Vermont Cavers' Association

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April VCA Meeting & Activity PDF Print E-mail
Written by VCA Admin   
Thursday, 04 April 2013

April VCA Meeting & Activity

Survey Practice at a new cave and visit to Johnston Pit


After the 9:00 am VCA meeting on April 21st, Rick Pingree will lead a survey and mapping clinic at a partially quarried new cave near Johnston Pit in Brandon, VT. (See VCA Newsletter Volume 21, Number 3 & 4 June & August 2012 Page 7)
The entrance to this project is about a 15 foot vertical drop [I will bring a ladder so everybody including the owner will be able to go in cave and help map if they would like to].

We will cover basic surveying skills and create a map of the new cave in the process. 
If you have a compass, inclinometer and/or a 50 foot tape measure you would like to share, the teaching and process will be much quicker.

Bring your vertical gear. Nearby is Johnson Pit which has a 26ft vertical entrance. It will be rigged for anyone wishing to explore it during the trip.

Please RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you plan to attend-  please email for trip details or if there is a question. 

Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 April 2013 )
 
March 17th VCA Event -Mt Anthony Cave PDF Print E-mail
Written by VCA Admin   
Saturday, 09 March 2013
VCA Trip to Mt Anthony Cave, March 17th:

The march activity is a visit to the recently-reopened Mt Anthony Cave, which is about 400ft of passage, much of it good-sized, with leads and rooms to explore. The cave does contain a stream, and parts of it may be wet, especially if we have had warm weather before the trip. In addition, the entrance area still contains some loose rocks, so participants should be comfortable caving softly and being careful of their surroundings. 

All standard cave gear is necessary, especially helmet, gloves, and kneepads. Participants should bring a change of clothes for after the cave, as well as a pack to carry cave gear on the approach hike (approximately 3/4 of a mile).

We will meet at 10:45 on Sunday Morning at the K-mart parking lot off of Kocher Drive in Bennington. Coming from the north, Kocher Drive is the first traffic light on Rt 7 after the junction with Rt 279. Turn east here on Kocher Drive, then immediately south into the parking lot. Cave parking is quite limited, so we will need to carpool from there. 

Anyone intending to join the trip please RSVP to John Dunham, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , by Tuesday, March 12, so that we can inform the owner ahead of time of the size of our group.
 
Annual VCA Vertical Workshop and Pizza Party PDF Print E-mail
Written by VCA Admin   
Sunday, 16 December 2012
Annual VCA Vertical Workshop and Pizza Party
January 27, 2013
9AM-12pm
The Vertical Workshop is now scheduled for Sunday January 27, from 9am until noon (you can stop in at any time) at the Green Mountain Rock Climbing Center on Woodstock Avenue (Route 4)in Rutland Vermont. Look for the Applebees Restaurant – the gym is right next door.

The cost will be $15 per person. Pizza is included at noon for all current VCA members (reminder – if you have not paid your 2013 dues, they are $12 per person or $14 for a family and can be paid at the vertical workshop).

The $15 fee also includes regular climbing gym access from noon – 5pm (and harness/climbing shoe rental if needed). If you haven’t tried climbing in a climbing gym, it’s a great experience, as easy or as hard as you want to make it. Unlike some climbing gyms, this gym has several wall areas that are especially kid-friendly so families are welcome.

For those who have not been before: the vertical workshop is an excellent time to see and learn what you need to know to descend and climb a rope in a cave – a very common occurrence in many Vermont caves. You do NOT need to have any prior knowledge or even equipment – several of us will gladly let you try our equipment and show you “the ropes”. If you have equipment, bring it and let us help you fine-tune it to work most efficiently in the cave environment.

For the more experienced vertical cavers, we can set up obstacles to simulate different challenges, including rebelays and lips. Since we have the whole gym, maybe a “chimney challenge”?

And did we mention that the gym contains the warmest, driest, and best-lit cave in Vermont, called “Behind the Wall”? It’s normally not open to the public, but with a little luck again this year . . . Bring your helmet and light (the Christmas lights don’t extend the whole way). Kneepads and elbow pads (or at least, long sleeves) for protection from the plywood edges are highly recommended.

Please pass this message along to anyone who might be interested in attending. You do not have to be a VCA member to join us!

Questions? Contact Steve Hazelton at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Steve
Last Updated ( Saturday, 12 January 2013 )
 
June 17 - VCA Bi-Monthly Meeting and Activity PDF Print E-mail
Written by Donna Stanley   
Tuesday, 05 June 2012


Here is the June VCA activity.

