Spring and summer are the seasons for caving events around the southeast:
SERA, KY Speleofest, the TAG Fall Cave-In, NSS Convention, Pupfest, just to
name a few.

The newest annual caving festival, now in it's third year, is 'PorterFest,
hosted by the Southport Chronic Cavers Grotto of Columbia, TN (and the
surrounding area). This year's event will be held near Short Mountain in
Cannon County, TN, about 5 miles ENE of Woodbury. There are plenty of caves
and pits nearby or within short driving distances, such as old favorites
Espey and Indian Grave Point Caves, as well as Pea Ridge, Cane Sink, Rocky
River, Blue Crystal Well, Youngs Pit, Devils Hole, Rebel Cave, and many,
many others. We'll be hitting as many as we can, beginning about 6:00 PM on
Friday, September 7 through Saturday, and maybe hitting Snail Shell Cave
(destination: Venutian Ave) on Sunday.

This event is open to everyone. You'll find plenty of room for tents,
including raised wooden platforms to keep you off the ground, a cabin, a
rock wall for vertical practice and old friends (and hopefully some new
ones, too). BYOBB (Bring Your Own Beans & Beer) and come join us for a fun
weekend of horizontal and vertical caving on the mountain.

For directions, contact a grotto officer (like me). Contact info can be
found at our web site:

http://www.caves.org/grotto/sccg/sccg.php [1]

We are the 'Porters, my friends,
And we'll keep on caving 'til the end!

Robert Sewell
Secretary, SCCG