Meet Mike
Hey! I'm Mike Dee. I live in Nashville, TN, and am a member of the Nashville Grotto, NSS, and TCS. When I'm not designing websites from behind a screen, you'll likely find me exploring the great outdoors—hiking trails, chasing waterfalls, or crawling around caves like some sort of outdoor gremlin. I think spending my days behind a computer is what fuels my love for nature and adventure.
Over the years, I’ve explored the best trails and waterfalls across Tennessee and North Carolina, discovering hidden gems, backwoods campgrounds, and jaw-dropping overlooks.
But after years of hiking, I started running low on new spots to check out. I hate going to the same place twice when there are still so many unknowns out there. That’s when I discovered caving—and let’s just say, it got me hooked.
How I Fell into (Not Literally) Caving
It all started in 2024 on a hike along a river. I was minding my own business, enjoying the scenery, when I stumbled across a cave in a bluff. Naturally, the explorer in me couldn’t resist. Armed with a bit of gear and a lot of curiosity, I decided to step inside and explore the unknown. Every turn was a mystery, and I loved every second of it. It was like playing real-life Indiana Jones, minus the giant boulders and deadly traps (thankfully).
After that first cave, I kept hiking and found three more caves nearby. I explored them all and realized something important about myself—I wasn’t as claustrophobic as I thought. Turns out, I don’t mind wedging myself through tight passages if there’s a chance of seeing something cool on the other side. That day, I knew I wanted to find more caves, and thus began my endless hours of research.
Little did I know, finding cave info isn’t exactly easy. I was shocked to learn Tennessee alone has over 10,000 caves, but good luck finding detailed directions or tips without some serious digging (pun intended).
My Adventures in Caving
Eventually, I stumbled upon the National Speleological Society (NSS) and the Nashville Grotto, which I quickly joined. These groups introduced me to the wonderful, muddy world of caving and taught me how to get into more caves safely and responsibly. As an introvert (seriously, why else would I hike into the middle of nowhere for fun?), I didn’t expect to make friends so quickly. But before I knew it, I was joining trips, leading trips, and even joining the Tennessee Cave Survey (TCS), which is basically the ultimate insider’s guide to Tennessee caves.
However, even with all this newfound knowledge and support, I noticed some gaps in the resources available for new cavers—especially when it came to learning how to get started safely. That’s when the idea to create an online caving resource hit me. But what to name it?
One day, while chatting about stalagmites (as one does), I realized how close the word was to my name. And just like that, Stalagmike was born two days later.
Why I Created StalagMike
You read that right. This is stalagmike, not stalagmite. I love corny jokes - hence the name.
I built this website to save you from the endless hours of Googling I went through when I first started caving. My goal is to help new cavers learn the ropes, find caves, and explore safely. Whether you’re squeezing through your first tight passage or leading your own trips, I hope the guides you find here make your journey easier (and way less confusing).
Now, get out there and start exploring! Just don’t forget a helmet. Or a flashlight. Or, you know, snacks—you’re gonna need those.
