Mike Drake heads up exploration of the Studebaker/Wayne Cave system in Indiana’s Garrison Chapel Valley just west of Bloomington. He talks about the genesis and ongoing effort to survey the area’s longest cave. Plus, a bonus talk on Cave Week 2024 in June! Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Cave Week 2024! https://www.nps.gov/subjects/caves/cave-week.htm Pre-register for the 2024 NSS Convention in Sewanee, TN: https://caves.org/convention/2024-registration/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_pa ..read more

Dave Brumbaugh has been a cave guide in several show caves, including back home in Pennsylvania. He has also worked at Carlsbad Caverns and indeed still works for the National Park Service in Yosemite National Park. We talked about his extensive caving career, which included helping the FBI locate and dispose of unexploded ordinances in a Carlsbad backcountry cave. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Cave Week 2024! https://www.nps.gov/subjects/caves/cave-week.htm Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grot ..read more

Rand Heazlitt is currently leading the continued exploration of Indiana's longest cave, the Binkley Cave system. He shares his perspective as the leader of the group that endured a 2016 flood that threatened the lives of him and his survey group in Binkley Cave. He also talks about current and future exploration of Alabama's Fern Cave, as well as dramatic expeditions in Mexico.  Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml ..read more

Rand Heazlitt is currently leading the continued exploration of Indiana's longest cave, the Binkley Cave system. He shares his caving genesis, key moments in his caving history, and the story of the loss of a dear caving friend in part 1 of a two-part conversation. Donate to the NSS! https://members.caves.org/general/custom.asp?page=donate&_gl=1*5ppa8h*_ga*MTIwMTYxNDk3Mi4xNjg2MDYzMzYy*_ga_F1RQ2X41B0*MTcwMTE5NjcyOC4yLjEuMTcwMTE5NzgyNi4wLjAuMA.. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i ..read more

Jessica Jernigan is a TAG caver who has been at it for just over a couple of years, but has accomplished a lot in that time. We had a great talk about what caving does to fulfill not only our sense of adventure–indeed defining adventure as we looked at it through the lens of caving, but also how that fulfillment applies to other aspects of life. Donate to the NSS! https://members.caves.org/general/custom.asp?page=donate&_gl=1*5ppa8h*_ga*MTIwMTYxNDk3Mi4xNjg2MDYzMzYy*_ga_F1RQ2X41B0*MTcwMTE5NjcyOC4yLjEuMTcwMTE5NzgyNi4wLjAuMA.. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https ..read more

Mike Mansur is the author of The Cave Formation Repair Project. He and his team of volunteers have worked hundreds of hours repairing and restoring cave formations in such high-profile caves such as Carlsbad Caverns, Fort Stanton Cave, and Caverns of Sonora, among many others.  Buy the book: https://speleobooks.secure-mall.com/item/The-Cave-Formation-Repair-Project-2nd-Edition-4132 Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml ..read more

Patti Cummings is the Vice President of the Richard Blenz Nature Conservancy, home of Indiana’s storied Buckner Cave. She talks about her caving history and life, as well as managing the NSS-owned Buckner property, and specifically the home of former owner Dick Blenz, who passed away in 2018. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml ..read more

Zeke McKee is a Tennessee caver who has explored and mapped many caves, including Heart of Gould, and Enigma–both of which we talk about at length, including details of a harrowing rescue in 2020. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml ..read more

Host Matt Pelsor visits Cagle’s Chasm in Tennessee and chats with Chris Lee, Jennifer Young, Jeff Rose, and trip leader Jim Minie. This episode is part two of a three-part series recorded remotely during SERA Cave Faire in early May, 2023. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Indiana Cave Capers: http://www.cigcaves.com/indiana-cave-capers/all-about-cave-capers/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml ..read more

Host Matt Pelsor returns to Conley Hole in Tennessee for the first time since 2016 and talks with Justin Huffman about his successful effort to discover 500 new caves in a single year. Also along on this trip are Corey Ellis, and Alea Moore. This episode is part one of a three-part series recorded remotely during SERA Cave Faire in early May, 2023. Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress! https://www.sophireaptress.com/ Indiana Cave Capers: http://www.cigcaves.com/indiana-cave-capers/all-about-cave-capers/ Find your local grotto! https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new ..read more