Post by jonsdigs on Mar 5, 2007 19:17:31 GMT -5
Here's one from my brother's paper.
Join a grotto to learn about Idaho's caves
Caving groups offer great way to explore, study and protect fragile underground environments
- Idaho Statesman
Edition Date: 03/05/07
A grotto is not only a cavern or tiny cave, it is also a club of people who explore caves and work on cave conservation projects.
The Gem State Grotto is a 60-member club based in the Treasure Valley that is decades old and affiliated with the National Speleological Society. Another Idaho club, the Silver Sage Grotto, was chartered with NSS in 2001 and is affiliated with the College of Southern Idaho's Outdoor Program in Twin Falls.
There are 200 grottos across the nation, with more than 12,000 members. The clubs promote the responsible use of the fragile underground environment that represents some of the last unexplored places on Earth. Members strive to protect and restore caves as they explore them.
It was the tug of the mysterious underground that drew Jim Hathorn to his lifetime pursuit of caves, caving and fellowship. A 30-year member of the Gem State Grotto, he has held leadership positions with the club, taught university-level caving classes and conducted cave rescue seminars.
He continues to be active in the caving community of Idaho and the region.
"I have been interested in caving ever since I was a little kid, always wondering what was in a cave and wanting to go caving," he said.
And who can resist seeing cave formations, learning about geology, or experiencing total silence and total darkness when the friendly chatter stops and the headlamps are turned off?
Hathorn said there are 400 to 450 caves identified in Idaho.
Lava tubes are prolific in the old basalt flows along the Snake River Plain in the southern part of the state. Explorers may see hues of brown, black and red in the cooled lava.
An ongoing project of the Gem State Grotto is assisting the Bureau of Land Management with a cave inventory project on the Wapi Flow at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. There are unknown and unidentified caves on the preserve. The basalt flows are prime candidates for the discovery of new caves.
Members of the Gem State Grotto help discover, explore and map the new caves. Work is done carefully and slowly to preserve fragile cave formations or archaeological artifacts, and to document cave flora, fauna and signs of prior inhabitants or potential hazards.
Cavers tend to be careful about revealing details about caves, attempting to protect the delicate underground resources from harm from careless visitors who inadvertently or purposefully destroy formations and archaeological items or who have disturbed bats in hibernation.
Grottos focus on educating users on how to safely and carefully enjoy caves while preserving the resource for future visitors.
To gain access to the wonderful world of caves, join a grotto. You will learn procedures and techniques that keep you and the cave safe and healthy. Along the way you will make new friends to cave with.
Gem State Grotto meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Casa Mexico Restaurant in Boise.
Membership is $15 the first year and $50 the second year (which includes NSS membership).
Activities throughout the year include a Casino Night fundraiser March 17, with a potluck and costume party, cave inventorying projects, trips to a various caves, winter practice sessions that develop rappelling and rope ascending skills, equipment testing, and new member skill development.
Silver Sage Grotto meets the second Thursday of each month on the College of Southern Idaho campus.
Full Article
Join a grotto to learn about Idaho's caves
Caving groups offer great way to explore, study and protect fragile underground environments
- Idaho Statesman
Edition Date: 03/05/07
A grotto is not only a cavern or tiny cave, it is also a club of people who explore caves and work on cave conservation projects.
The Gem State Grotto is a 60-member club based in the Treasure Valley that is decades old and affiliated with the National Speleological Society. Another Idaho club, the Silver Sage Grotto, was chartered with NSS in 2001 and is affiliated with the College of Southern Idaho's Outdoor Program in Twin Falls.
There are 200 grottos across the nation, with more than 12,000 members. The clubs promote the responsible use of the fragile underground environment that represents some of the last unexplored places on Earth. Members strive to protect and restore caves as they explore them.
It was the tug of the mysterious underground that drew Jim Hathorn to his lifetime pursuit of caves, caving and fellowship. A 30-year member of the Gem State Grotto, he has held leadership positions with the club, taught university-level caving classes and conducted cave rescue seminars.
He continues to be active in the caving community of Idaho and the region.
"I have been interested in caving ever since I was a little kid, always wondering what was in a cave and wanting to go caving," he said.
And who can resist seeing cave formations, learning about geology, or experiencing total silence and total darkness when the friendly chatter stops and the headlamps are turned off?
Hathorn said there are 400 to 450 caves identified in Idaho.
Lava tubes are prolific in the old basalt flows along the Snake River Plain in the southern part of the state. Explorers may see hues of brown, black and red in the cooled lava.
An ongoing project of the Gem State Grotto is assisting the Bureau of Land Management with a cave inventory project on the Wapi Flow at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. There are unknown and unidentified caves on the preserve. The basalt flows are prime candidates for the discovery of new caves.
Members of the Gem State Grotto help discover, explore and map the new caves. Work is done carefully and slowly to preserve fragile cave formations or archaeological artifacts, and to document cave flora, fauna and signs of prior inhabitants or potential hazards.
Cavers tend to be careful about revealing details about caves, attempting to protect the delicate underground resources from harm from careless visitors who inadvertently or purposefully destroy formations and archaeological items or who have disturbed bats in hibernation.
Grottos focus on educating users on how to safely and carefully enjoy caves while preserving the resource for future visitors.
To gain access to the wonderful world of caves, join a grotto. You will learn procedures and techniques that keep you and the cave safe and healthy. Along the way you will make new friends to cave with.
Gem State Grotto meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Casa Mexico Restaurant in Boise.
Membership is $15 the first year and $50 the second year (which includes NSS membership).
Activities throughout the year include a Casino Night fundraiser March 17, with a potluck and costume party, cave inventorying projects, trips to a various caves, winter practice sessions that develop rappelling and rope ascending skills, equipment testing, and new member skill development.
Silver Sage Grotto meets the second Thursday of each month on the College of Southern Idaho campus.
Full Article
