Bob Robins' Caving Trip Log

This is a summary of my caving activity over the last few years (as best I can remember it). Note that many of the caves listed here have access restrictions — visit the Virginia Region Limited Access Caves List for information on the status of individual caves (similar lists exist for other parts of the country).

Where there is a trip report available on line, I have provided a link to it with the author’s name. I can’t guarantee the integrity of the links for any but my own reports since the web is transitory, but will try to spot check them occasionally.

07/30/04

Sinks of Gandy & Stillhouse Cave, Randolph County, WV

Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp trip.

07/29/04

Sharps Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp trip through Halloween Hall to the Sharps waterfall, then back upstream to Catfish Hall.

07/28/04

Dreen Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp trip, including a surface tour to several caves along the Elk River and Dry Branch.

07/27/04

Kee Cave, Pendleton County, WV

Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp trip.

07/26/04

Dyers Cave, Hardy County, WV

Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp trip.

07/17/04

Cassell Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Finally able to enter the pit to continue survey in the Notwurst passage. Cold wet trip.

07/10/04

Historic cave in Germany Valley, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS survey trip South of the entrance (wet).

6/12/04

Memorial Day Cave, Pendleton County, WV

Cleaned up the remaining field phone wire installed for communications during a GVKS passage improvement project.

05/22/04

Sharps Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Led a tourist trip through Halloween Hall and back to the Sharps waterfall.

04/24/04

Crossroads Cave, Bath County, VA

Tourist trip during the Virginia Region (VAR) Spring Meeting at Grand Caverns, Virginia.

03/27/04

Sinnett Cave, Pendleton County, WV

Led a tourist trip up the Silo to the Big Room and back to the Waterfall Room. We looked at the Thorn Mountain Cave connection but no one tried it.

02/14/04

Memorial Day Cave, Pendleton County, WV

Cleaned up part of the 1,250' of electrical wire used to power drills for a passage improvement project.

02/07/04

Bone Cave, Greenbrier County, WV

We were going to Organ Cave - Bone was our fallback after our trip leader and most of the other participants bailed out due to an ice storm.

12/13/03

Shoveleater Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS dig. An interesting little cave with lots of air coming from the bottom of a tight pit.

11/15/03

Cassell Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Too much water in the pit turned my planned survey in the Notwurst passage into a digging trip looking for a fifth entrance.

Bob Robins

09/25/03

Starnes Cave, Giles County, Virginia

Tourist trip during the Fall Virginia Region meeting in Rural Retreat, Virginia.

09/13/03

Memorial Day Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS 22 hour photo trip with Paul Gillis and Steve Biggers into Columbia Canyon.

Bob Robins

08/23/03

Historic cave in Germany Valley, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS 20 hour survey trip South of the entrance with Miles Drake & Rick Royer (nms).

08/18/03

Dyers Cave, Hardy County, WV

Family trip with Mary Anne, Mike Jon & Ken

08/09/03

Historic cave in Germany Valley, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS 20 hour survey trip South of the entrance with Miles Drake & Joanne Smith (bwl).

07/28/03

Dyers Cave, Hardy County, WV

Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp trip for Observer camp group.

07/19/03

Cassell Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Gangsta Mappers weekend - surface work digging around 'fifth entrance' with Mike and Phil Balister.

07/12/03

Historic cave in Germany Valley, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS survey trip South of the entrance (lmu).

06/28/03

Historic cave in Germany Valley, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS survey trip West of the entrance (ets).

06/14/03

Historic cave in Germany Valley, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS survey trip South of the entrance with Dave West & Karen Willmes (sds).

02/08/03

Memorial Day Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS survey trip.

01/25/03

Simmons Mingo Cave, Randolph County, WV (through trip to the Zarathrustra entrance in Pocohontas County)

PSC tourist trip led by Lewis Carroll with Kelly Davidson and Shannon Bentz, Earl Suitor and Dave Smith, Roxanne Shively and Vitas, Carl Pierce, and MaryAnne Robins,

01/18/03

Cassell Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Gangsta Mappers survey trip with Bob Zimmerman, Pat Bingham, and Jonas Bystrom.

