Episode 131: Elijah Gresham

Born into a caving family, This NSS Fellow’s whole life has revolved around getting underground. In addition to her many caving achievements, we also talk about her role in the 2001 IMAX feature “Journey Into Amazing Caves” with co-star Hazel Barton.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Bib overalls for caving from Out Standing Stitcheshttps://outstandingstitches.odoo.com/NSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

Founding a grotto is no small task. Luckily, Elijah had interest and support from some locals who were once members of a long-defunct grotto that he has now revived in an Indiana cave region once mostly off-limits due to WNS closures. In this episode, he talks about his caving genesis, and what it took to bring the Harrison Crawford Grotto (HCG) back from the dead.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Bib overalls for caving from Out Standing Stitcheshttps://outstandingstitches.odoo.com/More info on the Harrison Crawford Grottohttps://www.facebook.com/p/Harrison-Crawford-Grotto-100080023449417/Register for TAG Fall Cave-In!https://caves.org/tag-fall-cave-in-registration/NSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

Continuing the series of interviews conducted at the 2026 NSS Convention in Corydon, Indiana; National Cave and Karst Research Institute director Ben Tobin sits down to talk about his caving genesis, research pursuits, and the work currently being done at NCKRI.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Bib overalls for caving from Out Standing Stitcheshttps://outstandingstitches.odoo.com/The National Cave & Karst Research Institutehttps://nckri.org/International Day of Caves and Karsthttps://www.caveskarstday.org/Register for TAG Fall Cave-In!https://caves.org/tag-fall-cave-in-registration/NSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

In front of a live audience at the 2026 NSS Convention, Montana caver Jason Ballensky shares about his caving genesis, exploration and data gathering in the Grand Canyon, and discovery and exploration of deep caves in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness; including Tears of The Turtle, the deepest limestone cave in the US.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Bib overalls for caving from Out Standing Stitcheshttps://outstandingstitches.odoo.com/International Day of Caves and Karsthttps://www.caveskarstday.org/Indiana Cave Capers 2026https://cigcaves.com/cave-capers-2026TAG Fall Cave-In RETURNS!https://www.facebook.com/tagfallcaveinNSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

The prolific Indiana-based caver shares the genesis of his caving story, including his first trips to TAG, discoveries at home in Indiana, and first-hand recollection of a famous Indiana rescue from 40+ years ago.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Bib overalls for caving from Out Standing Stitcheshttps://outstandingstitches.odoo.com/REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Conventionhttps://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/Indiana Cave Capers 2026https://cigcaves.com/cave-capers-2026TAG Fall Cave-In RETURNS!https://www.facebook.com/tagfallcaveinNSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

The former National Coordinator for the National Cave Rescue Commission talks about his caving genesis, his longtime association with Buckner Cave and the Richard Blenz Nature Preserve, and of course his long career in cave rescue.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Bib overalls for caving from Out Standing Stitcheshttps://outstandingstitches.odoo.com/REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Conventionhttps://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/Volunteer at Convention!https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/8533252580101/false#/invitationCave Week 2026https://nckri.org/cave-week/TAG Fall Cave-In RETURNS!https://www.facebook.com/tagfallcaveinNSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

Val McNamara---Val shares her caving history going back to the early 90s, along with a few harrowing tales in TAG and Mexico, as well as her big return to caving after her kids grew up.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Order custom cave survey notes from Custom Cave Pages:https://www.customcavepages.com/REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Conventionhttps://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/Volunteer at Convention!https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/8533252580101/false#/invitationCave Week 2026https://nckri.org/cave-week/NSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

The Filipino caver shares about some of the discoveries, challenges, and philanthropic work that he and his international team have been involved with in his decades of caving.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Order custom cave survey notes from Custom Cave Pages:https://www.customcavepages.com/REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Conventionhttps://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/Volunteer at Convention!https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/8533252580101/false#/invitationNSS Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

Sean shares more about caving in Fisher Ridge, including a major incident a few years ago that was expertly handled by cave rescue personnel. He also takes us underground in New Mexico and elsewhere, and shares his thoughts on the parallels between caving and philosophy in this second half of our time together.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Order custom cave survey notes from Custom Cave Pages:https://www.customcavepages.com/REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Conventionhttps://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/Volunteer coordinator for ConventionEmail [email protected] Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml

Sean Lewis talks about his early caving in Indiana, including drawing up what’s become Matt’s favorite cave map. He also shares about the ongoing Fisher Ridge project with which he’s been involved for years, as well as expedition trips in Mexico in this first of a two-part interview that scratches the surface of his prolific caving life.Order a custom cave suit from our sponsor, Sophireaptress!https://www.sophireaptress.com/Order custom cave survey notes from Custom Cave Pages:https://www.customcavepages.com/REGISTER for the 2026 NSS Conventionhttps://caves.org/convention/2026-nss-convention/Volunteer coordinator for ConventionEmail [email protected] Calendar of Eventshttps://caves.org/calendar/Find your local grotto!https://caves.org/committee/i-o/grottos/new_grotto_page-v2.shtml