By: Patrick O'Diam
From the January 1999 Flowstone

This past year has been quite of an eventful year. I hope to recap the year briefly with some of the highlights for the grotto and some accomplishments. Upon preparing to write this article, I went back to my caving log and checked out all the trips that I was involved in as well as notes of other trips that were taken within the grotto. I could come up with over 200 individual trips that took place in 1998. Not to bad for such a small grotto. I feel we are a very active grotto that just enjoys being out and doing our thing.

1998 started off on a good note for me. Jan. 1 found Scottie Arrington, Micah Sims, Victor Bradford, and myself down in Mexico doing El Sotano de las Golondrinas. I had dreamed of that for many years and finally go to do it. As Scottie said, "It's just another hole in the ground!" And what a hole! We spelled out "Cullman Grotto" with small rocks on the bottom and had an enjoyable trip overall.

February started a safety push. We had an enjoyable vertical workshop in early Feb. with Bill and Miriam Cuddington. New safety rules for grotto trips were put into place at the Executive Board meeting as well as a release form to be signed. A Valentines Day trip to Log was enjoyable, 100's of people underground at Tumbling Rock, and two members of the grotto almost drowned while on rope in a waterfall.

Avis Van Swearingen lead our March grotto trip to Lamon's Cave, several grotto trips to Neversink where Indiana Cavers said they saw our Cullman Grotto spelled out of rocks in Drinas, SLAM ! took place, & a record breaker for Evon on rope.

April took us into Fern Cave several times to visit Helectite Heaven and the Hall of Giants. Oh yea, that's when Micah's counterpart started coming around. A dig was found that still has not been returned to. We've gotta' do that as soon as hunting season is over! This was also the month of the Cavestock flop.

In May, Vic finally got a group of us up to Conley Hole for a wonderful grotto trip. Surprise Pit was visited but rope weight kept Evon up top. Vic finally made it to see the BIG TREE. "Boy howdy!"

June found us back in Mexico for 12 days. Golondrinas was visited, as well as Cipillo, Hoya de Guaguas, and my all time favorite, Hoya de la Luz. After we returned, other grotto trips went to Moses' Tomb, Surprise Pit, and Fantastic Pit that month.

July 4th was the day of Haunted Neversink and the vertical mile. Several from Cullman joined the Huntsville Grotto for the tyrolean at Desoto Falls. A Grotto trip for beginners went to Stephens Gap. Practices for the grotto medley were done in preparation for the convention. The last week was spent at NCRC level one training for me. What a blast!

The first part of Aug. found most of us in Sewanee, TN. The grotto brought home 1st in the medley at 8:33.7. John McCrary got 3ed in the 30 m. climb in 0:32.6. Bill Cuddington got 1st in 30 m. climb with knots with a time of 2:25.2. Miriam also finished first in age group on mechanical at a time of 1:51.6. I came in 2nd in the 120 m. climb with a time of 6:11.6. Several other pits were bopped that month, and many trips to Iron Hoop and Mandy's were tried, and finally accomplished.

Rock ! O'Herra's Farewell, Drake's, and Three Turkey Plunge was the grotto trip of September. Several other trips took place and while I spent some 30 some hours at Fern's Torode Hall on a survey trip with Gary Phelps, the rest of the grotto was eating too much food at the grotto picnic and watching Vic's slide show.

October brought TAG and new gear getting time for may of us. It also was a time where Micah just about killed his girlfriend for saying she throws away the NSS News and said she would burn his ACS book! She learned her lesson and still is, too.

The horizontal trip for November was to Talucah Cave. The day after Thanksgiving, we took a large grotto trip to Fantastic at night. It was the first time there for several of the people. We did the drop from 12 - 4 a.m. while Bernard stayed in his tent at the bottom and slept. Most did very well at the pit.

December brought about another vertical workshop, the Christmas party, new officers, changes in the Constitution and Bylaws, and of course, the largest grotto trip yet, MEXICO! More on that next month.

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