June 17 2012 - (Fathers Day)  Regular VCA Meeting at Rutland Ambulance Service Building (next to the hospital).  9:00 AM.

Activities:

Following the meeting is an assortment of activities north of Rutland.

1) Near Johnson Pit AKA Hangover Pit in Brandon, VT is another hole in the ground a friend would like us to check out.
Bring vertical gear if you are feeling lucky that the holes goes.

2) In Salisbury [north of Brandon] on the shore of Lake Dunmore is Ethan Allen Cave. We will visit the cave and look for another cave that may be the original cave Ethan Allen used. This is a lot of hiking and hunting. See photo in our last newsletter.

3) In Leicester Four Corners [west of Lake Dunmore on Route US7] is another lost cave under a power line that needs to be relocated. This is more hiking if we have not done enough already. Good news is there is no hills.

Rodrick Pingree

VCA Vice President

Please RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you plan to attend-  please email for trip details or if there is a question. 


 

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 05 June 2012 )
 
Upcoming Vermont Cavers Activities - Plan in Advance So You Can Join Us!!! PDF Print E-mail
Written by Donna Stanley   
Thursday, 14 April 2011

This is a tentative schedule for the Vermont Cavers Association monthly activities.

Please RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it the month you plan to attend. Please email for trip details if there is a question if the trip is right for you.

Thanks, Rodrick   Vice President, VCA

 

May 2012

 

Spring 2012 NRO & Vermont Cavers 20th Anniversary

May 18 – 19 – 20

 

Hosted by the Vermont Cavers Association

 

at Howell’s Camping Area Arlington, Vermont.

 

Directions: From Rte 313 east, go north towards Arlington Village 1 mile 3 tenths on Rte 7A (if you go too far you will see 313 west). Turn left onto Russell Street for 1 tenth mile. Turn left again onto School Street for 6 tenths mile. Follow it to the end onto No Name Road following signs for Howell’s Camping to the NRO. 

The GPS coordinates are N 43d4.185m W 73d9.849m

 

·         Costs are $5 per person per night with free hot showers. Electricity / sewer hook-up / extra’s will be an additional charge. Folks wanting to reserve an RV site please call 802-375-6469 and let Gloria know you are with the NRO.

 

·         Registration will open 4 PM on Friday 5-18-120

  • Peter Quick is offering a reprint of his new edition toVermont Caves guidebook. The reprint includes changes and updates fromthe convention copy. Cost $15 - (covering Vermont caves only).
  • Howell’s Camping area is offering their mess hall with picnic tables for meals and our Saturday Night auction and the VCA’s 20th Anniversary Celebration!
  • Vendors on location are Speleobooks and Climb High.
  • Saturday Breakfast hosted by Steve Janesky
  • Menu: All you can eat Eggs, home fries, pancakes, sausage, bacon, coffee, tea and juice 
  • Cost: $7.00
  • Saturday Dinner hosted by Bardo Farm, NH.
  • Menu: Fresh farm-raised roast pig with stuffing, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, vegetarian entrée, condiments and beverage.
  • Cost: $10.00
  • Sunday Breakfast hosted by the VCA.
  • Menu: All you-can-eat Pancakes with a variety of fresh fruit, maple syrup, bacon (tempeh strips for vegetarians), home fries, coffee and juice.
  • Cost: $7.00

Saturday’s confirmed cave activities:

  • Multiple Merlin's Trips
  • 1 Bentley's Trip
  • 1 Morris Trip
  • 1 Purgatory Trip
  • 1 Red Mountain Trip
  • 1 Weybridge Cave Trip

Saturday Non-Cave activities:

  • 1 Merlin's surface tour, Mike Telladira
  • 1 Gulf Brook Trip (canyon rappelling), led by Rick Pingree
  • Canoeing on the Battenkill led by Kroka Expeditions (Andrew Rasmus)
  • Self-guided hikes possible up Equinox, self-guided to Morris Cave
  • Hiking to points of interest in the Arlington / Manchester Area.

Saturday evening activities:

  • NCC auction hosted by our auctioneer Bob Addis.
  • PLEASE BRING GOODS TO BE AUCTIONEED OFF.
  • Vermont Cavers 20th Anniversary party with cake and ice cream.

Sunday activities:

  • Following the NRO meeting and election of officers, will be the Merlin's Cave Preserve Dedication Ceremony. This preserve located in Canaan, New York is the latest acquisition of the Northeastern Cave Conservancy.

 

·     

See you at the NRO, Rodrick Pingree

VCA Vice President

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 May 2012 )
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