In Memory of Robert Gulden

Robert 'Bob' Gulden

Robert "Bob" Gulden
March 30, 1948 - November 30, 2022

The Legacy of "Bob"

Robert "Bob" Edgar Gulden (NSS 13188RL (FE)) was a dedicated speleologist who spent decades meticulously documenting and maintaining what became the most comprehensive database of cave rankings in the world. From 1976 until his death in 2022, Bob kept the world's best-known database of long and deep caves, creating an invaluable resource for the global caving community.

Born on March 30, 1948, in Starnberg, Germany, Bob began caving in 1964 while living in Okinawa, Japan. He joined the National Speleological Society in 1971 and began his famous database in 1976 while helping to survey the Friars Hole Cave System in West Virginia. His passion for accuracy and detail established standardized methods for measuring and comparing caves worldwide.

Perhaps his largest contribution to caving cartography was the Friars Hole Cave System map, a cave that is still being explored and mapped (most recently passed 50 miles of mapped passage). He also helped explore and map Great Onyx Cave at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, Gap Cave in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in Virginia, and Siler's Cave in West Virginia.

Contributions to Speleology

  • Maintained the world's most comprehensive cave rankings database for over 45 years
  • Created the definitive map of the Friars Hole Cave System
  • Collaborated with international speleological organizations to standardize measurement practices
  • Belonged to the "Gangsta Mappers," a group of guerrilla cartographers who remapped previously explored caves with greater detail
  • Received the prestigious Karst Award in March 2022 from the Karst Waters Institute
  • Mentored numerous young cavers and researchers
  • Published regular updates to ensure the caving community had access to the most current information

Continuing Bob's Legacy

Following Bob's passing in November 2022, his work is now being continued by a dedicated successor affectionately known in the caving community as "Little Bob." Committed to maintaining the same high standards of accuracy and thoroughness that Bob established, Little Bob has taken on the responsibility of updating and expanding the database that Bob so carefully built throughout his lifetime.

CaverBob.org is named in honor of both Bobs, serving as a living memorial to Robert Gulden's legacy while ensuring that his life's work continues to benefit speleologists, researchers, and cave enthusiasts worldwide. Through this platform, the torch has been passed to a new generation, preserving the invaluable resource that Bob created while incorporating modern technology to make it more accessible than ever before.

Personal Life and Remembrance

Bob's wife Janice Louise Gulden preceded him in death. He is survived by his sister, Margret Noel; son, Dustin Robert; daughter-in-law, Nicole Sophia; and grandsons, Odin Dustin and Orion Robert.

Following his wishes, some of Bob's ashes were sprinkled in the North Stream of Friars Hole, where they can make their way to Monster Cavern, a fitting final journey for a man who dedicated his life to exploring and documenting the hidden wonders beneath our feet.