Author: sfbcadministrator

Howdy!
Ah, the Spring Equinox, another winter is gone and now spring is in the air. And with it come big plans for caves and caving and thoughts of all those new passages still waiting to be explored.
So please join us for the first vertical practice of the spring, but just for this month, instead of the first Tuesday, we will hold it the second Tuesday of the month, 9 April, a week from today.
Our kind hosts will be Peri and Bill Frantz. You can arrive anytime after 6:30 pm, we will have some dinner and immediately after we will have some fun on rope.
Dinner is “modified potluck style,” where you bring your own main dish and also bring a small appetizer, side dish or dessert to share. We will have a grill for your food, in case you need one.
Please bring a helmet and a headlamp, and a jacket, since we will be practicing outdoors if weather permits. If you don’t have yet a helmet or headlamp, we will have a couple of extras. Bring your vertical gear if you have it, and if not, we will also have a couple of extras for you.
The address of the Frantz Spring Equinox Rope Gym is:
16345 Englewood Ave Los Gatos, CA 95032 goo.gl/maps/rKNoy
See y’all a week from today!
– Fofo

Howdy!
Spring is almost here, warmer months are coming soon, and hiking up to beautiful caves in the mountains will be part of plenty of fun weekends. So, time to hone your vertical skills so that you can explore the beautiful depths of this blue planet! To help you with this, please join us tomorrow, Tuesday, 5 March, for our monthly vertical practice.
Our kind hosts will be Peri and Bill Frantz. You can arrive anytime after 6:30 pm, we will have some dinner and immediately after we will have some fun on rope. Yeah, even if it’s raining! In that case we’ll practice indoors, we are not _that_ cruel to put you on rope outside in the rain.
Dinner is “modified potluck style,” where you bring your own main dish and also bring a small appetizer, side dish or dessert to share. We will have a grill for your food, in case you need one (or a stove, if the weather forecast is accurate and it’s raining).
Please bring a helmet and a headlamp, and a jacket, since we will be practicing outdoors if weather permits. If you don’t have yet a helmet or headlamp, we will have a couple of extras. Bring your vertical gear if you have it, and if not, we will also have a couple of extras for you.
The address for the Frantz Palais du Spéléologie is:
16345 Englewood Ave Los Gatos, CA 95032 goo.gl/maps/rKNoy
See y’all soon!
– Fofo

This weekend practice CANCELED New practice date Sunday, March 3rd.
Practice location will be in the Santa Cruz mountains just outside of Castle Rock State Park. Email me directly if you are interested in attending and I will send you directions to the practice spot. This practice is open to Grotto members with a base understanding of vertical gear and how to manipulate the equipment. At a minimum you should be able to ascend and do a change over without needing assistance if you plan to attend. Limited quantity of loaner gear will be available.

Dear Members,
Happy Chinese New Year!
The February SFBC Members’ Meeting will take place in the San Carlos Public Library on Tuesday February 26 at 7:30 PM. There is a parking lot in front of the library and plenty of street parking in the area.
*THIS MONTH’S MEMBERS’ MEETING PRESENTATION:*
This month’s presentation, beginning at 7:45, will be:
*Gouffre Berger: Classic deep cave of the French Alps*
Ryan Baker will present on his trip to Gouffre Berger. For those who have not yet seen a presentation by Ryan, please know that you’re missing out. His presentations have been consistently entertaining. Feel free to learn more about Gouffre Berger, 28th Deepest Cave in the world, before joining us:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouffre_Berger

*LOCATION/DIRECTIONS:*
This is the address for the February meeting:
San Carlos Library,
610 Elm St, San Carlos, CA 94070
This link will help you find it on google maps:
*Google Maps <goo.gl/maps/Rryvp1ERZkL2>*
*Google Maps*

This month’s pre-member’s meeting dinner and executive committee meeting will be held at Broiler Express, which is located at 895 Laurel St, San Carlos, CA 94070. This is the link for it on google maps: goo.gl/maps/bxHypZeiDsQ2.
For those who are interested in attending, the after-meeting caver happy hour will be held at St. James Gate, 1410 Old County Road, Belmont, CA 94002.
I hope you can all make it!

