Draft Schedule
Opening Segment
| Time | Presentation | Duration | Status | Abstract Received |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | Welcome, Introductions & Agenda Aaron Bird & Matt Selig, Session Co-Chairs |
10 min | Confirmed | — |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 9:10 AM | Regional GIS Overview & Geology Primer Rai Bosch |
15 min | Confirmed | No |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 9:25 AM | Ohio Cave Survey — State Overview Ohio Frank Vlchek |
10 min | Confirmed | No |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 9:35 AM | Indiana Cave Survey — State Overview Indiana Dave Everton |
10 min | Confirmed | No |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 9:45 AM | Kentucky Speleological Survey — State Overview Kentucky Stephanie Suen or designee |
10 min | Confirmed | No |
Morning Exploration
| Time | Presentation | Duration | Status | Abstract Received |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 AM | Ohio Caves — Title TBD Ohio Ryan Braga |
20 min | Confirmed | No |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 10:20 AM | Caves of Edwards Mountain & Wayne County Kentucky Lee Florea & Chris Bauer Including Spelunger Cave |
40 min | Confirmed | No |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 11:00 AM | Indiana Caves — TBD Indiana Nate Vignes |
20 min | Confirmed | No |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 11:20 AM | Kentucky Caves — TBD Kentucky Adam Hjermenrud |
20 min | Confirmed | No |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 11:40 AM | Indiana Cave Project — TBD Indiana Dave Everton |
20 min | Confirmed | No |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch Break | 45 min | ||
Afternoon Exploration
| Time | Presentation | Duration | Status | Abstract Received |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:50 PM | Welcome Back & Afternoon Schedule Aaron Bird & Matt Selig |
10 min | Confirmed | — |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 1:00 PM | The James Cave Project — Six Decades of Exploration Kentucky Charlie Bishop |
20 min | Confirmed | No |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 1:20 PM | Big Bat Cave — History of Exploration Kentucky Ken Bailey |
20 min | Confirmed | No |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 1:40 PM | Sandstone Caves of Ohio Ohio Frank Vlchek |
20 min | Confirmed | No |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 2:00 PM | Great Caves, Great Survey Projects in Rockcastle County, KY Kentucky Mary Gratsch |
20 min | Confirmed | Yes |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 2:20 PM | Twenty Kentucky Caves That Might Be Bigger Than Mammoth Kentucky Catherine Bishop |
40 min | Confirmed | Yes |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 3:00 PM | Fisher Ridge Cave System Kentucky Sean Lewis / Ben Tobin |
40 min | Promised | No |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 3:40 PM | Roppel Cave Kentucky Jim Borden, Holly McClintock &/or Matt Mezydlo |
20 min | Promised | No |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 4:00 PM | History of Cave Exploration in Wayne Co., KY Kentucky Janeen Sharpshair |
20 min | Confirmed | No |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 4:20 PM | Rockcastle Karst Conservancy Caves Kentucky Gary O'Dell |
20 min | Promised | No |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 4:40 PM | Whigpistle Cave — Modern Era Exploration Kentucky Joel Despain |
20 min | Confirmed | No |
| — transition slide — | ||||
| 5:00 PM | Session Close Aaron Bird & Matt Selig |
— | Confirmed | — |
Between-Presentation Transition Slides
- Project name and representative image
- Large QR code linking to additional project resources
- The team's "ask" — contributors and skills needed
- Contact information
- Non-presenting projects may also submit a slide
Abstracts
Great Caves, Great Survey Projects in Rockcastle County, KY
Many of the large cave systems in Rockcastle County, Kentucky were explored and surveyed in the 1960s and 1970s. By today's standards the maps are primitive, yet these caves — Pine Hill, Smokehole, Mullin Springs, Marler Hollow, and Roundstone — contain trunk passages, large galleries, active streams, and real potential for virgin cave. This presentation will revisit those early survey efforts, including the equipment and techniques of the era, and will display the original maps. The goal: to stir interest in resurveying these significant but overlooked systems.
Twenty Kentucky Caves That Might Be Bigger Than Mammoth
Kentucky has lots of caves, and hundreds — maybe thousands — in the Bluegrass region, on the Cumberland Plateau, and along the Pine Hill Thrust Fault have not been fully explored or even located. It's unlikely that any of these caves can rival Mammoth Cave in length, but no one knows for certain. Each Kentucky cave explored and surveyed by Blue Grass Grotto members has a unique feature, a fascinating legend, or an interesting story. As part of Kentucky's culture, these tales should be shared.
Regional GIS Overview & Geology Primer
Abstract pending
Ohio Cave Survey — State Overview
Abstract pending
Indiana Cave Survey — State Overview
Abstract pending
Kentucky Speleological Survey — State Overview
Abstract pending
Ohio Caves — Title TBD
Abstract pending
Caves of Edwards Mountain & Wayne County
Abstract pending
Indiana Caves — TBD
Abstract pending
Kentucky Caves — TBD
Abstract pending
Indiana Cave Project — TBD
Abstract pending
The James Cave Project — Six Decades of Exploration
Abstract pending
Big Bat Cave — History of Exploration
Abstract pending
Sandstone Caves of Ohio
Abstract pending
Fisher Ridge Cave System
Abstract pending
Roppel Cave
Abstract pending
History of Cave Exploration in Wayne Co., KY
Abstract pending
Rockcastle Karst Conservancy Caves
Abstract pending
Whigpistle Cave — Modern Era Exploration
Abstract pending