01/11/03

Memorial Day Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS survey trip.

11/23/02

Glade Cave, Augusta County, VA

Tourist trip for several men attending the Forcey Memorial Church Men's Retreat at Massanetta Springs.

11/16/02

Cassell Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Gangsta Mappers survey trip.

11/09/02

Memorial Day Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS survey trip.

11/02/02

Sinnett Cave, Pendleton County, WV

Led a PSC Halloween Party trip with Mary Anne, Ken, Mike, Sara Hall, Ian, Earl Suitor, Dave Smith, Chris Newton, and Paul Gillis.

10/19/02

Breathing Cave, Bath County, VA

Gangsta Mappers survey trip w/Bob Hoke, Mark Veerman & Tom Garasic.

09/28/02

Holsingers Cave, Rockingham County, VA

Fall VAR trip with Mary Anne. Led by Meredith Hall Johnson. Cave is now closed!

09/21/02

Cassell Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Gangsta Mappers survey trip w/Charles Danforth, Edgard Bertaut & Tom Kornack. Rescue of fallen caver in pit.

Bob Robins
Charles Danforth

09/14/02

Talking Tree Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS digs. Continued dig in Talking Tree.

08/31/02

Historic cave in Germany Valley, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS survey trip South of the entrance with Joanne Smith (rsx)

08/05/02

Sinks of Gandy & Stillhouse Cave, Randolph County, WV

Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp trip (See Photo page).

08/03/02

Historic cave in Germany Valley, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS survey trip West of the entrance with Mike 'Tiny' Manke & Barry Horner (tbb).

07/26/02

Smoke Hole Caverns, Pendleton County, WV

Commercial cave – Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp trip.

07/25/02

Sinks of Gandy & Stillhouse Cave, Randolph County, WV

Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp  trip (See Photo page).

07/24/02

Kee Cave, Pendleton County, WV & Bowden Cave, Randolph County, WV

Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp  trip (See Photo page).

07/23/02

Blood Cave, Pendleton County, WV

Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp  trip.

07/13/02

Memorial Day Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS survey trip to the pit at end of Southern end of the cave. Tight lead continues.

07/06/02

Historic cave in Germany Valley, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS survey trip East of entrance with Rocky Parsons & Bob Thrun (?).

06/15/02

Breathing Cave, Bath County, VA

Gangsta Mappers survey trip.

06/08/02

Historic cave in Germany Valley, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS survey trip South of entrance with Dwight Livingston, Bill Stone, Rob Stone, Bob Zimmerman (th).

05/26/02

Norman Cave, Greenbrier County, WV

Family tourist trip during Baltimore Grotto annual Swine and Dine. Trip back to Great White Way.

Bob Robins

05/25/02

Snedegars Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Family tourist trip during Baltimore Grotto annual Swine and Dine. Through trip from Stream Entrance to Saltpeter Entrance.

Bob Robins

05/11/02

Memorial Day Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS survey trip (13.5 hrs) – reopening collapsed entry to south cave, virgin survey, going cave at new deepest point in major canyon.

Bob Robins

04/27/02

Grand Caverns, Grottoes, VA

Spring VAR and Grand Caverns restoration.

04/20/02

Cassell Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Gangsta Mappers survey trip (12.5 hrs).

Charles Danforth

04/13/02

Memorial Day Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS survey trip (14 hrs) – virgin survey in south cave, going cave at deepest point in cave.

Gordon Brace

03/23/02

Cave Mountain Cave, Pendleton County, WV

Tourist trip during Spring Party at  PSC field house.

03/16/02

Breathing Cave, Bath County, VA

Gangsta Mappers survey trip.

03/09/02

Memorial Day Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS survey trip – virgin survey in north cave.

Gordon Brace

02/16/02

Breathing Cave, Bath County, WV

Gangsta Mappers survey trip.

01/19/02

Cassell Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Gangsta Mappers survey trip to the North fork via Cassell Pit.

