announcements; Honor Dinner Event Report (Dell Quick); Eastern Nevada Caving Trip 2008 Part III (Scott Schmitz); Two for the Mojave County, Arizona, Record (Bern Szukalski); Wye View Shelter map (Bern Szukalski); Big Yawn Shelter map (Bern Szukalski); 2009 So Cal Grotto Membership Application.

April

Cover: Bat!!! This Issue: Carbide Calendar; 701st Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; News and Announcements; White Nose Syndrome (WNS) News; Origami Bat; Millerton Cave 11/28/2008 Trip Report (Bill Frantz & Alan Chern); Ever wonder what takes place at Executive Committee meetings?

May

Cover: Barbara Fortini rapelling into Pinnacles Cave. Photo: James Rice. This Issue: Carbide Calendar; 702nd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; News and Announcements; A Trip To The Mine of Messieurs Bell & Hartman (Dell Quick); Ambigua Cave � Five years and 161 stations later (Bern Szukalski); Ambigua Cave map (Bern Szukalski); Back cover photo: Barbara and Art Fortini ascending out of Pinnacles Cave (James Rice).

June

Cover: Solemn silhouttes slipping slightly through the slick slots of Thunder Canyon Cave. Photo: Kyle Baker. This Issue: Carbide Calendar; 703rd Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; News and Announcements; Pisgah 27 – 28 Dec 08 (Russell Harter); Black Mountain Glyphs (Frank McDonough); Sitting Bull Falls Cave – A Little NM Gem (Bern Szukalski); Back cover photo: Rich Wolfert poses by the first pool in Sitting Bull Falls Cave (Bern Szukalski).

July

Cover: Daniel Veelik & Betty Farfan in Cacupangan Cave, Mabini,Pangasinan, Philippines, looking over Kidd Suleta during his first visit to a cave. Photo: Jerry Rendon. This Issue: Carbide Calendar; 704th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; News and Announcements; Room and Closet with a View; Room With A View, Closet With A View maps (Bern Szukalski); Significant new caving areas opening in the Phillipines – The Caves of Barrio DeGuzman, Mabini Town, Pangasinan Province, Philippines, May 2009 (Charles M. Nelson); Back cover photo: Warning: Prolonged exposure to caving may cause extreme weight loss! (Beatriz Farfan).

August

Cover: Charley shows off his best ‘Spelunking Man’ pose as he hovers precariously inches above the water. Photo: Beatriz Farfan. This Issue: Carbide Calendar; 705th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; News and Announcements; Yaeger Mine Gating Project (James Rice); Adventure in the Philippines Part 2 – Big Commotion on the Mabinin Bridge!!(Beatriz Farfan); Boney Ridge Caves, June 13, 2009 (Russell Harter); Back cover photo: Betty soars like a graceful swan floating just above the murky waters below (Daniel Veelik).

September

Cover: Rich Collier does his best impression of the mythical glow troll, elusive creature of caving lore long sought after by cryptozoologists and tchotchke enthusiasts alike. Photo: Kyle Baker. This Issue: Carbide Calendar; 706th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; News and Announcements; Yaeger Mine Gating Project – The Second Gate (Doug Billings); Painting with Light (James Rice).

October

Cover: Method acting bat tries to find its Zen moment while channeling its inner demons for Halloween. Photo: Kyle Baker. This Issue: Carbide Calendar; 707th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; News and Announcements; Southern Calilfornia Grotto 2009 Membership Roster; Caving Critters (photographic essay).

November

Cover: Jamie Lintemoot takes the high road in White Chief Cave. Photo: Ben Tohsakul. This Issue: Carbide Calendar; 708th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; News and Announcements; Trip to Rippled Cave (Scott Schmitz); Equipment Drive for the B.C. Grotto.

December

Cover: Shelby Wong points out the true (though highly modest) cavers extraordinaire Jaime Lintemoot and James Rice. Photo: Kyle Baker. This Issue: Carbide Calendar; 709th Executive Committee Meeting Minutes; News and Announcements; Archaeologic Caves of Ancient Lake Lahontan (William R. Halliday); Mopping Up in the Three State Corner (William R. Halliday); Southern California Grotto 2009 Ballot.