Howdy!
Welcome! To the world of tomorrow! It’s finally 2019, and I know what you are thinking: “my rebelay crossings could be a little bit smoother, and I wish I could see my caving friends to catch up and talk about caves and caving.” Well, you are in luck!
Join us this coming week, on Tuesday, 15 January, for our monthly vertical practice.
Our kind hosts will be Peri and Bill Frantz. You can arrive anytime after 6:30 pm, we will have some dinner and immediately after we will have some fun on rope.
Dinner is “modified potluck style,” where you bring your own main dish and also bring a small appetizer, side dish or dessert to share. We will have a grill for your food, in case you need one.
Please bring a helmet and a headlamp, and a jacket, since we will be practicing outdoors if weather permits (if weather doesn’t permit, we will move the practice indoors). If you don’t have yet a helmet or headlamp, we will have a couple of extras. Bring your vertical gear if you have it, and if not, we will also have a couple of extras for you.
The address is for the Frantz Vertical Practice Palace is:
16345 Englewood Ave Los Gatos, CA 95032 goo.gl/maps/rKNoy
– Fofo

Howdy, cavers!
The prime caving season is upon us. How’s your vertical technique? Are you ready for the challenge? If you are and you just want to keep your technique nimble or if you want to learn the finer points of a rebelay crossing, join us tomorrow, Tuesday, 4 December, for our monthly vertical practice!
Our kind hosts will be Peri and Bill Frantz. You can arrive anytime after 6:30 pm, we will have some dinner and immediately after we will have some fun on rope.
Dinner is “modified potluck style,” where you bring your own main dish and also bring a small appetizer, side dish or dessert to share. We will have a grill for your food, in case you need one.
Please bring a helmet and a headlamp, and a jacket, since we will be practicing outdoors if weather permits. If you don’t have yet a helmet or headlamp, we will have a couple of extras. Bring your vertical gear if you have it, and if not, we will also have a couple of extras for you. Ugly sweaters, goofy hats and antlers are accepted (goofy hats and antlers must be worn over the helmet if on rope, though).
The address of the Frantz’s Vertical Wonderland is:
16345 Englewood Ave Los Gatos, CA 95032 goo.gl/maps/rKNoy
See y’all tomorrow!
– Fofo

Howdy!
How much candy did you eat last week for Halloween? Yeah, right. Not that much? Really? How about pumpkin pie? Or pumpkin spice lattes? So, if you are looking for ways to start fighting back against the holiday season caloric intake, what better way to do it than getting together with some of your friends and getting on rope to practice your vertical skills? (LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The aforementioned activity shall in no way be construed as a binding agreement pursuant to eliminating all those extra calories from the delicious, delicious pumpkin spice late. Void where prohibited. Results not typical. Professional driver in a closed race track. Do not attempt at home. Events may have been recreated for TV purposes)
So, anyway, join us tomorrow, Tuesday, 6 November, for our monthly vertical practice!
Our kind hosts will be Peri and Bill Frantz. You can arrive anytime after 6:30 pm, we will have some dinner and immediately after we will have some fun on rope.
Dinner is “modified potluck style,” where you bring your own main dish and also bring a small appetizer, side dish or dessert to share. We will have a grill for your food, in case you need one.
Please bring a helmet and a headlamp, and a jacket, since we will be practicing outdoors if weather permits and it’s getting colder. If you don’t have yet a helmet or headlamp, we will have a couple of extras. If you don’t have a jacket, in general you’ll be needing one in your life soon, so a visit to Goodwill would be a good idea. Bring your vertical gear if you have it, and if not, we will also have a couple of extras for you.
The address of the Frantz Pumpkin Spice Latte Patch is:
16345 Englewood Ave Los Gatos, CA 95032 goo.gl/maps/rKNoy
See y’all soon!
– Fofo