Bob Robins
Charles Danforth

01/13/02

Memorial Day Cave, Pendleton County, WV

Explored newly opened Memorial Day (scooping virgin cave)

Devin Kouts

01/12/02

Talking Tree Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS digs. Continued dig in Talking Tree.

12/31/01

Kee Cave & Blood Cave, Pendleton County, WV

Informal tourist trips.

12/08/01

GVKS

11/17/01

Cassell Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Gangsta Mappers survey trip.

Bob Robins
Charles Danforth

11/10/01

Scott Hollow Cave, Monroe County, WV

Baltimore Grotto tourist trip.

Bob Robins

10/27/01

Mystic Cave, Pendleton County, WV

PSC tourist trip.

Bob Robins

10/20/01

Breathing Cave, Bath County, VA

Gangsta Mappers survey trip.

10/13/01

Talking Tree Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS digs. Continued dig in Talking Tree.

09/29/01

Porters Cave, Bath County, VA

Fall VAR tourist trip.

09/22/01

Marshalls Cave, Highland County, VA

PSC tourist trip. Mary Anne broke her leg outside on the way over to Aqua.

Bob Robins

09/15/01

Cassell Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Gangsta Mappers survey trip to the Gunbarrel entrance.

Bob Robins
Charles Danforth

09/08/01

Talking Tree Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS digs.

09/02/01

Cassell Cave & Grimes Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Surface work in preparation for Cassell Cave radio-location, tourist trip to Grimes Cave

09/01/01

Justrite Cave & Dreen Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Family tourist trip.

08/31/01

Twisted Fissure Cave, Randolph County, WV

One of many tourist trips to Taylor Run area during OTR .

08/18/01

Breathing Cave, Bath County, VA

Gangsta Mappers survey trip.

08/11/01

Ruddle Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS digging trip.

07/25/01

Sinks of the Roundstone Cave & Rollercoaster Cave, Rockcastle County, KY

NSS Convention trips.

07/23/01

Arthur Singleton Cave & Highwater Cave , Rockcastle County, KY

NSS Convention trips.

07/23/01-
07/27/01

Great Saltpeter Cave, Rockcastle County, KY

NSS  Convention party site and the only source of air conditioning at campground.

07/14/01

Talking Tree Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS digging trip.

07/13/01

Smoke Hole Caverns, Pendleton County, WV

Commercial cave – Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp trip

07/11/01

Sinks of Gandy & Stillhouse Cave, Randolph County, WV

Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp trip.

07/10/01

Bowden Cave, Randolph County, WV

Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp trip.

07/09/01

Dyers Cave, Hardy County, WV

Hemlock Wilderness Brigade Camp trip.

06/30/01

Sinks of Gandy & Stillhouse Cave , Randolph County, WV

Tourist trip.

06/16/01

Breathing Cave, Bath County, VA

Gangsta Mappers survey trip.

06/09/01

Skunk Blow Cave, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS dig turns into a real (but small) cave.

05/27/01

Snedegars Cave, Pocahontas County, WV & Bone Cave, Greenbrier County, WV

Family tourist trips during Baltimore Grotto annual Swine and Dine

Bob Robins

05/19/01

Cassell Cave, Pocahontas County, WV

Gangsta Mappers survey trip via Windy entrance.

Charles Danforth

05/12/01

Talking Tree Cave & Diggin’ Fools , Pendleton County, WV

GVKS digs.

05/05/01

Marshalls Cave, Highland County, WV

Tourist trip.

04/21/01

Breathing Cave, Bath County, VA

Gangsta Mappers survey trip.

04/09/01

Bowden Cave, Randolph County, WV

Cleanup trip.

03/17/01

Breathing Cave, Bath County, VA

Gangsta Mappers survey trip.

03/10/01

Skunk Blow, Pendleton County, WV

GVKS dig.

01/20/01

Breathing Cave, Bath County, VA

Gangsta Mappers survey trip.

10/21/00

Breathing Cave, Bath County, VA

Gangsta Mappers survey trip.

GVKS = Germany Valley Karst Survey