Nancy Pistole

Educated at the University of Minnesota Nancy has worked as a teacher in a variety of subjects. Since 1993 she has been a photographer's assistant including work for National Geographic Magazine article Depth Chargers, as a Junior Computer Consultant installing hardware and software for IBM compatible computers, MACs, and networks, troubleshooting for client and, as a research assistant when she designed and conducted experiments for the mechanical testing of mandibular bone plates used in reconstructive surgery.

After many similar jobs she spent close to six months traveling around the island EXPERIENCE (two months traveling by bicycle). She also explored the Tsingy in both Ankarana and Bemaraha. In the summers of 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, and 2004 she took part in the Chiquibul Project -- Exploration and survey of the Chiquibul system in Belize during which she spent one week camping underground.

In 2000 she was involved with the the National Geographic sponsored Cheve Project and was assistant leader of ten expeditions to a cave system that is currently 1,484 meters deep and 26.2 kilometers long in Oaxaca, Mexico (deepest system in Mexico). This includes another cave, Charco, that is now 1,278 meters deep and 6.7 kilometers long (third deepest cave in Mexico).

She has participated in three other expeditions, between 1987 and 2004, including six week-long underground camps and helped with the Raid Gauloises -- Eight day adventure race in Sarawak, Malaysia where she was in charge of leading a team through the caves in Mulu National Park, orienteering, and helmsman of a rubber raft on a Class III river. Other segments of the race included canoeing and mountain biking.

Nancy is a fellow and life member of the National Speleological Society (NSS). She has won awards for cave maps entered in the National Speleological Society's map competitions