(resending this, apparently the first one didn’t go through for everyone)
Howdy!
Labor Day is just behind us. But, is this the end of summer? Can this be the end of outdoor activities? As a caver, you know that’s not true! Some of the best caving is done in the upcoming part of the year. Is your vertical technique ready?
Join us TODAY, Tuesday, 4 September, for our monthly vertical practice.
Our kind hosts will be Peri and Bill Frantz. You can arrive anytime after 6:30 pm, we will have some dinner and immediately after we will have some fun on rope.
Dinner is “modified potluck style,” where you bring your own main dish and also bring a small appetizer, side dish or dessert to share. We will have a grill ready in case you need one for heat-processing your food.
Please bring a helmet and a headlamp, and a jacket, since we will be practicing outdoors if weather permits. If you don’t have yet a helmet or headlamp, we will have a couple of extras. Bring your vertical gear if you have it, and if not, we will also have a couple of extras for you.
The address to the Frantz End-of-Summer Camp is:
16345 Englewood Ave Los Gatos, CA 95032 goo.gl/maps/rKNoy
See y’all soon!
– Fofo

Howdy!
It’s the middle of summer right now. Wow. Where does time go? But this is also perfect timing for preparing for the vertical caving expeditions that are coming up so you can check out more of the underground wonders of our world!
So, with that in mind, please join us tomorrow, Tuesday, August 7, for our monthly vertical practice. PLEASE NOTE that for this month only it will be at a different location!
Our kind hosts will be Marguerite and Jock Williams. You can arrive anytime after 6:30 pm, we will have some dinner and immediately after we will have some fun on rope.
Dinner is “modified potluck style,” where you bring your own main dish and also bring a small appetizer, side dish or dessert to share. We will have a grill for your food, in case you need one, and there is a pool and the water is warm, if you feel like going for a swim (remember your swimming suit, if you want to do that!).
Please bring a helmet and a headlamp, and a jacket, since we will be practicing outdoors if weather permits. If you don’t have yet a helmet or headlamp, we will have a couple of extras. Bring your vertical gear if you have it, and if not, we will also have a couple of extras for you.
The address is:
2350 Perich Court Mountain View, CA 94040 goo.gl/maps/AKhkoytjZSE2
See y’all soon!
– Fofo

Come one, come all, to the 37rd annual Stanislaus Grotto Barbeque to be held on Saturday, August 11th, at California Caverns (AKA Cave City) in Mountain Ranch, Calif.
This may be the last year that we are able to have our annual BBQ at Cave City as the family corporation that owns several caves (Sierra Nevada Recreation) – including California Caverns – is undergoing changes and future ownership of the caves is uncertain.
And as always, other grotto members from near and far are welcomed to join in the festivities.
And as this is a social event, it is open to all; bring your family, friends, relatives, co-workers, etc., – anyone who is interested in a good time. Also, past barbeques have had unusual events, such as belly dancers and six-foot toucans, but there is no guarantee of any such aberrations this time. Someone might also rig a vertical challenge area for energetic cavers.
The standard barbeque etiquette rules apply – bring something to throw on the grill, and bring something to share with the group: a side dish, salad, appetizer, or dessert. Grills and charcoal are provided. There are three stationary grills, and it has been noticed in the past that there might be wait times to use a grill. If you have a small grill that can be easily transported that would be a nice addition. There are several picnic tables but folding chairs are also handy to bring along. Also, an extra couple of folding tables might be helpful if a lot of people attend.
For evening entertainment we will have a LCD projector and screen, so bring your digital cave pictures. Please provide your own laptop if possible.
*FREE CAMPING!! * That’s right, after eating so much food, and maybe consuming an adult beverage or two, why drive home on dark, windy roads. Spend the night under the stars at California Caverns. Then you can meander home the next day, or head off to a caving adventure in the local area.
WHEN: Saturday, August 11th WHERE: California Caverns (AKA Cave City) near Mountain Ranch, CA TIMES: Social hours 3:00 – 5:00 pm Grilling times 6:00 – 8:00 pm Slide shows??? – 9:00 pm
*IMPORTANT: While the barbeque is being held at California Caverns, this event does not include entry into the commercial cave – either on tours or wild caving. You may purchase tour tickets on your own. During past BBQ’s we have been very fortunate to have John Fairchild available to lead a late evening walking tour through the cave, but this is not likely to happen this year. There are numerous local wild cave you may visit before the BBQ, and also on Sunday.. If it is a hot day, Natural Bridges is a great place to visit and cool off.*